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Indybay Feature
Pacifica National Board Members Demand Purge of Dissenting KPFA Staff
Three members of KPFA’s Local Station Board who sit on the Pacifica National Board–Tracy Rosenberg, Joe Wanzala, and Shahram Aghamir–have drawn up a list of their staff enemies who they are demanding be laid off, according to a misdirected email. The three are affiliated with a slate that has a majority on the KPFA board. Their targets appear to be their political opponents on the board and in the station.
The purge list includes the staff of some of the most successful programs at KPFA—both in terms of popularity and fund raising—including Aimee Allison, Brian Edwards-Tiekert, and Laura Prives of the Morning Show; Sasha Lilley of Against the Grain; News Anchor John Hamilton, the only two paid reporters Christopher Martinez and Max Pringle, and News Engineer Rose Ketabchi. All of these staff members have signed statements in opposition to the actions of the board majority.
Rosenberg, Wanzala, and Aghamir are also proposing that the Morning Show, which raises three times what it costs, be cut to one hour and that the Evening News, which is one of the few remaining sources of local and regional news, be cut to half an hour.
Such a purge would decimate KPFA’s ability to fund raise, eviscerating some of the largest income-generating programs at a time of financial crisis. The move by the three national board members contravenes the Pacifica bylaws and disregards KPFA’s local autonomy, by taking the power over the station’s budget out of the hands of the KPFA Local Station Board and decisions on layoffs out of the hands of the station’s General Manager. The proposed purge would also violate KPFA’s contract with Communications Workers of America Local 9415, which represents the paid staff of KPFA.
The members of the Pacifica National Board are demanding KPFA make deep cuts to it staffing, claiming that the station owes Pacifica $300,000 and must pay that money back. However, during the crisis of 1999, KPFA lent Pacifica almost $1.5 million dollars, which it has still has not repaid. Pacifica is also holding $150,000 of KPFA’s money as collateral for a line of credit. And KPFA has been paying a disproportionate share of listener income to Pacifica, compared to the four other stations in the Pacifica network.
KPFA staff are asking listeners and subscribers to email the Pacifica National Board to demand that these cuts not take place and that Pacifica honor KPFA’s union contract. Emails can be sent to the Pacifica National Board through the contact form, to which you can find a link on http://kpfaworker.wordpress.com/contact-form/.
If you haven't voted yet, following the recommendatons of SaveKPFA.org.
Rosenberg, Wanzala, and Aghamir are also proposing that the Morning Show, which raises three times what it costs, be cut to one hour and that the Evening News, which is one of the few remaining sources of local and regional news, be cut to half an hour.
Such a purge would decimate KPFA’s ability to fund raise, eviscerating some of the largest income-generating programs at a time of financial crisis. The move by the three national board members contravenes the Pacifica bylaws and disregards KPFA’s local autonomy, by taking the power over the station’s budget out of the hands of the KPFA Local Station Board and decisions on layoffs out of the hands of the station’s General Manager. The proposed purge would also violate KPFA’s contract with Communications Workers of America Local 9415, which represents the paid staff of KPFA.
The members of the Pacifica National Board are demanding KPFA make deep cuts to it staffing, claiming that the station owes Pacifica $300,000 and must pay that money back. However, during the crisis of 1999, KPFA lent Pacifica almost $1.5 million dollars, which it has still has not repaid. Pacifica is also holding $150,000 of KPFA’s money as collateral for a line of credit. And KPFA has been paying a disproportionate share of listener income to Pacifica, compared to the four other stations in the Pacifica network.
KPFA staff are asking listeners and subscribers to email the Pacifica National Board to demand that these cuts not take place and that Pacifica honor KPFA’s union contract. Emails can be sent to the Pacifica National Board through the contact form, to which you can find a link on http://kpfaworker.wordpress.com/contact-form/.
If you haven't voted yet, following the recommendatons of SaveKPFA.org.
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It is really unfortunate that work people must do when they are seated on the board of an institution to attend to their fiduciary responsibilities is considered grist for this idiotic rumor mill on Indybay.
Save KPFA/Concerned Listener candidates should find other ways to spend their time. There's plenty of work to be done.
What's being described as a "purge list" is a union seniority chart. KPFA, as most have heard by now, has a paid staff union, The CWA. Like most unions, it states that when times are hard and retrenchment may be necessary - seniority status is a guiding principal in working those matters out fairly and equitably It's hard to believe that anyone would seriously suggest that, pending core operational functions, seniority should not prevail.
Only in election season.
No one is proposing anything yet. National Board members, including Save KPFA's Andrea Turner, who didn't attend the meeting, were asked to give input and brainstorm ideas. After 10 hours of budget meetings over three weeks resulted in a still-unbalanced budget with a deficit, ideas were needed. All individuals present were asked to maintain confidentiality, One clearly did not. I do not intend to violate my own promise even if some Save KPFA-affiliated folks want to make a campaign issue out of it.
The fiscal year begins October 1st and it is necessary for a budget plan to be in place. It would be irresponsible for the Foundation's national board not to pay attention to the fact that interim station management hasn't yet produced one. I'm sure one will be ready for the next scheduled Local Station Board meeting on October 16th. The Local Station board was fully briefed at the last one on the incomplete state of the budget. If the 12 members of the Local Board affiliated with Concerned Listeners/Save KPFA were not sleeping through the financial report or the monthly ones in July and August too, it shouldn't be news to them.
KPFA owes Pacifica more than $300,000 from the last fiscal year, when it ran a $495,000 deficit.
The failure to pay that money has been a large contributing factor in stiffing Democracy Now of its programming fees, endangering Free Speech Radio News and making it difficult to pay for the professional audit required to stay in good standing with federal funding sources. These things are important. KPFA cannot continue to pay its expenses by stiffing vendors of their fees for programs and services rendered. No can possibly say that is a responsible way to run an institution. At least I hope that's not what I'm hearing. That's just dumb.
KPFA lent money to support WBAI for the many years the New York station ran disastrous deficits. I wasn't in governance then, but Save KPFA/Concerned Listeners stalwarts Sherry Gendelman and Bonnie Simmons were, and Gendelman and Siegel both spent time as Pacifica's interim executive directors. They were fully aware of all those inter-station transfers and did little to insist on fiscal responsibility for all units. This year's National Finance Committee does not intend to approve deficit budgets for any units, although BAI still has structural problems with a terribly expensive lease and an expensive Empire State building transmitter. It does not own its own building as KFFA does. WBAI has already laid off a substantial amount of staffers trying to get to a better financial position.
Pacifica is - at the last budget draft I saw - allowing KPFA to use the CD as a credit towards back Central Services due. KPFA pays exactly the same amount of Central Service fees as any other station in the network 19.8% of pledge drive income or 14.5% of overall revenue. Why do the Save KPFA/Concerned Listeners folks tell so many whoppers? Do they not pay attention to financial reports or is it just to win the election? One has to wonder. The only exception is KPFK which gets about a $25,000 discount annually for loaning a floor in its LA building to house the Pacifica archives.
The recommendations of Concerned Listeners/Save KPFA were followed for 2 straight years. End result: A 1 million dollar loss in 23 months.
You be the judge.
Now let's stop campaigning and get down to the hard work of surviving this economic morass in a sustainable fashion.
When elections are over, the work that needs to be done continues.
Save KPFA/Concerned Listener candidates should find other ways to spend their time. There's plenty of work to be done.
What's being described as a "purge list" is a union seniority chart. KPFA, as most have heard by now, has a paid staff union, The CWA. Like most unions, it states that when times are hard and retrenchment may be necessary - seniority status is a guiding principal in working those matters out fairly and equitably It's hard to believe that anyone would seriously suggest that, pending core operational functions, seniority should not prevail.
Only in election season.
No one is proposing anything yet. National Board members, including Save KPFA's Andrea Turner, who didn't attend the meeting, were asked to give input and brainstorm ideas. After 10 hours of budget meetings over three weeks resulted in a still-unbalanced budget with a deficit, ideas were needed. All individuals present were asked to maintain confidentiality, One clearly did not. I do not intend to violate my own promise even if some Save KPFA-affiliated folks want to make a campaign issue out of it.
The fiscal year begins October 1st and it is necessary for a budget plan to be in place. It would be irresponsible for the Foundation's national board not to pay attention to the fact that interim station management hasn't yet produced one. I'm sure one will be ready for the next scheduled Local Station Board meeting on October 16th. The Local Station board was fully briefed at the last one on the incomplete state of the budget. If the 12 members of the Local Board affiliated with Concerned Listeners/Save KPFA were not sleeping through the financial report or the monthly ones in July and August too, it shouldn't be news to them.
KPFA owes Pacifica more than $300,000 from the last fiscal year, when it ran a $495,000 deficit.
The failure to pay that money has been a large contributing factor in stiffing Democracy Now of its programming fees, endangering Free Speech Radio News and making it difficult to pay for the professional audit required to stay in good standing with federal funding sources. These things are important. KPFA cannot continue to pay its expenses by stiffing vendors of their fees for programs and services rendered. No can possibly say that is a responsible way to run an institution. At least I hope that's not what I'm hearing. That's just dumb.
KPFA lent money to support WBAI for the many years the New York station ran disastrous deficits. I wasn't in governance then, but Save KPFA/Concerned Listeners stalwarts Sherry Gendelman and Bonnie Simmons were, and Gendelman and Siegel both spent time as Pacifica's interim executive directors. They were fully aware of all those inter-station transfers and did little to insist on fiscal responsibility for all units. This year's National Finance Committee does not intend to approve deficit budgets for any units, although BAI still has structural problems with a terribly expensive lease and an expensive Empire State building transmitter. It does not own its own building as KFFA does. WBAI has already laid off a substantial amount of staffers trying to get to a better financial position.
Pacifica is - at the last budget draft I saw - allowing KPFA to use the CD as a credit towards back Central Services due. KPFA pays exactly the same amount of Central Service fees as any other station in the network 19.8% of pledge drive income or 14.5% of overall revenue. Why do the Save KPFA/Concerned Listeners folks tell so many whoppers? Do they not pay attention to financial reports or is it just to win the election? One has to wonder. The only exception is KPFK which gets about a $25,000 discount annually for loaning a floor in its LA building to house the Pacifica archives.
The recommendations of Concerned Listeners/Save KPFA were followed for 2 straight years. End result: A 1 million dollar loss in 23 months.
You be the judge.
Now let's stop campaigning and get down to the hard work of surviving this economic morass in a sustainable fashion.
When elections are over, the work that needs to be done continues.
---------- Original message ----------
From: KPFA Staff Announcements
Date: Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Subject: [KPFA Staff] KPFA BUDGET & LAYOFFS
To: KPFA-Paid, KPFA-Staff,
Cc: Arlene Engelhardt, George Reiter
Greetings All,
I am very concerned about the recent events that have taken place both in the station ,with the LSB /PNB ,and across the KPFA airwaves !
Let me be very clear about my position about the layoffs and budget matters:
All KPFA personnel decisions will be made by the ED,iGM,Asst. iGM & HRD.
No final decisions have been made about the KPFA budget or layoffs
KPFA staff & unpaid staff please maintain your integrity, dignity, & professionalism at all times
It is inappropriate to defame, denigrate, or slander staff, volunteers and or LSB / PNB members ON AIR OR OFF THE AIR (KPFA candidate forums).
****IF THIS CONTINUES THERE WILL BE CORRECTIVE ACTION
IT IS IMPERATIVE TO STOP THE KPFA CIVIL WAR TODAY!
--
Regards,
Ahmad J. Anderson
Pacifica Foundation
Director,Human Resources / iGM KPFA
Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley,Ca 94704
(O) 510-849-2590 ext 204
_______________________________________________
From: KPFA Staff Announcements
Date: Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Subject: [KPFA Staff] KPFA BUDGET & LAYOFFS
To: KPFA-Paid, KPFA-Staff,
Cc: Arlene Engelhardt, George Reiter
Greetings All,
I am very concerned about the recent events that have taken place both in the station ,with the LSB /PNB ,and across the KPFA airwaves !
Let me be very clear about my position about the layoffs and budget matters:
All KPFA personnel decisions will be made by the ED,iGM,Asst. iGM & HRD.
No final decisions have been made about the KPFA budget or layoffs
KPFA staff & unpaid staff please maintain your integrity, dignity, & professionalism at all times
It is inappropriate to defame, denigrate, or slander staff, volunteers and or LSB / PNB members ON AIR OR OFF THE AIR (KPFA candidate forums).
****IF THIS CONTINUES THERE WILL BE CORRECTIVE ACTION
IT IS IMPERATIVE TO STOP THE KPFA CIVIL WAR TODAY!
--
Regards,
Ahmad J. Anderson
Pacifica Foundation
Director,Human Resources / iGM KPFA
Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley,Ca 94704
(O) 510-849-2590 ext 204
_______________________________________________
The Concerned Listeners a.k.a SLAVE KPFA mob have shown that they want to turn Pacifica into a Mainstream Liberal mouthpiece( another NPR) where true radicals need not apply. However, if they care so much about equality, why is there 80% unpaid staff, leaving 20 percent of the SLAVE KPFA TO DETERMINE THE OUT COME FOR THOSE 80% UNPAID STAFF MEANING VOLUNTEERS. ON THE LSB THERE IS ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNPAID STAFF HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE, AND THE SLAVE KPFA MAKES IT SO UNPAID STAFF ONLY HAS ONE VOTE THAT COULD OR COULD NOT INFLUENCE THE REST OF THE LSB. AT THE SAME TIME THEY VOTE WITH LSB MEMBERS, AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE OUTNUMBERED. ALSO WHEN THE LAST MANAGER COLLEAGUE OF SLAVE KPFAS, IGNORED THE PROCESS OF UPSO. THEREFORE, MAKING UNPAID STAFF(VOLUNTEERS) EASIER TO TARGET FOR REMOVAL, AND FOR MOVING PEOPLE AROUND WITHOUT A LONG TERM PROCESS THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE EVEN WITHOUT A MANAGER. NOW WE SEE THIS MINORITY SLAVE KPFA AS A THREAT TO THE WHOLE STATION WITH THE CORPORATE VIEW OF SLAVING KPFA, AND KICKING THE COMMUNITY OUT IN COMMUNITY RADIO. ASK THESE SLAVE KPFA HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT USING POLICE BRUTALITY, AND SACRIFICING VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PAYCHECKS. SLAVE KPFA WILL MAKE LISTENERS TRY TO PUT OUT MORE MONEY DURING FUND DRIVE, WHILE TRYING TO GET UNDERWRITING. FOLLOW THE MONEY OF THE SLAVE KPFA CAMPAIGN, AND HOW IS IT THAT THEY HAVE SO MUCH RESOURCES, TIME TO WRITE SELF PROMOTION ARTICLES, AND TRY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES BY SELLING THE STATION OUT. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT MIDDLE CLASS, OTHERS CALL IT RICH AND YOU GOT TIME, AND MOST OF THE SLAVE KPFA CAMPAIGNERS ARE PAID STAFF? MITCH AND BRYAN SHOULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING BYLAWS AND TALKING ABOUT ISSUES ON AIR, BUT DOUGHT ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN? SOME POLICIES ONLY APPLY TO THE EVERYONE ELSE I GUESS, AND NOT THESE TWO?
The Concerned Listeners a.k.a SLAVE KPFA mob have shown that they want to turn Pacifica into a Mainstream Liberal mouthpiece( another NPR) where true radicals need not apply. However, if they care so much about equality, why is there 80% unpaid staff, leaving 20 percent of the SLAVE KPFA TO DETERMINE THE OUT COME FOR THOSE 80% UNPAID STAFF MEANING VOLUNTEERS. ON THE LSB THERE IS ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNPAID STAFF HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE, AND THE SLAVE KPFA MAKES IT SO UNPAID STAFF ONLY HAS ONE VOTE THAT COULD OR COULD NOT INFLUENCE THE REST OF THE LSB. AT THE SAME TIME THEY VOTE WITH LSB MEMBERS, AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE OUTNUMBERED. ALSO WHEN THE LAST MANAGER COLLEAGUE OF SLAVE KPFAS, IGNORED THE PROCESS OF UPSO. THEREFORE, MAKING UNPAID STAFF(VOLUNTEERS) EASIER TO TARGET FOR REMOVAL, AND FOR MOVING PEOPLE AROUND WITHOUT A LONG TERM PROCESS THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE EVEN WITHOUT A MANAGER. NOW WE SEE THIS MINORITY SLAVE KPFA AS A THREAT TO THE WHOLE STATION WITH THE CORPORATE VIEW OF SLAVING KPFA, AND KICKING THE COMMUNITY OUT IN COMMUNITY RADIO. ASK THESE SLAVE KPFA HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT USING POLICE BRUTALITY, AND SACRIFICING VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PAYCHECKS. SLAVE KPFA WILL MAKE LISTENERS TRY TO PUT OUT MORE MONEY DURING FUND DRIVE, WHILE TRYING TO GET UNDERWRITING. FOLLOW THE MONEY OF THE SLAVE KPFA CAMPAIGN, AND HOW IS IT THAT THEY HAVE SO MUCH RESOURCES, TIME TO WRITE SELF PROMOTION ARTICLES, AND TRY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES BY SELLING THE STATION OUT. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT MIDDLE CLASS, OTHERS CALL IT RICH AND YOU GOT TIME, AND MOST OF THE SLAVE KPFA CAMPAIGNERS ARE PAID STAFF? THAT IS WHY MITCH AND TIKERT HAVE AJOB IS BECAUSE THE UPSO WAS IGNORED, AND THEIR GM BUDDIES GAVE THEM THOSE POSITIONS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH UPSO.
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