UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie has been ordered to step down as leader of construction’s biggest union

UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie has been ordered to step down as leader of construction’s biggest union after his election was declared void.

Watchdogs at the Certification Office for Trade Unions (CO) confirmed this morning that UCATT has been ordered to conduct a re-run of its 2009 leadership race.

Reports suggest the election was declared void after the CO found UCATT sent ballot papers to only 56,867 members – less than half of its claimed 130,000 membership.

The removal of Ritchie follows a determined campaign by his defeated rival in the 2009 election.

Regional official Mick Dooley lost the leadership race by 6,706 votes to 4,431.

Since launching his complaint against the election, Dooley was involved in constant disputes with the UCATT leadership and was sacked by the union earlier this year.

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