Staff at the University of Brighton say they cannot afford food, bills or mortgages after their pay was halted.
The university is withholding salaries to those lecturers taking part in a national marking and assessment boycott.
It said it aims to protect students from the "impact of industrial action".
Staff say the full pay cut is an "absolute scandal" as marking takes up less than 20% of their workload and they are continuing with other duties.
Julie Canavan, a lecturer in education, said she "felt sick" when she found out she had not been paid in June.
"Irrespective of having no money and a family to feed I actually was still working during this period, helping students when they're most stressed," she said.
A principal lecturer at the university told the BBC he cannot afford to buy food and is relying on eating vegetables from his allotment.
The university is demonstrating "an aggressive attitude" and "real contempt for colleagues," he said.
