North East suffers double-blow with decreases in public and private sector employment

date: 1^st March 2012

embargo: for immediate release

Commenting on today's ONS figures on public sector employment Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary of the Northern TUC said:

'Everyone was expecting an across the board decrease in the public sector employment figures, but as is becoming an all too familiar pattern, the North East has suffered worse than most, with a decrease of 5.2% versus the national average of 4.4%. And where there has been a glimmer of hope for everywhere else with very slight increases in private sector employment, our region has suffered a decrease of 0.6% here as well.

'We are seemingly becoming the country's poor relation, being targeted again and again and with the highest unemployment rate in England the government should be looking to offer a hand up, instead of kicking us when we're down. There are so many alternatives to this incessant misery-making; real, credible and viable alternatives that the people of the Northern region will be taking directly to the government and making their voices heard on Saturday 10^th March with a march and Rally for the Alternative to coincide with the Liberal Democrat Conference at the Sage.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- For details of the March and rally click here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/238/LIBDEM%20A4.pdf

- Northern TUC press releases www.tuc.org.uk/northern national releases www.tuc.org.uk and www.twitter.com/tucnews

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- For TUC advice and information on the world of work www.workSMART.org.uk

Media contacts:

Kevin Rowan, Northern TUC Regional Secretary T: 0191 227 5565; M: 07766250074; E: krowan@tuc.org.uk