Former union boss was banned from re-running for the leadership last month
Former Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie intends to halt the union鈥檚 current leadership ballot in its tracks by mounting a High Court injunction, the union has said.
Ritchie 鈥� who was banned from re-running for the leadership by the union last month 鈥� issued a 鈥渄erivative claim鈥� at London鈥檚 High Court today, requesting that the union pick up the costs of the planned injunction.
Speaking outside the High Court, Spencer Wood of law firm OH Parsons, who is representing Ucatt, said: 鈥淗e [Ritchie] is bringing a derivative claim 鈥� he鈥檚 suggesting he鈥檚 acting as a member of the union for the benefit of the union.
鈥淗e wants indemnity of the costs. [Our understanding is that] he鈥檚 then going to make an application for the injunction.鈥�
Ucatt general secretary George Guy said: 鈥淭his was an unforeseen situation.鈥�
The union鈥檚 election, which began last Friday, is currently between two candidates - Yorkshire regional secretary Steve Murphy and London regional secretary Jerry Swain.
In a separate development the Certification Office for trade unions - which declared the union鈥檚 2009 election void in April, forcing Ritchie to resign - confirmed it has received a formal complaint from former candidate Mick Dooley, who was also banned from running last month.
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