‘A costly mistake’: union reveals United Utilities CEO salary as anti-privatisation campaign begins

The CEO of North West water company United Utilities took home £2,310,000 in 2017, according to an investigation into the firm’s accounts.

The figure was revealed today (June 5) by water industry union GMB and not-for-profit research group Corporate Watch, which will formally unveil their findings at GMB’s 101st Congress in Brighton.

The 2017 figure is 12 times more than what Prime Minister Theresa May received in salary and pensions. It represents a 49% increase on the £1,547,800 the CEO took in 2013, GMB said.

Through a combination of salary, bonuses, pensions and other benefits, the average package for a privatised water company boss in 2017 was £1,254,000, according to the investigation.

GMB is preparing to launch its Take Back The Tap campaign – a drive to bring England’s privatised water industry back into public ownership.

The union said that while water bosses pocketed these sums, water bills for consumers in England and Wales have risen 40% above inflation since privatisation in 1989, according to a National Audit Office report.

GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: “It is a national scandal over the last five years England’s hard-pressed water customers have been forced to splash out millions through their bills to go into the pockets of just nine individuals.

“Privatisation of the water industry has been a costly mistake and these eye-watering sums are further proof the water industry must be returned to public hands.”

He continued: “GMB is urging people and politicians to Take Back the Tap and make our water services work for the many and not the few.

“Water is the most natural monopoly and should be in public hands.”