Brown and Cameron warned on job-loss competition

Mar 16 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

UNION leaders have warned Gordon Brown and David Cameron to stop competing over plans to cut thousands of North East jobs to win seats elsewhere in the country.

The heads of the major unions gathered in Newcastle to set out their plans to prevent cuts to public sector jobs, a move both Labour and the Conservatives have said will have to happen after the next General Election.

In Tyneside alone, independent think tanks have predicted more than 8,000 jobs are under threat as politicians “try to out-do each other” in looking tough on cuts.

Senior union bosses yesterday suggested withdrawing support for Labour MPs and councillors who do not stand up against the cuts.

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, told union delegates at the city’s Assembly Rooms that more than a third of the workforce in the North East was employed in the public sector. Cuts to these jobs would have “a major impact on North East unemployment”.

It was claimed the region’s dependency on the public sector for jobs will mean it is among the worst hit when Government cuts take effect.

“We did nothing to cause this crisis but are being asked to pay for it,” Mr Prentis said.

He went on to say that unions were prepared to win over members’ “hearts and minds” over the need to strike to prevent cuts.