Staff at universities in London are to strike next week to demand extra help with cost-of-living expenses.

Members of the Natfhe, AUT, Unison and Amicus unions are calling for a �4,000 weighting allowance for all members based in the capital.

The one-day walkout on Tuesday will affect all London's universities and higher education institutes.

Cost pressures

A spokesman for the unions said: "The recent letter to universities outlining future funding arrangements makes it clear that funds exist for universities to address difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff.

"Just about every subject in London has staff recruitment problems. The Secretary of State for Education has said he is well aware of extra cost pressures in London.

"Funds exist to tackle these extra costs and should be used for improving London weighting allowances."

University staff will protest outside the Department for Education and Skills and set up picket lines near universities.

Peanuts

A "battle bus" is to visit picket lines and a rickshaw procession will carry four actors playing vice-chancellors, who will dispense "peanuts and advice" to strikers.

The unions say the government has �170m available to tackle recruitment problems between now and 2005-6.

They claim higher education workers have one of the lowest London weightings of all public servants.

Those at the University of London receive �2,134, and those at the newer universities between �603 and �2,355.

This is compared with more than �6,000 for police, �3,500 for the prison service and �3,000 for teachers.

The previous strike by the four unions closed several London campuses last November.