Natfhe, which mainly represents members at newer universities, said teaching had been cancelled at a number of institutions.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Unions praise pay strike response

The AUT and Natfhe are to resume discussions with UCEA next Monday, under the auspices of the arbitration service Acas.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Universities pledge new pay offer

They are vowing to fight the changes, and one of the unions, NATFHE, will meet on Wednesday to consider calls for strike action.

BBC: The college has been forced to cut courses

The AUT and Natfhe are refusing to mark exams or coursework.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Lecturers reject latest pay offer

Two lecturers' unions, the AUT and Natfhe, are boycotting all exam-marking and coursework assessment - and in the AUT's case exam-setting - until they see a "substantial" pay rise for members.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Universities pledge new pay offer

Roger Kline of the lecturers' union Natfhe said the Russell Group represented a sixth of UK universities - but already received a third of all public money going into higher education and 60% of all research council funding.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Top universities want ?5,000 fees

The lecturers' union Natfhe is calling on its members to vote to reject the college employers' offer of a 3.7% pay rise - because it contains no "catch-up" on the pay gap with schoolteachers, which the union puts at more than 7%.

BBC: Colleges protest at new inspections