She said that was because under the changes, anyone taking six months or more out would not be able to transfer pension entitlements over as they would be classed as starting a new contract.

She said: “The issue of fixed contracts is already a huge problem and more and more people finishing a PhD are being put on fixed contracts.

“Now if you have a six-month gap, you will lose your pension entitlements.”

On the university’s intention to charge the maximum £9,000-a-year tuition fees from 2012, she added: “I certainly did not come into this profession to only teach the elite and rich.”

Others campaigning yesterday included University of Liverpool lecturer Dr Rachel Pope, who said: “I am here to condemn the continuing onslaught on higher education.

“Pensions will no longer be means-tested but based on average earnings and it will have a big effect on those coming into the profession.”

Ciara Kierans, 42, an anthropology lecturer, said: “This is not just a rebellion. We need to work hard to keep teachers in jobs.”

Mark O’Brien, Liverpool president of the UCU, said: “We have strongly shown we are totally against these changes.”

But university body The Employers Pensions Forum accused the UCU of “ignoring the past three years’ of negotiations”.

A University of Liverpool spokesman said it had “done all we can to mitigate against the effects of any disruption”.