Aberdeen was the second university to make a local offer

Less than half of the eligible AUT members at St Andrews University cast their ballot, with more than 90% giving the offer their backing.

The union said it was not accepting the offer and a similar deal was rejected at a meeting in Aberdeen.

The AUT said national talks were the only way to resolve the dispute.

The two universities voiced disappointment at the decisions.

I am delighted that AUT members in both St Andrews and Aberdeen have rejected the divide and rule tactics of the employers Sally Hunt AUT general secretary

St Andrews and Aberdeen broke ranks to offer the local deals as national talks and industrial action continue.

Lecturers' unions have rejected 3% this year and 3% next year.

The employers are promising an "improved and realistic" offer when negotiations resume on Monday.

St Andrews offered its staff 5% this year, 3.5% next and 3.5% the year after.

The local AUT association hastily arranged a ballot but was told this was against the rules - for which it has apologised.

'An indication'

Its president, Greg Woolf, said: "It was an honest attempt in good faith, and under severe pressure of time, to seek guidance from the membership with respect to the offer made by the principal's office."

The branch rejected requests to cancel the ballot, but said it would only give "an indication of opinion".

There was a turnout of 46.7%, with those in favour making up 43% of the eligible membership.

The local branch of the AUT has reneged on its promise to honour the ballot's results following pressure from the union at a national level St Andrews spokeswoman

"On this basis - that less than half of those eligible to vote voted in favour of the offer - we consider that we need to communicate to the principal the sense that we think that the local association would not be minded, in a properly constituted vote, to accept his offer," Mr Woolf said.

Aberdeen University had tabled the same three-year deal as St Andrews.

At a meeting on Thursday, members in the city endorsed the union's national negotiating position and declined to enter local discussions.

AUT general secretary Sally Hunt said: "I am delighted that AUT members in both St Andrews and Aberdeen have rejected the divide and rule tactics of the employers.

"However, I can understand, and indeed share, the concerns and frustration of many principals and vice-chancellors that the dispute has been allowed to drag on for so long.

"I can reiterate to them that I also want a quick resolution to this dispute and any disruption kept to an absolute minimum."

Change of mind

Professor Stephen Logan, senior vice-principal at Aberdeen University, expressed regret at the rejection of the offer.

St Andrews University said it would honour its offer to staff and that the scheduled examination diet in May would go ahead as planned.

"Despite the vote, the local branch of the AUT has reneged on its promise to honour the ballot's results following pressure from the union at a national level," said a spokeswoman.