Officials accept offer of posts in ATGWU

The former Irish regional secretary of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU), Mr Mick O'Reilly, has accepted an offer of reinstatement as a union official.

The union's Northern Ireland organiser, Mr Eugene McGlone, has accepted a similar offer.

The two men had been dismissed from their posts and were campaigning among rank-and-file union members for their reinstatement.

In a statement yesterday, Mr O'Reilly said Mr McGlone and himself had accepted the posts of senior industrial officers, and, as part of the agreement, would drop all legal proceedings against the union.

Mr O'Reilly said the media informed Mr McGlone and himself last April that they were to be dismissed with immediate effect.

"We were not surprised by the decision, but were astounded at the manner in which it was communicated to us," he added.

Mr O'Reilly thanked his "many friends and colleagues" in the ATGWU in Ireland and Britain, and the hundreds of trade unionists in other unions, who had offered their support to Mr McGlone and himself.

"It has been a very trying and testing time, not just for us as individuals, but more so for our families," said Mr O'Reilly. "The support and goodwill helped get us through what I can only describe as one long nightmare. For that, I will always be grateful."

He added that Mr McGlone and himself were anxious to draw a line under the past and move on. "With a new leadership of the union to be elected in the coming months, it is essential that we all put the traumatic events of the past 18 months behind us and look forward to the future and the task of rebuilding our union," he said.