Plans to announce a new Independent Workers' Union appear to be on indefinite hold as potential members await the outcome of the inquiry into the suspension of two senior officials by the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union.
The case against the ATGWU's Irish regional secretary, Mr Mick O'Reilly, and its Northern Ireland organiser, Mr Eugene McGlone, opened in London last week but has been adjourned until November 28th and November 29th.
Last week the specialist journal Industrial Relations News said the IWU was "expected to be announced shortly".
IRN even published lengthy extracts from the new union's draft charter.
The charter says the rules of the union will be "designed to help manage the affairs of the union and are not a device to manage or control the members".
At the weekend the acting regional secretary of the ATGWU in Ireland, Mr Ben Kearney, described the formation of a new union as "a threat to the ATGWU's constitution and democracy, and could seriously damage our members' interests, which are particularly vulnerable in the present economic climate.
"I am sure the branches will want to put an end to the speculation and the damage it is causing to all of our members and enable all of us to concentrate our energies on protecting our members' jobs and livelihoods.
"At this time, all branches are receiving nominations for all our unions' constitutional committees, from branches right up to the General Executive Council.
"We are aware that some of the people putting themselves forward for positions may be active in the formation of the new union.
"We call on them, in the interests of our members, to give up the pretence and state their positions clearly instead of trying to make a sham of these important elections."