TRADE UNIONISTS have lashed out at the “shadowy” Taxpayers Alliance (TPA) after the campaign group launched an attack on general secretaries’ salaries.

The TPA published a list today with wages of elected union officials, as the group’s research director Duncan Simpson attacked “red barons” and said politicians should be “taking a stand” against “rip off” trade unions.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash condemned the organisation as a “shadowy, hard-right cabal,” and drew attention to the fact that the TPA does not disclose who funds it.

Mr Cash said: “The trade unions are open and transparent about their finances whereas no-one knows where these jokers get their money from or what sort of screw their top staff are pulling down.

“The self-styled TPA won’t be happy until all working-class people are living on the crumbs from the rich man’s table.

“No wonder they hate organised labour so much.‎”

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes told the Star: “Unlike the most shady organisation in our land, the so-called Taxpayers Alliance, trade unions publish our accounts in full.

“Importantly that includes the salaries of our elected general secretaries.

“In the interests of transparency, this mob should also do the right thing and publish a full list of their funders — that way we can all know who is calling their tune.

“I won’t hold my breath though.”

GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: “I’m sure the movement will somehow manage to live with the disappointment that the TPA don’t like us.

“Democratic trade unions will take no lessons from a dodgy right-wing talking shop that refuses to publish its own donor lists.”