The decision of the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to hike the salary of the non-executive directors by a staggering 100% has sparked a controversy between the NHS trusts and a union.

As per reports, the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in a meeting on January 26 reviewed the salary of the chairman and non-executive directors. Following this, the trusts announced a hike of salary of non-executive directors to £12,500 per annum from £6,096, while the chair’s salary was hiked from £20,896 to £42,500 per annum with effect from February 1, 2011.

As the union is struggling to deal with the news of a major shunt off of workforce in near future, this unexpected salary revision has angered the union to an extreme extent.

Responding to the Trust’s decision, Area Organizer Natalie Ratcliffe claimed, “Staff side representatives lodged their absolute disgust with the Trust over this decision in this very uncertain climate and with our members’ jobs at risk. We asked the Trust to overturn this decision. We were told ‘no’ ”.

However, Spokesperson from the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has shifted the blame to the hospital’s elected Council of Governors.

Meanwhile, NHS Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson has appealed all the NHS organization to remain cautioned while drafting their saving plans for 2001-12.