Colborn’s Corner: Who are the fat cats?

When you think about it, the expression ‘fat cat’, which is normally used in quite disparaging terms, is quite interesting in its derivation. We have a cat at home and while he is not fat (at least that’s what he tells me), if he were fat, where would it come from? I guess two sources, either he is catching lots of birds, mice, and rats – good on him for that - or we are feeding him too much. Of course he always says he is not fed enough! Either way if he were fat, would it be his fault? Probably not, but what about the so-called fat cats in the business world today? The proposition in The Times was that the new fat cats are the union leaders of today who are currently enjoying pay rises well above inflation (however you measure it) and well in advance of the pay increases gained by their members. The Times quotes the case of Bob Crow of the RMT who apparently enjoyed an increase in the value of his pay and benefits of 8% to £91,646 in 2008. Similarly, the paper reported on Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union with 2m members. His pay and benefits package increased by 20% from £88,359 to £105,761 last year, The Times reported, according to official accounts.