Universities in the capital are expected to close tomorrow as staff strike over London weighting.
University workers - from porters to professors - are staging the one-day walkout because some have not had an increase in London weighting for 10 years.
University employers, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea), warned that the strike would have "detrimental effects" on students and research.
Up to 120,000 students are expected to be affected by the strike, called by the Association of University Teachers, Natfhe, Unison and Amicus.
Among the strikers are fire wardens and those responsible for health and safety.
A Natfhe spokesman said it was "increasingly likely" that some universities will close.
According to Natfhe's "intelligence", London Metropolitan University will close. Thames Valley University will be closing some classes and staff at the London Institute and Kingston University are seeking total closure on health and safety grounds.
Staff are asking for an increase in weighting to £4,000. Allowances at the University of London have been frozen at £2,134 for 10 years. Its vice-chancellor is refusing any increase. New universities are offering a maximum increase of £90 - employees now receive up to £2,355. The unions claim the vice-chancellors are refusing to hold further talks on the issue.
AUT general secretary Sally Hunt said: "Throughout the build up to this dispute we have been very keen to meet with the vice-chancellors and talk. But they're not even prepared to do that.
"When reasonable staff are pushed to strike, vice-chancellors should sit down with the unions and seek a resolution. So far, they have not done this."
She added: "During the last 10 years, house prices in the capital have increased by 155% and yet London weighting for staff at the University of London has been frozen."
But Ucea said the strike was "disappointing", and pointed out that the unions agreed to a national 3.5% pay agreement in August. In a statement, Ucea said: "As in other parts of the public sector, the appropriate level for London allowances is what is necessary to recruit and retain diverse groups of staff in different parts of the capital, not the single figure being claimed by unions in several sectors."
Jocelyn Prudence, chief executive of Ucea, added the employers would be willing to discuss the issue with the unions, but only as part of on-going negotiations about fundamental reform of pay arrangements for higher education.
The National Union of Students said it supported the action, regardless of the impact on their own education. It's president, Mandy Telford, said: "We believe that one day's disruption as part of the fight to secure better pay and conditions for staff will have clear benefits in the long run."
Demonstrations are taking place outside university buildings across the capital with picket lines back up by student theatre and jazz bands. A stretched limousine filled with university "fat cat vice-chancellors" will be pursued by an open-top bus of university staff past each of the main picket lines.
