SIPTU has begun its seminar to launch a discussion paper on the future of public service broadcasting.
The union said the paper, 'Broadcasting the Future/Ag Craoladh na Todhchaí', seeks to initiate a debate involving workers, experts and progressive political parties on the future of Irish public service media.
Earlier this month, SIPTU announced plans to ask its members in RTÉ to vote in a protective ballot indicating their intent to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, if the broadcaster attempts to further outsource any of the station's core programme productions or other roles.
In February, SIPTU members in RTÉ voted no confidence in RTÉ's New Direction Strategy, which the union said would result in the endless outsourcing of jobs and deal a fatal blow to public service broadcasting.
"Broadcasting the Future/Ag Craoladh na Todhchaí is focused on ensuring that the voices of workers and the public are heard on the renewal of our public service media," said SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser Adrian Kane.
"The aim must be to ensure that public service media in Ireland remains anchored as a public good rather than a mere profit-generating mechanism," Mr Kane said.
RTÉ has previously said it believes that the five-year strategy, now in its second year of implementation, offers the best way forward to secure the future of Ireland's national public service media and give more to Irish audiences in a much changed media landscape and with rapidly evolving audience habits.
"This strategy was published following extensive consultation with the public, RTÉ staff and a wider group of stakeholders," an RTÉ spokesperson said.
"The vast majority of staff supported the need for RTÉ to evolve as outlined in the strategy during this consultation process.
"We continue to remain available to meet with the unions, as we have done, to progress these and other relevant issues," he added.
