Unions at RTÉ have strongly condemned the decision of management to impose a freeze on annual pay rises for workers who have not reached the top of their pay scale.
The move, which will mean a pay freeze for 491 employees, was confirmed as talks on cost reductions at the cash-strapped broadcaster were suspended at the request of the company to allow management to focus on a strategy to deal with the Covid-19 virus.
However, in a statement, the RTÉ Trade Union Group said management had announced that in the meantime, it would refuse to pay annual wage increases known as increments.
The TUG said it was shocked to be told that despite the suspension of talks, one measure involving lower paid workers was to be imposed unilaterally despite objections from union representatives.
TUG Chair Shirley Bradshaw said unions were "deeply disappointed at management's intransigence" at a time when they had been engaged in "constructive negotiations aimed at achieving fair and equitable cost saving measures".
She went on: "The move announced today will hit one section of workers, undoing weeks of positive negotiations and throwing into doubt the entire process."
Ms Bradshaw noted that increments formed part of the contract of employment, and went on to say: "It is unacceptable to the TUG that the lower paid workers who have not reached the top of their scale would have a pay cut enforced, at a time when management continues to refuse to address the culture of excessive pay at certain levels within the organisation."
RTÉ has said that due to its financial challenges, it is not in a position to give annual salary increases to any of its staff.
In a statement, the broadcaster said it remained committed to engaging with the TUG in addressing the key challenges facing the organisation.
However, with the Covid-19 situation developing in Ireland, RTÉ said it had taken the decision to pause these discussions, to allow it to focus on the continued provision of vital broadcast services, including news and information, to the Irish public, and to ensuring the welfare of employees.
