The senior Labour MP said it was "pathetic" that the government is acting with belligerence towards those taking industrial action, rather than trying to negotiate. The government should bear much of the blame for the situation because of its decision to "ramp up rhetoric", he said.

Labour has said it does not support the strike but will not condemn those who are protesting against low pay and changes to their conditions.

Dugher told the House of Commons: "We have said on these benches repeatedly that no one wants to see strikes, not least because of the impact they have on children, on parents, on all of those who rely on vital local public services. Strikes represent a failure on all sides and all sides have a responsibility to prevent strikes from taking place."

He said it was an "unedifying spectacle" to see ministers rowing in public with the civil service.

"We have had yet another depressing demonstration of a cabinet full of millionaires demonising the lowest paid in society," he said.

Addressing Francis Maude, the cabinet office minister, he said: "You remind me of a man trying to fight everyone in the pub at the same time. But when the country needs to see a negotiated settlement, what have we got? Ministerial belligerence revelling in confrontation, where strike action by the unions is almost a public policy success for a government desperate for a fight. It's sabre-rattling, it's union bashing, it's playing politics, it's a deliberate distraction and frankly it's pathetic."

He said the Conservatives were in no position to lecture the unions on legitimacy when the party only secured 36% of the vote at the last election.