SIPTU criticises RTÉ for planned outsourcing of religious content

SIPTU members have called on the management of RTÉ to reverse a decision to outsource the production of Christian worship content, including Mass broadcasts, to the independent sector.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said: “The decision to commission all Christian worship content from the independent sector means work currently performed by SIPTU members will be effectively outsourced.

“SIPTU is deeply concerned at this decision and is seeking an urgent meeting with RTÉ management to ascertain what effect this will have on our members who currently work on producing this content. We believe that as a public service broadcaster the production of such content should remain in-house and should not be the subject of commercial concerns.”

He added: “RTÉ management must reverse this decision which is a further erosion of its public service role and will be strongly opposed by SIPTU members.”