UNISON Strikers Reject ‘Insultingly Low’ Pay Increase
Written by Roxanna Brealey, Editor-in-Chief, BA History and Politics.
From March 10-11th, academic and non-academic support staff took part in UNISON strikes across campus. 85.5% of SOAS UNISON members were in favour of strike action, protesting the 1.4% national pay increase for the higher education sector. This has caused great concern for many in the sector, as their national pay increase is below the inflation rate. As a result, staff are facing a real-terms pay cut.
This is the first time UNISON members have been on strike on campus in over 2 years, marking a clear rejection of the 1.4% national pay increase. But it is also in protest of the higher education sector’s comparatively low national pay increase, as other public sector jobs received, on average, a 3.8% pay rise.
These strikes are not just a one-off issue; they are representative of a wider problem facing the UK higher education sector. Staff have experienced a real-terms pay cut of 28% since 2010, with economic conditions seemingly worsening. UNISON strikes took place across the country at different universities, including King’s College London, University of Staffordshire, and Bristol University.
Across the two days, a picket line was present outside SOAS, where striking staff congregated. Solidarity could be seen in support of the cause. Academic staff who are not part of UNISON decided not to cross the picket line by rescheduling their lessons to different days or moving them online. Additionally, many students joined the striking staff on the picket line.
The pay increase is comparatively lower than in other public sector jobs. For example, MPs’ basic rate of pay is set to increase by 5%, which is above the rate of inflation, amounting to a salary of £98,599. Additionally, military personnel are also set to receive an above-inflation pay rise of 4.5%.
The Spirit spoke to a committee member of SOAS’ UNISON branch, who expressed concern and confusion as to why academic and non-academic support staff had been put in this position. They mentioned that ‘the reality is that we have members of staff who cannot pay their rent or who can no longer afford to put their heating on.’ They noted the pay increase disparity between different public sectors, particularly for army personnel, questioning that ‘surely educating people is worth more than killing them?’
National basic pay for the public sector is decided by the government on a case-by-case basis. A parliamentary motion was submitted in November 2025, calling for the government to work more with higher education unions, in order to resolve the ‘pay crisis.’ However, this motion has only been signed by 14 MPs.
Overall, UNISON have deemed this pay increase as ‘insultingly low ’, and more strikes are set to occur at SOAS between March 24th and 25th.
