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Construction鈥檚 largest union is in turmoil, in what many think is one of its most crucial years. Just when Ucatt鈥檚 attention should be focused on the battles looming over cuts to the Health and Safety Executive and defending workers鈥� rights as contractors push construction of the Olympics to meet tough deadlines, it鈥檚 embroiled in a potentially damaging piece of infighting instead. The union is reeling from a watchdog verdict in March that declared its 2009 leadership election was void, forcing general secretary Alan Ritchie to resign.

Ucatt was ordered to re-run its election so that a result is declared no later than 29 July if there are two candidates, and 30 September if there are more - although a subsequent appeal by the union has thrown this timetable into question.

So, what went wrong and what is the impact of this annulled election on Ucatt鈥檚 reputation?

Ucatt鈥檚 leadership saga

When the highly respected (and occasionally feared) general secretary George Brumwell stood down in 2004, he left a gaping hole at the heart of the union. His heir apparent was the wily Scottish regional secretary, Alan Ritchie. As a close lieutenant of Brumwell, Ritchie was seen as the establishment choice, if controversial in some quarters.

A source close to the union said: 鈥淕eorge Brumwell鈥檚 desire was that his place be taken by Ritchie.鈥�

A rival emerged in London regional organiser Mick Dooley. Ritchie defeated Dooley in 2004, but they faced off again for the 2009 leadership contest - the fallout from which still reverberates today.

What went wrong

Ritchie won the 2009 election contest by 6,706 votes to Dooley鈥檚 4,431, on a dismal turnout of 9% of the union鈥檚 membership. Dooley cried foul, claiming that the low turnout reflected the fact that ballot papers had not been sent out to a large number of members.

锘縊nce ucatt have sorted themselves out we can talk constructively with them again

Source at Construction Industry Federation

In a further twist, following ongoing disputes with the Ucatt leadership, Dooley was this year sacked as a regional officer for alleged 鈥済ross misconduct鈥�. Dooley, who will challenge this in an employment tribunal in June, says the sacking revolves around allegations of falsifying membership forms.

In December 2009, he referred the election to the union watchdog, the Certification Office for Trade Unions (CO). In March the CO returned its damning verdict - the 2009 contest was declared void after it was found that ballot papers had been sent to only 56,867 members out of a claimed membership of 127,433.

Despite the watchdog ruling that the union had disenfranchised over half its members, the union lodged an appeal against the decision last month. Dooley for his part has announced his intention to run if the contest is re-staged, and lambasted the union for using what he terms 鈥渄elaying tactics鈥�.

Ucatt is appealing because it feels its rule book always allowed it to exclude those members who are over 26 weeks behind in membership payments from voting. A union spokesperson said: 鈥淭he union has always taken the view that unless a member keeps up to date with contributions, he or she should not be permitted to vote in the union鈥檚 elections.鈥�

Fresh controversy

But the debacle has raised a new controversy about the size of Ucatt鈥檚 claimed membership. The CO鈥檚 ruling shows the union sought to argue to the CO that the 70,000 members excluded in the 2009 contest were not, in fact, members of the union. Critics of the union have suggested this was a tacit acknowledgement by Ucatt it has overstated its membership for years.

Dooley said: 鈥淭he union has to face up to the fact that it鈥檚 quite insignificant. It鈥檚 been trying to play with the big players in the field but unless you鈥檝e got a true picture of yourself you鈥檒l never change.鈥�

In its judgment, the CO rejected the union鈥檚 submission that the 70,000 who were excluded from the 2009 leadership election were not members of the union. It said: 鈥淪uch an interpretation would sit uneasily with the union鈥檚 statement [about its membership total].鈥�

One source at union Unite said there were doubts about Ucatt鈥檚 membership figures. He said: 鈥淭he feeling is Ucatt has attempted to keep on to membership that a traditional union probably wouldn鈥檛 have done, in order to get a seat at the top table of the TUC.鈥�

Ucatt declined to comment on these or any of the claims.

The controversy has raised fresh doubts about the membership status of the thousands now barred from voting in elections. Dooley indicated he would challenge Ucatt鈥檚 assertion that members behind on their subs are prevented from voting if he won an election re-run.

鈥淚t can鈥檛 be right that this attempts to disenfranchise 56% of the membership. I鈥檒l challenge that; it must be put to the membership,鈥� he said.

Ucatt member and safety campaigner Tony O鈥橞rien also questioned this, claiming that it may unfairly catch out members moving from job to job. 鈥淭his is a casual industry with people moving from one site to another and people can easily fall behind on payments,鈥� O鈥橞rien said.

Fallout for the union

Some industry figures claim the union鈥檚 infighting is already damaging its reputation. One director at a major construction industry federation said the dispute had distracted the union, aiding employers鈥� negotiating position. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been nice as it鈥檚 become engaged in these internal disputes. Once they鈥檝e sorted themselves out we can talk constructively with them again.鈥�

Firms used to sitting across the negotiating table from Ucatt will be watching to see how the union resolves its leadership crisis.

The federation source added: 鈥淎lan Ritchie was recognised as someone we could generally do business with. The concern is that the hardcore rank and file will want people who will bang tables and cause a stir.鈥�

But another federation director suggested he had seen 鈥渘o practical effect鈥� from the clash, adding: 鈥淚t鈥檚 in everyone鈥檚 interests that we have a strong and competent union.鈥�

And in nobody鈥檚 more so than Ucatt鈥檚 members, who must be concerned that the prospect of a protracted appeal and leadership election will take the union鈥檚 eye off the issues that matter to them.