A UNION is claiming that a steward sacked by Sunderland City Council may have been victimised.

Keith Hodgson, who worked in the Labour-run council's computer department, was dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing over alleged discrepancies on his timesheets.

Mr Hodgson, a Unison activist, was involved in the fight against redundancies in the department.

A vote of no confidence in IT manager Steve Williams, who fired him, has been passed by Unison members, who also voted to request a ballot for a strike of up to three days pending an appeal or Mr Hodgson's reinstatement.

Branch secretary Bob Scott said that during the disciplinary hearing no attempts were made to examine Mr Hodgson's explanations for the discrepancies.

"There is also a suggestion of victimisation, given Keith's high profile role as a Unison activist.

"He played a significant role during the redundancy threat earlier this year and that may have brought him into conflict with the manager who instigated the investigation."

He said that Mr Hodgson would appeal against the decision and that if the council speedily held a thorough review of his sacking "there would be no need for industrial action".

Union members are concerned that no evidence was produced disproving Mr Hodgson's explanations for the timesheet discrepancies.

A council spokeswoman said Mr Williams chaired the disciplinary hearing and the council had complete confidence in him, in its disciplinary procedure and in the way the procedure was applied.

She said: "In this case, an appeal has yet to be lodged or heard, and in the circumstances it is most regrettable that Unison has chosen to publish details of the case.

"The council continues to enjoy a good working relationship with Unison and refutes strongly any suggestion of victimisation."