The Irish regional executive of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union is sending delegates to the union's annual conference in Brighton next week, even though it is boycotting the ICTU conference in Bundoran. ATGWU executive member, Mr Jimmy Kelly, said 30 delegates would go to Brighton to highlight the manner in which the Irish secretary, Mr Mick O'Reilly, and Northern Ireland organiser, Mr Eugene McGloin, were suspended earlier this week.
It is unlikely delegates will be allowed to raise the issue at the conference because the suspensions are now part of an internal union procedure. Asked why the regional executive decided to boycott the ICTU conference when the dispute was with the parent Transport and General Workers' Union in Britain, Mr Kelly said: "If he [Mr O'Reilly] wasn't going to lead the delegation to congress it was decided no one should attend."
Mr Kelly conceded some Irish delegates might attend the ICTU conference but these would probably be full-time officials.
He said the Irish regional executive hoped ATGWU general secretary, Mr Bill Morris, would respond to its call for the reinstatement of Mr O'Reilly and Mr McGloin.
However, a spokesman for the union in Britain confirmed that the suspension will stand until due process takes place.