Trade unionist Brendan Ogle is pursuing a new case under workplace equality law against Unite after having a disability discrimination action dismissed by the Labour Court last year.
A second statutory complaint by Mr Ogle under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against Unite the Union is listed for hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission next week.
The allegation at the centre of the complaint is understood to be one of workplace victimisation linked to Mr Ogle’s disability discrimination case at the WRC in 2024.
Mr Ogle had previously alleged in a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 that he was sidelined at work in summer 2022 after being treated for a “very aggressive” throat cancer which saw him lose four and a half stone in weight while “living off fluids for six months”.
The WRC rejected the case following a 10-day hearing in Dublin, during which over a dozen witnesses gave evidence – including Mr Ogle and senior Unite officials based in Ireland and the UK.
Mr Ogle alleged that he had lost a significant element of his role working on Unite’s political platform in Ireland on water charges, abortion rights and housing on his return to work.
However, the WRC rejected his position that another senior official took up the duties.
An adjudicator found that a change in emphasis at Unite from political matters to industrial matters had caused a significant impact to Mr Ogle’s role, but found there was no link to his disability.
The Labour Court reached a similar conclusion last October, when it rejected Mr Ogle’s appeal.
A further legal challenge by Mr Ogle to the Labour Court’s ruling is before the High Court.
The new Employment Equality Act complaint is to be called on for hearing at the WRC next Tuesday.
