The executive board of RT╔ has begun a series of meetings to identify potential cuts in staffing and production in the coming year. It is expected to lose £20 million this year.
The station sought a £50 increase in the licence fee but received only £14.50. Even with severe cutbacks, it is expected to lose at least £12 million next year.
The first meeting of the executive board took place yesterday and it has notified the RT╔ group of unions that it will be in a position to provide a "progress report" next Wednesday. Yesterday SIPTU branch secretary Mr Jimmy Jordan warned of "serious trouble" if there were further cutbacks in staffing or production.
The unions are expected to hold a mass meeting of members at Montrose at lunchtime on Wednesday.
Management sources said it might be two weeks before the board was in a position to submit a detailed report on cutbacks to the RT╔ Authority. The unions expect the overall shape of proposals to emerge on Wednesday.
Mr Jordan said the fundamental issue was "the refusal of the Government to grant a real and meaningful increase in the licence fee. That has to be dealt with if the Government is going to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. "Various departments are looking at their budgets and I could well see us having serious trouble over the next couple of weeks if they want the workforce to carry the can for the Government's failure to grant the full licence increase."