The pay package of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool has been condemned as "sickening" at a time when striking staff are relying on foodbanks.
Dame Janet Beer was awarded an overall package totalling £410,000 for the academic year ending in July 2019.
That figure was made up of a £291,500 salary, £57,300 performance related pay and £43,600 in pension contributions.
Dame Beer also received nearly £13,000 in accommodation expenses.
The Vice Chancellor's (VC) pay package has risen by just under £50,000 from the previous year.
The union also revealed that there are now 140 staff members at the university who are earning more than £100,000 a year.
The large figures involved have been criticised at a time when at the university have
Over the last two weeks, picket lines have been set up at the University of Liverpool on Mount Pleasant and outside the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in a show of support with university staff, who have taken part in eight days of industrial action.
The University and Colleges Union said that while Dame Beer has seen her pay package soaring, some staff members are relying on foodbanks to get by.
A spokesman for the union said: "The University of Liverpool's Vice Chancellor's salary package has recently been announced as £410,000.
"Meanwhile, we have a gender pay gap of 23% which is well in excess of the national average.
"The University of Liverpool is a civic university which claims it has a commitment to the local community and helping to address the problems we face in society.
"What would the people of Liverpool think about an institution that gives its most senior member of staff a sickening remuneration package of £410,000 while there are UCU members who are working 40-50 hours a week and only receiving payment for 17 hours?"
The statement added: "Some of our members are on a series of temporary and insecure contracts and have had to rely on food banks while at the same time executive pay within the university continues to soar.
"There are now over 140 people earning more than £100,000 pounds at the university while the working conditions of staff and learning conditions of students continue to be eroded."
Responding to the union's comments, the university it was "concerned" to hear of staff struggling and using foodbanks.
A spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing excellent working conditions for our staff. The average salary for our employees is over £40,000 a year and we are proud to be a Living Wage Employer.
“We are concerned by reports that any staff member is working excessively more than their contracted hours or is relying on food banks and would encourage anyone in this position to speak to their line manager or a member of the Human Resources department.
“The gender pay gap is an issue of serious concern for the university sector and many others. We are working hard to address our gap at the University and we are making good progress. We have seen an overall increase in female professors from 18% in 2012 to 27% currently and 40% of our university leaders are now women – up from 30% in 2012. We know there is more work to do and we are firmly committed to building on these improvements, removing barriers and promoting choice."
The statement added: “Each year, the Vice Chancellor’s salary is reviewed by the University’s Remuneration Committee to ensure it remains commensurate with the scope and scale of her responsibility and taking into account sector guidance and comparative salaries in higher education.
“The Vice Chancellor’s remuneration is particularly target-driven and in agreeing her performance related pay, which varies annually, the Committee takes factors such as student survey results, awards, rankings and student outcomes into account.
“Colleagues earning over £100,000 include members of the senior leadership team and professors conducting world-leading research in health and other fields.”
