Both the AUT and
NATFHE union executives decided last night's 13.1 per cent three-year offer was not good enough.
"After two decades of pay decline this is our only option and
NATFHE members are firmly supporting the industrial action."
Natfhe bosses are threatening an all-out strike if the offer isn't improved.
"We have not taken this decision lightly and expect the university and
Natfhe to swiftly resolve these disputes through negotiation and without further adverse affect on Northumbria students."
"
Natfhe and the AOC need to find another way to get their point across to the universities.
College lecturers union
NATFHE said they were already behind compared with school teachers who last year were awarded a 3.2 per cent rise compared with lecturers' 2.8 per cent.
Last week members of
Natfhe and the Association of University Teachers (AUT) at the North East's four universities staged a one-day walkout in a dispute over pay.
The joint action by
Natfhe and the Association of University Teachers affected Aston and Birmingham universities as well as Newman College, in Bartley Green.
Natfhe said it would take the University of Glamorgan to court if it implements a plan to cut lecturers' pay by a third if they stop assessing students.
Colin Gledhill, regional officer for
Natfhe, added: "There will be a significant withdrawal of labour today.
A spokeswoman for the college said: "The college is affected today by strike action taken by
NATFHE union members.
The
Natfhe union claims colleges had promised to bring pay in line with that of teachers.