RTÉ land sale and restructuring [Merged]

The Cush

Information in the press following the 90-minute meeting with staff this afternoon.

http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2017/0831/901326-rte-announces-structural-changes-and-plans-to-reduce-size-of-work/

RTÉ employed 1,984 people in 2016, up 6 on the year before, according to its annual report. Some 278 of this number were part-time or casual staff.

- The Voluntary Exit Programme and early retirement scheme will open for applications next week, when RTÉ said staff would receive full details of the terms of the redundancy packages on offer. It will reduce staff numbers at RTÉ by approximately 250
- the executive board have been working on the development of RTE's new five year strategy, a new organisational structure, and preparing for the launch of voluntary exit and early retirement schemes to reduce staff numbers

- will explore ways to retrain and upskill staff to minimise its contractor costs
- people that leave under this new scheme, it cannot happen that they come back and work for the broadcaster on a freelance or contract basis at a later date

- The roles of managing director of television (interim: Dermot Horan), radio (Jim Jennings) and digital (Múirne Laffan) have all been stood down as part of a plan to centralise all content. Jim Jennings is the new Director of Content and Múirne Laffan departed RTÉ in early August. Dermot Horan continues as Director of Production and Acquisitions pending other changes

- The new unified Content structure, led by Jim Jennings (formally MD Radio), brings all its content makers outside RTÉ News & Current Affairs together in a single group, dedicated to making content across radio, television and digital

- RTÉ News & Current Affairs division, headed up by Jon Williams, already works across radio, television & online and will continue to operate as normal, separately from the Content division

- The new Audience, Channels and Marketing area, under Adrian Lynch (formally Channel Controller for RTÉ One and RTÉ2 ), will ensure a greater focus on how RTÉ serves its audiences, creating experiences that work across its different platforms

- Frances Abeton will head up the new integrated Operations & Production Services area, with camera crews, picture editors and studio staff working across all RTÉ shows and platforms

- The next layer of management posts is also being restructured, with the creation of new head of genre roles across television, radio and digital. This will result in fewer people with commissioning powers in future.

Comedy and drama, currently the responsibility of two different commissioning executives, will be amalgamated under one group head of comedy and drama.

Group heads of factual, arts and culture, sport, entertainment and music, young people’s programming and Irish language programming will be appointed, while the post of head of Radio 1 will also be retained for the time being and responsibility for acquisitions and co-productions is expected to remain with Dermot Horan

http://www.independent.ie/business/jobs/sitting-still-is-not-an-option-painful-choices-as-rt-plans-to-reduce-size-of-workforce-by-250-36087259.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/painful-choices-ahead-for-rt%C3%A9-as-it-seeks-250-redundancies-1.3204948
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0831/901178-rte-redundancies/

- In terms of compulsory redundancies in the future, Dee Forbes said there is no history of that in RTÉ, so that would have be "a different discussion"

She said there is no doubt there will be an impact on content and services but until she saw the final number taking up the exit package, she could not say any more. Ms Forbes said the job cuts will go some way, but will not solve all of RTÉ's financial problems.

She said there is no doubt that "hard choices" will have to be made, and that they will be made in the coming months.

Asked if entire sectors could be cut at the broadcaster, Ms Forbes said all of that is under discussion and no decisions have been made as there is a lot to be taken into account.

The new RTÉ Executive Board

Dee Forbes: Director General
John Williams: Director of News and Current Affairs
Jim Jennings: Director of Content
Breda O'Keeffe: Chief Financial Officer
Willie O'Reilly: Director of Commercial
Brian Dalton: Director of Corporate Affairs
Richard Waghorn: Director of Transformation and Technology
Eimear Cusack: Director of Human Resources
Frances Abeton: Director of Operations and Production Services
Adrian Lynch: Director of Audience, Channels & Marketing

The Cush

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/rt-targets-over55s-for-retirement-in-clearout-at-montrose-36111720.html

- Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme has been made available to all staff aged 55 or over at exit
- All employees over the age of 55 received a letter in the post yesterday morning or were called in for one-on-one meetings to discuss their 'personalised illustration' offer
- It involves a lump sum payment based on age and pensionable service. There is an option to take part of the lump sum as an annual income stream until pension benefits become payable. This is inclusive of statutory redundancy, and there is a cap of the lesser of two years' salary or a payment based on half the time remaining to age 65.

- A Voluntary Severance Scheme is available to staff who will be under the age of 55 at the time of their departure
- Lump-sum payment based on years of service, with those with two to five years getting four weeks per year. This rises to five weeks per year for those with five to 10 years' service, and six weeks per year for those who have been at RTÉ for more than a decade. This is inclusive of statutory redundancy and there is a cap of 104 weeks

- Workers have until October 10 to apply for the scheme, and "will be facilitated to leave in December" of this year


- RTÉ has also placed certain restrictions on any employee who avails of the scheme, which include being ineligible to work with the broadcaster in any capacity save in exceptional circumstances "with the prior written approval of the Director-General"

Employees who plan to exit RTÉ in December will also require written consent from the national broadcaster to "provide a comparable service" with any broadcast or media.

These terms last for one year after the employee leaves RTÉ.

The information booklet states that the employee "will not proceed with such role until consent from RTÉ has been provided. RTÉ, in considering whether to grant or withhold consent, will have regard to the position held by you in RTÉ and the nature of the position you intend to take up in the broadcast or media organisation concerned".

Elmo

Is that separate to the other scheme?

The Cush

Elmo wrote: »

Is that separate to the other scheme?

I assume two redundancy schemes running in parallel with the same end points.

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

I assume two redundancy schemes running in parallel with the same end points.

I don't think they will get their target for the End of the Year for either scheme, doesn't make sense for the scheme to work into 2018. RTÉ possibly expect to make a loss in 2017 and breakeven in 2018, otherwise they are running into 2 more of heavy losses.

This is in conjunction with a 10% increase in top salaries, massive amounts of expenses IMO and an additional executive.

They are really just messing around with no really idea of the outcomes of if they will achieve whatever limited outcomes they have suggested.

Moya Doherty is due to leave by Nov this year, wonder if she will extend.

Maysa07

Elmo wrote: »

True not that the DG could look at expenses or perhaps add a person to her executive, really top management never seem to let look at themselves.

Middle management is a problem and a bit of a joke there. Very very top heavy.
Could be down to the grade structure, like Manger grades.. but not necessarily mean they manage people of projects. For RTE to change it really needs to tackle this.

JohnFalstaff

Some interesting insights into management practices at RTE emerging on Twitter.

A whistleblowing RTE insider is spilling the beans: "Everyone frustrated and pissed off, and fundamentally not arsed."

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rt-bosses-seeking-identity-of-rt-secret-producer-who-is-leaking-staff-grievances-on-twitter-36134540.html

Elmo

JohnFalstaff wrote: »

Some interesting insights into management practices at RTE emerging on Twitter.

A whistleblowing RTE insider is spilling the beans: "Everyone frustrated and pissed off, and fundamentally not arsed."

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rt-bosses-seeking-identity-of-rt-secret-producer-who-is-leaking-staff-grievances-on-twitter-36134540.html

Hope he's using his 4G and not internal wifi!

Elmo

INDO is 404

https://twitter.com/rtesecretpro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.ie%2Ftvandshowbiz%2Ftv%2F1536894%2Frte-bosses-furious-over-secret-producer-leaking-online-the-gripes-of-staff-at-the-broadcaster%2F

L1011

Account is saying nothing that anyone who cared didn't already know. It's bringing industry gossip to a wider audience though

Elmo

L1011 wrote: »

Account is saying nothing that anyone who cared didn't already know. It's bringing industry gossip to a wider audience though

Initially I thought it might be something but largely it's what's been said here before.

icdg

Im not particularly comfortable with a discussion here about what someone is saying anonymously on another site. We have no idea of who the person is, and they are not here to defend anything which might be commented on them here.

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

Im not particularly comfortable with a discussion here about what someone is saying anonymously on another site. We have no idea of who the person is, and they are not here to defend anything which might be commented on them here.

tbh I am also coming to the conclusion that they aren't real, other than that there is not much else to say, I don't think we will get personnel with them. So far it just seems like a lot of the stuff we've said over the years on boards, much of which is guess work ... that usually turns out to be true. I often wonder if anyone in any of the broadcasters ever looks at this section of boards.

Joe Duffy.

There has been no news on who is taking redundancy ?

Elmo

Joe Duffy. wrote: »

There has been no news on who is taking redundancy ?

I think a few of the commissioning editors are taking it, as RTÉ are advertising a number of Genre Head jobs. Or else they are all getting a pay rise
:rolleyes:

http://www.rte.ie/about/en/working-with-rte/2012/0425/318481-vacancies/

Sam Russell

Joe Duffy. wrote: »

There has been no news on who is taking redundancy ?

There may be a 'secret producer' going for it.

Elmo

Sam Russell wrote: »

There may be a 'secret producer' going for it.

Don't think that twitter account is real, nothing since sept 19, nothing all that new.

The Cush

Joe Duffy. wrote: »

There has been no news on who is taking redundancy ?

October 10th is the closing date for applications, so it'll be a few weeks before that information is known.

Elmo wrote: »

I think a few of the commissioning editors are taking it, as RTÉ are advertising a number of Genre Head jobs. Or else they are all getting a pay rise
:rolleyes:

http://www.rte.ie/about/en/working-with-rte/2012/0425/318481-vacancies/

According to the reports from that afternoon meeting with staff, the next layer of management posts below Director level, is also being restructured, with the creation of new head of genre roles across television, radio and digital. This will result in fewer people with commissioning powers in future.

The vacancies being advertised are
- Deputy Director of Content
- Group Head of Arts and Culture
- Group Head of Drama and Comedy
- Group Head of Entertainment and Music
- Group Head of Factual
- Head of Commercial Solution

The job descriptions indicate a fixed 3 year term, renewable I assume if they're performing in their positions, easier to get rid of if not.

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

The vacancies being advertised are
- Deputy Director of Content
- Group Head of Arts and Culture
- Group Head of Drama and Comedy
- Group Head of Entertainment and Music
- Group Head of Factual
- Head of Commercial Solution

The job descriptions indicate a fixed 3 year term, renewable I assume if they're performing in their positions, easier to get rid of if not.

Likely people to take those jobs

Deputy Director of Content - Sheila DeCourcy
Group Head of Arts and Culture - Niamh O'Connor
Group Head of Drama and Comedy - Jane Gogan
Group Head of Entertainment and Music - Eddie Doyle
Group Head of Factual - ???
Group Head of Commercial Solutions - Bree Tracy

I think its just pushing people around giving them new titles, the advertise the jobs because they have too, otherwise they become even more top heavy with senior staff.

Joe Duffy.

There are a few household names on staff at rte who have very little to do these days, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh for example

Elmo

Joe Duffy. wrote: »

There are a few household names on staff at rte who have very little to do these days, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh for example

I think she has her own show on RnaG and produces many of the Scannal type shows on RTÉ ONE.

The Cush

Staff show 'significant interest' in exit schemes offered by RTÉ - http://www.independent.ie/business/media/staff-show-significant-interest-in-exit-schemes-offered-by-rt-36187029.html

Sources within the national broadcaster say there has been "significant interest" by staff in the restructuring and how it will affect the more than 1,900 staff.

Management sources say there are "a lot of employees asking numerous questions and seriously considering their futures".

October 10 is the confirmed deadline, according to an RTÉ spokesperson.

The source added: "Similar to such schemes in the past, there will probably be the last minute applications as the deadline looms in October."

The Cush

Campus redevelopment

http://www.herald.ie/news/significant-interest-in-rte-redundancy-plan-36186854.html

- The new crèche, which will accommodate up to 80 children, is in its final stages and is located in Montrose House. The existing €1.5m purpose-built creche, opened eight years ago on the west side of the campus, will be demolished once a new facility is opened this month.

- The sports and social club building, opened in the early 1980s, is also to be knocked down in the coming weeks. A new club is planned for another area on the Montrose campus.

- Work on the new access route into the campus from the Stillorgan dual carriageway is also to start once the crèche has been relocated. Trees have already been removed to accommodate the new entrance. The new entrance will replace the existing entrance on Nutley Lane, which will "alleviate congestion at the Nutley Lane/Stillorgan Road junction and enhance traffic safety", according to RTE.

The Cush

Staff warned RTÉ will not improve redundancy deal

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/staff-warned-rte-will-not-improve-redundancy-deal-36206188.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/no-better-redundancy-offers-at-rte-460560.html

The press are reporting that staff at RTÉ may be holding out for better redundancy packages but they have been warned in an email from Eimear Cusack, RTÉ Director of HR, to take the current offer or leave it as there will be no better offer. There are concerns among management that take-up will be lower than required. Tuesday is the last day for staff to accept the offers.

Eimear Cusack, Director of HR at RTE, said in a note to staff:

“As you know, both the Voluntary Exit and Early Retirement Programmes close Tuesday.

"You'll also know that the schemes form an essential part of RTE's restructuring plans as we transition to a smaller, leaner and more efficient organisation.

"We remain available to you until Tuesday close of business should you require any further information.

“A number of you [staff] have asked whether any future schemes will offer improved terms; I can confirm that they will not.

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

Staff warned RTÉ will not improve redundancy deal

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/staff-warned-rte-will-not-improve-redundancy-deal-36206188.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/no-better-redundancy-offers-at-rte-460560.html

The press are reporting that staff at RTÉ may be holding out for better redundancy packages but they have been warned in an email from Eimear Cusack, RTÉ Director of HR, to take the current offer or leave it as there will be no better offer. There are concerns among management that take-up will be lower than required. Tuesday is the last day for staff to accept the offers.

Eimear Cusack, Director of HR at RTE, said in a note to staff:

IMO RTÉ are really not doing a good job in selling this to either their audience or their staff. Very unprofessional and uncaring in so many ways.

The Cush

Elmo wrote: »

IMO RTÉ are really not doing a good job in selling this to either their audience or their staff. Very unprofessional and uncaring in so many ways.

According to previous reports the Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform considered this offer to staff to be too generous when compared to other redundancy offers in the public service but RTÉ stuck to their guns in offering this deal to as they required an attractive offer to achieve the required numbers. The expectation, it appears, is that the offer would be improved.

In the past, improved schemes have been offered when take-up is low. But the political mood means that RTE is not in the position to revise its deal upwards.

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

Elmo wrote: »

IMO RTÉ are really not doing a good job in selling this to either their audience or their staff. Very unprofessional and uncaring in so many ways.

According to previous reports the Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform considered this offer to staff to be too generous when compared to other redundancy offers in the public service but RTÉ stuck to their guns in offering this deal to as they required an attractive offer to achieve the required numbers. The expectation, it appears, is that the offer would be improved.

In the past, improved schemes have been offered when take-up is low. But the political mood means that RTE is not in the position to revise its deal upwards.

That's fine and all but RTÉ still haven't handeled this restructuring well, give me an example of where during the year RTÉ management have provided good leadership they went to fumble (annual report) to fumble (presenters wages)

The Cush

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/rte-staff-who-take-redundancy-package-will-leave-station-by-year-end-36221505.html

In a HR update to staff yesterday, the station laid out the timeline for those leaving the station

- deadline for applying for the packages passed on Tuesday, 10th last
- all applications will now be reviewed by senior management and the Executive board over the next two weeks
- final approval will be given by the Executive in a fortnight
- formal offers will then be made to approved applicants on Friday, October 27th
- approved staff will then have until Friday, November 10th to formally accept their offer
- the majority of staff approved for the deal will leave the organisation by the end of 2017

The director general of RTÉ has admitted the station is going to lose some top staff in the ongoing redundancy scheme.
...
Speaking in Galway at the FÍS TV Summit, Dee Forbes conceded the station would lose "some people that we would prefer not to lose".

"We're now in a process of assessment. There was a lot of interest and now it's about evaluating exactly who, in what area etc," she said.

Ms Forbes said the station had no option but to cut staff as revenues fell.

"The scheme is that we need to reduce our costs. It's a fact of life, you've seen our revenues have declined by €100m a year since 2008. We can't continue in that vein so unfortunately we're in a position where we have to lose some colleagues," she added.

Asked if she was concerned about losing talent, Ms Forbes replied: "Of course, we're going to lose some people that we would prefer not to lose, I mean that's the name of the game, but we then have to regroup and rebuild and the new structure that is in place right now will allow us to work differently."

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/we-will-lose-top-staff-in-shakeup-at-rt-forbes-36222723.html

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

Fair City set relocation planning permission appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Decision by 30 Nov.

http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/248946.htm

An Bord Pleanála appeal document - http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00640881.pdf

An Bord Pleanála have rejected a request to hold an oral hearing of the appeal. The appeal will continue via written submission.

http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00656004.pdf

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

The Cush wrote: »

Fair City set relocation planning permission appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Decision by 30 Nov.

http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/248946.htm

An Bord Pleanála appeal document - http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00640881.pdf

An Bord Pleanála have rejected a request to hold an oral hearing of the appeal. The appeal will continue via written submission.

http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00656004.pdf

Total NIMBYism, you live beside a TV studio.