University of Bristol support staff mount three days of strike action over fair pay

Administrators, library staff and IT support workers from the University of Bristol are walking out this week in protest against below-inflation pay increases. 

Taking action across multiple days and sites, protesters are rallying against a 1.4 per cent pay rise offer, a pay increase they say does not coincide with the increasing cost of living. 

Pay is decided by the joint higher education unions (JNCHES) and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), with the UCEA responsible for the pay offer. 

According to trade union Unison, which represents the staff, the 1.4 per cent pay increase amounts to a 3.4 per cent pay cut in real terms, when taking into account rising inflation since July 2025.  

Inequitable pay rises appear to be a constant issue for staff, with protesters claiming they have faced 17 years of unfair salaries. 

This fall in wages sits in contrast with university vice chancellors, as recent figures suggest their average salaries rose by five per cent last year. Evelyn Welch, University of Bristol Vice Chancellor earns £312,600 per year. 

Protesters are calling for either an increase in pay of at least RPI 3.5 per cent or a flat rate increase of at least £2,500.  

The Bristol Tab spoke to Chloe Clarke, deputy student admin manager, at the Unison picket outside the Wills Memorial Building on Wednesday. 

Chloe called for change, saying: “Our demands as a branch at the University of Bristol are for Evelyn Welch, the VC, to back our cause for those negotiations on this year’s pay to be reopened.

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“We also want the University of Bristol to lobby the government for financial reform across higher education. The system isn’t working at the minute, it’s a broken system and we’re against the increasing marketisation of university education.” 

When asked about her reactions to some of the University of Bristol’s recent development projects, such as its £500 million Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and new development in Mumbai, Chloe explained staff frustrations around fair pay. 

“I think the messaging we are getting for the university is that there’s not enough money to pay staff fairly. I think its a false statement to say that there is no money anywhere to pay staff, I think it’s where the university thinks its happy to spend its money versus where its not”, she said. 

“We’re covering everything that the university does, but we’re the forgotten workforce behind it all.” 

Many locals showed their support by honking car horns and Chloe told me how much support the strike had received from students. They hope the protests will open discussions about staff treatment as well as rising university costs. 

A spokesperson from the University of Bristol 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.

The protests are set to continue until Thursday, with a lunchtime rally at the Wills Memorial Building between 12pm and 1pm tomorrow. Further walkouts will take place on the 10th and 11th of March.