RTÉ denies it will go bust if staff refuse pay cuts

RTÉ has denied reports that it will go bust in October if staff reject pay cuts of up to 12.5%.

“There is absolutely no basis for any report that RTÉ will be switching off. The issue is how RTÉ reshapes its cost base in order to protect and deliver its services,” said Kevin Dawson, the state broadcaster’s head of corporate communications.

RTÉ is losing more than e1 million a week because of high costs and a collapse in advertising revenue. A series of cost cutting measures, including pay cuts of between 2% and 12.5%, is aimed at ensuring the station does not run out of money in the autumn. The station’s 2,200 staff have been asked to back management’s cutbacks plan. Balloting began last Friday and will continue until the end of next week.