SIPTU has begun balloting its members in RTÉ on whether they have confidence in the broadcaster's senior leadership team and its implementation of the organisation’s five-year strategy.
The union, which represents around 600 staff in RTÉ, said the move follows extensive discussions and concerns raised by members across the organisation.
Representatives voted to hold a formal ballot on the leadership and what it describes as the implementation of the 'New Direction' strategy.
This afternoon, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said the vast majority of staff know that RTÉ needs to change to "survive and prosper" and said that this is "not a journey unique to RTÉ".
The electronic ballot opened last Friday and will run until 18 February at 12 noon.
In the ballot members are being asked whether they have confidence in the senior leadership team’s strategy and its ability to deliver a fit-for-purpose public service broadcaster for Ireland’s future.
SIPTU representative in RTÉ Kevin Reynolds said that the broadcaster will be an outsourced, "hollowed out publishing house" under the strategy.
He said he is confident that the motion of no confidence will pass.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Mr Reynolds said: "The morale in RTÉ is very, very poor and nobody believes in this.
"This will eviscerate [RTÉ] and it's not serving the people of Ireland and it's not serving the citizens of Ireland," he said.
Mr Reynolds said he was appealing to the RTE leadership team "to stand with us, to show courage. They can't really believe that this offers the best future for RTÉ."
RTÉ 'rapidly' getting to position of financial stability, says DG
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said RTÉ will continue to make programmes such as Sunday Miscellany, Arena and Documentary On One "in house".
Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ will still have around 1,400 employees at the end of the five-year strategy producing "thousands of hours of radio, Arts and Culture programming, News and Current Affairs, Irish language, Sport and more".
He said RTÉ staff have agreed that RTÉ should become a smaller organisation and that investment should be increased in digital services, measures that, he said, the public supports.
"Long term financial stability and reaching audiences with our new and enhanced digital platforms is the way we can guarantee that we can continue to produce valued programmes into the future and ensure that audiences can find and enjoy them in a rapidly changing world.
"We are rapidly getting to that position of financial stability and rolling out these new digital platforms," Mr Bakhurst said.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
RTÉ's 'New Direction' strategy is the broadcaster’s five-year plan, published in June 2024, aimed at reshaping the organisation following financial, governance and reputational crises.
The SIPTU Section Committee in RTÉ described the ballot as a "formal, democratic action" to allow members’ collective voice to be heard on an issue it said is critical to the future of public service media.
It cited widespread frustration among members regarding the implementation of the strategy and its prospects for securing a viable public service model.
In a statement, RTÉ said it remains committed to the strategy, which it said is focused on "securing the future of Ireland's national public service media and giving more to Irish audiences in a much-changed media landscape and with rapidly evolving audience habits."
The organisation said the strategy followed extensive consultation and that the majority of staff supported the need for change.
RTÉ added it remains available to engage with unions on the issues raised.
Separately, the National Union of Journalists has said it is considering a ballot of "no confidence in the strategy adopted by the leadership team and board," with a meeting of members due to take place next week to discuss the matter.
