Fitzwilliam MuseumMuseum staff are among the University of Cambridge workers taking strike actionMore than 500 University of Cambridge workers are striking, demanding a "Cambridge weighting" supplement to match that paid to equivalent staff at Oxford University, a union said.
Library, museum, finance and IT staff are among members of Unite taking action over two days, with a further strike set for next week.
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.
A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said it regretted the action and remained "committed to open and constructive dialogue".
Unite said in a statement: "Cambridge, like Oxford, is one of the most expensive cities in the UK – with rental costs 30% above the national average – and Cambridge University can more than afford to introduce weighting."
In 2024, a pensionable Oxford University weighting of £1,500 per year was introduced. Last year, Oxford increased the payment by 15% to £1,730 and extended it to all non-clinical staff, the union said.
Cambridge staff received no equivalent, apart from a 2.5% interim payment, which did not address the cost of living for those on a low salary and could be removed at any time, it added.
The university spokesperson said: "We understand the challenges around cost of living, and have introduced several measures in response, including a supplement of 2.5% of basic pay for employees on lower pay grades, raising the minimum starting salary for research assistants and increasing paid family leave."
Staff are expected to strike again on Wednesday, as well as on 30 April and 1 May.
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