Wilko Woes: 10,000 Employees Get Big Bucks—But Shareholders Are Still in the Dark
When Wilko went belly‑up, the Insolvency Service stepped in faster than a superhero in a plywood costume. Over nine thousand workers have now received roughly £42 million in redundancy and notice pay, all delivered within 24 hours of filing their claims.
RPS: “Fast‑Track, Fast Pay”
Rob Graham, senior ops manager at RPS, told staff that the team was working “around the clock”. It was a well‑coordinated, money‑backing marathon that left wiped‑out employees a little less empty‑handed.
- 9,800 payments made so far
- Each claim paid within 24 hours
- Goal: get money in front of people who’ve lost work and hope
Why the £50 million Pension Gap Matters
MPs are calling for Wilko’s former top brass—yes, even the chairwoman, Lisa Wilkinson—to explain why the pension fund is short by a staggering £50 million. The mystery deepens with reports that dividends were handed out to shareholders while the company was drowning in debt.
GMB’s Grown‑Up Pitches
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said with righteous indignation:
“Wilko bosses should be forced to face MPs,”
“They ignored all warning signs, padded their pockets, and handed millions to shareholders before 10,000 workers were left jobless. Workers deserve answers, and taxpayers deserve to know why the government has to foot the bill.”
What Happens Next?
The Public Accounts Committee will get a rundown. Will bosses finally come clean, or will they keep dancing around the issue? Only time will tell. In the meantime, workers keep watching their bank accounts, hoping the payout mysteries are cracked wide open.
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