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A whistle-blowing activist has reached a settlement with trade union Unite after allegedly being sacked for complaining he was hired on a zero-hours contract.

Martyn Reuby, 60, a Unite member for over 42 years, claimed he was fired after continually raising the issue whilst working as a lecturer teaching best practice to union officials.

In a witness statement submitted to an employment tribunal, he claimed up to 500 tutors were unlawfully categorised as self-employed by Unite while he taught Trade Union Education across colleges in south-east England.

His case was allegedly referred to as "Martyngate" within union circles and he believes his subsequent dismissal in March 2014 was a direct result of being a "thorn" in Unite's side.

When another tutor raised the issue to the union's General Secretary Len McClusky, he was told "you haven't been speaking to Martyn Reuby have you", he claims in his statement.

Mr Reuby claimed he then got an email from the union's director of education Jim Mowatt labelling him 'juvenile and lazy' and told him he was 'wasting comrades' time'.

Eventually he was sacked by having his P45 sent to him in the post, a method he described as 'brutal'.

After his dismissal he was banned from attending the union's annual conference or branch meetings, something he believes was "orchestrated" and an attempt to silence him.

Last March Reuby won the first round in the legal battle after a tribunal ruled he had been employed on a short-term contract by Unite between 2008 and 2014.

Unite claimed it was misleading to call it a victory.

He said that by being classed as self-employed he was denied basic employment rights, an issue flagged since 2011.

A Unite spokesman said: "Unite does not use zero-hours contracts and it is misleading to say so.

"Despite reports in the media to contrary, Mr Reuby had not given verbal evidence to the tribunal.

"Unite is confident that had the tribunal proceeded it would have become evident that the union had cause for his dismissal in any event.

"The union is also confident that his claims would have been found to be baseless.

"All litigation carries a risk and the cost in legal fees alone for Unite over the ten day tribunal hearing would have far exceeded the settlement agreed by Mr Reuby.

"Therefore a pragmatic decision was taken by Unite to reach a settlement with Mr Reuby.

"Unite insisted that there be no confidentiality as to the terms of settlement, or the amount involved.

"In reaching a settlement Unite has not accepted any liability and strongly refutes any suggestions that it has broken employment law."