SIPTU representatives condemned a lack of clarity concerning proposed job losses and the continued use of irregular contracts of employment at RTÉ, at an appearance before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports, and Media on 24th April, which discussed the future of the national broadcaster.
SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, Teresa Hannick, said: “For several years our members have had deep misgivings relating to the governance of RTÉ. In November 2023 our members read about the RTÉ management’s strategic vision plan in the media. They found out about their future through leaks before being told directly by their employer.”
She added: “Since then there has been little information or detail as to where 400 job losses, proposed in the plan, will come from.”Commenting on the findings of inquiries into the misclassification of workers in RTÉ as bogus self-employed, Hannick, said: “SIPTU is currently representing members in the Workplace Relations Commission regarding their claims for the losses incurred and are still incurring because of RTÉ management’s misclassification of their employment status.”
SIPTU is the largest trade union in RTÉ, including workers in Administration, Operational, Technical and Directing Grades, Musicians and Actor members of Irish Equity, which is an affiliate of SIPTU. A large proportion of these members earn less than the average industrial wage.
Picture: (Left to Right) SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, Teresa Hannick, NUJ RTÉ Representative Emma O’Kelly and NUJ Irish Secretary, Seamus Dooley, entering Leinster House on 24th April.