Labour's Des McNulty today condemned Scottish Water for awarding its senior executives massive pay rises of up to 33 per cent.
 
Last month, Scottish Water employees staged a 24 hour strike over pay. Three unions Unison, Unite and the GMB have been involved in the dispute, which centres on a three per cent rise over 15 months.

In contrast, the new Chief Executive, Richard Ackroyd, has been awarded a basic annual salary of £263,000 with a potential annual performance bonus of up to 40 per cent and a long-term incentive package.
 
His total salary package is worth more than the Prime Minister, the President of the United States and the Head of the British Army:
 
-  Prime Minister Gordon Brown                               £127,334

-  President Elect, Barack Obama                            £270,000 (0,000)

-  Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff                 £225,000
 
Scottish Labour Transport Spokesman Des McNulty said:
 
"Pay awards for Scottish Water 'fat cats' are out of control.
 
"I simply do not see how Scottish Water can justify paying their senior executives more money than the Prime Minister or the Head of the British Army.  When bonuses are taken into account, even Barack Obama is worth less than a Scottish Water bureaucrat.
 
"It is impossible to justify salary increases of 33 per cent for those at the top when ordinary employees are being asked to accept a below inflation pay award.
 
"The Scottish Government must step in and stop this gravy train. Instead of filling the pockets of bosses at Scottish Water, SNP ministers should be encouraging them to deal with leakages and bring forward badly needed investment."

2 December 2008