Cambridge University staff 'going to foodbanks' amid rising costs
They're set to continue striking today
A union is warning that staff at Cambridge University may not be able to afford living in the city for much longer.
Hundreds of workers are set to strike for a second day in the hope they get the same bonus as staff at the University of Oxford to deal with rising bills.
Around 500 staff are expected to walk out at different locations across Cambridge University this week.
"We have a 30% increase on the cost of living in the city, £1,300 is the basic rent," Chris Hardwick, regional officer at Unite, said.
"Many staff within the University are on a real living wage, just over £13 an hour, so for them, living in the city is really hard and we just want the University to recognise that."
A spokesperson for Cambridge University said it has introduced a bonus of 2.5% of basic pay for workers on lower pay grades as part of "several measures" it has brought in to help staff manage the cost of living.
Tracy Stanners - one of the workers who's walked out - works as a portable appliance testing technician at Cambridge.
"People are stopping and asking what it's all about, there's the Cambridge weighting that would benefit University staff immensely," she said.
Unite said it wants to see 'Cambridge weighting' - a pensionable local pay supplement for all staff to address the cost of living in the city - introduced.
Tracy - who travels into work - said some staff based in Cambridge are struggling to pay for basics because of high costs.
"Even just help with food, travel, just to get a cup of coffee; it's so expensive," she added.
"I've heard of colleagues going to food banks and that's not on; this is Cambridge University, my understanding is this is one of the richest universities in the country."
The scale of the strikes has also led to one of Cambridge's most notable buildings - the Fitzwilliam Museum - having to close when strikes are taking place.
Mr Hardwick believes through the likes of donations that Cambridge University receives, it can afford to pay staff more so they don't "just live day to day and worry about their bills.
"We've had good engagement with the public and (they) seem to be supportive about what they're doing and they live in the city as well, so they're suffering just the same costs as living as our members.
Cambridge University says it remains "committed to open and constructive dialogue with Unite around pay and other issues.”