An increasingly bitter trade union election in Britain could result in two senior ATGWU officials being restored to the union's top two posts in Ireland, writes Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent.
Mr Mick O'Reilly and Mr Eugene McGlone recently returned to jobs in the ATGWU after a partial victory in their attempt to overturn their dismissals in May last year.
An appeals panel upheld the sackings but threw out the most serious charges against them and recommended that they be offered demoted positions, but with the salary and conditions attached to their previous posts.
The ATGWU is part of Britain's largest industrial union, the T&GWU, which is currently balloting members on the selection of a new general secretary.
The front-runner for the post, Mr Tony Woodley, says if he is elected he will use all his "power and influence" to restore Mr O'Reilly and Mr McGlone to their previous positions.
Under the terms of their return to the union, the two were barred from applying for their former jobs for 12 months. The posts have since been advertised but have not yet been filled.
As regional secretary, Mr O'Reilly was the union's highest-ranking official in Ireland before his sacking, and Mr McGlone was next in command.
The two are now senior regional organisers.
In an "open address" to the ATGWU's 45,000 members, Mr Woodley says he is committed to the reversal of "injustices" which occurred under the union's disciplinary procedures.
Mr Woodley is understood to have received the most branch nominations of the four candidates hoping to succeed Mr Bill Morris as T&G general secretary.
He is currently deputy general secretary of the union and is favourite to land the top job.
The other candidates are the union's national secretary, Mr Jack Dromey and assistant general secretaries Mr Barry Camfield and Mr Jimmy Elsby.
Mr Morris retires in October, but the result of the election will be known by the end of the month.