Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 13th September 2021
With the TUC Congress in full swing, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has revealed that the average remuneration of the top 30 public sector union bosses was £150,755 in 2020.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, has criticised plans to end the temporary uplift to universal credit and warned of a “class chasm” between the low paid and higher earners. But the TaxPayers’ Alliance reveals that last year she received £167,229 in total remuneration, an increase on the year before. Her gross salary alone (£112,395) was 22 times the average amount for someone on universal credit.
The highest-paid trade union boss was Tim Roache, former general secretary of GMB, who took home £288,000 in total remuneration. The boss of the National Association of Head Teachers, Paul Whiteman, was the second highest paid, taking home £216,387. In total 8 education union bosses shared £1,252,709 between them.
Total remuneration includes gross salary, employers’ national insurance contribution, pension contributions and other benefits, such as a car or housing allowance and health insurance.
Click here to read the research paper
Key findings:
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The average total remuneration of the 30 union bosses on more than £100,000 was £150,755 in 2020.
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The highest-paid public sector trade union boss was Tim Roache, former general secretary of GMB. He received £288,000 in total remuneration.
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In 2020, Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, received £167,229 in total remuneration. Her gross salary alone puts her in the top three per cent of earners across the UK. This was an increase on her 2019 total remuneration. Her gross salary was equivalent to 22 times the average amount for a recipient of universal credit.
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The public sector trade union with the most senior staff on total remuneration more than £100,000 was the Fire Brigades Union with four. These four officers all received pension contributions equivalent to between 51 and 78 per cent of their gross salaries.
- The British Medical Association, the National Education Union, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, and the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) all had two each.
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Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, chair and general secretary of the British Medical Association, received £203,633 in total remuneration, an increase of 5 per cent on the previous year. His salary alone (£180,000) was over 6 times what a foundation (FY1) doctor working in the NHS receives in 2021 (£28,808).
- Eight senior staff at the education unions shared £1,252,709 between them.
Click here to read the research paper
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
”Taxpayers are fed up with lectures from loaded union leaders, who enjoy bumper pay packets that dwarf those of the people they claim to represent.
”These red barons relentlessly preach policies around wealth inequality and demand evermore tax-and-spend, but are sitting comfortably as some of Britain’s biggest earners.
“Hypocritical union heads should stop lining their pockets with these six-figure salaries.”
TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
Harry Fone
Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Notes to editors:
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Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) fights to reform taxes, reduce spending and protect taxpayers. Find out more about the TaxPayers' Alliance at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.