Staff are calling for a “Cambridge weighting” supplement to match the University of Oxford.
Over 500 members of Cambridge University staff will strike over wages and are demanding a “Cambridge weighting” supplement to match Oxford. The Unite members are asking for a “pensionable local pay supplement” for its staff to address the high cost of living in Cambridge.
The workers are also seeking a full pay review. The strike includes workers from the library, museum, estates management, finance, student services, and IT staff.
The strikes will take place on April 21 and 22 as well as on April 30 and May 1. The picket lines will be at various locations across the university.
Cambridge University offered a 1.4% pay increase for 2025 to 2026, which has been described as a “significant real terms pay cut”. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cambridge University is exceptionally wealthy and can more than afford to provide a fair wage for its lowest-paid workers and introduce a local pay supplement as Oxford University has. These workers have Unite’s total backing in striking to achieve this.”
The University of Oxford introduced the Oxford University Weighting of £1,500 in 2024, increased the payment to £1,730 in 2025, and extended it to all non-clinical staff. Cambridge staff currently do not receive anything similar, aside from a 2.5% interim payment.
Unite has said this payment does not address the cost of living for those on lower wages. The payment can also be removed at any time, due to “no firm commitments to retain it permanently”.
Unite has said the university can “more than afford” to introduce a Cambridge weighting payment. Cambridge University had net assets of £8.26 billion at July 2025, and its endowment fund manages assets in excess of £4.5 billion.
Unite regional officer Chris Hardwick said: “Cambridge University is entirely responsible for the disruption that will be caused to students. It can entirely afford to pay Cambridge weighting and help alleviate the severe cost of living pressures its workers are suffering but is choosing not to out of greed.
“This dispute will continue to escalate until the university follows Oxford’s example and introduces a supplement to support loyal and hardworking staff.”




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