Staff strike at University of Gloucestershire due to pay dispute
Workers protest against below-inflation pay offer
Last updated 21st Apr 2026
Support staff at the University of Gloucestershire are staging a strike today (21 April) after rejecting a proposed pay increase of 1.4%, which they argue does not match inflation.
UNISON states that library assistants, administrators, IT workers, and other support staff are frustrated with a pay proposal that fails to keep up with living costs amidst rising prices for food, housing, and energy.
UNISON also highlights that this offer represents the lowest salary increase for university staff in several years, exacerbating challenges for household budgets.
Adding further dissatisfaction, the university has recently invested approximately £75m in a new City Campus in Gloucester, backed by external funding.
UNISON claims this raises questions about the university's financial priorities, given that staff members are essentially facing a real-terms pay reduction.
Further strike action is planned for tomorrow (22nd April) as the dispute over pay persists.
Tim Roberts, South West regional secretary for UNISON, commented, "Staff at the University of Gloucestershire don’t want to be on strike, but they feel they’ve been left with no choice."
"This offer is far below what workers need to keep up with the cost of living. It’s even harder to accept when significant sums are being invested elsewhere, while the workforce is expected to take another real-terms pay cut."
Roberts added that universities "can’t hide behind national bargaining when staff are struggling" and voiced the need for institutions to advocate for fair pay.
A University of Gloucestershire spokesperson said: “The higher education sector is going through a period of unprecedented financial pressure, and this is reflected in the nationally negotiated pay award offered via the Universities and Colleges Employers Association.
“While we do not yet know how many staff will take part in the strike action because staff are not required to advise us in advance, we believe that most of our staff understand the need to balance pay increases with ensuring the continued financial sustainability of the institution.
"As such, we expect any disruption to students will be minimal. However, we will keep students informed if anything changes.”