University of Bristol staff vote to strike over pay
UNISON union has called a new pay offer "sub-par"
Last updated 15th May 2023
Support staff at the University of Bristol have voted to strike after receiving what they have called a "sub-par" pay offer from bosses.
Cleaners, IT technicians, library staff and other workers have voted to strike at nine institutions across England in total and will now decide on dates for action, unless, they say, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) improves its pay offer for 2023/24.
UNISON has revealed the news today (15 May) saying the offer "falls a long way short of inflation" and staff deserve better.
The 2023/24 pay offer is worth 5-8% depending on salary, with a higher percentage rise for lower paid workers.
Some of this amount – around £83 per month before tax – was paid early to staff in February to help with the increasing cost of living.
UNISON South West head of higher education Chris Roche said: “University staff deserve more than another sub-par pay deal.
“Support workers play a crucial role helping students though university.
"But many can’t support themselves as prices of food and fuel continue to rise.
“Workers are having to leave for better-paid jobs elsewhere leaving millions of students facing a worsening university experience.
“The employers must now come back with a better pay offer or staff will be forced to take industrial action.”
Responding to the calls for new strike action, the University of Bristol say they're 'disappointed at the news', but respect their staff members' right to strike.
A spokesperson from the university added: “We have been trying hard to avoid this and are very disappointed that we have reached a point where industrial action is now being planned by Unison. However, we respect the right of our union member colleagues to act where they feel strongly about issues that affect them.
“The University of Bristol is part of national higher education collective bargaining along with 146 other institutions, so we cannot unilaterally change the agreed pay award for our staff.
“We recognise the challenges currently being faced by many across our community and feel that the offer put forward was fair. This included an eight percent pay uplift for our lowest paid members of staff which was backdated. Staff not already at the top of their pay bands receive annual incremental pay rises in addition to the annual uplift received by everyone else.”