Latest news with #CatherineWalsh
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
REVEALED: Scandal of fat cats on first ever NHS rich list - nearly 300 health bosses are handed packages worth over £200,000
Hundreds of NHS bosses are pocketing salaries higher than the Prime Minister's, a report reveals today. Despite failing to bring down waiting lists, nearly 1,700 fat-cat bureaucrats at NHS trusts were each handed more than £100,000 a year. With record sums already being poured in by taxpayers, the first-ever NHS Rich List found that 512 managers banked salaries higher than Sir Keir Starmer (£172,153). Nearly 300 received packages of £200,000 or more. East Cheshire NHS Trust paid eight managers £100,000 or more despite being the worst-performing trust in percentage terms for seeing A&E patients within four hours. It saw just 50.6 per cent within the target time, well below the 78 per cent expected. Among the managers was the trust's 'director of people and culture' and deputy CEO Rachael Charlton, who raked in a package of £367,500. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust also gave eight bosses £100,000 or more despite having the worst referral-to-treatment median waiting times. Chief medical director Catherine Walsh banked £387,500 in pay and perks. The figures, covering more than 200 trusts for the 2023-24 financial year, will anger the millions of patients stuck on waiting lists. Around 6.25 million patients, relating to 7.42 million cases, are languishing on them, with nearly 3 million waiting for more than 18 weeks. The study by the TaxPayers' Alliance will also fuel suspicions that much of the money lavished on the health service is not making it to the front line and is instead helping to fund 'non-jobs' such as diversity roles. Referring to Labour's plan to hand 10 per cent bonuses to NHS bosses whose trusts perform well, Tory health spokesman Edward Argar said: 'The Labour Government plans to hand generous bonuses to NHS managers for simply doing what they are already paid to do as part of their jobs. 'Patients will rightly be shocked, and asking why Labour aren't focusing instead on making sure those who are already very well paid are delivering the results taxpayers have a right to expect. Diverting public funds into executive bonus schemes, instead of investing that money in frontline care for patients, is simply wrong.' Shimeon Lee, who compiled the report, said: 'Taxpayers will be appalled that while NHS patients face prolonged waiting lists and dismal A&E performance, hundreds of senior managers are pocketing six-figure pay packets. 'This rich list shows that there are sky-high salaries for senior bureaucrats... that are impossible to justify. 'If ministers are serious about getting the NHS back on track, they need to ensure that managers of poor-performing trusts aren't being rewarded for failure.' The study found that 1,694 senior managers got £100,000 or more in total remuneration across 224 trusts. Of these, 1,557 included a salary over £100,000. A further 296 got £200,000 or more while 17 got more than £300,000. Ann James, the former CEO of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, was paid a £382,500 salary. Her trust was ranked 95th out of 136 in England for A&E waiting times. Jonathan Brotherton, chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, received a pay package of £427,500, including a £262,500 salary. His trust was ranked 128th of 149 for referral-to-treatment waiting times and 119th of 136 for A&E waiting times in England. George Findlay, the chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, was handed a £32,500 bonus – on top of his £222,500 salary – despite it ranking 143th of 149 and 105th of 136 for the same targets. By contrast, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust had the best referral-to-treatment waiting times. Chief executive Joe Rafferty got a total pay package of £257,500. Another eyebrow-raising salary was the £257,000 that North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust gave its 'chief people officer', Louise Tibbert. In January, it emerged that the NHS was hiring diversity staff at a rate of one a week despite orders to cut back on the initiatives. A recent poll found that nearly two-thirds of voters back the idea of a new US-style 'Department of Government Efficiency' to slash billions of pounds of wasteful spending on bureaucracy and 'non-jobs' such as diversity and inclusion officers. The TaxPayers' Alliance study related to managerial roles at NHS trusts and not NHS England, the quango which runs the health service but which is being scrapped by the Government. A Department of Health spokesman said: 'This Government is introducing tough new measures in relation to senior managers' pay, to drive progress on cutting waiting lists. 'The NHS should pay to attract top talent, but there can be no more rewards to failure.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Stronger than Sunrise': Qantas meeting comes under microscope
Australia's most iconic airline Qantas is set to pay millions in penalties after it unlawfully sacked more than 1800 ground staff. The airline was thrice found to have acted unlawfully when it fired 1820 staff in favour of outsourced contractors during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. While an earlier compensation hearing before Justice Michael Lee found Qantas should pay $120m to impacted workers, a further three-day hearing sought to decide the additional penalty Qantas must pay for the 2020 decision. The Federal Court earlier found that Qantas had acted against protections in the Fair Work Act in its outsourcing and was partly motivated by a desire to prevent industrial action. The airline appealed the decision to the full bench of the Federal Court and later the High Court, both of which were unsuccessful. After losing the appeal, the union and Qantas went to mediation to determine how much Qantas would have to pay the outsourced workers for economic losses linked to lost wages. The maximum penalty Qantas can be ordered to pay is $121m, on top of the compensation fund that is now in the process of being administered to workers. Day 1 – Qantas 'deeply sorry' On the first day of the hearing, Qantas people manager Catherine Walsh took the stand and issued an apology on the airline's behalf. 'I want to reinforce that we are deeply sorry, and we apologise for the impact on the workers, the TWU (Transport Workers Union), to the court for their time and to the family and friends that felt the impacts, we are deeply sorry,' she said. 'We hope we can get to the stage where there can be some finality for them in this.' Noel Hutley SC, for the union. said Ms Walsh joined the company in 2024 and was a 'central cog' in addressing issues with culture that brought about this 'catastrophe'. Yet, Mr Hutley put to Ms Walsh that she had not raised concerns with external advisers about since she joined the company. 'You never asked … why he behaved in an extraordinary fashion? It is extraordinary that nothing was said about a matter that was obviously an illicit reasoning for outsourcing,' Mr Hutley said. While Justice Lee said Ms Walsh was a 'candid' witness, he criticised the airline's decision to call a witness who was not employed by the company at the time of the breach of the Fair Work Act. 'One would have thought if you were truly contrite, you would put someone in the witness box who was there at the relevant time,' he said. 'Who could say I was part of the organisation when this decision was made, and I've changed my tune.' 'And I gave them every opportunity to call Ms Hudson (Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson) or somebody else in that situation and a deliberate forensic decision was made for her not to be called I would infer.' Mr Hutley said putting Ms Walsh on the stand had the look of choosing a person who 'could not be the subject of true investigation'. 'Ms Walsh had nothing to do with the events and … every time I cross-examined her about a particular event she said, 'well I wasn't there, I can't speak to that',' Mr Hutley said. Day 2 – 'A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' Mr Hutley called for Qantas to pay the maximum penalty given its decision was the 'largest ever instance of the contravention of the Fair Work Act'. He told the court that Qantas was faced with an 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' during the pandemic to save more than $100m per year. Mr Hutley said the airline had the 'temptation of the potential to produce a massive profit'. But Qantas barrister Justin Gleeson SC said any penalty close to the maximum would be 'manifestly unfair'. 'Qantas has accepted the seriousness of its conduct,' he said. 'The court can and should impose a significant deterrent penalty. However, it is in effect a first contravention (of the Fair Work Act).' Day 3 – 'Stronger than Sunrise' Meetings between Qantas senior managers, a group management committee (GMC) meeting and a board meeting came under the microscope in court on Wednesday. One of the meetings between Qantas executives and lawyers discussed the legality of outsourcing ground handlers, the court was told. It was said in the meeting that the proposal to outsource ground handlers was 'stronger than Sunrise' – a reference to the airline's ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights from Sydney to London and New York that are expected to begin in 2027. 'That appears to be some assessment as to whether the case for lawfulness is stronger than Project Sunrise,' Mr Gleeson said, referencing the meeting notes. The airline has since reached an agreement with its pilots and crew who will work the ultra-long-range flights of more than 20 hours. 'Appalling act' TWU secretary Michael Kaine said on Monday the airline's decision to get rid of a 'loyal workforce' was 'appalling' and the 'biggest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history'. 'The penalty to Qantas must reflect this and send a message to every other company in Australia that you cannot sack your workers to prevent them from using their industrial rights,' he said. Mr Kaine said ground handling work for Qantas was now being undertaken by companies such as Swissport, which he alleged had 'severe understaffing' and a 'revolving door of fed-up workers'. 'This cannot be a business case for outsourcing and Qantas should not only pay the maximum legal penalty for its actions but commit to funding fair standards throughout its supply chain,' he said. 'We need to see Qantas held accountable to the fullest extent here.' The hearing has now been adjourned, and Justice Lee has reserved his judgment. The penalty amount will be revealed at a later date. While Justice Lee is yet to decide exactly who will receive the money from the penalty imposed upon Qantas, there are three likely parties proposed. The TWU is seeking a large majority of the penalty and also argued affected workers should receive further compensation. Otherwise, the funds could go directly to the commonwealth.
Perth Now
24-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Surprise detail in Qantas sacking hearing
Australia's most iconic airline Qantas is set to pay millions in penalties after it unlawfully sacked more than 1800 ground staff. The airline was thrice found to have acted unlawfully when it fired 1820 staff in favour of outsourced contractors during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. While an earlier compensation hearing before Justice Michael Lee found Qantas should pay $120m to impacted workers, a further three-day hearing sought to decide the additional penalty Qantas must pay for the 2020 decision. Qantas is set to pay a hefty penalty aftert illegally sacking 1820 ground workers. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia The Federal Court earlier found that Qantas had acted against protections in the Fair Work Act in its outsourcing and was partly motivated by a desire to prevent industrial action. The airline appealed the decision to the full bench of the Federal Court and later the High Court, both of which were unsuccessful. After losing the appeal, the union and Qantas went to mediation to determine how much Qantas would have to pay the outsourced workers for economic losses linked to lost wages. The maximum penalty Qantas can be ordered to pay is $121m, on top of the compensation fund that is now in the process of being administered to workers. Day 1 – Qantas 'deeply sorry' On the first day of the hearing, Qantas people manager Catherine Walsh took the stand and issued an apology on the airline's behalf. 'I want to reinforce that we are deeply sorry, and we apologise for the impact on the workers, the TWU (Transport Workers Union), to the court for their time and to the family and friends that felt the impacts, we are deeply sorry,' she said. 'We hope we can get to the stage where there can be some finality for them in this.' Noel Hutley SC, for the union. said Ms Walsh joined the company in 2024 and was a 'central cog' in addressing issues with culture that brought about this 'catastrophe'. Qantas chief people officer Catherine Walsh apologised and said the airline was 'deeply sorry'. Supplied Credit: Supplied Yet, Mr Hutley put to Ms Walsh that she had not raised concerns with external advisers about since she joined the company. 'You never asked … why he behaved in an extraordinary fashion? It is extraordinary that nothing was said about a matter that was obviously an illicit reasoning for outsourcing,' Mr Hutley said. While Justice Lee said Ms Walsh was a 'candid' witness, he criticised the airline's decision to call a witness who was not employed by the company at the time of the breach of the Fair Work Act. 'One would have thought if you were truly contrite, you would put someone in the witness box who was there at the relevant time,' he said. 'Who could say I was part of the organisation when this decision was made, and I've changed my tune.' 'And I gave them every opportunity to call Ms Hudson (Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson) or somebody else in that situation and a deliberate forensic decision was made for her not to be called I would infer.' Mr Hutley said putting Ms Walsh on the stand had the look of choosing a person who 'could not be the subject of true investigation'. 'Ms Walsh had nothing to do with the events and … every time I cross-examined her about a particular event she said, 'well I wasn't there, I can't speak to that',' Mr Hutley said. Day 2 – 'A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' Mr Hutley called for Qantas to pay the maximum penalty given its decision was the 'largest ever instance of the contravention of the Fair Work Act'. He told the court that Qantas was faced with an 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' during the pandemic to save more than $100m per year. TWU lawyer Noel Hutley called for the airline to pay the maximum penalty of $120m. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Hutley said the airline had the 'temptation of the potential to produce a massive profit'. But Qantas barrister Justin Gleeson SC said any penalty close to the maximum would be 'manifestly unfair'. 'Qantas has accepted the seriousness of its conduct,' he said. 'The court can and should impose a significant deterrent penalty. However, it is in effect a first contravention (of the Fair Work Act).' Day 3 – 'Stronger than Sunrise' Meetings between Qantas senior managers, a group management committee (GMC) meeting and a board meeting came under the microscope in court on Wednesday. One of the meetings between Qantas executives and lawyers discussed the legality of outsourcing ground handlers, the court was told. It was said in the meeting that the proposal to outsource ground handlers was 'stronger than Sunrise' – a reference to the airline's ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights from Sydney to London and New York that are expected to begin in 2027. 'That appears to be some assessment as to whether the case for lawfulness is stronger than Project Sunrise,' Mr Gleeson said, referencing the meeting notes. The airline has since reached an agreement with its pilots and crew who will work the ultra-long-range flights of more than 20 hours. 'Appalling act' TWU secretary Michael Kaine said on Monday the airline's decision to get rid of a 'loyal workforce' was 'appalling' and the 'biggest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history'. 'The penalty to Qantas must reflect this and send a message to every other company in Australia that you cannot sack your workers to prevent them from using their industrial rights,' he said. TWU secretary Michael Kaine said the sackings were an 'appalling act'. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Kaine said ground handling work for Qantas was now being undertaken by companies such as Swissport, which he alleged had 'severe understaffing' and a 'revolving door of fed-up workers'. 'This cannot be a business case for outsourcing and Qantas should not only pay the maximum legal penalty for its actions but commit to funding fair standards throughout its supply chain,' he said. 'We need to see Qantas held accountable to the fullest extent here.' The hearing has now been adjourned, and Justice Lee has reserved his judgment. The penalty amount will be revealed at a later date. While Justice Lee is yet to decide exactly who will receive the money from the penalty imposed upon Qantas, there are three likely parties proposed. The TWU is seeking a large majority of the penalty and also argued affected workers should receive further compensation. Otherwise, the funds could go directly to the commonwealth.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Sorry' Qantas could face $121m fine for sackings
Qantas should be forced to pay the maximum penalty of $121 million for illegally outsourcing the roles of 1800 ground workers, to send a strong message to all companies, a union says. Justice Michael Lee is set to decide the penalty Qantas must pay after three days of hearings that began on Monday in the Federal Court in Sydney. Outside court, Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said the hearing was the beginning of the end of "a protracted, brutal, distressing set of litigation" that started in 2020 after Qantas sacked the workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qantas appealed the case all the way to the High Court, which unanimously upheld the Federal Court's finding it had breached the Fair Work Act by outsourcing the workers, preventing them from accessing industrial rights to collectively bargain and take protected industrial action. Last October, Justice Lee ordered Qantas to pay $120 million to the workers as compensation for their economic loss, pain and suffering, and the TWU is seeking that he impose the maximum penalty of $121 million. "We have to send a very strong, clear signal to Qantas and every other company in Australia that this can never, ever happen again to any Australian worker," Mr Kaine said. In court, Qantas chief people officer Catherine Walsh told Justice Lee that "hopefully you'll see from the size of the compensation payment that, in fact, we are very sorry". "We do wish for the workforce that was impacted to be properly remediated and the compensation that has been agreed could go some way to deal with that," she said. The compensation payments will start flowing to workers by the end of May, with a base payment of $10,000 for all workers. Outside court, Mr Kaine said Qantas had "said sorry at two minutes to midnight". "They put it in an affidavit in these proceedings, because if you show contrition in penalty proceedings, the judge is bound to consider whether that should provide you with a discount on your penalty," he said. But he said the penalty should reflect the "human suffering, the family dislocation, the financial stress, the mental anguish, the family breakdowns" directly resulting from Qantas' illegal conduct. Also outside court, former Qantas worker Tony Hayes said the saga was "never ending". "It's been the same conversation for five years and we just want it to go away, but we want them to pay," he said. Another former worker Anne Guirguis said she was with the company for 28 years and thought she would retire there. "I've got colleagues that have lost houses and have been divorced, it's changed their world," she said. On Monday afternoon, Justice Lee is expected to start hearing closing submissions from lawyers for Qantas and the TWU.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Centenary students' cultural trip to Barbados includes service
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Centenary students traveling to fulfill their culture credit will also give to the community. Centenary students going to Barbados for cultural exposure will also be taking books with them—about 20 pounds each. During their trip, the students will visit two schools. During those visits, they will donate books and interact with younger students there. Centenary College hosting art camp for high schoolers Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies Dr. Andia Augustin-Billy feels it is important to give back to the communities they visit. 'Critically, it also provides a valuable opportunity for our students to engage in service and to think about our role as visitors—emphasizing that we aim not just to learn from our host country, but also to contribute positively.' Centenary is known for incorporating international travel into its curriculum. This summer, Centenary students will also visit Australia, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain. Centenary in Paris is a program for incoming freshmen to take their first course in France during the August term. Centenary names new head of counseling and health services The Centenary football team helped transport 80 boxes of books provided by Caddo Parish Schools. Students visiting Barbados selected the books they are taking, and the rest will be donated to the Magale Library. The Centenary students will be in Barbados from May 16 to May 31. For more information, contact Catherine Walsh, Centenary director of Global Engagement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
