RTÉ unions threaten strike
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.
The minister said it was his intention to inform RTÉ that, in the review of its licence fee application in 2004, he would emphasise the planned reduction in staffing and arrange for an external review of the impact on all broadcasters of the licence fee paid to RTÉ.
The unions are seeking a meeting with the minister to discuss this threat of further redundancies.
In approving the licence fee increase, Mr Ahern said RTÉ would not receive a full inflation-linked adjustment in 2003 due to the lack of progress on staffing. In addition to a meeting with the minister, the unions want the publication of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Report on the RTÉ Change Programme.
