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RTÉ unions vote in favour of 6% pay increase over two years

The TUG is made up of SIPTU, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Connect and Unite
The TUG is made up of SIPTU, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Connect and Unite

Union members at RTÉ have voted in favour of a 6% pay increase over two years.

In a ballot of members of the RTÉ Trade Union Group (TUG), 73% voted in favour of the agreement and 27% voted against.

The TUG is made up of SIPTU, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Connect and Unite.

Last month, RTÉ and unions reached agreement on a set of proposals that will see staff receive a 3% increase in January 2023, backdated to 26 December 2022, a 1.5% increase on 30 October 2023 and a further 1.5% on 30 April 2024.

As part of the agreement, staff will also receive a non-taxable voucher of up to €1,000 in early 2023 and a further voucher of €500 in January 2024.

Earlier this year, unions lodged a claim for a 9.5% pay increase for staff highlighting the fact that there had not been an increase at RTÉ in 16 years.

They said the pay claim was justified given the rising cost of living, increased productivity and the extra efforts of staff during the pandemic.

The RTÉ Industrial Relations Tribunal (IRT) assisted in the discussions that led to the agreement.

In a joint statement at time the agreement was reached, RTÉ and the TUG said the deal sought to achieve a fair balance that recognised the pay restraint in RTÉ since 2008 and being responsive now to the impact of substantial cost of living increases on RTÉ staff and their families.

The agreement also acknowledged "RTÉ's own financial position within a highly disrupted media sector and its obligations to sustain employment, public service programming and its commitments to audiences".