New pay charter for charities - proposal to Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)

To: Stephen Bubb (stephen.bubb@acevo.org.uk)
Subject: New pay charter for charities
From: Marcus Williamson (marcus@connectotel.com)
Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 12:24:32

Mr Bubb

I have read this news report:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10224104/30-charity-chiefs-paid-more-than-100000.html

I would like to propose a new and simple pay and conditions charter for charities:

* No directors or staff to be paid more than the Prime Minister
* Maximum pay ratio between the highest and lowest paid staff of 10:1
* No use of zero hour contracts
* No use of unpaid interns or other staff, except for genuine volunteers
* No use of "workfare" or any similar forced labour schemes
* No use of business or first class travel
* No bonuses
* No termination payments
* Publication of CEO pay details on every charity website in a standard format

Would ACEVO be prepared to support such proposals, which could immediately make millions of pounds available for charitable purposes by bringing senior pay at charities back to a reasonable level?

It would also demonstrate responsible leadership to the wider public and private sectors, showing that it is possible for CEO pay to fall, rather than forever increasing.

I have copied Christopher Hope at the Telegraph and William Shawcross at the Charity Commission and will be sending a copy to the CEOs of each of the members of the DEC.

My interest is as a technologist, journalist and editor of the website www.ceoemail.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

best wishes
Marcus Williamson