THE THREAT of industrial action hangs over Southampton's schools, it emerged today.

School support staff could join more than 2,000 council workers in a one-day strike this month if threatened industrial action gets the green light.

Around 500 members of Unison, the public services union, working in the city's schools, including nursery nurses, school meals staff, caretakers and learning support assistants, could down tools in three weeks time if a union ballot produces a vote in favour of industrial action.

They will join 2,100 Unison members who have already voted for the one-day strike to take place on May 21.

The planned strike is in protest against council bosses who, the union say, have failed to implement a new pay deal which would have boosted the wages of school support staff.

Other council trade unions The TGWU and GMB are also balloting their members in the council for the proposed strike which is set to cripple council services in the city.

The dispute between council employees and city chiefs began in February following the controversial budget set by the city's ruling Labour group. The budget agreed to around 130 job cuts as well as slashing around £400,000 from employee's "essential car user allowance" budget.

Workers have been conducting a "go-slow" since the controversial plans were agreed. They have refused to use their cars for council business crippling essential services including meals on wheels and home visits by social services staff.

The latest move comes after talks to try and bring a halt to the strike between the unions, the council and industrial peacemakers ACAS failed.

Fresh talks are planned for May 12 but many members of Unison have already agreed to stage a one-day stoppage on May 21 to put further pressure on the council.

Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said: "The dispute is at a crossroads. If the talks on May 12 make no progress, the trade unions will close down the council on the May 21."

A Southampton City Council spokeswoman said: "If the strike goes ahead, we foresee that the majority of our schools will still be open to pupils as normal, as has happened during previous strike action.

"There may, however, be more disruption to our special schools who rely more heavily on support staff.

"We will issue fuller details of which schools will be affected by industrial action once we have received the Unison decision on whether to strike or not on May 21."