The militant Unite union was facing embarrassment last night over claims it ‘sacked’ an activist for complaining about being hired on a zero-hours contract. Former lecturer Martyn Reuby won the first round in his legal battle against Unite, after a tribunal ruled that he had been employed to teach its courses. The employment tribunal ruling is a major embarrassment to the union, which has led the campaign against the use of zero-hours contracts, which it says amount to ‘exploitation’. Ed Miliband was left embarrassed today after Labour's biggest backer was accused of employing workers on zero-hours contracts . It is also a blow to Ed Miliband, who has received more than £13million from Unite since becoming leader in 2010. Mr Reuby, a Unite member for 42 years, claims he was sacked by the 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. The 59-year-old yesterday welcomed the ruling, saying: ‘I never thought I would be taking my union to court. It is hypocrisy (on their part) because effectively what they were using was zero-hours contracts through the back door.’ Mr Reuby’s lawyer Jahad Rahman said Unite had repeatedly tried to avoid its responsibilities. He added: ‘There’s a moral as well as legal issue here because workers should not be denied basic employment rights. ‘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. My client was dismissed without any notice. He received a P45 in the post. No fair process was followed.’ Mr Reuby was employed to deliver Unite courses at a string of colleges in London and the South East. The union provided the training, syllabus and course materials. Mr Rahman said his client would now pursue a case for wrongful dismissal against the union. Unite, which is appealing the judgment, claimed it did not employ Mr Reuby, who had a series of short-term contracts from colleges, which did not guarantee any minimum hours. But the tribunal ruled that he was effectively employed by Unite. A spokesman for the union said: ‘Unite does not use zero-hours contracts and it is misleading to say so. The tribunal did not find that Mr Reuby was employed on a zero-hour contract, but rather he was employed on a series of short- term contracts.’ Labour was facing further embarrassment over the issue last night after Parliament’s expenses watchdog confirmed some of the party’s MPs were employing staff on a zero-hours basis. 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 Miliband’s parliamentary aide Karen Buck. Labour leader Ed Miliband, pictured today in Bury, has vowed to crackdown on zero-hours contracts . Mr Miliband posed for a 'selfie' with youngsters after a Q&A session at Bury Town Hall before tonight's debate . Ed Miliband's promised crackdown on zero-hours contracts backfired after it emerged: . Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt dismissed the figures, saying: ‘These were not zero-hours contracts – they were casual contracts, such as students and interns.’ But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority said the contracts were offered by MPs on a zero-hours basis, adding: ‘The MP is the employer – it is a matter for them whether they choose to use zero hours.’ Meanwhile, the Conservatives were also facing difficulties last night after a prominent businessman withdrew his name from a letter of support. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, was one of more than 100 senior executives who endorsed a warning that a ‘change in course’ would risk jobs and deter investment. Tory sources last night said Mr Soriot had agreed in writing to have his name added to the letter. But yesterday he issued a statement saying that neither he nor his company endorsed any political party. He added: ‘My name should not be used in the context of the letter.’ Labour business spokesman Chuka Umunna said: ‘Like most business leaders, Mr Soriot will want to contribute to policy debate but won’t want to get involved in party politics.’
Unite accused of employing workers on contracts 'effectively zero hours' Union, which has given millions to Labour, lost a key employment tribunal . Lecturer Martyn Reuby says he was sacked after complaining about issue . Comes after Labour was accused of hypocrisy over zero-hours contracts .