Over 100 staff in RTÉ oppose pay cuts

MORE THAN 100 RTÉ staff have told the company they will not accept the pay cuts agreed by the majority of employees.

Management, which does not have the power to implement a blanket pay cut, says it is entering into talks with each of the individual members of staff concerned.

However, it reiterated its determination yesterday to achieve across-the-board pay reductions in order to eliminate the financial shortfall affecting the State broadcaster. The company is facing advertising revenue shortfall of €68 million this year and needs to make €41 million in savings to break even.

“All staff members will be spoken to with the aim of reaching a reasonable and equitable position producing payroll savings across the full workforce,” a spokesman said.

Some of the objections to the pay cut, which affected most staff yesterday as they received their salaries, came from groups of workers while others came from individuals.

The collective objections came from some grades who had been due a pay rise before a pay freeze was put in place last year. Staff sources say a group of television producers is among those who have objected.

Others who have objected include staff nearing retirement. Although staff retiring before the end of 2010 are not affected by the cut, others a little further from retirement have expressed concern about the effect of the cut on their pensions.

Last month staff members of the National Union of Journalists voted 57 per cent to 43 per cent in favour of the cuts, which range from 4.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent depending on pay levels. Some 80 per cent of management voted in favour of the cuts.