The former regional secretary of the ATGWU, Mr Mick O'Reilly, has lost an appeal against his dismissal.
Mr O'Reilly was initially suspended from his post in June 2001 and was later sacked.
His colleague, Mr Eugene McGlone, the former regional organiser for the ATGWU, was also sacked. Both men made a joint appeal against their dismissal, which concluded six weeks ago.
The appeal panel of three members of the union's executive confirmed the decision of the union's general secretary that the charges of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty justifying dismissal were correct.
The announcement was made in London today where the union has its head office.
The charges related to Mr O'Reilly's alleged misinterpretation of the rules for union ballots and the manner in which the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association was recruited to the ATGWU.
The union has offered both men the demoted position of Senior Regional Organiser, but the offer is dependent on the withdrawal of all legal proceedings against the union and an agreement not to start any further proceedings.
The union has declared it will advertise the positions left empty by the dismissal of the two men and that both would be barred from seeking promotion in the union for the next 12 months.
At the time of writing, Mr O'Reilly and Mr McGlone could not be reached.