Pointing the finger

Nothing like a bit of union-bashing when you’re stuck for something original. At least this seems to be the view of part-time tory Rene Kinzett who has told the Beans on Toast how Swansea Council is “paying out £140,000 a year on the wages of 16 trade union officials”.

Conservative group leader Kinzett says he supports the role of trade unions but wants a review of ‘facility agreements’ whereby part of the unions’ employment costs fall on the public purse. His call upon the Lib Dem-run local authority to question the practice “at a time of severe budget restraint” rings all the right bells and has clearly peeved the responsible cabinet member, Mary Jones.

What seems to have escaped the local press however is that the figures quoted in the article work out to £8,750 per employee – which is hardly a ransom. In fact, it’s an absolute bargain compared to the average £19,490 salary paid to each of Swansea’s 72 councillors every year for turning up for about 10 hours a week.

The frequency of attendances is far less in Kinzett’s case, of course.

Update: Apropos of comments received querying Rene's local activity, we hear talk of a change in personnel among Gower Conservatives. More later, no doubt.