Support staff at the University of Gloucestershire are striking after rejecting a 1.4% pay increase they say is below the rising cost of living. Unison said library assistants, administrators, IT workers and other support staff will strike on Thursday, with additional strike action planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. Union leaders described the offer as “insulting” and said some members cannot afford basic necessities on the wage being proposed. The university said disruption to students is expected to be minimal and cited unprecedented financial pressure across the higher education sector. The dispute highlights how squeezed labor budgets and cost-of-living inflation are colliding with workforce morale and operational continuity at universities, with near-term implications for student services and campus climate.