£385,000 TRADE UNION BILL REVEALED!

Demands have grown for Sheffield City Council to publish a secret review of trade union subsides, as a freedom of information request has revealed that the Council continues to pay £385,000 a year for full time trade union officials.

The figures were released today by opposition councillors who want to see funding prioritised instead for threatened local libraries.

Under the agreement between trade union and Town Hall bosses staff undertake trade union duties full-time instead of performing the job they are paid by taxpayers to do. The council ordered a review in to full-time trade union staff in 2012 but the conclusions were never published by ruling Labour bosses.

The revelation also follows criticism last month as the Council advertised for more part-time trade union officials. The advert provoked outcry by claiming that a member of staff’s full time job would only “occasionally” take priority.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Sheffield Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Finance, said:

“Local people will be shocked to learn that so much of their Council tax is going straight into pockets of trade union bosses, when important services are under threat.

“Trade unions have an important role to play in the Council but why should their funding be protected over threatened local libraries?

“This just demonstrates that Sheffield Labour politicians can find cash when it comes to their own priorities. I’m calling on the Council to publish their secret review and be honest about how much trade union bosses are costing local taxpayers.”

See also “Labour Council’s £38m self-inflicted Black Hole”