TAXPAYERS are forking out even more than originally thought on trade unionists’ wages, a top councillor has claimed.

In May it emerged that Kirklees Council paid nine full-time union officers £275,938 last year – an average of £30,659 each.

The council had the ninth highest bill in the country.

But yesterday Clr Robert Light claimed the real amount was significantly higher.

The leader of the opposition Conservatives on Kirklees said: “The cost of the council paying full-time union conveners was raised earlier this year, although the actual cost involved was understated because it didn’t take account of National Insurance and pension contributions.

“The real figure is £339,000 and the Conservatives believe that is unacceptable to employees who are losing their jobs, and our residents who fund these salaries.”

The Birstall and Birkenshaw man said the arrangement meant council taxpayers were funding the Labour Party.

He said: “I accept the unions do a valuable job, but they charge subs from their members and they should be paying their own full-time employees from their own funds and not from council coffers.

“Instead of paying their own employees, the unions channel their funds into the Labour Party nationally as huge donations.