SIPTU members employed in RTÉ have voted overwhelmingly to reject a management plan that will result in the endless outsourcing of jobs at the national broadcaster and deal a fatal blow to public service broadcasting in Ireland, destroying its critical role in Irish society.
SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “Our members in RTÉ have today (Wednesday, 18th February) overwhelmingly voted, by a margin of 89% to 11%, to reject a management-driven plan which will deny Ireland the crucial role that a public service broadcaster plays in the unique non-profit-driven programming it provides.”
He added: “Management in RTÉ will have to respect that our members have the future of public service broadcasting to the fore in making their decision in this vote. The future of broadcasting will not be served by RTÉ merely becoming a clearinghouse for independent-sector productions.
“A proper media ownership mix is crucial for the culture and future of any society. Our members’ vote is a clear call for management, and crucially the Government, to look again, and engage with these key workers on a shared future for public sector broadcasting in Ireland.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said: “Our members voted to withdraw their confidence from the new direction strategy being implemented by the RTÉ senior leadership team, which they believe will not deliver a fit-for-purpose Public Service Broadcaster/Media for Ireland’s future.
“We believe our members have provided their Union with a mandate to seek to begin an open discussion on the future of public sector broadcasting in Ireland. This discussion can now take place at a remove from the RTÉ management scandal of recent years, which produced many of the station’s current issues.”
He added: “Workers and the public should not lose their public service broadcaster, and the vital programming such an institution provides, just because of the misgovernance of a previous RTÉ management regime. It is time for management to park its outsourcing agenda, which destroys jobs and the future of this vital public service.”