ACADEMICS will walk out of their jobs next week over a pay dispute at the University of York.

Lecturers are set to strike on Wednesday and Thursday after the University and College Union labelled a 1.1 per cent pay offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA) "an insult".

The action will also see them refuse to work overtime, set additional work or undertake any voluntary duties like covering timetabled classes for absent colleagues.

UCU claim universities can afford to pay more and the latest offer does little to address a pay cut of 14.5 per cent suffered by higher education staff since 2009.

This comes at a time when, according to UCU, the average pay and pensions package for vice-chancellors is more than £270,000.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: "A 1.1 per cent offer is an insult to the hard work and dedication of higher education staff, particularly in light of the 3 per cent average pay rise enjoyed by vice-chancellors this year."

UCEA said the 1.1 per cent offer will provide a minimum sector salary of £15,052 and the lowest paid will see an increase of £729 per annum or 5.1 per cent, with the hourly-rate on the new lowest pay spine point at £8.25 per hour - meeting the voluntary living wage campaign rate.

A spokesman added: "Planning for any form of industrial action is disappointing for Higher Education institutions with one trade union on a path to try and cause disruption.

"The vast majority of staff in HE institutions understand the reality of the current environment and do not support action that could harm both their institutions and their students."