Siptu have called on RTÉ to boycott Ireland's matches with Israel in September and October.
According to the Irish Independent, the national broadcaster received a letter from the trade union, stating that its members "will not cooperate with sportswashing" ahead of these scheduled UEFA Nations League matches between the two countries.
Prior to this, Siptu said it would provide support to all members who refuse to assist with the holding of these games, including workers in broadcasting. They represent more than 600 RTÉ staff across a wide range of departments.
In the letter sent by Siptu to RTÉ, the trade union's divisional organiser, Adrian Kane said: “The Irish government and the FAI must step up to ensure the matches don’t take place".
“Should they fail to do so, Siptu workers in RTÉ will not accept being put on the wrong side of history, assisting with sportswashing Israel’s genocide against Palestinians", the letter added.
Praising RTÉ's decision to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest this year, Mr Kane in his letter, has called on the broadcaster to “show the same moral courage on this occasion and refuse to broadcast the matches scheduled or September and October”.
“There is widespread anger amongst the Irish public that these games are taking place when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel is plausibly committing the crime of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” he added.
“Furthermore, a UN Independent Commission of Inquiry and the International Association of Genocide Scholars concluded that Israel is committing a genocide".
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the Republic of Ireland's home game with Israel, which was due to take place at the Aviva Stadium on October 4, would be moved to a neutral venue.
However, the deputy general secretary for Siptu, Greg Ennis, said in a statement that this "does not resolve the issue".
“It merely is an attempt to move the Palestinian picket line out of sight. Our position is clear - don’t pass that picket line in Dublin, in Budapest or anywhere else", he said.
Siptu have also called on the Irish Government to support a boycott of these scheduled games with Israel.
Mr Ennis said that an Israel soccer side “largely made up of veteran and reservist IDF soldiers, does not deserve to be in the same country, let alone the same football stadium as the Irish national team, be it in Landsdowne Road, Budapest or anywhere else for that matter".
He added: “Israel and its so-called Defence Force have been directly responsible for the deaths of almost 600 Palestinian Footballers in the last 32 months".
“Israel has destroyed multiple football facilities, including the Sports Club Stadium in Gaza and has used other football facilities as detention centres".
In response, a spokesperson for RTÉ pointed out that Ireland are contractually obligated to fulfil these fixtures, and any broadcast boycott could result in breach of contract, creating further problems for the broadcaster in the long term.
“RTÉ has a contractual obligation that the two forthcoming Nations League soccer matches with Israel, in September and October, be broadcast", they said in a statement. “Non-broadcast of these games would result in breach of contract, jeopardising RTÉ’s existing rights, and also impacting negatively on RTÉ’s sports rights acquisition activities into the future.
“Unlike the recent situation with the Eurovision Song Contest where, as a participating member, RTÉ had full agency in its decision not to participate or broadcast, the broadcast of these games is mandatory under RTÉ’s rights contract.
“RTÉ does not have discretion to elect that these particular two matches should not be broadcast".
