article_snippet.sent: The militant Unite union ‘sacked’ an activist for complaining about being hired on a zero-hours contract.
article_snippet.sent: The employment tribunal ruling is a major embarrassment to the union, which has led the campaign against the use of zero-hours contracts, which The employment tribunal ruling says amount to ‘exploitation’.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Reuby, a Unite member for 42 years, claims he was sacked by The militant Unite union after complaining that he and more than 100 colleagues were employed on a zero-hours basis, with no entitlement to sick pay or paid leave.
article_snippet.sent: It is hypocrisy (on The militant Unite union part) because effectively what The militant Unite union were using was zero-hours contracts through the back door.
article_snippet.sent: Unite has openly campaigned about the use of zero-hours contracts, which provide far fewer benefits such as holiday pay and pension, yet there is evidence in this case that tutors employed by Unite and other colleges worked under zero-hours contracts.
article_snippet.sent: A spokesman for The union said: ‘Unite does not use zero-hours contracts and it is misleading to say so.
article_snippet.sent: were employing staff on a zero-hours basis.
article_snippet.sent: Some 68 Labour MPs have used zero-hours contracts in the past two years, including Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham and Mr MilibandParliament
article_snippet.sent: Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt dismissed the figures, saying: ‘These were not zero-hours contracts –
article_snippet.sent: But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority said the contracts were offered by MPs on a zero-hours basis, adding:
article_snippet.sent: it is a matter for them whether them choose to use zero hours.
highlights_snippet.sent: Unite accused of employing workers on contracts 'effectively zero hours'
  Union, which has given millions to Labour, lost a key employment tribunal .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Comes after Labour was accused of hypocrisy over zero-hours contracts .