WORKERS at a university in London’s East End are being balloted for strike action over a “brutal” attempt to withhold staff pay, the University and College Union confirmed yesterday.

Walkouts could start next month if teaching staff at Queen Mary, University of London, back action in the ballot which closes on March 21, the union said.

It slammed bosses for refusing to pay workers undertaking lawful action short of a strike, such as not rescheduling classes lost to industrial action and removing uploaded teaching materials.