Pay and pension can be a lottery

Sir Jon Shortridge's windfall caused a stir in the Welsh press last week. The Assembly Government’s retiring top official Sir Jon Shortridge will walk away with a lump sum of more than £235,000, it has been revealed.

The article goes on to say that the Permanent Secretary, who has announced his retirement in April at the age of 61, has built up the huge pension during a long and distinguished civil service career. Sir Jon’s pension is linked to his annual salary of £180,000 to £185,000 – nearly £60,000 more than his political master First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who was paid £122,682 in 2006 to 2007.

Sir Jon’s pension pot at March 31, 2007, of £75,000 to £80,000 a year and a lump payment of three times his pension – published in the Assembly’s accounts for 2006 to 2007.

There's nothing wrong with this as the organisation and responsibility of the individual in question is vast. In the private sector this is common place, but in the public sector it leaves a bad taste in people's mouths and has been branded “unbelievable” by a former ASW worker.

Former ASW steel-worker John Benson, who has been battling to win pensions justice, said:

We are only asking for justice and fair play at a time when the Prime Minister is talking about British values of fairness. The sums the Permanent Secretary will receive are frankly amazing and unbelievable while we struggle to make ends meet after the collapse of our companies and our pensions.

The report shows that eight other key senior Assembly Government managers currently earn more than £100,000 a year. In itself, this statement is just the tip of the iceberg. Sources tell me that in fact, at least 25 staff earn in the region of £100,000 a year and that doesn't even include any potential bonuses that Senior Civil Servants can earn.

The staff of the Welsh Assembly Government contain over 145 Senior Civil Servants (not counting those employed by the Assembly Commission) and salaries range from £60-80,000 to £180,000 plus bonuses if you are fortunate to meet certain targets.

The majority of the workforce in Wales will never reach this comfort zone in terms of salary, and unfortunately, what we have to regretably accept is that the numbers of civil servants will rise over the coming years, not fall. We might not like the increase and expenditure, but let's just hope and pray that they earn their salary.