Brendan Ogle

Brendan Ogle is an Irish trade union official. He is a senior Unite the Union officer in the Republic of Ireland.

Brendan Ogle
Ogle speaking at a demonstration against Water Charges in the mid-2010s

Career

Ogle 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

Ogle 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
  1. Phelan, Shane (4 February 2014). "Controversial ESB union boss Brendan Ogle to resign". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  2. Finn, Christina (22 September 2013). "Union chief: 'ESB are refusing to engage in discussions'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. Paul, Mark (4 February 2014). "Ogle steps down as leader of ESB unions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. Walsh, Anne-Marie (27 August 2011). "ESB's €75,500 staff 'spoilt' -- admits union chief". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  5. 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.
  6. O'Halloran, Barry (27 June 2013). "ESB staff to begin legal action over €1.6bn pension deficit". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  7. Hilliard, Mark (25 November 2013). "ESB union leader says Christmas period will be spared any blackout action". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  8. O'Halloran, Barry (10 December 2013). "Deal confirms ESB liable for pension hole". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  9. Finlay, Fergus (10 December 2013). "Demonisation of ESB union leader Ogle does him an injustice". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  10. 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.
  11. "'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.
  12. 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.
  13. O'Regan, Michael (25 March 2018). "Former union boss Brendan Ogle to launch political party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  14. Clifford, Mick (18 September 2023). "Brendan Ogle lodges defamation proceedings against Unite trade union". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. "WRC to probe discrimination claims by top Unite trade union official in Ireland Brendan Ogle". RTÉ News. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. "Candidates for European Election". Dublin County Returning Officer. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  17. "European Elections: Dublin". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  18. 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.
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