Sacked ATGWU officials accept demotions

Two senior ATGWU officials who lost their appeals against their dismissals last year have decided to accept the demoted positions offered to them by the union.

Former Irish regional secretary Mr Mick O'Reilly and his deputy, Mr Eugene McGlone, were sacked last May for "gross misconduct and dereliction of duty".

The main charges against them relate to the way members of ILDA and the Cork Operative Butchers' Society were recruited into the union. Mr O'Reilly and Mr McGlone challenged the charges in appeal hearings, which began last October and concluded six weeks ago.

Following a hearing in London last week, the two men were offered demoted positions, but with the salary and conditions attached to their previous posts.

Mr O'Reilly told ireland.comtoday it was a difficult decision to accept the offer.

"I had to decide whether or not I wanted to be a millionaire through the courts or be a union official. I chose union official," he said. "I have no doubt I would have won my case in court, as it was a clear case of political discrimination.

"I've got the smell of cordite back, and I'm eager to get involved in the current pay agreement negotiations," he said. He said he hoped the recent inflation figures, showing a rate of over 5 per cent, would "sound the death knell" for the current national pay talks.

He also said he intends to be active in the anti-war movement.

Among the conditions of acceptance of the new posts are that the two men drop all legal proceedings against the union. They are also barred from applying for any promotion within the union for 12 months.