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Tue, 21 Apr 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 Uni staff strike for cost of living 'weighting'

Library, museum, finance and IT staff are among members of Unite taking action over pay.
Over 500 University of Cambridge staff are on strike, demanding a "Cambridge weighting" payment that matches the supplement given to Oxford University employees. Workers from various departments, including libraries, museums, finance, and IT, are participating in the two-day action, with another planned for next week. The university's wealth is being highlighted as a reason why it can afford to provide fair wages and introduce a local pay supplement. According to Unite, the union representing the staff, Cambridge University has not offered an equivalent payment, unlike Oxford University which introduced a pensionable weighting of £1,500 per year in 2024. This was increased by 15% to £1,730 last year and extended to all non-clinical staff. Staff members claim that a similar payment is necessary to help cover the high cost of living in Cambridge, with rents being 30% above the national average.