UNIVERSITY of Winchester support staff are set to strike this week over pay.

Workers at the university, including cleaners, IT technicians, administrators, library staff and others supporting student learning, will walk out from Wednesday, July 26 to Friday, July 28 in an escalation of their dispute over what union UNISON calls an “inadequate pay rise”.

This follows seven days of strike action in June.

UNISON says the pay rise staff have been given falls short of what’s needed to cope with cost-of-living pressures. The 2023/24 pay offer is worth 5-8 per cent depending on salary, with a higher percentage rise for lower-paid workers.

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UNISON South East head of higher education Neil Duncan-Jordan said: "Senior leaders in higher education have been enjoying executive-style pay and bonuses over the past few years.

“But support staff in vital roles, who make sure students have a decent university experience, have endured years of real-terms pay cuts.

"Many universities have already made local agreements to resolve the dispute, including offering changes to working hours or awarding bonuses. Winchester could do the same, but has so far chosen not to.

“The universities must rethink their inadequate offer again and improve wages.”

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UNISON head of education Mike Short added: “Support workers play a crucial role helping students through university, but many can’t support themselves as prices of food and fuel continue to rise.

“Workers are having to leave for better-paid jobs elsewhere leaving millions of students facing a worsening university experience.

“The employers must now come back with a better pay offer or staff will be forced to continue with industrial action.

The University of Winchester has been reached for comment.