ACADEMICS and students could "shut down" the University of York during an unprecedented week of joint strike action over top-up fees, it was revealed today.

The week of action against variable top-up fees and unpopular pay and modernisation proposals tabled by the university employers, is set to be staged by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the Association of University Teachers (AUT).

York could be hit twice in the week beginning Monday, February 23, as there would be one UK-wide strike and one in each of the home nations.

Both organisations are protesting against what they call the "marketisation" of higher education.

The decision on whether the AUT will join the NUS will be taken by the union's national executive on February 12, following a ballot of members.

AUT spokesman Simon Parker said: "The employers' pay and modernisation proposals would lead to many lecturers losing £6,000 over eight years, researchers losing £17,000 over nine years and senior support staff losing £47,000 over 21 years. "The package would also lead to under-regulated localised pay bargaining, which could result in unequal pay for work of equal value - and have a detrimental affect on recruitment and staff retention at institutions across the country."

Mr Parker said the envisaged changes would introduce variability into the awarding of pay and would therefore be the other side of the top-up fees coin.

"It's for that reason that - unless the employers come up with a much better offer - the AUT hopes to join the NUS in shutting down the university sector," he added.

University of York spokeswoman Hilary Layton said no arrangements had yet been made for alternative teaching as it was unclear how many staff would be taking part in any action.

"I think whatever happens we will still be operating," she said.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, February 04, 2004