Staff at five Teesside colleges went on strike on Wednesday as part of a long-standing pay row.
Walkouts were held at Bede Sixth Form College, The Skills Academy, Stockton Riverside College, the NETA Training Group, and Redcar and Cleveland College.
Union members last went on strike for three days in November over the dispute.
A spokesperson for the colleges said they were "sympathetic" but their priority was to minimise disruption to learners.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are calling for a better pay rise for the 2022/2023 academic year.
The five colleges are part of a group called the Education Training Collective (ETC).
About 33 people picketed outside Stockton Riverside College on Wednesday morning.
Some staff members have to use food banks and do not have enough money to put petrol in their cars, said UCU caseworker Chris Robinson.
