RTÉ unions threaten strike

THE RTÉ Group of Unions will meet any further attempts to reduce staff numbers with industrial action.

This was reiterated yesterday at a special meeting of unions called in the wake of the Government’s approval of a TV licence fee increase from January, bringing the cost of a new licence to 152.

Minister for the Marine, Communications and Natural Resources Dermot Ahern expressed concern earlier this week at the lack of substantive progress under the change programme, particularly in reducing staff numbers when he approved the fee increase yesterday.