TWO organisations have clashed following claims that workers in the region clock up more than seven hours of unpaid overtime a week.

A study by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that nearly 15 per cent of employees in the North-East stay late or cut back on breaks.

On average, they do an extra seven hours and 24 minutes a week, which would earn them an extra £4,051 if they were paid for it. The TUC estimates the region's bosses are getting a total of more than £11m in free work.

The unpaid time is the equivalent of an employee working from January 1 to February 25 for nothing, the TUC said.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Many of the North-East's workplaces would collapse without all the extra hours put in by their staff.

"Few mind putting in extra time when there is a deadline or an emergency but, too often, this gets taken for granted and built in to the expected working week."

But the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) called the findings "a non-issue".

CBI regional director Steve Rankin said: "The TUC is making a mountain out of a molehill. Most senior managers have this built into their contracts and are compensated in their salaries."

He said that, in general, working hours for employees were becoming more flexible.

"They benefit from a better work-life balance," he said.

"It also means the employer is working in a more flexible environment, so he can react to demand for his products more easily than in the past."

The TUC has named tomorrow Work Your Proper Hours Day. It is urging employees to start and finish work on time and to take a proper lunch break.

It is also calling on managers to use the day to treat staff for all their unpaid work