Unionised workers at French outsourcing giant Atos are to vote this week on whether to strike during the Olympics to protest the company’s "refusal to commit to becoming a ‘living wage’ employer".

Atos is the technology services provider for the Olympic games, supporting IT services at many of the venues as well as the Technology Operations Centre, which it describes as "the nerve centre of the Olympic Games". Since its acquisition of Siemens’ IT services arm last year, Atos is also the BBC’s IT outsourcing provider.

The Public and Commercial Services Union says its has 1,500 members who work at. Its members have already voted to reject an offer of a pay increase that the union says was below inflation. PCS demand as ‘living wage’ for all Atos staff of at least £7.20 an hour, or £8.30 in London.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "In sponsoring the Olympics, Atos would like the world to associate it with a spirit of effort and success, but the reality is that it makes its millions on the backs of its low-paid staff.

"The treatment of its own workers is given an added significance by its connection with the government’s brutal plans to cut vital benefits for sick and disabled people."

An Atos spokesperson said: “We are currently in discussions with PCS and have made a fair and competitive offer. We have robust contingency plans in place to avoid any disruption to services in the event of a strike.”