STUDENTS from Scottish universities are facing disruption after lecturers backed strike action in a UK-wide row over pay.

The University and College Union (UCU) said almost two thirds of members who voted backed strike action with more than three quarters approving action short of a strike.

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The vote follows a marginally improved offer of 1.1 per cent from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which the union has described as "insulting".

The union’s national representatives will meet this week to discuss the ballot result before a decision is made on what form the industrial action will take and when it will begin.

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The union said universities could afford to pay more and that the latest offer did little to address a real terms pay cut of 14.5 per cent suffered by higher education staff since 2009.

The squeeze on staff salaries comes at a time when pay and benefits for university leaders has increased on average by three per cent with the average pay and pensions package for vice-chancellors standing at over £270,000.

Read more: It is no wonder college lecturers are so resolutely in favour of action

UCU Scotland Official Mary Senior said: "Strike action is always a last resort, but the squeeze on pay has created genuine anger. Staff working in Scotland’s universities want to see a sensible offer which starts to address the real-terms pay cut they have endured since 2009."

Professor Sir Paul Curran, chair of UCEA, said: “The employers have been committed to genuine and productive negotiations with the trade unions and, using only two of the three meetings at the trade unions’ request, have listened and responded with a sustainable and fair final offer.

"Having made an opening offer that was already at a limit of affordability the employers are clear that this offer – taking the total average sector increase to 2.7 per cent - is the very best offer that will be available this year.

"We believe that trade unions can put this offer positively to their members as one that addresses the key aspects of their pay claim in the context of a financially challenging sector environment."