A FAT-CAT dairy boss is to cream off a £1.2 million bonus while 3,000 cheesed-off workers are being told to accept a “miserly” pay increase.

Mark Allen is chief executive of Dairy Crest on a salary believed to be around £1.28 million a year.

The firm is selling its loss-making milk business to German company Muller, while retaining its lucrative cheese and spreads division.

General union Unite is negotiating a wage increase for its members, but says management’s proposal is miserly. Details have not been released as talks are continuing.

Unite condemned the offer as “pure hypocrisy.” National officer Matt Draper said: “Dairy Crest boss Mark Allen is the fat cat that got the cream — this is rank hypocrisy given that the management has offered its 3,000-strong workforce a miserly pay deal for this year.

“He stands to receive this bonus, according to media reports, on completion of the takeover.

“We recognise the rationale behind the takeover and while we do have concerns in the short term about job losses, this is what the industry needs in the long term.

“But what leaves a sour taste in the mouth is the £1.2 million bonus for Mark Allen when the company is saying that it has no money for a decent pay rise.”

Mr Draper said that Mr Allen should refuse the bonus and put it towards the workers’ pay rise.