SIPTU representatives have welcomed reports that a refusal by RTÉ staff to play any role in the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches involving Ireland and Israel means that if the games go ahead, any RTÉ broadcast of them is likely to have no commentary, no panel or studio analysis.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “SIPTU formally wrote to RTÉ several weeks ago requesting that they boycott the showing of the matches against Israel, in the unconscionable situation that the games do go ahead. Our Union gives a guarded welcome to this evening’s media reports that suggest that RTÉ will not provide normal coverage of the unwanted matches, and if they do go ahead, there will be no commentary, no panel or studio analysis.
“We have worked with our members in RTÉ to ensure their right to conscientiously object to playing any role in the sportswashing of the genocidal state was heard. We hope that these calls are now being acted upon.
“The stance of workers at the national broadcaster is not unique. Elsewhere, workers have refused to play any role in this venture. In such circumstances, probably all too aware of what the public response would be if workers were forced to ignore an ongoing genocide and assist with these fixtures, management has been quick to respect their position. Let me be very clear, wherever a SIPTU member refuses to cross the picket line for Palestine, they will have the full support of their Union.
“We are continuing to consult with our members in sectors including aviation, transport and hospitality on what measures they wish to take to ensure they play no part in the hosting of these games. Many wish to end any association with the Nations League competition in its entirety due to the involvement of Israel, during a period when it is formally under investigation by the UN and other bodies on highly-evidenced charges of committing genocide.
“SIPTU and the wider trade union movement have been clear from the start of this controversy: these proposed fixtures should not go ahead. If they do, they will amount to an attempt to normalise a state guilty of mass war crimes and ethnic cleansing. To do otherwise would be to ignore our own movement’s values and, in my view, the values of our Republic.”
He added: “SIPTU stands ready to support any worker, whether they are a professional sportsperson or play any other role in any facet of these fixtures, who wishes to exercise their right to conscientiously object to having any role in sportswashing genocide.
“Our Union, along with allied organisations, will be maintaining the pressure on the Government and FAI to listen to the people and cancel these matches. Next week, along with several other groups, our Union will announce a major initiative to highlight the Irish public and our sportspeople’s overwhelmingly clear stance that opposing genocide is more important than a football game.”