City's living costs drive workers to food banks
Summary
Workers at the University of Cambridge are striking for extra pay because the high cost of living in the city makes it hard for low-paid employees to afford basic needs. Many workers, including some with jobs, use food banks to support their families.Key Facts
- The cost of housing in Cambridge is very high, causing financial problems for workers with low wages.
- Hundreds of University of Cambridge staff are on strike seeking a pay supplement called "Cambridge weighting."
- A comparable supplement exists at Oxford University, where staff receive around £1,730 extra per year.
- A Unite union member reported spending over half his salary on rent and breaking even each month with no savings.
- Cambridge City Foodbank helps many families, including those with working members who still struggle financially.
- The University of Cambridge offers a 2.5% pay supplement for low-paid staff, increased starting salaries for research assistants, and more paid family leave.
- The university says it is open to discussions with the union to resolve the pay dispute.
- The strike includes picketing at locations like The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
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