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Gray Panthers Letter of Support for The Morning Mix

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imagesGray Panthers of San Francisco

2940 16th Street, Room 200-4

San Francisco CA 94103

415-552-8800, graypanther-sf@sonic.net

 

KPFA

1929 Martin Luther King Jr Way

Berkeley, California 94704

 

Dear Richard Pirodsky, Interim General Manager,

As a long-time supporters of KPFA, even prior to the 1999 attempted take over of our station, we strongly object to changing the Morning Mix programming. If this is listeners’ sponsored radio then we your listeners and supporters must be taken into account on such a major change of community focus.

The Morning Mix is the most diverse group programmers on KPFA. It specifically keeps us informed on local issues and ways to organize with labor, the African American community, the Richmond community’s fight against Chevron, and Poor News Network campaigns. Though the stories covered by Project Censored are not always local, they are not heard on corporate media. It is better to have the variety that comes with a show like the Morning Mix than to turn over these 5 hours a week to single program, Up Front. Uprising from LA could be combined and/or alternated withUp Front at the 7:00AM time slot.

In this era of complete corporate control of the media, we can protect the few remaining independent media sources. Changing of the Morning Mix affects our access to local media control and a progressive media forum.

The community wants the Morning Mix returned to its original time slot!

Sincerely,

The Gray Panthers of San Francisco Board of Directors

Patricia Jackson, Convener

Michael Lyon, Treasurer

Denise D’Anne, Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Francisco Labor Council Resolution To Bring Back The Morning Mix

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downloadAdopted June 9, 2014

Reinstate the “Morning Mix” drive-time radio show —

Say No to Cuts in Labor/Community Programming on KPFA Radio
Whereas, KPFA Radio 94.1 FM, with a powerful radio transmitter, has been a megaphone for community free speech radio throughout northern California for over 65 years, and is the flagship station of the Pacifica Radio Network; and

Whereas, for the last 3 and a half years KPFA has aired a ground-breaking labor and community program called the Morning Mix – broadcasting at a time when more working people could hear it, during “drive time” from 8 to 9 AM, Monday to Friday; and

Whereas, the rotating hosts of the Morning Mix radio shows on KPFA have featured the voices of Bay Area working people and their issues, to a degree not found on any other Northern California station with the reach and power of KPFA. This included regular reporting on labor and community struggles – about the postal workers’ fight against privatization; the concerns of teachers, dockworkers, transit and healthcare workers, and immigrant workers; as well as the community fight in the city of Richmond against toxic pollution by Chevron Corporation; and

Whereas, the Morning Mix provided regular announcements of Bay Area labor and community events, so working people could be aware of these activities and participate; and

Whereas, late in the evening on May 21, KPFA and Pacifica management abruptly, and without proper consultations, cancelled the Morning Mix and replaced it with a syndicated program “Uprising” produced in Los Angeles that does not cover Bay Area issues and events; and

Whereas, we need more local labor and community programming on KFPA radio, not less – especially since working peoples’ stories are almost completely ignored by the mainstream media. This program change is a tremendous loss for the radio listeners in the Bay Area.

Therefore be it resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council calls on KPFA/Pacifica management to reinstate the Morning Mix drive-time radio show. We need more labor and community programs on the radio – not less!

And be it further resolved, that this resolution be submitted to other Bay Area labor councils for concurrence and action.

Bringing Peace to KPFA

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Aki Graphic

Underlying problems


Whenever there is a conflict, there is always an escalation in rhetoric, like when there was the inflammatory charge a few years ago that the Pacifica National Office was engaged in union busting. We should avoid getting caught up in the rhetoric and address the real problems and concerns.

One major area of friction is programming. It stands to reason that a trade union looking after the financial security of its members will prefer programming which appeals to a more affluent audience. But the mission of Pacifica is to be the commons of the airwaves, to represent a broader and more diverse community, to include marginalized and under-represented voices.

Programmers with established shows will understandably be protective of their airtime; however, Pacifica bylaws state that programming decisions and program evaluations should be done in a fair, collaborative and respectful manner (e.g. with a Program Council).

Another area of friction is the working relationship between paid and unpaid staff. Until 1996 both were represented by one “industrial” union. In 1996 this was changed to a “craft” union that no longer represented the unpaid staff. This created a class system resulting in an uneasy working relationship between the paid and unpaid staff.

Possible Solutions

So what to do with these conflicting needs and interests? How does a union look after the financial security of its members in a non-profit organization that relies on donations by listeners, does not make profits and must live within a balanced budget?

The primary task of the station should be to fulfill the mission of Pacifica. The management and union should carefully work out a staffing level that is sustainable over the economic ups and downs, and avoid the temptation to add more paid staff during the economic boom times as happened in 2001-2006.

Akio Tanaka

Akio Tanaka

The painful trauma of layoffs in 2010 is a consequence of having more than doubled the payroll (125% increase) between 2001 and 2010.

A sustainable paid staffing level would help address the main source of tension. It could curtail the seemingly endless appeal for funds. It could put a stop to the unseemly practice of measuring the value of a program by the amount of money it brings in – a sad and ironic state of affairs.

It is important to note that KPFA relies on a large number of unpaid staff; the majority of the programming is done by the unpaid staff. At KPFA there simply is not enough money to pay all those who contribute to the station. Progressive organizations like KPFA should have one all inclusive union for everyone who works at the station, or have in place a system to treat all workers fairly and equally.

The “Proud to be Union” banner at the station is unnecessarily divisive and should be taken down. While the notion of workers’ rights resonates to all within the progressive community, it must be remembered that it is to respect and honor ALL labor.

It is time for all the staff, paid and unpaid, and for listeners to embrace the democratic victory that was won for us in legal and street battles of 1999-2001. It is time to stop dividing the station.

by Akio Tanaka 03-15-14
[KPFA LSB Member 2006-2012]

 

13 Years of KPFA Finances

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13 years of Finances Word doc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Listener Support: There has been a claim that changes to programming in fall of 2010 resulted in sharp decline in Listener Support.
The audited financials show that steep decline in Listener Support occurred between 2006 and 2010, before the change.

2. Salary and Benefits: There has been a charge that the Pacifica National Office usurped local control and engaged in union busting.
The audited financials show that between 2001 and 2006, under local control, the station added way too many people (the payroll more than doubled), but between 2006 and 2010, under local control, the station did not address the steep decline in Listener Support. By the fall of 2010, the station was in danger of insolvency, which is the only reason that the Pacifica National Office stepped in, to bring expenses in line with income.

3. Central Services: There has been a claim that the Pacifica National Office takes too much money from KPFA and spends on excessive management salaries.
The audited financials show that the Central Services are pegged to Listener Support, so when the Listener Support declines the payments for Central Services decline. Pacifica has a very flat salary scale throughout the network, including the National Office. [Central Services pays for network administrative services like network license, insurance, legal fees, Pacifica archives, and programming like Democracy Now!]

By Akio Tanaka

2012 PLATFORM – United for Community Radio

Posted on by admin2014

2012 PLATFORM
United for Community Radio

       KPFA and Pacifica are a priceless resource.
We have the opportunity to be a force for change –
by amplifying the voices of the millions whose needs and desires, opinions and culture are overlooked, marginalized or silenced by the mainstream media.
             

1.    A Community Resource – To reclaim the mission of Pacifica and KPFA as a commons, with broad and diverse participation, and not to be controlled by any particular group or party.

2.  Both Station and Network – To maintain the integrity and financial viability of  KPFA and the Pacifica network – the national office, all five stations, the 180 affiliates, and the Archives. To develop a financial recovery and sustainability plan for KPFA to ensure its continued survival.

3.  Democratically Governed–To support governing boards that are elected by proportional representation, and that collaborate with, ensure accountability, and exercise oversight of station management.

4.  Program Council – To reactivate the Program Council, including representatives from the listener community and staff (unpaid and paid), to evaluate current and proposed programs.

5.  A Voice for Progressive Social Movements –To advocate for news, public affairs, music, arts and cultural programming that incorporate the voices of people’s movements and communities – including struggles for protection of human and labor rights, civil liberties and the environment; for social equality, self-determination of peoples, and freedom from imperialist domination and war. To balance the often difficult news with programming that is uplifting and facilitates human connections. We envision a vital and imaginative radio station that resonates with those reached by our signal.

6.  Mutual Respect– To recognize and respect the essential roles of unpaid and paid staff and apprentices, volunteers, management, and listeners. To foster cooperation and equal access to resources and training within the station, including the right to union representation, thus empowering both paid and unpaid staff to better fulfill Pacifica’s mission and potential. When major issues relating to Pacifica and KPFA are reported on the air, on the website, or at KPFA events, it should be in a fair and accurate manner.

7.  Listener Input – To ensure that the listeners have opportunities to  provide input  to  the station through various forms of feedback, including two annual, bylaws-mandated  Local Station Board (LSB)-hosted Town Hall meetings, regularly scheduled listener call-in shows and surveys.

8.  Web Presence – To improve KPFA’s web presence, including searchable archives by show and by subject, with links to background information and related stories. To work to integrate video, transcripts, live streaming and social media. This will help us to reach current and potential communities of listeners with KPFA’s unique content.

~labor donated~

 Posted by at 3:38 pm  Add comments

“The Crisis Was Insolvency”

Posted on by admin2014

We Can All Save KPFA Together

Local KPFA Station Board Member, Akio TanakaWe Can All Save KPFA Together

by Akio Tanaka

8-22-11     The crisis that KPFA faced in the fall of 2010 was insolvency.

Between 2001 and 2006, there was a dramatic increase in listener support due to the expanding economy and interest in the Iraq-Afghan War. KPFA added many paid staff during this same period; however, between 2007 and 2010 listener support declined dramatically as the whole economy crashed.

Payments to Pacifica were reduced to reflect the decline in listener support and Pacifica had major layoffs, but KPFA management did not make similar cuts to salaries and benefits even as listener support declined between 2007 and 2010. It is understandable that the previous management would be reluctant to lay people off, but in 2008 the station went into deficit spending and was in danger of bankruptcy. So, finally the Pacifica Foundation, which is fiscally responsible for the network of five stations, stepped in and made cuts in staffing.

Instead of acknowledging that Pacifica had carried out the thankless but necessary task of cutting expenses, some of the paid staff affiliated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) claimed that layoffs were not necessary and that there had been union busting on the part of Pacifica. They alarmed many paid staff by claiming there was a political hit list of people to be laid off. The ‘hit list’ was the union seniority list.

What Pacifica actually did was to offer voluntary severance to all employees. Seven people took the deal, and in the end, two people were laid off, Aimee Allison and Brian Edwards-Tiekert. Edwards-Tiekert had the option to exercise his seniority bumping rights.

The layoffs followed the union contract which says: “In cases where skill, ability, knowledge and job performance are all equal, or could be equal in the opinion of the Employer after reasonable orientation and training, seniority shall prevail”, but CWA claimed the layoffs violated the terms of the union contract and filed three grievances with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and asked for an arbiter to rule on reinstating Edwards-Tiekert and Allison to the Morning Show. These claims led many labor supporters to voice solidarity with the CWA.

Over the next several months, two anonymous websites, SaveKPFA and KPFAworker, waged a campaign to vilify Pacifica Executive Director, Arlene Engelhardt.

In February, Edwards-Tiekert exercised his bumping rights and returned as a P/T news reporter. In April, the NLRB issued an advice memo dismissing one of the three CWA grievances and CWA then withdrew the two remaining grievances. In July, the arbiter ruled against Allison’s reinstatement.

Pacifica was vindicated on all counts associated with or having to do with labor issues.

KPFA has a solid line-up of Al-Jazeera English at 6am, Democracy Now! at the prime commute time of 7am, and Morning Mix at 8am, hosted by both volunteers and staff who stepped up to help the station during these financially difficult times.

Adrienne Lauby – Live from the Progressive Festival, Fall 2011

Most importantly, the station is on the road back to financial stability.

However, the people who tried to vilify Arlene Engelhardt are now trying to recall Tracy Rosenberg from the local station board.

Rosenberg saw that KPFA was on a path to a fiscal train wreck and carried out her fiduciary duty as a member of the National Finance Committee in trying to save both KPFA and Pacifica from financial ruin. She also tried to help publicize the new Morning Mix show. Both actions served the interest of KPFA and the Foundation.

It is understandable that with the political division KPFA has experienced over the past several years that any layoff produces controversy, but we should all remember that the ideals and goals we share are far stronger than our differences. And the people need KPFA and Pacifica more than ever before.

Arlene Engelhardt and Tracy Rosenberg both helped save KPFA.

We can all save KPFA together by each of us making a generous donation and working together. Make a donation.  Become a new member.

 August 22, 2012  Posted by at 11:36 pm  Add comments