Staff at the University of Leicester including administrators, cleaners, security and catering staff have until 26 August 2022 to vote on whether to strike over pay.
Employees overwhelmingly rejected a 3% pay offer from the University and Colleges Employers Association in May.
UNISON says employers refused to increase their offer despite union negotiators making the case for a rise of 2% above inflation (which is currently 11.8) after a decade of pay freezes and real terms pay cuts.
Staff struggling to make ends meet as prices continue to soar and have been left with no option but to consider striking, the union adds.
Nationally, more than 20,000 workers across 93 universities will be balloted and other education unions, including the University and College Union, have also rejected the 3% offer and are expected to ballot staff on strike action.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser Mark Irvine said: “These are the staff that kept the university going through the pandemic and this is the thanks they get.
“With electricity, gas, petrol and food prices soaring – and such a low offer – we feel we have no other option but to vote on strike action.”
UNISON University of Leicester branch secretary Bill Hassan said: “A number of university workers are relying on food banks to feed their families.
“When hard-working low-paid staff are struggling to make ends meet, the university is refusing to give help in the way of a decent pay rise.”