A FORMER trade union official who is claiming constructive dismissal against his movement has accused his bosses of condoning widespread corruption and fraud within the organisation.

David Short told an industrial tribunal hearing that socalled sweetheart agreements between the construction workers’ union UCATT were common practice.

As part of this “cosy relationship”, companies would pay for fictitious members and, in return, the union would turn a blind eye to employment abuses, he claimed.

The 46-year-old former Northern regional organiser for UCATT, said he had no option but to resign in November last year after his health was wrecked – he had developed a bad stammer and was suffering from depression – following allegations against him.

Giving evidence at a hearing in Newcastle, Mr Short, of Bedlington, Northumberland, said: “My world came tumbling down when I received a letter from the general secretary, Alan Ritchie, informing me that I would be investigated following allegations that I had submitted fictitious membership application forms in relation to a company called Hudson Contract Services.”

The union alleged he had acted fraudulently, thereby bringing the union into disrepute.

Mr Short has rejected the allegations.

He said: “I was not sure why they were accusing me of doing such a thing when I clearly had not – and when the union has condoned fictitious membership for years.

“I was aware that such fictitious membership (sweetheart agreements) had been put in place in the Northern region – and I believe many other regions – before I started working for the union.”

Mr Short, who was taken on as development officer in 2005, said he only became aware of the illegality of deals after he had resigned.

Hari Menon, for UCATT, put it to Mr Short that his allegations of corruption and fraud had been manufactured to bolster his case – and Mr Short had no evidence to back up his assertions.

He also questioned why it had taken five years for the “penny to drop”.

Tribunal hearing chairman John Hunter told Mr Short: “Did this not strike you that this was entirely undesirable practice, that it would give rise to the suggestion that you should dance to the tune of the employer rather than the employee?”

Mr Short repeated that he was not aware of any illegality until after he resigned.

The hearing continues.