Brendan Ogle is an Irish trade union official. He is a senior Unite the Union officer in the Republic of Ireland.
Brendan Ogle | |
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 Ogle speaking at a demonstration against Water Charges in the mid-2010s |
Career
editOgle led the Irish Locomotive Drivers Association and is the former secretary of the ESB Group of unions.[1][2] He was the first non-ESB employee to become secretary of the GoU.[3] During his tenure he caused controversy by referring to workers in the ESB as 'spoilt' at a meeting of the dissident Republican group Éirígí.[4][5][6][7][8] Throughout this time he was, according to the Irish Independent, "subject to much adverse media comment" and he and his family endured threats to kill them.[1] Among those to publicly defend him were former Irish presidential candidate and senior Labour Party member Fergus Finlay.[9]
Ogle was in 2014 to 2016 a central figure in the protest movement against Irish Water's introduction of water charges in Ireland.[10][11] He was a co-founder of the "Home Sweet Home" campaign, which saw protesters seize the vacant Apollo House in Dublin to house homeless people.[12]
In March 2018, Ogle announced that he would launch a new political party in September.[13] As of August 2023 no such party has been launched.
Ogle is a senior officer in Unite the Union.[14] In 2023 he made a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission about allegations of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower penalisation and the failure to provide reasonable adjustment after he returned to work from cancer treatment.[15][10]
Ogle unsuccessfully contested the 2024 European Parliament election for the Dublin constituency as an independent candidate.[16][17]
Personal life
editOgle comes from Dundalk, County Louth,[1] and had eight siblings.[18] He is married to Amanda La Combre.[10] Ogle was diagnosed with throat cancer in July 2020, and is now clear of the disease.[18]
Ogle has been chairman of Dundalk F.C. Supporters' Club.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c Phelan, Shane (4 February 2014). "Controversial ESB union boss Brendan Ogle to resign". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ Finn, Christina (22 September 2013). "Union chief: 'ESB are refusing to engage in discussions'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ Paul, Mark (4 February 2014). "Ogle steps down as leader of ESB unions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Anne-Marie (27 August 2011). "ESB's €75,500 staff 'spoilt' -- admits union chief". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ Duffy, Rónán (4 February 2014). "Brendan Ogle said ESB workers were "viciously attacked by some in the media" during the recent pension dispute". BusinessETC. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ O'Halloran, Barry (27 June 2013). "ESB staff to begin legal action over €1.6bn pension deficit". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ^ Hilliard, Mark (25 November 2013). "ESB union leader says Christmas period will be spared any blackout action". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ O'Halloran, Barry (10 December 2013). "Deal confirms ESB liable for pension hole". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- ^ Finlay, Fergus (10 December 2013). "Demonisation of ESB union leader Ogle does him an injustice". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Bourke, Stephen (28 November 2023). "British leadership of Unite union may be called to testify in discrimination case". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "'Festival for Change': Calls for voters to protest like it's 2014 at last big rally before election: Organiser Brendan Ogle has predicted it will be "the biggest protest in Ireland ever"". TheJournal.ie. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ Horan, Niamh (15 January 2017). "Brendan Ogle: 'You'd have to be sociopathic to enjoy this - and I am not'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ O'Regan, Michael (25 March 2018). "Former union boss Brendan Ogle to launch political party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ Clifford, Mick (18 September 2023). "Brendan Ogle lodges defamation proceedings against Unite trade union". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "WRC to probe discrimination claims by top Unite trade union official in Ireland Brendan Ogle". RTÉ News. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Candidates for European Election". Dublin County Returning Officer. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "European Elections: Dublin". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Rogers, James (4 October 2022). "Well-known Dundalk supporter Brendan Ogle opens up on his cancer battle". The Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 12 January 2024.