100 signatures reached
To: The National Executive Council (NEC) of Mandate Trade Union
STOP THE SILENCING OF MANDATE MEMBERS—REINSTATE THE SUSPENDED MANDATE FIVE
AN INJURY TO ONE IS THE CONCERN OF ALL
Stand with the Suspended Five. Stand for a Transparent Mandate.
On 22nd March 2026, the Mandate National Executive Council (NEC) took the unprecedented step of suspending five union members — not for misconduct, not for rule-breaking, but for asking questions and engaging with social media posts.
No investigation. No outcome. No guilt. Just an illegal penalty that ensures we cannot run for election this year.
The five suspended members are:
• Lorna Langan
• Brenda Histon
• Sarah Byrne
• Helen O’Keeffe
• Mark Hayes
Lorna and Brenda had been raising legitimate, documented concerns about union finances, senior staff salaries, and the use of NDAs. Helen, and Mark committed no greater act than liking or sharing a Facebook post. Sarah hasn’t even been told what her offense was.
This suspension was procedurally defective, timed to block participation in the upcoming Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) and NEC elections, and represents a direct attack on the democratic rights of every member.
A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM OUR FELLOW MEMBERS
We would like to thank the dozens of members and activists from Mandate who have reached out offering their support. They have asked us to include the following:
“If Mandate continues to penalise our trusted elected representatives and long-serving activists for their endeavours to oversee the spending of our money, we will be left with no alternative but to join another trade union. This is not an idle threat — it is a promise. We cannot and will not remain members of a union that treats our volunteers this way.”
Stand with the Suspended Five. Stand for a Transparent Mandate.
On 22nd March 2026, the Mandate National Executive Council (NEC) took the unprecedented step of suspending five union members — not for misconduct, not for rule-breaking, but for asking questions and engaging with social media posts.
No investigation. No outcome. No guilt. Just an illegal penalty that ensures we cannot run for election this year.
The five suspended members are:
• Lorna Langan
• Brenda Histon
• Sarah Byrne
• Helen O’Keeffe
• Mark Hayes
Lorna and Brenda had been raising legitimate, documented concerns about union finances, senior staff salaries, and the use of NDAs. Helen, and Mark committed no greater act than liking or sharing a Facebook post. Sarah hasn’t even been told what her offense was.
This suspension was procedurally defective, timed to block participation in the upcoming Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) and NEC elections, and represents a direct attack on the democratic rights of every member.
A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM OUR FELLOW MEMBERS
We would like to thank the dozens of members and activists from Mandate who have reached out offering their support. They have asked us to include the following:
“If Mandate continues to penalise our trusted elected representatives and long-serving activists for their endeavours to oversee the spending of our money, we will be left with no alternative but to join another trade union. This is not an idle threat — it is a promise. We cannot and will not remain members of a union that treats our volunteers this way.”
Why is this important?
WHY THIS IS AN ATTACK ON ALL OF US
🔍 Targeting Whistleblowers
Lorna and Brenda raised serious, documented concerns about the misuse of union funds and a lack of financial transparency. Their suspensions constitute penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act — plain and simple.
📱 Suspended for a Facebook Like
Helen, and Mark were suspended for engaging with social media posts that asked difficult questions. If members can be disciplined for liking a post, no member is safe from arbitrary action.
🗳️ Election Interference
These suspensions were timed specifically to prevent the five from standing in the upcoming BDC and NEC elections — a direct violation of Rule 25.2, which guarantees every member a fair right to contest elections.
📜 Procedural Lawlessness
The NEC has ignored its own Rule Book. Rule 13.1 does not permit the NEC to issue indefinite standalone suspensions to NEC members without formal referral to the BDC. The process also ignored mandatory notice periods required under Rule 26.3 — what can only be described as a procedural ambush.
⚖️ Conflict of Interest
The complaints were brought by industrial staff who threatened industrial action if action wasn’t taken against the members. Some complainants were allowed to present to the NEC to influence the process, whereas the suspended members weren’t. Allowing conflicted individuals to drive this process undermines any pretence of fairness.
OUR DEMANDS
1. IMMEDIATE REINSTATEMENT — Lift the suspensions of all five members without delay.
2. RESPECT THE RULE BOOK — End all ultra vires actions that bypass the authority of the BDC.
3. STOP THE PENALISATION — No member should face discipline for making protected disclosures about financial oversight and governance.
4. PROTECT DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS — Guarantee that all five candidates have a fair and unhindered right to contest the upcoming elections under Rule 25.2.
By signing this petition, you are sending a clear message to Mandate leadership: this union belongs to its members.
Not to unaccountable structures.
Not to those who wish to avoid scrutiny.
And not to those who would silence the very people trying to protect our money and our rights.
Stand with Lorna. Stand with Brenda, Sarah, Helen, and Mark.
Stand with the Suspended Five.
Stand for a Transparent Mandate.
🔍 Targeting Whistleblowers
Lorna and Brenda raised serious, documented concerns about the misuse of union funds and a lack of financial transparency. Their suspensions constitute penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act — plain and simple.
📱 Suspended for a Facebook Like
Helen, and Mark were suspended for engaging with social media posts that asked difficult questions. If members can be disciplined for liking a post, no member is safe from arbitrary action.
🗳️ Election Interference
These suspensions were timed specifically to prevent the five from standing in the upcoming BDC and NEC elections — a direct violation of Rule 25.2, which guarantees every member a fair right to contest elections.
📜 Procedural Lawlessness
The NEC has ignored its own Rule Book. Rule 13.1 does not permit the NEC to issue indefinite standalone suspensions to NEC members without formal referral to the BDC. The process also ignored mandatory notice periods required under Rule 26.3 — what can only be described as a procedural ambush.
⚖️ Conflict of Interest
The complaints were brought by industrial staff who threatened industrial action if action wasn’t taken against the members. Some complainants were allowed to present to the NEC to influence the process, whereas the suspended members weren’t. Allowing conflicted individuals to drive this process undermines any pretence of fairness.
OUR DEMANDS
1. IMMEDIATE REINSTATEMENT — Lift the suspensions of all five members without delay.
2. RESPECT THE RULE BOOK — End all ultra vires actions that bypass the authority of the BDC.
3. STOP THE PENALISATION — No member should face discipline for making protected disclosures about financial oversight and governance.
4. PROTECT DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS — Guarantee that all five candidates have a fair and unhindered right to contest the upcoming elections under Rule 25.2.
By signing this petition, you are sending a clear message to Mandate leadership: this union belongs to its members.
Not to unaccountable structures.
Not to those who wish to avoid scrutiny.
And not to those who would silence the very people trying to protect our money and our rights.
Stand with Lorna. Stand with Brenda, Sarah, Helen, and Mark.
Stand with the Suspended Five.
Stand for a Transparent Mandate.