MINISTERS have been warned that the North East will grind to a halt if 75,000 public sector workers this week vote to strike.

Union leaders are today urging the Government to rethink plans to force through an increase in the pension contribution made by hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide.

In the North East ballot papers are being sent to more than 75,000 local authority, NHS and police support staff. Nurses, social workers and bin collectors would be among the frontline staff to join a national day of industrial action coordinated by the TUC on November 30.

The changes to pension schemes would save around £900m over the next three years if they take effect next April, with ministers insisting low earners will be protected.

But Blaydon MP Dave Anderson last night claimed the changes amounted to “theft” and urged ministers to rethink their plans.

The Labour MP told The Journal: “It’s sad that people have been forced into this position. From my discussions with union officials it seems the Government hasn’t been negotiating seriously and has simply been looking for a way to implement a 3% increase.

“This is a tax on public service workers to cover up for the failure of the economic policy of this Government. It’s theft, nothing more, nothing less. It’s being targeted at public sector workers, nobody else.”

Mr Anderson said there was a danger workers would now be forced to withdraw from their pension schemes and become more reliant on the welfare state in retirement.

Clare Williams, regional convener for the North East, said the changes would leave public sector workers retiring in poverty, a situation she described as “economic madness”.