Meanwhile Barchester’s carers get just above the minimum wage and bosses want to take away their one route to a decent pay rise – by derecognising GMB union
Care giant Barchester scooped more than £26 million in covid grants in 2020, and then dished out at least £7 million to directors, GMB analysis reveals.
The figures emerge on the day Barchester derecognises GMB, leaving 30,000 care workers without access to a recognised union in an ‘attack on carers’ rights’.
There are 76 companies registered under the Barchester group. The holding company and ultimate holding company are both registered in Jersey.
At least four of the Barchester companies received covid grants in 2020 totalling £26,769,000.
Two of the companies paid a total of £7,385,000 to directors in the year ending 2020.
The two remaining companies said that directors were paid by the Jersey-based parent company, so the true figure will almost certainly be higher.
Covid-19 and directors’ payments in the Barchester group (£ms)
|
Total |
Barchester Healthcare Limited |
Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited |
Barchester Finco 2019 Limited |
Barchester Hellens Limited |
|
|
Covid-19 grant income |
26.769 |
12.551 |
12.523 |
1.039 |
0.656 |
|
Directors' remuneration |
7.385 |
3.83 |
3.555 |
- |
- |
Rachel Fagan, GMB Lead Organiser, said:
“The UK’s care sector relies on gross injustice to generate bloated profits for shadowy private companies.
“Trousering fortunes in covid grants then paying fat cats eye-watering salaries is just another example of that.
“Meanwhile Barchester’s care workers work their fingers to the bone for just above the minimum wage so residents can be looked after with dignity.
“Now bosses want to take away their one route to a decent pay rise – by derecognising their union.
“It’s yet another attack on carers’ rights while Ministers look the other way.
“GMB isn’t going to stand on ceremony; we are campaigning for £15 an hour social care minimum.”
