BUS workers with Stagecoach South in Hampshire are to be balloted over strike action in protest over ten different pay rates for the same job.

Any stoppages would affect thousands of passengers in key cities like Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth, as well as towns like Eastleigh, Romsey, Basing-stoke and Andover.

Senior union representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) met on Wednesday to discuss what they described as "divide and rule" on pay.

Union bosses want one set of pay negotiations with transport giant Stagecoach and its south coast bus arm, instead of various ones across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

The union is unhappy with pay rates, with some staff earning £7 an hour and others £7.60.

Sharon Wentworth, the TGWU regional industrial organiser and spokeswoman for bus workers, said: "The current situation is not fair and, quite frankly, it is inefficient."

She added: "This situation has arisen because of drift over the last few years, but the union organisation is refreshed, robust, revitalised and determined to change back to one rate for the job and one set of negotiations for all."

Stagecoach admitted it was "very surprised" by the strike ballot threat, saying talks had taken place earlier this month with the TGWU and that the union had agreed discussions in mid-December.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Talk of strike action is bizarre, and, frankly, unhelpful. It is not what bus passengers want to hear."

He added: "All of this is very unnecessary; we have discussed this issue and there is no need for this nonsense of talk of strike action. None of that is in anyone's interests."

Stagecoach defended localised pay talks, arguing that employees at different bus depots had different priorities, with the union happy to agree with that in the past.

More than 1,000 bus workers are involved in the current dispute.

Last month the TGWU said it held a vote to ask if workers wanted a return to one set of pay talks - 701 said yes, with 76 opting for the status quo.