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Updated 11.20 PM
THE SECRETARY OF the ESB Group of Unions has announced that he will be stepping down from his position in the coming days.
Brendan Ogle said this afternoon that he will no longer be representing workers in the ESB and had taken the decision with the support of the unions.
Ogle will also be leaving his position within ESB with the company saying the decions was by mutual agreement.
Ogle was the secretary during the recent dispute between the ESB GoU and the company over the pension scheme at the semi-state company.
The dispute had threatened to lead to power cuts over the Christmas period but was averted after trade unions and management reached agreement.
Ogle said today that the successful conclusion of this dispute was the primary reason for him opting to leave he ESB GoU.
“I have been representing ESB workers for 10 years and, in that context, the recent successful campaign to have the ESB pension scheme properly reclassified and treated as a Defined Benefit pension scheme allows me to do so at an appropriate time, ” he said.
Ogle also took the opportunity to criticise some sections of the media he felt were unfair during the pension dispute:
It is ironic, but not surprising, that in recent weeks the very ESB workers who had been viciously attacked by some in the media for having the temerity to protect their pension rights, have demonstrated the very best of public service as they have battled extreme weather to protect electricity customers safety and supply. By their actions, in such dangerous circumstances over the past two months, they have silently answered the unwarranted attacks of their critics.
While 2013 was a difficult period for Industrial Relations in ESB and in turn for customers, ESB acknowledges that over the period of his involvement with ESB as a union official and as secretary of the ESB Group of Unions, Mr Ogle made a significant contribution, particularly through the delivery and implementation of a number of important change agreements.
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Rumour has it he’s joking Irish Water
Joining
Brendan the Joe Hill of Irish trade unions…….legend !
Benny Hill more like
Liked your first post better good on ya Brendan
Hope you live in hell for the rest of your days Ogle. the threats and mayhem you said you would visit on people caused untold stress and worry on the most vunerable in society. You make me sick. you represent a greedy self interest section of Ireland to-day which is taking money away from areas needed like real welfare, education and health services
No the banks are doing that so why don’t you go to hell
He can say what he really thinks of Esb workers now.
Well said Miller spot on
The government are doing that very well, and will continue to do it without Mr. Ogle’s help. Paid well as a government troll are you?
Tad harsh there Miller.
What planet are you on? Unlike the bankers, CEO’s etc who got their exorbitant pensions for nothing, these are men/ women who have paid into a fund for up to 40 years and are being told they get nothing. Are you telling me their contracts are less binding than the TD’s, etc who walked away with small fortunes!
The only weapon left to us working class is protest and/ or strike because the ballot box ain’t gonna do it for us.
Get a grip on reality.
I don’t think Joe Hill would have suggested pay cuts for his members of up to 20% and then implemented them!!!!!
A manager disguised as a Trade Union official!!!!
I have no affiliation with the ESB or a Union but I have to wonder about your comments. His job was to represent his union members and do right by them. He did that and seemly did it very well. Don’t confuse the issue with bringing in shortfalls in other areas of society his role was to do the best for the ESB union members.
My comment was @ Miller
Miller represent a large portion of the people of Ireland, those who are capable of seeing the big picture, the of most problems in Ireland are solely down banks and government, and not one individual has been held accountable to date! Employees fighting for their pension that was almost stolen from them, by the government most likely to give to banks are well with in their rights. Let’s not lose sight of where the source of our problems lie.
Fair play to him. Unbelievable how the ” media” targeted these workers standing up for their rights but never attack the bankers, charity CEO’s etc who never paid into a pension fund but slate men/ women who paid in for 40 years and now are told there’s no money for them! Are their “contracts” less legally binding than those of the parasites who bled us dry?
Well said Martin,
well said martin everybody has rights in this country except working people.
Yes the media never attacks the banks or top-up recipients at all. I just googled CRC top-ups and nothing came up. Get a life will you. Union leadership in its current state is a sham and the domain of power hungry wasters. Unions should be run by independent individuals not this shower of fools.
Pity the media never reported the 20% pay cut Ogle foisted upon ESB workers.
He’ll probably run for FG in the Local Elections.
Where have you been? “Media” and posters both here and elsewhere never leave bankers, ceo’s, developers, ministers, TD’s etc alone. It has been relentless since 2008. It’s the lefties, trade unionists and their self interest and bullshit economics that they never tackle. Especially RTE who allow the socialists and trade unionists away with outlandish statements and claims.
Bring back an appreciation of business people, entrepreneurs, self employed and management as a noble career. Elevate them to hero status. Otherwise we on the road to nowhere!
Why have we among the highest electricity costs in the world?
Hilarious…..all hail the omnipotent Profit Sector and its exploitative, wealth hoarding minions….may all their crippling debt and wreckless abandonment be socialised evermore!!
The simple answer is greed.
Keep your heads down lads, Brendan Ogle is looking for a new crusade.
In fairness I listened to him being ambushed on Sean O’Rourke’s radio show on RTE in December. Some media outlets fancy themselves as judge jury and executioner on most topics………
I’m not a particular fan of Brenden and don’t share his politics. That being said I find him a refreshing blend of sincerity, integrity and commitment. He appears intelligent, articulate and fearless to take on any power or vested interest. That makes him rare in todays world. We do need people like him.
By “ambushed” do you mean “asked tricky questions”?
The union mafiosos get a bit uncomfortable when someone coherent challenges their line.
David. That statement does justify your name!
He might return to irish rail :-D just in time for another dispute…
As I said Naills, the man is not my cup of tea but I consider him honest to himself.
Your counterpoint to my remarks would be more useful than wordplay with my satirical pseudonym.
Actually he gave a good account of himself on that occasion as O’Rourke, in fairness, acknowledged.
Putting in the hours, aren’t you Jeremy, the bosses must be happy with you!
I wonder if he’s heading back to CIE as he’s heard there’s a bit of trouble brewing?
CIE are welcome to him.i don’t think their Unions or members would put up with Union officials doing a managers job and cutting their pay by 20%?
Maggie Thatcher would be proud of him.
I hope our new official lodges a pay claim because Ogle has taken our wages and run……
Off to Aer Fungus their pension scheme need a strike
No loss.
The ESB workers are paid extremely well to do the work they do, seasonal issues are just that. During the summer months what do they do …hmmmm. Chill out probably, and ‘look’ busy.
Climb a ladder on Christmas Day soft arse
and i suppose the infastructure maintains it self,clown
I’ve been on a ladder on Christmas Day, softarse, wasn’t paid for it either.
Infrastructure maintenance pays top money, I know plenty of lads doing it, sweet money…lots of err tea breaks, union obfuscation, lazy Mondays. Sure they do a good job, and sometimes it’s hairy, but we’ve all been fcuked over by the nations collapse, they should take a hit as well, clown.
i pity fools like you sitting at your computer thinking youre keeping the country afloat all on your own,take a reality check your input is minimal you the same as me or anybody else on here are nobody but look if attacking working people makes you feel important carry on wearing your underpants on the outside.fool
My input is minimal, sure it is, I know that. I’m self employed, have been for almost 30 years, pay my taxes etc. but you’re right my input is minimal, what’s your excuse? Were you dropped on your head or were you always that way…oh right you’re one of those entitled ones
My job is more important than your job!!! Grow up the pair of yea. Be happy you have a job. Many don’t and could care less about which one of you can piss higher.
Oh and guess how much I’m ‘entitled’ to in these brutal belt tightening times…not a sausage…the self employed are left to rot, the ESB whinging workers whinging about a pay cut, give us a break!
Is it ESB workers fault that self employed get no benefits I think you’ll find that’s a No. Is it your fault, I think you’ll find that’s a no too. I agree it’s a crap system but it’s the system we have and are stuck with. What’s the answer? I don’t know but it’s tough for all with the exception of the elite few and I suspect if an ESB worker or a self employed is up a ladder on Christmas Day then neither of you are in the elite class. Nor am I btw.
Our loss is Cuba’s gain.
Ogle’s all right.
Is anything he was quoted as having said wrong??
All you have to do is look at his address to Eirigi…the man is deluded and dangerous. Threatening to bring a country to it’s knees with his warped communist ideology…
Great to see this twit gone, he never gave a toss about the hard working people who paid his members wages. He nearly brought the country to its knees when he was representing the railway workers. It was always about self promotion for him, he is somebody who is stuck in a time warp. A guy who sounded like some of the former failed despots of Eastern Europe and spouted their doomed policies which that left their people destitute. Good riddance!
People still remember him when the Bus @ rail union strikes were causing havoc across the country,his extreme rantings often reminded us more of the socialist eastern Europe than a western democratic state,he was responsible for causing self inflicted damage to this country many years before the financial and banking crash ever arrived, i used public transport up until that time but like so many thousands of others have never used it since.
Democratic state! Are you really referring to Ireland as a democratic state? Democracy in Ireland is only for the rich, powerful and corrupt.
Never a truer word spoken here!!
Dead on Kris
Idiot. The government are doing a great job of making people people destitute. Good riddence to those leeches.
Ogle is one of the few Union leaders worthy of the name. The others like O Connor, Begg and Coady are bought and paid for establishment insiders who have deliberately neutered the power of organised labour as the nation has been ransacked to pay for the failure of speculative financial capitalism over the past 6 years.
I’m not up to speed on Ogle’s methods but I’ve experienced the ‘leadership’ of one of your three other examples and to say the guy needs a pair of balls is an understatement. Then again, as you say, he’s bought and paid for so won’t rock the boat.
over paid and a product of the Celtic tiger.
Salary bonus pension and top up. Yeah all there. Gotta run while things are calm. It’ll be interesting to see where he’ll appear next.
Result!!! Good for Ireland.
Isn’t he the same chap who presided over the Irish Loco Drivers Association years ago and managed to close the NET chemical factory in Arklow as a result?
One and the same, Emmett, Kerry and Mayo were nearly inaccessible by rail for an entire summer.
Fat balding pig
Stop self hating. You can get help.
You seem to have an egg head
Oh dear how sad…nevermind
A relic of a bygone age in irish industrial relations. Adversarialism IR has destroyed thousands of jobs in this country’s past as have the heavy hand and pure greed of employers. Think how much better ireland could be if we moved beyond the defunct system of employee relations and sought to maximise gain for society and not share holders or ideological stakeholders
Pity that Jack O Connor and David Beggs never showed the same committment to protecting their members from continued salary cuts and the ending of defined pensions for their members in the private sector…Remember auld jack and dave they were always on the airways when supping at the table of govt etc…now in recessionary times go to ground…Now if Brendan Ogle was leading SIPTU you would see proper representation…Dont be surprised to see him represent the over stafffed irish water or a return to Irish Rail were pay cuts are on the horizon
Check your facts…
Mr Ogle suggested pay cuts of up to 20% for workers, and carried out managements job and oversaw those cuts!!!
But your right about Jack and David.
I’m sure the ESB will keep going,no doubt he will walk into something just as good his type always do.
Off to Cuba with you, live with your brethren…
@Kris O’K.K…. I watched the whole clip that you posted, but I must have missed the warped communist ideology part. Apart from the usual small room cosy-up-to-your-audience style speech, in my opinion he was fairly clear in pointing out the faults of the unions and ESB workers in respect of their attachment to the “gravy train”. Never knew that much about this chap before, but aside from not being a great speech giver, he just came across as a fairly humble ordinary human being in this clip, not at all the crazed militant commie I was led to believe he was!
Is he going 2 Irish Water ?
Militant trade unionism are the greatest threat to democracy and social harmony of the 21st century. Bullying, price fixing and anti-competitiveness all rolled into one. If they were an industry they’d be in court and fined. Pariahs on society demanding and bullying fellow workers from a reasonable share of society’s production and future security. Think ESB, Public Servants, financial industry, public transport. Think the barmy economics of the bearded wonders on the inside on boards and multiple directorships and pensions. Economics argued to benefit their members rather than society as a whole. The bakers, printers, taxis and a host of other domineering groups were broken. Society will eventually deal with the rest. PS Jack has already started his whine for wage increases with 450,000 unemployed and 200,000 emigrated. God protect us from the greedy.
Militant Neo-liberalism has already laid waste to the rebranded, BaNama Republic of AustÉire etc….and vulture capitalists and their various minions. will ensure that no such self-made crises will go to waste, well at their expense anyway!!
When ever I see the phrase “by mural agreement” I always think that it really means “quit or we will fire you”.
What murals are you gable-ing on about….one at both ends!?!?
He has to be the smallest loss
Yet
We come in droves, we will smash your noze. We are the champions of our land. We are pats we are pats we are pats. And if any Barstooler wants to be left crippled. Come on over to our fortress. We are pats we are pats we are pats
Bohs till I die
I believe you mean Prats, if you are anything to by.
And you wonder why the LOI is in the state its in.
Don’t be slagging drendan.he has a new job yodeling in the deep west
A true union man. He will be missed .
“saying the decions was by mutual agreement” – bit of a typo there Ronan
No no Michael joking and Irish water is correct !!!!
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