UNION members at a university will start voting on a proposed walk out over cuts tomorrow.

An initial round of voluntary redundancies at Middlesex University did not save enough money to meet a drop in its funding from the Government.

Managers say they have reopened the voluntary programme but UNISON claim that compulsory job losses could be on the cards with a total of 300 posts under threat.

Members will spend three weeks voting on whether to strike, with the ballot due to close on September 23.

Paul Howell, the union’s branch secretary for the university, said a recent bump in student experience ratings was down to the employees.

He said: “These gains have been delivered by university staff now threatened with being made compulsory redundant.

“The increased workloads and stress created for the staff left behind will do little to improve this reputation, the university has used up what little good will it has.”

The university has acknowledged compulsory redundancies will be an option if it cannot cut costs through the voluntary scheme.

But it said it was “very unfortunate” the union was balloting before the final outcome of that process was known.