Staff at Thanet District Council are furious after reports emerged that departing chief executive Madeline Homer will receive a severance payment of £327,000, says UNISON today (Friday).
Her departure comes after an external auditor’s report found significant failures at the council, including a “serious breakdown” between senior officers in the organisation.
Council staff are outraged that the pay-off is almost equal to the total cost of the pay award imposed on them earlier this month.
They were told they would receive a 2% pay rise this year. With inflation currently running at 9% and expected to rise, in reality staff will receive a substantial pay cut, says UNISON.
It has also been revealed the council spent more than £1.5 million between 2015 and 2021 on pay-offs and redundancies. This is money that could have benefited hard working staff at the council who have endured below-inflation pay rises for years, says the union.
UNISON South East regional organiser Mark Hammond said: “Council staff are absolutely furious about this.
“Only a few weeks ago UNISON was told by the now former chief executive that 2% was all the council could afford for a cost of living increase for all staff.
“For the same person to pocket nearly as much as the entire pay award is beyond outrageous.
“At a time when increasing numbers of Thanet staff are using foodbanks and taking out loans to put food on the table, this is shameful. The council appears to care more about enriching one individual than helping hundreds of dedicated, hard pressed workers.
“UNISON is writing to the leader of the council for a proper explanation and calling urgently for pay talks to be reopened.”
Notes to editors:
– The total cost of the 2% pay award to Thanet Council staff in 2022 was £340,000.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
