University staff strike over 'insulting' pay offer
BBCUniversity staff say they have "no choice" but to strike over an "insulting" pay offer which does not reflect the rising cost of living.
Support staff at the University of Gloucestershire are striking throughout Thursday after rejecting a 1.4% pay increase, according to trade union Unison.
Joe Sucksmith, Unison's convenor at the university, described the pay offer as insulting and said members "cannot afford to live" on the wage being offered.
A University spokesperson said the higher education sector is going through a period of "unprecedented financial pressure".
According to Unison, library assistants, administrators, IT workers and other support staff are taking strike action because the proposed pay increase does not reflect the rising cost of living.
Sucksmith said the union represents some of the lowest‑paid workers in the sector.
"Our members are the most affected by the cost of living crisis," he said.
He added that some members "cannot afford to put bread on the table with their pay".
Further strike action is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Unison south-west regional secretary, Tim Roberts, said the offer was "far below what workers need to keep up with the cost of living".
He said staff at the university "don't want to be on strike" but feel they have been "left with no choice".
The pay offer is "even harder to accept when significant sums are being invested elsewhere", he added.
The action comes as the university has invested about £75m in its new City Campus in Gloucester.
A university spokesperson said they expect disruption to students will be minimal.
They added: "We believe most of our staff understand the need to balance pay increases with ensuring the financial sustainability of the institution."
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