University of Liverpool staff who face the sack unless they accept revised terms and conditions have voted in favour of strike action.
But today union chiefs stressed that despite the endorsement for industrial action they were hopeful that a resolution could be found without the need to strike.
In June, 2,803 workers, whose jobs include librarians, computer technicians, clerical posts and groundsmen were put in the firing line due to the university’s controversial move to bring “equity across the institution†by standardising employees’ terms and conditions.
The university has warned staff who refuse to move over to new contracts they face “three months’ notice of dismissal†– albeit with the carrot of being immediately offered their jobs back under the new terms.