Union angered by director bonuses at British Waterways 6

Finance | Gareth Jones | 17 Aug 2011

Directors at British Waterways, the organisation which is making plans to become a charity, have been criticised for awarding themselves bonus payments of as much as £15,000.

The Unite trade union said its members were “appalled” to hear of the bonuses, when they had received pay awards of between £100 and £200 instead of a rise in 2011.

The union said British Waterways’ chief executive Robin Evans will receive a £15,000 bonus on top of his £220,000 annual salary, while other directors will receive payments of £12,500.

Julia Long, a national officer at Unite, said the pay awards show “nothing but contempt for the workforce”.

She added: “We call on British Waterways’ management to urgently reconsider its decision which has alienated workers, and to use this money much more productively.

“The government has reduced the amount of money provided to British Waterways over the next five years, which we believe is not enough to sustain any growth.

“To use this money to award massive bonus payments to management simply beggars belief.”

Finances ‘better than expected’

In a statement, British Waterways (BW) said its finances last year had ended £9.6m up on the amount planned, due to “better commercial performance and significant savings in cost”.

It said: “As a result, BW was able to maintain expenditure on maintenance and repair at similar levels to previous years despite the government’s cut in grant.”

It added: “The board was delighted with these results and wished to recognise the exceptional contribution made by certain staff, including executive directors.

“Accordingly, and in strict adherence to government guidelines, they decided that capped performance-related payments should be made.

“In total some 215 people (12 per cent of the workforce) will receive a PRP payment.”

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COLIN WRIGHT
WATERWAYS OPERATIVE.
BRITISH WATERWSYS.
21 Aug 2011

The workers have worked so hard to keep the waterways in budget for the last four years,and have taken the min rise.
Most of our workforce take home at the end of the month
£1.200. Living on a low income. But the directors are on the high life and putting there hands into the pot when they feel like it. They should be removed and replaced by a new and fair system and any moneys made should be put back into the pot. The directors are running our company into the ground, in time this company will not exist as will we know it today. But the the directors will be ok, they can retire on a good salary and a golden hand shake.
This must stop now. The new name for British Waterways if you are a director is Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

[Reply]

Fran Read
British Waterways
18 Aug 2011

Over £1billion invested by British Waterways on targeted maintenance in the last decade. Other achievements in this time include 2,000 individual lock gate leaves replaced. Major upgrades to the waterways’ 90 reservoirs, £66m spend on dredging, nearly 2,000 culverts and 125 miles of controlled feeders monitored and maintained. Major failures, such as breaches on the Monmouthshire & Brecon, Stourbridge and Caldon canals, have been fixed. 200 miles of new or restored waterway have opened and the number of waterways structures in the poorest condition have reduced from 31% to 19%.

All of this at a time when government funding declined in real terms by 42% but self-generated revenues (through property rents, wayleaves and leisure income) increased from £62m to c£100m per year. In addition, £300m has been unlocked from Lottery, Local Authority and European money and many £millions more from work carried out by others.

The challenge is big. The waterways are a national treasure. They need good people.

[Reply]

James Livingstone
Waterway operative
British Waterways
5 Sep 2011
Response to [Fran Read]

An expensive restraunt in Paddington somewhere.

Robin Evans: "hello Director 1,how are things ?" Come,Join me my fellow for a glass or two"

Director 1: "Very good me lord,couldn't be better"

Robin Evans: "Pray tell my dear man, what is all this silliness concerning this years little reward? And if I may say so a well deserved one at that"

Director1: Well, err, me thinks that them workers aint 'appy sir, cos they poors and wees rich sir. Begging your pardons
sir.

Robin Evans: "Utter tosh and piffle! I will not have it you hear I will not have it! How can they say such things after receiving £200 trinkets from deep within my velvet purse?

Director1: "Sorry sir but they's says it aint good enough.They thinks me and you's gets paid to much. Beggins yer pardon sir. Shall we give it back?"
Robin Evans: "Stupid boy!

[Reply]

Allan Richards
Narrowboatworld
17 Aug 2011

British Waterways primary responsibility, as set by government, is to maintain its waterways in satisfactory condition. Last year (2010/11) it spent 9% less on maintaining them than in the previous year. Its chief executive admitted to the Parliamentary Waterways Group that BW had under funded its waterways by some £39m last year and it made numerous staff redundant.

BW are asking Defra for an extra £2m next year to fund its redundancy program.

In recent years four BW directors have become pension millionaires due to massive contributions to high earner pensions (an average over £200,000 per director in 209/10). Its chief executive has a pension pot of £1.5m

Unfortunately, the waterways minister has appointed BW's chairman as chairman of the interim trustees for the new charity that will replace BW.

The simple greed of these people, who claim they wish to become a charitable organisation is breathtaking.

[Reply]

Peter Scandrett
Waterways operative
British Waterways
17 Aug 2011

As a Seasonal waterways operative , My hours , and therefore my pay.has been cut by 20% this year, to about £9,000.
Nice to see that it has been spent wisely.

[Reply]

Carl Allen
17 Aug 2011
Response to [Peter Scandrett]

Is it a case of performance rewards for cutting frontline staff compensation and charging waterway users more?

[Reply]

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