A ROW broke out last night after a senior minister said striking public sector workers risked plunging the North East back into recession.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude claimed there was a danger of the economy sliding backwards and jobs being lost as public sector staff walk out tomorrow over controversial changes to their pensions.
But unions in the North East said it was Government policies that were hitting the North East economy.
Mr Maudes comments come as the TUC predicts 300,000 people in the North East and Cumbria will go on strike tomorrow with millions of public sector workers across the country joining the action.
Most schools across the region are expected to be closed, with the Tyne and Wear Metro and Shields ferry also grinding to a halt.
Disruption is set to affect local government services and operations at the regions big civil service offices. Health bosses say deals are in place to ensure emergency care despite some disruption at hospitals.
A number of passport control staff from the UK Border Agency are expected to walk out, although Newcastle Airport said it would not affect any outgoing flights.
Mr Maude said: I think the union leaders who have called the strike are irresponsible. This is untimely, inappropriate and irresponsible.
The union leaders are asking their members, many of whom are not on big salaries, to forgo a days pay when it is completely unnecessary when there are discussions, which are going ahead on a daily basis.
Asked if strikes risked pushing the region into recession, Mr Maude said: There is a danger of that. The North East is heavily dependent on the public sector.
And the loss of a days pay means less spending power in the North East economy and that will impact the economy for sure.
Pension reforms were needed because people were living longer, said Mr Maude, and a fairer balance between taxpayers and public sectors was needed.
TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan said the ministers comments completely negates the Governments responsibility for pay freezes, job losses and the overriding loss of public confidence which is taking much more money out than one day of industrial action.
The Government should wake up and smell the coffee by realising the damage being done by its austerity programme, he added.
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