‘Stich-up’ as Unite sacks Midland union organiser

TRADE union Unite has sacked West Midlands regional organiser Gerard Coyne after his attempt to become the union’s new general secretary.

A Unite disciplinary hearing found him guilty of misusing data.

But Mr Coyne said he was the victim of a “stitch-up” by a “kangaroo court” – and would appeal against the decision.

He stood against Len McCluskey for the role of General Secretary of Unite but lost by under 6,000 votes when the results were announced in April.

The bitter battle saw Mr McCluskey attack Black Country Labour MP Tom Watson and Labour West Midlands mayor candidate Siôn Simon, complaining they were supporting Mr Coyne.

Unite suspended Mr Coyne from his West Midlands role in April, while the contest was under way.

Mr Coyne’s sacking follows claims he used Labour party data and a call centre set up to support Siôn Simon’s mayor cam- paign to contact potential supporters.

Mr Coyne said: “I am deeply disappointed but not surprised at my dismissal. When you are in a kangaroo court, you are rarely surprised by the outcome.

“It was always clear to me that the charges were nothing more than a stitch-up. My real ‘crime’ was having the audacity to challenge Mr McCluskey in the General Secretary election that he called unnecessarily.”

He added: “It is a public warning to any member of Unite’s staff who is thinking of challenging the way the McCluskey gang run the union: ‘step out of line, and you will be out of a job’. Political dissent is not tolerated inside Unite. However, I will not be bullied into silence.”

A Unite spokesman said the decision was subject to a right of appeal to Unite’s executive council, and the union would not be offering any further comment on

the matter.