Support staff at the University of Brighton have won seven extra days of paid holiday, their union has annoucned.
Library assistants, administrators and IT workers are among those to benefit, according to Unison.
It follows a long campaign by the union highlighting the unfair difference in annual leave entitlement between academics and staff who work in professional services.
From September, the union says full-time professional services staff on grades 1 to 9 will receive 30 days of paid holiday from day one, narrowing the gap with lecturing staff, who get 35.
That means those on the lowest pay will see a full extra seven days, while those on higher grades and with longer service also benefit from increased leave.
Support workers will continue to push for the same annual leave as academic staff, the union says.
As part of the agreement, the university has also committed to reviewing pay-grade boundaries for the lowest-paid workers, potentially increasing wages for facilities and domestic staff.
Unison University of Brighton branch secretary Ivan Bonsall said: “Professional services staff are the backbone of the university.
“They manage admissions, maintain clean and safe buildings and provide welfare support for students.
“Despite their contribution, they’re treated differently to academic staff while often working longer hours and receiving fewer paid holidays.
“This decision is a step forward but Unison’s fight for equal holiday entitlement continues.”
A spokeswoman for the university said: “We value our constructive relationship with UNISON and have been discussing a range of issues affecting staff, including an equitable approach to annual leave entitlements across the university.
“It is important to us that any changes are communicated first and directly with staff. Until that has happened, it would not be appropriate to comment further or confirm any details.”
The staff are always protesting and striking. When I went to Brighton Univeristy studying conputer science before lockdown, the lecturers were on strike more than they taught anf we were not allowed a refund. This is because, and I quote, they had ‘already spent all the money’!