RTE's trade union group has rejected the recent report on the structures and operations of the organisation as an agenda for change. Among the findings of the project team was that RTE may have to institute 370 redundancies.
The group of unions said in a statement yesterday that the review, prepared over six months, was based on a one-sided analysis and "partial and flawed". It proposes a partnership process to oversee changes at RTE.
"Review of RTE's Structures and Operations" analysed all sections of the organisation. Recommendations include RTE taking a more commercial approach to its operations. It looked at RTE's future in an environment of increasing competition with the arrival of TV3 this year and a growth in other TV services.
It said changes in the broadcasting environment, the requirement for 20 per cent of the programme budget to be earmarked for independent production and efficiencies could mean the loss of 370 jobs.
The secretary of the group, Mr JP Coakley, said any change would have to be founded on the principles of inclusiveness and parity of esteem set out in Partnership 2000. Staff were committed to change which would deliver the best possible public service broadcasting operation.
The report spoke of the lack of trust between unions and management. Mr Coakley said the unions were proposing a partnership steering group, made up of unions, management and an independent chair.
"An early priority of the group would be to put in place recommendations for the establishment of a long-term partnership process at all levels of the organisation."