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Indybay Feature
Majority of KPFA Unionized Workers Support Save KPFA in Board Election
KPFA won’t survive unless the Progressive community realizes the seriousness of the crisis and takes action to support the station. The present majority on the LSB is tied to Pacifica bureaucracy. It resists any attempt to cut Pacifica’s costs, while supporting drastic down-sizing at KPFA. An all-volunteer station would simply be a play-thing for a narrow, ever changing slice of the left. KPFA’s mission is to be a voice for the entire progressive community – we need to find that larger audience and to produce quality radio more than ever.
KPFA and the entire Pacifica system are facing a serious crisis. In addition to the global economic downturn, we are saddled with an expensive and over-sized Pacifica bureaucracy that consumes precious resources that should be invested in producing quality radio but which are spent on endless turf battles.
• one fourth of KPFA listeners’ donations goes to the Pacifica bureaucracy.
• the local station board, whose elections costs tens of thousands of dollars, currently spends all its time consumed in internal battles to control the station, while raising no money and contributing little or nothing to building the station.
KPFA won’t survive unless the Progressive community realizes the seriousness of the crisis and takes action to support the station. The present majority on the LSB is tied to Pacifica bureaucracy. It resists any attempt to cut Pacifica’s costs, while supporting drastic down-sizing at KPFA. An all-volunteer station would simply be a play-thing for a narrow, ever changing slice of the left. KPFA’s mission is to be a voice for the entire progressive community – we need to find that larger audience and to produce quality radio more than ever.
SaveKPFA seeks to rally progressive support for the station. As in 1999, we have to resist the Pacifica Board imposing its own agenda on KPFA. We have to construct a board majority that focuses on building the station, raising funds and producing events. We are committed to seeking common ground with others who share our concerns about the state of the station. We need to save this precious resource.
SaveKPFA STANDS FOR:
CHANGE Plugging KPFA into the 21st century with access to the internet and new media technology and supporting innovative programming;
DIALOGUE KPFA must be a forum for dialogue and debate
DIVERSITY Upholding KPFA’s mission of social justice and artistic diversity – for labor, young people, people of color, musicians and artists, old radicals and new.
LOCAL CONTROL We represent KPFA’s listeners. We will defend KPFA’s finances and programming.
PROFESSIONALISM by paid and unpaid staff that creates high-quality radio without diluting KPFA’s message.
RESPONSIBILITY A board that builds the station and raises money, not one that attacks it and spends money. We believe in a collaborative relationship with staff and station management. We are clear that the board should not manage the station.
SaveKPFA SLATE:
Mal Burnstein, retired civil rights lawyer, former chair of the KPFA local board and a founder of the progressive caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Terry Doran, retired Berkeley High School teacher and teacher union activist, twice elected to the Berkeley School Board (1998,2002), serving two years as president.
Donald Goldmacher, long-time social justice activist, community psychiatrist and award-winning documentary filmmaker..
Suzi Goldmacher, lesbian feminist activist, community organizer and retired member of the California Nurses Association.
Matthew Hallinan, a life-long political activist.
Mark Hernandez, member of the KFCF Board of Directors in Fresno, has served on the various KPFA Local Boards off and on since 1999.
Jack Kurzweil retired from San Jose State, where he was President of the faculty union, active with the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, and in organizing opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tanya Russell, employment and civil rights Attorney, has been a social worker, factory worker and a community activist.
Dave Saldana, award-winning journalist, civil rights attorney, human rights advocate.
Margy Wilkinson, a UC Berkeley union activist for 40 years and currently active in Grandmothers Against the War.
ENDORSED BY:
KPFA Workers
Mitch Jeserich, “Letters to Washington”, Producer & Host
Brian Edwards-Tiekert, “Morning Show”, Producer and Host
Mark Mericle, Co-Director “KPFA News”
Aileen Alfandary, Co-Director “KPFA News”
Bonnie Simmons, Host, “The Bonnie Simmons Show”, former KPFA LSB, Pacifica National Board
Philip Maldari, “Sunday Show”, Producer & Host
Kris Welch, “Living Room” & “Saturday Morning Talkies”, Producer & Host
Miguel Guerrero, Web Producer & Producer “Rock and Rebellion”
Jan Etre, Crafts Fair Coordinator
Laura Prives, “Morning Show”, Executive Producer
Sasha Lilley, “Against the Grain”, Producer & Host
Max Pringle, News Reporter
John Hamilton, News Producer & Anchor
Rose Ketabchi, “Free Speech Radio News”, Technical Producer, KPFA News Co-Anchor
Scott Pham, “Free Speech Radio News”, Technical Producer
Derk Richardson, Host of the “Hear and Now”
David Gans, Host of “Dead To The World”
Bob Baldock, KPFA Events Coordinator
Richard Wolinsky, Bookwaves on “Cover to Cover”, Producer and Host
Vanessa Tait, labor journalist, “KPFA News Co-Anchor
Lewis Sawyer, KPFA Receptionist and producer Early Morning Music
Esther Manilla, Morning Show and Fund Drive producer
Eddie Yuen, “Against the Grain”, co-editor of Confronting Capitalism
Sally Phillips, KPFA Producer, Host, Engineer
Community
Jello Biafra, artist/musician/entrepreneur
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Native American historian
Andrej Grubacic, radical historian and sociologist
Norman Soloman, media critic, author, “WarMade Easy”
Ignacio Chapela, Professor, Director of Laboratory of Microbial Ecology, UCB
Conn Hallinan, foreign policy analyst, Foreign Policy In Focus, Institute for Policy Study, columnist, LSB member
Aaron Glantz, “Free Speech Radio News, co-anchor, “Winter Soldier” broadcasts
Mattie Harper, Democracy Now former producer
Ramsey Kanaan, founder, AK Press and co-founder/publisher, PM Press
Pratap Chatterjee, CorpWatch investigative journalist, author of Halliburton’s Army
Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley
Rychard Withers, Executive Director, Fresno Free College Foundation, General Manager KFCF
Jon Fromer, singer/songwriter, NABET/CWA local 51 shop steward
Lynne Hollander Savio, Chair., Mario Savio Memorial Lecture & Young Activist Award
Scoop Nisker, radio commentator and author
Rashidah Grinage, founder, People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO)
Marty Bennett, Co-Chair of the Sonoma County Living Wage Coalition
Shelley Kessler, Sec. Treas., San Mateo Labor Council
Michael Eisenscher, Coordinator, Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice
Peter Olney, International Organizing Director, ILWU
Sal Rosselli, president, National Union of Healthcare Workers
For full list of endorsers go to: http://www.savekpfa.org/
• one fourth of KPFA listeners’ donations goes to the Pacifica bureaucracy.
• the local station board, whose elections costs tens of thousands of dollars, currently spends all its time consumed in internal battles to control the station, while raising no money and contributing little or nothing to building the station.
KPFA won’t survive unless the Progressive community realizes the seriousness of the crisis and takes action to support the station. The present majority on the LSB is tied to Pacifica bureaucracy. It resists any attempt to cut Pacifica’s costs, while supporting drastic down-sizing at KPFA. An all-volunteer station would simply be a play-thing for a narrow, ever changing slice of the left. KPFA’s mission is to be a voice for the entire progressive community – we need to find that larger audience and to produce quality radio more than ever.
SaveKPFA seeks to rally progressive support for the station. As in 1999, we have to resist the Pacifica Board imposing its own agenda on KPFA. We have to construct a board majority that focuses on building the station, raising funds and producing events. We are committed to seeking common ground with others who share our concerns about the state of the station. We need to save this precious resource.
SaveKPFA STANDS FOR:
CHANGE Plugging KPFA into the 21st century with access to the internet and new media technology and supporting innovative programming;
DIALOGUE KPFA must be a forum for dialogue and debate
DIVERSITY Upholding KPFA’s mission of social justice and artistic diversity – for labor, young people, people of color, musicians and artists, old radicals and new.
LOCAL CONTROL We represent KPFA’s listeners. We will defend KPFA’s finances and programming.
PROFESSIONALISM by paid and unpaid staff that creates high-quality radio without diluting KPFA’s message.
RESPONSIBILITY A board that builds the station and raises money, not one that attacks it and spends money. We believe in a collaborative relationship with staff and station management. We are clear that the board should not manage the station.
SaveKPFA SLATE:
Mal Burnstein, retired civil rights lawyer, former chair of the KPFA local board and a founder of the progressive caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Terry Doran, retired Berkeley High School teacher and teacher union activist, twice elected to the Berkeley School Board (1998,2002), serving two years as president.
Donald Goldmacher, long-time social justice activist, community psychiatrist and award-winning documentary filmmaker..
Suzi Goldmacher, lesbian feminist activist, community organizer and retired member of the California Nurses Association.
Matthew Hallinan, a life-long political activist.
Mark Hernandez, member of the KFCF Board of Directors in Fresno, has served on the various KPFA Local Boards off and on since 1999.
Jack Kurzweil retired from San Jose State, where he was President of the faculty union, active with the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, and in organizing opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tanya Russell, employment and civil rights Attorney, has been a social worker, factory worker and a community activist.
Dave Saldana, award-winning journalist, civil rights attorney, human rights advocate.
Margy Wilkinson, a UC Berkeley union activist for 40 years and currently active in Grandmothers Against the War.
ENDORSED BY:
KPFA Workers
Mitch Jeserich, “Letters to Washington”, Producer & Host
Brian Edwards-Tiekert, “Morning Show”, Producer and Host
Mark Mericle, Co-Director “KPFA News”
Aileen Alfandary, Co-Director “KPFA News”
Bonnie Simmons, Host, “The Bonnie Simmons Show”, former KPFA LSB, Pacifica National Board
Philip Maldari, “Sunday Show”, Producer & Host
Kris Welch, “Living Room” & “Saturday Morning Talkies”, Producer & Host
Miguel Guerrero, Web Producer & Producer “Rock and Rebellion”
Jan Etre, Crafts Fair Coordinator
Laura Prives, “Morning Show”, Executive Producer
Sasha Lilley, “Against the Grain”, Producer & Host
Max Pringle, News Reporter
John Hamilton, News Producer & Anchor
Rose Ketabchi, “Free Speech Radio News”, Technical Producer, KPFA News Co-Anchor
Scott Pham, “Free Speech Radio News”, Technical Producer
Derk Richardson, Host of the “Hear and Now”
David Gans, Host of “Dead To The World”
Bob Baldock, KPFA Events Coordinator
Richard Wolinsky, Bookwaves on “Cover to Cover”, Producer and Host
Vanessa Tait, labor journalist, “KPFA News Co-Anchor
Lewis Sawyer, KPFA Receptionist and producer Early Morning Music
Esther Manilla, Morning Show and Fund Drive producer
Eddie Yuen, “Against the Grain”, co-editor of Confronting Capitalism
Sally Phillips, KPFA Producer, Host, Engineer
Community
Jello Biafra, artist/musician/entrepreneur
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Native American historian
Andrej Grubacic, radical historian and sociologist
Norman Soloman, media critic, author, “WarMade Easy”
Ignacio Chapela, Professor, Director of Laboratory of Microbial Ecology, UCB
Conn Hallinan, foreign policy analyst, Foreign Policy In Focus, Institute for Policy Study, columnist, LSB member
Aaron Glantz, “Free Speech Radio News, co-anchor, “Winter Soldier” broadcasts
Mattie Harper, Democracy Now former producer
Ramsey Kanaan, founder, AK Press and co-founder/publisher, PM Press
Pratap Chatterjee, CorpWatch investigative journalist, author of Halliburton’s Army
Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley
Rychard Withers, Executive Director, Fresno Free College Foundation, General Manager KFCF
Jon Fromer, singer/songwriter, NABET/CWA local 51 shop steward
Lynne Hollander Savio, Chair., Mario Savio Memorial Lecture & Young Activist Award
Scoop Nisker, radio commentator and author
Rashidah Grinage, founder, People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO)
Marty Bennett, Co-Chair of the Sonoma County Living Wage Coalition
Shelley Kessler, Sec. Treas., San Mateo Labor Council
Michael Eisenscher, Coordinator, Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice
Peter Olney, International Organizing Director, ILWU
Sal Rosselli, president, National Union of Healthcare Workers
For full list of endorsers go to: http://www.savekpfa.org/
For more information:
http://savekpfa.org/
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
>>Norman Soloman
Pathetic. Solomon told the Greens they shouldn't run higher office candidates and had a debate with Peter Camejo to try to force his point through. Camejo exposed him as an idiot.
The comment by the person posting the debate links at the time:
"This was an excellent debate! If you missed it, it's really worth listening to. Peter had to correct Norman's misinfo several times, like when he was trying to say things like Matt wouldn't support Nader, implying that Matt thought Greens shouldn't run, and Peter pointed out that Matt WILL support the Green presidential candidate. Solomon also made a point of trying to paint the Greens as not doing the real grass roots work that it takes to build up a party, and Peter pointed out that if Nader hadn't run, people like Matt never would have become Green, that if Peter hadn't run for guv, Matt might never have gotten as close as he did, etc."
Another comment:
"I was at the event at the Crest, but left about three paragraphs into Norman's rap. What bilge! I can't understand how people with the sense to vote Green could sit there & listen to all that tired BS. Really! -- it's beyond me."
So it's no wonder he's supporting "SaveKPFA" . . .
"We cannot build a Democracy by silencing voices, by preventing other
voices from being heard." -- Peter Camejo
Pathetic. Solomon told the Greens they shouldn't run higher office candidates and had a debate with Peter Camejo to try to force his point through. Camejo exposed him as an idiot.
The comment by the person posting the debate links at the time:
"This was an excellent debate! If you missed it, it's really worth listening to. Peter had to correct Norman's misinfo several times, like when he was trying to say things like Matt wouldn't support Nader, implying that Matt thought Greens shouldn't run, and Peter pointed out that Matt WILL support the Green presidential candidate. Solomon also made a point of trying to paint the Greens as not doing the real grass roots work that it takes to build up a party, and Peter pointed out that if Nader hadn't run, people like Matt never would have become Green, that if Peter hadn't run for guv, Matt might never have gotten as close as he did, etc."
Another comment:
"I was at the event at the Crest, but left about three paragraphs into Norman's rap. What bilge! I can't understand how people with the sense to vote Green could sit there & listen to all that tired BS. Really! -- it's beyond me."
So it's no wonder he's supporting "SaveKPFA" . . .
"We cannot build a Democracy by silencing voices, by preventing other
voices from being heard." -- Peter Camejo
For more information:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/01/3...
The so-call SaveKPFA slate will turn out no better. But here is part of why they changed their name.
The agreement with Pacifica is that KPFA pays 20% to the Foundation, to fund employee benefits like health insurance and programming like Democracy Now! But KPFA hasn't paid since April, because it spent through its reserves under Concerned LIstener's watch. So there haven't been any Pacifica costs since then, and in fact Pacifica has been subsidizing KPFA to pay for staff benefits. KPFA needed to downsize because it no longer attracts the listener donations it once did.
Concerned Listeners renamed itself "SaveKPFA" to escape responsibility for keeping the headcount high and burning through nearly a million dollars in cash reserves.
Concerned Listeners renamed itself "SaveKPFA" to escape responsibility for keeping the headcount high and burning through nearly a million dollars in cash reserves.
While SAVE KPFA may have the endorsement of many paid staff the ICR has the endorsement of many of the unpaid staff and in the past two Board elections, "reform" candidates have won two of the three staff seats, showing they had the support of the majority of staff overall.. Not an accident. The paid staff are more concerned about maintaining their pwn power and interest then including and considering the voices of unpaid staff or the listeners.
Adrienne Lauby Pushing Limits
Anthony Fest Weekend News
Ann Garrison Weekend News
Bonnie Bone Early Morning Music
Bonnie Faulkner Guns and Butter
Clayton Leander Cuba Canta
Dennis Bernstein Flashpoints
Emiliano Echeverria Cuba Canta
Emmit Powell the Gospel Experience
Gabrielle Wilson the Gospel Experience
Khalil Bendib Voices of the Middle East and North Africa
Lisa Dettmer Women's Magazine
Malihe Razazan Voices of the Middle East and North Africa
Miguel Molina La Onda Bajita, Flashponts
Nicholas Alexander Radio Chronicles
Pedro Reyes La Onda Bajita
Preeti Shekar Womens Magazine
Renee Geesler Co-director, Apprenticeship Program
Robbie Osman Across The Great Divide
Ruthanne Shpiner Weekend News
Yvette Hochberg Womens Magazine
Adrienne Lauby Pushing Limits
Anthony Fest Weekend News
Ann Garrison Weekend News
Bonnie Bone Early Morning Music
Bonnie Faulkner Guns and Butter
Clayton Leander Cuba Canta
Dennis Bernstein Flashpoints
Emiliano Echeverria Cuba Canta
Emmit Powell the Gospel Experience
Gabrielle Wilson the Gospel Experience
Khalil Bendib Voices of the Middle East and North Africa
Lisa Dettmer Women's Magazine
Malihe Razazan Voices of the Middle East and North Africa
Miguel Molina La Onda Bajita, Flashponts
Nicholas Alexander Radio Chronicles
Pedro Reyes La Onda Bajita
Preeti Shekar Womens Magazine
Renee Geesler Co-director, Apprenticeship Program
Robbie Osman Across The Great Divide
Ruthanne Shpiner Weekend News
Yvette Hochberg Womens Magazine
This article uses the name ''Labor Notes'' clearly implying that it was published in The National Labor magazine based in Detroit . Bullshit ! Check out the Aug., Sept , and new October issues online . Nada .
Such pathetic desperation on the part of the so called '' Concerned Listeners -Save KPFA ''.
Vote ICR and VFJ in whatever mix and match fashion that you choose . But Please give no support for a crew that would falsely claim support from a well respected Magazine like L.N.
Such pathetic desperation on the part of the so called '' Concerned Listeners -Save KPFA ''.
Vote ICR and VFJ in whatever mix and match fashion that you choose . But Please give no support for a crew that would falsely claim support from a well respected Magazine like L.N.
Shameless Deceptions
This "Labor Notes" post, like other LSB election campaign distortions and propaganda, touting KPFA union workers "majority support" for the so called "Save KPFA' (SK) slate, raises one of the issues and reasons I reposted the article "KPFA Workers & Community Step Up, GM Resigns" http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/09/25/18659813.php - including the section (copied below) counterpointing the similar claim of KPFA staff support made by the Concerned Listeners (CL) and "core staff" supporters of former GM Lemlem Rijio:
"Claim #3: Most union staff supported retaining her.
The senior union "core staff" think they are KPFA and are used to running the station as they please. A GM must be selected from their ranks or the station becomes a "management free zone:" outsiders selected through the by-laws process, Campanella and former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport, were rejected, sabotaged and forced out. Inclusion and interests of volunteer staff do not matter. Historically, both paid and unpaid staff were represented by one union (UEW); but thanks to the Healthy Station project, paid staff breaking solidarity and dumping co-workers to join the CWA (1996-97) and Rijio's non-recognition of UPSO (recently rescinded under new Pacifica management), volunteer staff have had no effective labor representation, benefits or budget funding for personal and production costs. However, all staff now have voting power and LSB representation, and in recent elections voted for a majority of independent representatives, clearly indicating a split with the management regime; also, staff will have a special election on the proposed recall of Edwards-Tiekert.
Clearly, there was widespread staff and community disaffection with Rijio's management and a renewed commitment to new leadership and direction for KPFA, in the spirit of the 1999 beginning of "a new era of democratic decision-making and station Transformation." Black/people of color programmers, staff and community members led a campaign protesting the Nadra Foster arrest/beating and supporting her legal defense … In Sept-Oct 2008 eighty unpaid and union staff signed an "Open Letter on New KPFA Leadership Attributes/Priorities" http://www.physicszone.org/letter2008/letter.html with an 8 point program for changes to be initiated and supported by new management; 74 signed a "Statement Of No Confidence," calling for a new GM appointment http://mediajusticekpfa.blogspot.com/2008/10/74-kpfa-staffers-no-confidence-rijio.html; a letter from 21 listeners demanded rescission of her permanent appointment. As noted above, several staff and listeners spoke in opposition at recent LSB meetings."
Further, both the name and claims of this candidate slate - to a connection and common cause with the KPFA listener activist movement and resistance to the corporatist and Democrat Party hijackers of the old Pacifica/PNB in the 1990s - are shamelessly deceptive and ridiculous. They say: "As in 1999, we have to resist the Pacifica Board imposing its own agenda on KPFA." But do the CL and their current incarnation as the "Save KPFA" slate in the LSB election have much in common with the resistance to the old Pacifica network/PNB regime and the democratic reform vision and program of the original Save KPFA, Take Back KPFA, Free Pacifica and the Coalition for a democratic Pacifica (CdP)? As a former CdP active member, I don't think so.
The following record, platform and positions of the CL and its successor SK (aka $$SaveK-Mart for Democrats$$) represents the antithesis of the real Save KPFA et. al. and exactly what that group and the listener movement struggled against:
• corporate/big D party/money influence in Pacifica, PNB and the stations;
• "professionalism," programs produced by career salaried staff (Healthy Station project);
• moderate programming acceptable to the left/liberal establishment (purges of radical programmers, community volunteers; mainstreaming, "NPR-ization");
• restricted/minimal listener involvement, no "micromanagement" (leaving program, policy, staffing and operational decisions entirely to management, department heads and senior paid staff without effective accountability and oversight);
• gridlocking the LSB and blocking listener and staff representatives from full participation in station governance, policy and decision making;
• relegating the LSB to fundraising and advisory status (Local Advisory Boards, funding from affluent "major donors," commercialization/commodification of fund drives);
• support for former management's undermining or shutting down democratic institutions at the station, including elections, the Unpaid Staff Organization and Program Council;
• more (subject of a longer, later analysis).
You don't have to rely on what I think or know. The shameless misappropriation of the historic KPFA activist movement name is thoroughly discussed in recent Indybay and other community media commentary, letters to BeyondChron, etc. Curt Gray and other former Save KPFA steering committee members have more than a few choice words and objections in their letter/article "Stealing Save KPFA, erasing history," see the new The Real Save KPFA website http://sites.google.com/site/therealsavekpfa.
Yet to be fair, I suppose a few of the staff power clique and CL/SKers would protest and try to remind me that they too were there in 1999, in the streets, meetings and courts. But there is a critical distinction, clearly summed up by former LSB chair and Peoples Radio activist Richard Phelps http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009-07-16/article/33342?headline=KPFA-Ten-Years-After-the-1999-Hijack-Attempt:
"As Pacifica embarked on its new democratic path it became clear that everyone that fought the hijackers didn’t do so for the same reason! Most listener activists and some staff supported the new democratic process and welcomed the involvement and input of the listener/subscribers who are the regular audience and the financial supporters of the station and Pacifica. At KPFA some staff and their supporters sought to defeat the hijackers so that they could control KPFA and make the decisions about who/what gets air time and who gets the paid jobs. This latter group has used the power of the stations progressive reputation and the power of the microphone to maintain control and frustrate the new bylaws in many ways."
This "Labor Notes" post, like other LSB election campaign distortions and propaganda, touting KPFA union workers "majority support" for the so called "Save KPFA' (SK) slate, raises one of the issues and reasons I reposted the article "KPFA Workers & Community Step Up, GM Resigns" http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/09/25/18659813.php - including the section (copied below) counterpointing the similar claim of KPFA staff support made by the Concerned Listeners (CL) and "core staff" supporters of former GM Lemlem Rijio:
"Claim #3: Most union staff supported retaining her.
The senior union "core staff" think they are KPFA and are used to running the station as they please. A GM must be selected from their ranks or the station becomes a "management free zone:" outsiders selected through the by-laws process, Campanella and former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport, were rejected, sabotaged and forced out. Inclusion and interests of volunteer staff do not matter. Historically, both paid and unpaid staff were represented by one union (UEW); but thanks to the Healthy Station project, paid staff breaking solidarity and dumping co-workers to join the CWA (1996-97) and Rijio's non-recognition of UPSO (recently rescinded under new Pacifica management), volunteer staff have had no effective labor representation, benefits or budget funding for personal and production costs. However, all staff now have voting power and LSB representation, and in recent elections voted for a majority of independent representatives, clearly indicating a split with the management regime; also, staff will have a special election on the proposed recall of Edwards-Tiekert.
Clearly, there was widespread staff and community disaffection with Rijio's management and a renewed commitment to new leadership and direction for KPFA, in the spirit of the 1999 beginning of "a new era of democratic decision-making and station Transformation." Black/people of color programmers, staff and community members led a campaign protesting the Nadra Foster arrest/beating and supporting her legal defense … In Sept-Oct 2008 eighty unpaid and union staff signed an "Open Letter on New KPFA Leadership Attributes/Priorities" http://www.physicszone.org/letter2008/letter.html with an 8 point program for changes to be initiated and supported by new management; 74 signed a "Statement Of No Confidence," calling for a new GM appointment http://mediajusticekpfa.blogspot.com/2008/10/74-kpfa-staffers-no-confidence-rijio.html; a letter from 21 listeners demanded rescission of her permanent appointment. As noted above, several staff and listeners spoke in opposition at recent LSB meetings."
Further, both the name and claims of this candidate slate - to a connection and common cause with the KPFA listener activist movement and resistance to the corporatist and Democrat Party hijackers of the old Pacifica/PNB in the 1990s - are shamelessly deceptive and ridiculous. They say: "As in 1999, we have to resist the Pacifica Board imposing its own agenda on KPFA." But do the CL and their current incarnation as the "Save KPFA" slate in the LSB election have much in common with the resistance to the old Pacifica network/PNB regime and the democratic reform vision and program of the original Save KPFA, Take Back KPFA, Free Pacifica and the Coalition for a democratic Pacifica (CdP)? As a former CdP active member, I don't think so.
The following record, platform and positions of the CL and its successor SK (aka $$SaveK-Mart for Democrats$$) represents the antithesis of the real Save KPFA et. al. and exactly what that group and the listener movement struggled against:
• corporate/big D party/money influence in Pacifica, PNB and the stations;
• "professionalism," programs produced by career salaried staff (Healthy Station project);
• moderate programming acceptable to the left/liberal establishment (purges of radical programmers, community volunteers; mainstreaming, "NPR-ization");
• restricted/minimal listener involvement, no "micromanagement" (leaving program, policy, staffing and operational decisions entirely to management, department heads and senior paid staff without effective accountability and oversight);
• gridlocking the LSB and blocking listener and staff representatives from full participation in station governance, policy and decision making;
• relegating the LSB to fundraising and advisory status (Local Advisory Boards, funding from affluent "major donors," commercialization/commodification of fund drives);
• support for former management's undermining or shutting down democratic institutions at the station, including elections, the Unpaid Staff Organization and Program Council;
• more (subject of a longer, later analysis).
You don't have to rely on what I think or know. The shameless misappropriation of the historic KPFA activist movement name is thoroughly discussed in recent Indybay and other community media commentary, letters to BeyondChron, etc. Curt Gray and other former Save KPFA steering committee members have more than a few choice words and objections in their letter/article "Stealing Save KPFA, erasing history," see the new The Real Save KPFA website http://sites.google.com/site/therealsavekpfa.
Yet to be fair, I suppose a few of the staff power clique and CL/SKers would protest and try to remind me that they too were there in 1999, in the streets, meetings and courts. But there is a critical distinction, clearly summed up by former LSB chair and Peoples Radio activist Richard Phelps http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009-07-16/article/33342?headline=KPFA-Ten-Years-After-the-1999-Hijack-Attempt:
"As Pacifica embarked on its new democratic path it became clear that everyone that fought the hijackers didn’t do so for the same reason! Most listener activists and some staff supported the new democratic process and welcomed the involvement and input of the listener/subscribers who are the regular audience and the financial supporters of the station and Pacifica. At KPFA some staff and their supporters sought to defeat the hijackers so that they could control KPFA and make the decisions about who/what gets air time and who gets the paid jobs. This latter group has used the power of the stations progressive reputation and the power of the microphone to maintain control and frustrate the new bylaws in many ways."
Anyone who cares to see a show like Flashpoints--currently with the highest average per-hour pitch totals-- continue, you will NOT SUPPORT the Save/KPFA slate...What amazes me to this day, is that after Nora barrows Friedman is ambushed and has her salary slashed, this crew verbally acts nora--who learned arabic and risked her life to report from Palestine--attacks her in a "union" meeting for going public about Flashpoints getting two thirds of its budget cut, and then goes on a highly public campaign to save the last management's ass--the very management that slashed nora and left her crying in hallway. That's serious unionism! But that's no surprise, because the concept was, in my opinion, bust the KPFA budget, and then pay for it by getting rid of Flashpoints, slashing hard knock radio, and the apprenticeship program. That's my view. I say Say no to the SAVE KPFA slate and really take an action to support free speech radio at KPFA.
This is an attempt to play the "Union Card" and get people to overlook the fact that these are the same folks that refused to move DN! to prime time some years ago, regularly do their damndest to screw up the elections and refused to reduce their numbers when there was not enough money coming in to pay for all of them. They also seem to forget about "union" seniority when it comes to layoffs and prefer patronage and cronyism benefiting their group.
And as for "union solidarity" I have never seen any of this group at any other union picket lines or actions in the Bay Area over the years.
And as for "union solidarity" I have never seen any of this group at any other union picket lines or actions in the Bay Area over the years.
Sorry I posted the uncaptioned one first. Trying to get it out. Captions took some time, make it easier to see most of the important parts. And skip the boring parts.
For more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBqU7F_m9s
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