£2m PAID TO TRADE UNIONS IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

MORE than £2.3 million is being spent each year by public bodies in South Yorkshire paying wages of staff while they work on union duties, new figures claim.

Statistics released by campaign group the Taxpayers' Alliance show a wide variation in the amount of full and part-time union officials being paid by the taxpayer at councils, hospital trusts and other organisations.

Barnsley has by far the most public-funded trade union posts, with 38 full-time union posts at the council in 2009-10, who received wages of £1,029,180.

By contrast, Sheffield Council - the biggest authority in the county - had 12 posts, costing £325,004 in wages.

Doncaster Council had six staff, paid £162,503, while Rotherham had five officials on union duties who received salaries totalling £136,419.

Matthew Sinclair, Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, questioned why full-time trade union officials should be receiving public money - when most take a political stance and are typically affiliated to the Labour Party.

He said: "Trade unions are lining up to fight vital cuts in public spending and threatening strikes that could cause massive disruption for ordinary families.

"By financing their other work, like representing and recruiting members, taxpayers' money frees up union funds for political contributions and expensive campaigns.

"If big, rich, public sector unions are going to take an active political role, there is no way they should be getting taxpayers' money."

In total, trade unions received £85.8 million from public sector organisations in 2009-10, from direct payments and in wages for officials.

The full amount paid by public organisations to trade unions in South Yorkshire and surrounding area totals £2,357,827.

It also includes £16,521 paid by Bassetlaw Council, £27,084 by Chesterfield Council and £20,043 by North East Derbyshire Council.

At the area's primary care trusts, which run local NHS services, Barnsley PCT paid £51,459 for staff working on union activity, NHS Sheffield paid £32,500, and £2,708 was spent by Doncaster PCT. Rotherham did not respond to a request for information.

Trusts running Barnsley Hospital paid £407,339 to union officials, Sheffield Children's Hospital paid union officials £44,688, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals £32,500, Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital £17,875.

Hospital bosses in Rotherham and Doncaster did not respond to requests for information.

Of other local bodies who provided information to the Taxpayers' Alliance, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust paid £37,917, while South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue paid £14,083.

Yorkshire Forward, not included in the £2.3 million total, paid £101,022 to three full and one part-time worker for union activities.

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Trust did not provide information.

SOURCE