News / protest
University of Bristol staff strike over ‘insulting’ pay offer
Staff from the University of Bristol are striking over an “insulting” below-inflation pay offer of 1.4 per cent.
The strikes, taking place from Tuesday to Thursday, are made up of support staff from across the university, including library assistants, administrators and IT workers.
Strikers are gathered on picket lines in various locations across the university campus including outside the Wills Memorial Building and Senate House, supported by trade union UNISON.
According to a leaflet distributed at the picket line on Tuesday morning, striking staff are demanding “an increase on all pay points of at least RPI (as at August 2025) + 3.5 per cent, or a flat rate increase on each spine point of at least £2500 (whichever is greater)”.
Staff are also endorsing an “opposition to tuition fees and support for a publicly funded, joined-up HE system”.
Around 70 strikers were gathered outside the Wills Memorial Building at 10.15am on Tuesday demanding fairer pay – photo: Cessie Hall-Eade
According to the most recent university records, University of Bristol vice-chancellor Evelyn Welch’s annual salary is £312,581, while the average salary of university staff is £33,000.
In a recent ballot to university staff, 93 per cent of a 60 per cent turnout voted in favour of strike action.
Staff have said that the 1.4 per cent pay rise offer, which is a 3.2 per cent real-terms pay cut, is insulting amid a cost of living crisis and rising bills.
Mike Short, head of education at UNISON, said: “University workers have suffered years of below-inflation pay offers. So for bosses to come to the table with just 1.4% is nothing short of an insult.”
Jayne Jackson, South West regional manager at UNISON, added: “Staff at the University of Bristol are taking strike action because they’re not going to swallow the lowest pay offer in years during a cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s even worse when set against the kind of pay rises those in charge continue to enjoy.”
The pay offer, made by national university employers’ body UCEA in May 2025, is the lowest since 2020.
A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We respect the rights of our staff to act where they feel strongly about issues which affect them but are disappointed that colleagues represented by UNISON have voted to take part in this industrial action.
“The action relates to the 2025-2026 national pay award negotiated by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) on behalf of all participating institutions.
“We cannot unilaterally change this award.
“Mindful of the importance of supporting our students’ learning and wider experience, we have robust plans in place to ensure our support services continue to operate and be accessible.
“We do not anticipate this strike action will impact teaching and assessment.
“While these are challenging financial times for the University and wider sector, we recognise that investing in our staff is a priority.
“We therefore ensure that staff pay continues to be as competitive as possible within the sector and continue to pay the Real Living Wage.”
Main photo & video: Cessie Hall-Eade
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