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Pacifica targets KPFA's Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Mitch Jeserich, and other union staff
As if layoffs weren’t enough: Pacifica targets Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Mitch Jeserich, and other union staff in bizarre voter disenfranchisement scheme
The same week that Pacifica abruptly laid off the staff of The Morning Show, it was quietly moving to steal KPFA’s Local Station Board election as well, according to a suit filed in Alameda County on Wednesday.
The suit alleges that one month after KPFA’s preliminary vote count resulted in a resounding defeat for the currently-dominant “Independents for Community Radio” (ICR) faction of KPFA’s board, Pacifica decided to retroactively nullify the votes of targeted staff members to change the outcome of the election for staff representatives. According to the suit, the voters targeted for disenfranchisement include Mitch Jeserich, Host of “Letters to Washington”, and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, the laid-off co-host of KPFA’s “The Morning Show.” The change cost KPFA DJ Lewis Sawyer a seat on the Local Station Board as a staff representative, tipping the factional balance of power for key votes.
The ICR faction has largely supported the layoffs at KPFA; ICR leader Tracy Rosenberg has been Pacifica’s most visible defender of the cuts; she had also proposed that Brian Edwards-Tiekert and Aimee Allison in particular be targeted for layoff in a secret meeting with Pacifica management in September. However, she and the ICR slate were poised to
become a minority faction on the KPFA Local Station Board — until the election results changed.
How did Pacifica disenfranchise the workers? Pacifica had printed a unique serial number on each of KPFA’s supposedly secret ballots, and maintained a list of which serial numbers had been issued to which voters. It then, according to the suit, used that list to determine how staff members like Jeserich and Edwards-Tiekert had voted, and nullified their votes. The move drew outrage from KPFA staff, who can face workplace retaliation for voting against an incumbent majority if they lose the guarantee of a secret ballot.
The lawsuit seeks to reverse Pacifica’s actions, which it says breach provisions in California state law that limit the ability of nonprofits like Pacifica to disenfranchise their own members. Jeserich, Edwards-Tiekert, and Sawyer are named as plaintiffs in the suit — the official complaint narrates a three-week long process they and their attorney went through trying to get Pacifica to voluntarily come into compliance with the law, so they could avoid involving the court. Now, their attorney is seeking an expedited hearing for a Temporary Restraining Order that can prevent Pacifica from seating its hand-picked election winners at this Saturday’s meeting of the KPFA Local Station Board.
The suit alleges that one month after KPFA’s preliminary vote count resulted in a resounding defeat for the currently-dominant “Independents for Community Radio” (ICR) faction of KPFA’s board, Pacifica decided to retroactively nullify the votes of targeted staff members to change the outcome of the election for staff representatives. According to the suit, the voters targeted for disenfranchisement include Mitch Jeserich, Host of “Letters to Washington”, and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, the laid-off co-host of KPFA’s “The Morning Show.” The change cost KPFA DJ Lewis Sawyer a seat on the Local Station Board as a staff representative, tipping the factional balance of power for key votes.
The ICR faction has largely supported the layoffs at KPFA; ICR leader Tracy Rosenberg has been Pacifica’s most visible defender of the cuts; she had also proposed that Brian Edwards-Tiekert and Aimee Allison in particular be targeted for layoff in a secret meeting with Pacifica management in September. However, she and the ICR slate were poised to
become a minority faction on the KPFA Local Station Board — until the election results changed.
How did Pacifica disenfranchise the workers? Pacifica had printed a unique serial number on each of KPFA’s supposedly secret ballots, and maintained a list of which serial numbers had been issued to which voters. It then, according to the suit, used that list to determine how staff members like Jeserich and Edwards-Tiekert had voted, and nullified their votes. The move drew outrage from KPFA staff, who can face workplace retaliation for voting against an incumbent majority if they lose the guarantee of a secret ballot.
The lawsuit seeks to reverse Pacifica’s actions, which it says breach provisions in California state law that limit the ability of nonprofits like Pacifica to disenfranchise their own members. Jeserich, Edwards-Tiekert, and Sawyer are named as plaintiffs in the suit — the official complaint narrates a three-week long process they and their attorney went through trying to get Pacifica to voluntarily come into compliance with the law, so they could avoid involving the court. Now, their attorney is seeking an expedited hearing for a Temporary Restraining Order that can prevent Pacifica from seating its hand-picked election winners at this Saturday’s meeting of the KPFA Local Station Board.
For more information:
http://kpfaworker.wordpress.com/2010/12/02...
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Only in some strange version of reality is "bizarre voter disenfranchisement scheme" an accurate description of "being disqualified because they broke the rules".
Getting on the radio and announcing the board member group one does not endorse is having secret meetings to assemble political hit lists to fire everyone in sight is ... not allowed.
Dhillon-Smith, a law firm founded and run by Harmeet Dhillon, the former Heritage Foundation "journalist", Co-Chair of Lawyers for Bush/Cheney 2004 and current Republican challenger to Tom Ammianno is not only suing to let the poisoned results stand, but also individually suing the election supervisor and one candidate - for unspecified monetary damages.
The suit was filed today, even though, after the election penalty imposed, Save KPFA still has a 13-12 majority on the 2011 local board.
Getting on the radio and announcing the board member group one does not endorse is having secret meetings to assemble political hit lists to fire everyone in sight is ... not allowed.
Dhillon-Smith, a law firm founded and run by Harmeet Dhillon, the former Heritage Foundation "journalist", Co-Chair of Lawyers for Bush/Cheney 2004 and current Republican challenger to Tom Ammianno is not only suing to let the poisoned results stand, but also individually suing the election supervisor and one candidate - for unspecified monetary damages.
The suit was filed today, even though, after the election penalty imposed, Save KPFA still has a 13-12 majority on the 2011 local board.
Pacifica Bylaws:
No Foundation or radio station management or staff (paid or unpaid) may use or permit the use of radio station air time to endorse, campaign or recommend in favor of or against any candidate(s) for election as a Listener-Sponsor Delegate....
Morning Show Sept 30 Thursday, Brian Edwards-Tiekert:
The fabrication:
07:12:14
Our staff union found out this week that three of KPFA representatives on the Pacifica National Board have drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts this Saturday.
The recommendation:
08:58:24
I just want to answer the caller who asked for names.
One of the three board members from what we know is one of the candidates in our elections.
I don’t think those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to the airwaves should ever use them to endorse or attack candidates by name so I won’t be doing that. The board elections do run until midnight tonight. Only way to vote if you haven’t put in the mail is to drop your ballot off.
We certainly need more good members at KPFA, if you are a KPFA member and haven’t voted yet.
Our address 1929 MLK Jr Way, we will accept ballots dropped in person til midnight tonight.
No Foundation or radio station management or staff (paid or unpaid) may use or permit the use of radio station air time to endorse, campaign or recommend in favor of or against any candidate(s) for election as a Listener-Sponsor Delegate....
Morning Show Sept 30 Thursday, Brian Edwards-Tiekert:
The fabrication:
07:12:14
Our staff union found out this week that three of KPFA representatives on the Pacifica National Board have drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts this Saturday.
The recommendation:
08:58:24
I just want to answer the caller who asked for names.
One of the three board members from what we know is one of the candidates in our elections.
I don’t think those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to the airwaves should ever use them to endorse or attack candidates by name so I won’t be doing that. The board elections do run until midnight tonight. Only way to vote if you haven’t put in the mail is to drop your ballot off.
We certainly need more good members at KPFA, if you are a KPFA member and haven’t voted yet.
Our address 1929 MLK Jr Way, we will accept ballots dropped in person til midnight tonight.
Note - KPFA posted a $575,000 operating deficit in 2009 and $565,000 in 2010*
Letters to Washington 9-29-2010
“We have just found out from our own labor union here at KPFA, the Communications Workers of America, that the KPFA , that the LSB’s representatives to our national board are proposing firing the majority of the staff members of three of our most popular shows, the Morning Show with Aimee Allison and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Against the Grain with C.S. Soong and Sasha Lilley and the news with Aileen Alfandary, Mark Mericle, John Hamilton and other reporters. “Yes we are in tough economic times and yes that requires this station to tighten its belt. Shows like the Morning Show that bring in half a million dollars a year help support this radio station. In fact, not only does it pay for the show itself, but it helps subsidize every other show at the station. Brian Edwards-Tiekert alone has gotten half of our subscribers to call in. “So eliminating the station’s most popular shows and popular programmers in order to balance the budget does not really add up. My name isn’t on the list yet but I’m going to talk about it until it is. “Now programmers from the Morning Show, evening news, and Against the Grain respect this air so much, think it is so sacred that they are not going to talk about their proposed firings on the air. So I, as a union member, am going to speak in defense of them. “I want to dedicate this hour of this show to those shows and raise funds for them and send a strong message to our board that firing the
programmers who are the hardest working people I know is not the will of the people listening to this show. “So today this is not about Letters but about worker solidarity, the press, the fourth estate of our constitution. I am hoping you will send a message to our board that may not be the will of our listenership. They meet tonight so we want to show our support by raising this money.
Against The Grain 9-29-2010
"510.848-5732 or 1.800.439-5732. So much in this film, so much information and perspective and expert knowledge. Five-ten, 848-5732. One, 800.439-5732. A great time to pledge your support to, eh, to, to KPFA, to "Against The Grain.". And, and
I'm gonna tell you something. It's not a habit to go into internal station politics, but our Union informed us that several Members of KPFA's Local Station Board, who also happen to sit on the Pacifica National Board, that's the governing Board of the Pacifica Foundation, which is KPFA's governing body, are calling for this program, "Against The Grain," "The KPFA Morning Show," and the "Evening News," to be cut back dramatically and to have a number of their staffers fired.
And, um, and one of the programmers slated for termination under this plan, pushed, again, by three Members of KPFA's Local Board [sic] happens to be Sasha Lilley. The list also includes Aimee Allison, and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, and Christopher Martinez, a news reporter, and
Max Pringle, a news reporter, and several others. And if you want more information about that, you can go to kpfaworker.org. kpfaworker, one word, dot--o-r-g. But, and you could also make your voice heard to the Pacifica National Board if you wanna tell them what you think of that plan. In the meantime, we have four minutes left for you to send a message to us and to KPFA because, their, the, the, the argument, the, the ostensible argument that their making, uh, or
that we think they're making is a financial crisis at KPFA. Financial, the financial strength of KPFA depends on you. The financial strength of KPFA after this fund drive may determine if a
plan like that is implemented or not. Therefore, we are asking you to call, to show your support. We, uh, I don't, I don't wanna say goodbye to Sasha. I don't wanna say goodbye to any of the programmers on this list prepared, uh, uh, proposed on this plan. I want KPFA to stay strong. Do you want KPFA to stay strong? There's one way for you to do it right now: five-ten, 848-5732. Toll-free: One, 800.439-5732. There is a crisis looming at this station. And, uh,
you know, if you've listened to me over the years, I'm, I'm not an alarmist. I'm, I'm not someone who comes on the air and tells you, uh, 'my job is on the line.' Or, 'the station is on the line.'. I'm, I'm telling you because we know. The Union has told us. Our KPFA Union has told us that numerous programmers and numerous staffers, including Sasha, are under threat. And
we want to protect this station from that threat. And if you want to address that threat, you can go to kpfaworker-dot-org. You can send a message there to the Pacifica National Board about what you think of that proposed plan and you can also give us a call. You can tell us
that you care about this station, you care about Sasha, you care about the other programmers on that I just mentioned and that you want the station to be healthy and strong and you don't want a plan like that to be implemented. Five-ten, 848-5732. That's the way you tell usright now that you care about what we're doing and you care about the strength of this station. One, 800.439-5732. I haven't really talked about the thank-you gift because something much bigger is at stake. If you want the thank-you gift, that's yours for a $120 pledge. Or a $170 pledge by, by pledging to, for, both, the book, Dirt, and the film, "Dirt" the movie. But this is so big and this is so important. And if it's important to you and if you care about it and you wanna make a statement right now and, not just about "Against The Grain," but if you wanna keep "The Morning Show" healthy and alive and intact. If you wanna keep "The KPFA Evening News" alive and intact,
this is your chance to speak up and to say your piece, and to express your financial support to keep us strong. Five-ten, 848-5732. One, 800.439-KPFA. Sasha, we've got 90 minutes lef-, 90 minutes? I wish. Or the listeners don't wish. 90 seconds left to talk to listeners, to
tell them that their money is doubled, to tell them to support KPFA.
Morning Show 9-30-2010
Before we get started with today program I want to take a minute to talk to you about what is happening at your radio station right now. This is going to be difficult. In the seven years that I
have worked for KPFA, I have never brought any internal conflict to KPFA air waves, but I have also always tried to be forthright particularly during our fundraising with you our listeners about KPFA’s financial situation, and how that impact what you hear on the air. Right now the only way I can tell you about what’s happening financially is to tell you about what’s happening internally. Our staff union found out this week that three of KPFA representatives on the Pacifica National Board have drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts this Saturday. From what we understand they are proposing to cut the last two paid reporters in the KPFA’s News Department, Christopher Martinez and Max Pringle. They are proposing to cut our evening news anchor John Hamilton. They are proposing to cut our award winning Evening Newscast from one hour to half an hour without enough staff to produce even those thirty minutes. They would like to fire Sasha Lilley the co-host of Against the Grain. Their list includes Executive Producer of the Morning Show, Laura Prives. It includes Aimee Allison and it includes me. I am not telling you this to protect my job. In fact by telling you this on the air I am
probably putting my job at greater risk, but I am telling you this because I am worried about KPFA. Against the Grain is one of the smartest most radical programs we put on the air. Slash it and I think KPFA loses lots of its depth. KPFA’s award winning news department is one of the last places in broadcasting doing daily reporting on everything that happens from city hall to the state capital. If you cut it I think we become exactly what we criticize mainstream broadcasters for being, a bunch of yakking heads who have plenty of opinions but don’t do any original journalism.
As for the Morning Show I don’t have to tell you what we do on the air because clearly if you have your radio on right now you are a listener. I can tell you that we raise, during these fund drives, about three times what we cost. And the only reason KPFA is able to finance some of its more resource intensive operations like the stations gems of the news department is because of the surpluses we generate in the morning. And I am worried that if we decimate the Morning Show the rest of KPFA follows. The KPFA staff have asked these Board members to meet with us, two declined one did not bothered to write back. So I am asking you to demonstrate what the Morning Show, Against the Grain, and the News are worth to you, by pledging as generously as you can at 1-800- 439-5732. We have about eight volunteers in our phone room right now. Call one. Tell them you don’t want any thank you gift at all and you are pledging in solidarity with the News, Against the Grain, and the Morning Show at 1-800-439-5732.
Now I can guess some of you are thinking, Brian, how can you ask for money for the place that maybe might cut your job. I have two answers, first and foremost KPFA is way bigger than any of
us with or without me I think this country needs KPFA and if KPFA is going to survive KPFA needs money 1-800-439-5732. Second, if you like the work that Aimee and I do on the Morning Show and I recognize that we are new voice here and we have some very big shoes to fill, then
your best bet for keeping us here is to show that there is support out there to keep going by calling 1-800-439-5732. Third, there are people on KPFA and Pacifica Board who support what we do. There are managerswho stick up for us, and they need to know that you are with them and
the best way for you to show that right now is by pledging as generously as you can at 1-800-439-5732. It looks like phone lines maybe full; we have limited number of volunteers right now. You can pledge on line at kpfa.org. You can even send a message with your pledge if you pledge on line and if we get the message in time we will read it when we thank you later
in the broadcast that message also becomes a part of the permanent record of this fund drive, so that’s online at kpfa.org or on the phones when couple more lines open ens up at 1-800-439-5732. I am Brian Edward-Tiekert I am sorry to take so much of your time with such
grim news I am sorry that my voice is trembling a little bit. It is humbling to see that our phone lines have filled so fast. If you need to remember the number it is Hay KPFA we will move on now
with what we had planned for the show.
Ah, earlier this hour we announced that we had found out that some of our board members are pushing a list of people they would like cut from the station’s payroll. That includes every person working in our News Department but one, Sasha Lilley of Against the Grain and everybody but one producer on the Morning Show, including Aimee Allison and myself. We asked for your call of support. We are still asking you for support this radio station as generously as you can. Ah, I went in to grab a few callswhen we were short handed. It was amazing talking to those of you who
called. I can’t talk about too much more or I will get choked up and won’t be able to do my interview with Rick Wolf in few minutes so I am just going to ask you to call 1-800-439-5732 that’s 1-800-Hey KPFA or on line at kpfa.org. Particularly if phone lines fill up pledge on
line at kpfa.org. You can send us a comment with your pledge. Sherry Degy pledged from HMB CA she write I don’t want the Pacifica Board to fire any of the journalists or producerswho are doing an exceedingly fine job of discovering and bringing the truth as exists around the world I am so grateful for the Morning Show, I listen to you guys every day Blessings and thanks to all of
you. Judith Sheer who is one of our volunteers here at KPFA writes News Room volunteers like me work at KPFA when we can and don’t when we have other projects to make money. Thanks to professionals at KPFA who have done so much to share their skills. Thank you Judith for pledging
online I know money is tight for you right now. That’s online at kpfa.org or on the phones at 1- 800-439-5732. Chris Shilt, my partner pledged from Berkeley. She writes, I am a student I do not have much money but I depend on the Evening News, Against the Grain and the Morning Show for alternative smart coverage and analysis of today’s news. The pledge is to keep these shows on the air. I love you sweetie 1-800-439-5732. 1-800-Hey KPFA online at kpfa.org Aimee you better take over before I get the microphone wet.
Today is really about keeping the whole radio station and everyone here from the Pacifica National Board down to those of us on the mike everyday accountable to the community. We are here to serve you, and to serve democracy by holding people accountable and telling
you news you wouldn’t get at other places that is our essential mission. T I really appreciate so much support we got this morning to raise money and also to send a message to those members of National Board who are who think the solution to this economic crisis is by ticking off the specific list of people to get rid of at local level which would decimate the programming and
fundraising capacity of this station. 1-800-439-732.
Before we move in because new people have joined us in course of the show. I want to repeat the news that we announced at the beginning of the show. Our staff union here at KPFA found out this week that three of the KPFA’s representatives on the Pacifica national board Have
drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts Saturday. From what we understand they are proposing to cut the last two paid reporters in the KPFA’s News
Department, Christopher Martinez and Max Pringle. They are proposing to cut our Evening News anchor, John Hamilton. They are proposing to cut our award winning evening news cast from one hour to half an hour without as far as we can tell enough staff to even produce 30min worth
of news. They would like to fire Sasha Lilley the co-host of Against the Grain. The list includes our executive producer on the Morning Show, Laura Previs, it includes Aimee Allison and it includes me. I am not telling you this to protect my job. I am probably putting my job at risk by telling you this on the air, but I have always tried to be forthright with our listeners about the financial situation particularly during our fund drives so that is what I am doing. And I am worried, and like I will be fine no matter what happens I am worried about KPFA. I think Against the Grain is one of the smartest most radical programs that we put on the air. It is first place here that put Rick Wolf on the air couple of years ago. KPFA’s award winning News Department is one of the last places in broadcasting doing daily reporting, covering what is happening in city halls, covering what’s happening in the state capitol from on the ground. Cut it and we are exactly what we criticize the main stream broadcasters for being. We are bunch of yakking heads who have plenty of opinions but don’t do any original journalism. As for the Morning Show I don’t need to tell you what we do on the air. Clearly if you have your radio on right now you are a listener. I should tell you we raise about three times what we cost at least during these fund drives. And the only reason KPFA is able to finance some of its resource intensive operations like among other things its gem of news department is because of the surpluses we generate in the morning.
And if we decimate the Morning Show I am afraid that much of rest of KPFA follows. KPFA staff has asked these three board members to meet with us. Two declined. One did not write back.
I want to start the next segment momentarily. I just want to say KPFA is bigger than any of us. And with or without me I think that it is very important that this radio station survive. I think it is very important that you support it. KPFA needs money to survive. I just want to encourage you to think where your priorities are in time of economic crisis. I think this is one of the most important times to have KPFA on the air. There are people on the board that support our work, there are
managers that stand up for us, they need to know that listeners are with them.
I spoke longer than I meant to. Luckily, I did not choke up like I did last hour.
We share this very difficult news that there are some national board members who are looking at cutting particular people, myself and Brian included. In a way that doesn’t make any sense.
I just want to answer the caller who asked for names. One of the three board members from what we know is one of the candidates in our elections. I don’t think those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to the airwaves should ever use them to endorse or attack candidates by name so I won’t be doing that. The board elections do run until midnight tonight. Only way to vote if you haven’t put in the mail is to drop your ballot off. We certainly need more good members at KPFA, if you are a KPFA member and haven’t voted yet. Our address 1929 MLK Jr Way, we will accept ballots dropped in person til midnight tonight.
Letters to Washington 9-30-2010
“Our labor union here at KPFA has informed us that our board is proposing to decimate 3 of our most popular shows – the morning show, against the Grain and the Evening News by firing the majority of the staff on those shows. And it is the union that has told us that the word firing would be the correct word to use here. so I am asking for our listener support again for these show
Again it is the KPFA 2010 Fall Fund Drive … and again this comes as our labor union has informed us that our board is proposing to decimate 3 of KPFA’s most popular shows – The Morning Show with Amy Allison and Brian Edwards Tiekert, Against the Grain with Sasha Lilley and CS Soong, and the Evening News with Aileen Alfandary and Mark Mericle by firing a majority of the staff that
works on these shows so what we’re asking now, on Letters to Washingon, and my name is not yet on this list, which the union calls a hit list, a political hit list, but I’m going to keep talking about
it until it is …and again this is the KPFA 2010 Fund Fall Drive … again yesterday so many of you called and supported not just Letters to Washington but The Morning Show, supported Against the Grain and the Evening News, these are 3 shows that which we have found …, our union, Communication Workers of America, has found and informed us tha tis proposing to cut most of the staff from these 3 shows, which would really decimate them. These are 3 of our most popular shows; these are shows that really help bring in the funds and it would seem almost unbelievable to me, I don’t know what it would mean for the rest of the station. The Morning Show, by itself, subsidizes everything else here that happens so we’re trying to send a message to the Board as well that, perhaps we’re not vilianizing, we’re not gonna demonize anyone, we just want to say perhaps this isn’t the best idea that for sure but we don’t think we do that by gutting the shows that really keep this radio station operating…
Letters to Washington 9-29-2010
“We have just found out from our own labor union here at KPFA, the Communications Workers of America, that the KPFA , that the LSB’s representatives to our national board are proposing firing the majority of the staff members of three of our most popular shows, the Morning Show with Aimee Allison and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Against the Grain with C.S. Soong and Sasha Lilley and the news with Aileen Alfandary, Mark Mericle, John Hamilton and other reporters. “Yes we are in tough economic times and yes that requires this station to tighten its belt. Shows like the Morning Show that bring in half a million dollars a year help support this radio station. In fact, not only does it pay for the show itself, but it helps subsidize every other show at the station. Brian Edwards-Tiekert alone has gotten half of our subscribers to call in. “So eliminating the station’s most popular shows and popular programmers in order to balance the budget does not really add up. My name isn’t on the list yet but I’m going to talk about it until it is. “Now programmers from the Morning Show, evening news, and Against the Grain respect this air so much, think it is so sacred that they are not going to talk about their proposed firings on the air. So I, as a union member, am going to speak in defense of them. “I want to dedicate this hour of this show to those shows and raise funds for them and send a strong message to our board that firing the
programmers who are the hardest working people I know is not the will of the people listening to this show. “So today this is not about Letters but about worker solidarity, the press, the fourth estate of our constitution. I am hoping you will send a message to our board that may not be the will of our listenership. They meet tonight so we want to show our support by raising this money.
Against The Grain 9-29-2010
"510.848-5732 or 1.800.439-5732. So much in this film, so much information and perspective and expert knowledge. Five-ten, 848-5732. One, 800.439-5732. A great time to pledge your support to, eh, to, to KPFA, to "Against The Grain.". And, and
I'm gonna tell you something. It's not a habit to go into internal station politics, but our Union informed us that several Members of KPFA's Local Station Board, who also happen to sit on the Pacifica National Board, that's the governing Board of the Pacifica Foundation, which is KPFA's governing body, are calling for this program, "Against The Grain," "The KPFA Morning Show," and the "Evening News," to be cut back dramatically and to have a number of their staffers fired.
And, um, and one of the programmers slated for termination under this plan, pushed, again, by three Members of KPFA's Local Board [sic] happens to be Sasha Lilley. The list also includes Aimee Allison, and Brian Edwards-Tiekert, and Christopher Martinez, a news reporter, and
Max Pringle, a news reporter, and several others. And if you want more information about that, you can go to kpfaworker.org. kpfaworker, one word, dot--o-r-g. But, and you could also make your voice heard to the Pacifica National Board if you wanna tell them what you think of that plan. In the meantime, we have four minutes left for you to send a message to us and to KPFA because, their, the, the, the argument, the, the ostensible argument that their making, uh, or
that we think they're making is a financial crisis at KPFA. Financial, the financial strength of KPFA depends on you. The financial strength of KPFA after this fund drive may determine if a
plan like that is implemented or not. Therefore, we are asking you to call, to show your support. We, uh, I don't, I don't wanna say goodbye to Sasha. I don't wanna say goodbye to any of the programmers on this list prepared, uh, uh, proposed on this plan. I want KPFA to stay strong. Do you want KPFA to stay strong? There's one way for you to do it right now: five-ten, 848-5732. Toll-free: One, 800.439-5732. There is a crisis looming at this station. And, uh,
you know, if you've listened to me over the years, I'm, I'm not an alarmist. I'm, I'm not someone who comes on the air and tells you, uh, 'my job is on the line.' Or, 'the station is on the line.'. I'm, I'm telling you because we know. The Union has told us. Our KPFA Union has told us that numerous programmers and numerous staffers, including Sasha, are under threat. And
we want to protect this station from that threat. And if you want to address that threat, you can go to kpfaworker-dot-org. You can send a message there to the Pacifica National Board about what you think of that proposed plan and you can also give us a call. You can tell us
that you care about this station, you care about Sasha, you care about the other programmers on that I just mentioned and that you want the station to be healthy and strong and you don't want a plan like that to be implemented. Five-ten, 848-5732. That's the way you tell usright now that you care about what we're doing and you care about the strength of this station. One, 800.439-5732. I haven't really talked about the thank-you gift because something much bigger is at stake. If you want the thank-you gift, that's yours for a $120 pledge. Or a $170 pledge by, by pledging to, for, both, the book, Dirt, and the film, "Dirt" the movie. But this is so big and this is so important. And if it's important to you and if you care about it and you wanna make a statement right now and, not just about "Against The Grain," but if you wanna keep "The Morning Show" healthy and alive and intact. If you wanna keep "The KPFA Evening News" alive and intact,
this is your chance to speak up and to say your piece, and to express your financial support to keep us strong. Five-ten, 848-5732. One, 800.439-KPFA. Sasha, we've got 90 minutes lef-, 90 minutes? I wish. Or the listeners don't wish. 90 seconds left to talk to listeners, to
tell them that their money is doubled, to tell them to support KPFA.
Morning Show 9-30-2010
Before we get started with today program I want to take a minute to talk to you about what is happening at your radio station right now. This is going to be difficult. In the seven years that I
have worked for KPFA, I have never brought any internal conflict to KPFA air waves, but I have also always tried to be forthright particularly during our fundraising with you our listeners about KPFA’s financial situation, and how that impact what you hear on the air. Right now the only way I can tell you about what’s happening financially is to tell you about what’s happening internally. Our staff union found out this week that three of KPFA representatives on the Pacifica National Board have drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts this Saturday. From what we understand they are proposing to cut the last two paid reporters in the KPFA’s News Department, Christopher Martinez and Max Pringle. They are proposing to cut our evening news anchor John Hamilton. They are proposing to cut our award winning Evening Newscast from one hour to half an hour without enough staff to produce even those thirty minutes. They would like to fire Sasha Lilley the co-host of Against the Grain. Their list includes Executive Producer of the Morning Show, Laura Prives. It includes Aimee Allison and it includes me. I am not telling you this to protect my job. In fact by telling you this on the air I am
probably putting my job at greater risk, but I am telling you this because I am worried about KPFA. Against the Grain is one of the smartest most radical programs we put on the air. Slash it and I think KPFA loses lots of its depth. KPFA’s award winning news department is one of the last places in broadcasting doing daily reporting on everything that happens from city hall to the state capital. If you cut it I think we become exactly what we criticize mainstream broadcasters for being, a bunch of yakking heads who have plenty of opinions but don’t do any original journalism.
As for the Morning Show I don’t have to tell you what we do on the air because clearly if you have your radio on right now you are a listener. I can tell you that we raise, during these fund drives, about three times what we cost. And the only reason KPFA is able to finance some of its more resource intensive operations like the stations gems of the news department is because of the surpluses we generate in the morning. And I am worried that if we decimate the Morning Show the rest of KPFA follows. The KPFA staff have asked these Board members to meet with us, two declined one did not bothered to write back. So I am asking you to demonstrate what the Morning Show, Against the Grain, and the News are worth to you, by pledging as generously as you can at 1-800- 439-5732. We have about eight volunteers in our phone room right now. Call one. Tell them you don’t want any thank you gift at all and you are pledging in solidarity with the News, Against the Grain, and the Morning Show at 1-800-439-5732.
Now I can guess some of you are thinking, Brian, how can you ask for money for the place that maybe might cut your job. I have two answers, first and foremost KPFA is way bigger than any of
us with or without me I think this country needs KPFA and if KPFA is going to survive KPFA needs money 1-800-439-5732. Second, if you like the work that Aimee and I do on the Morning Show and I recognize that we are new voice here and we have some very big shoes to fill, then
your best bet for keeping us here is to show that there is support out there to keep going by calling 1-800-439-5732. Third, there are people on KPFA and Pacifica Board who support what we do. There are managerswho stick up for us, and they need to know that you are with them and
the best way for you to show that right now is by pledging as generously as you can at 1-800-439-5732. It looks like phone lines maybe full; we have limited number of volunteers right now. You can pledge on line at kpfa.org. You can even send a message with your pledge if you pledge on line and if we get the message in time we will read it when we thank you later
in the broadcast that message also becomes a part of the permanent record of this fund drive, so that’s online at kpfa.org or on the phones when couple more lines open ens up at 1-800-439-5732. I am Brian Edward-Tiekert I am sorry to take so much of your time with such
grim news I am sorry that my voice is trembling a little bit. It is humbling to see that our phone lines have filled so fast. If you need to remember the number it is Hay KPFA we will move on now
with what we had planned for the show.
Ah, earlier this hour we announced that we had found out that some of our board members are pushing a list of people they would like cut from the station’s payroll. That includes every person working in our News Department but one, Sasha Lilley of Against the Grain and everybody but one producer on the Morning Show, including Aimee Allison and myself. We asked for your call of support. We are still asking you for support this radio station as generously as you can. Ah, I went in to grab a few callswhen we were short handed. It was amazing talking to those of you who
called. I can’t talk about too much more or I will get choked up and won’t be able to do my interview with Rick Wolf in few minutes so I am just going to ask you to call 1-800-439-5732 that’s 1-800-Hey KPFA or on line at kpfa.org. Particularly if phone lines fill up pledge on
line at kpfa.org. You can send us a comment with your pledge. Sherry Degy pledged from HMB CA she write I don’t want the Pacifica Board to fire any of the journalists or producerswho are doing an exceedingly fine job of discovering and bringing the truth as exists around the world I am so grateful for the Morning Show, I listen to you guys every day Blessings and thanks to all of
you. Judith Sheer who is one of our volunteers here at KPFA writes News Room volunteers like me work at KPFA when we can and don’t when we have other projects to make money. Thanks to professionals at KPFA who have done so much to share their skills. Thank you Judith for pledging
online I know money is tight for you right now. That’s online at kpfa.org or on the phones at 1- 800-439-5732. Chris Shilt, my partner pledged from Berkeley. She writes, I am a student I do not have much money but I depend on the Evening News, Against the Grain and the Morning Show for alternative smart coverage and analysis of today’s news. The pledge is to keep these shows on the air. I love you sweetie 1-800-439-5732. 1-800-Hey KPFA online at kpfa.org Aimee you better take over before I get the microphone wet.
Today is really about keeping the whole radio station and everyone here from the Pacifica National Board down to those of us on the mike everyday accountable to the community. We are here to serve you, and to serve democracy by holding people accountable and telling
you news you wouldn’t get at other places that is our essential mission. T I really appreciate so much support we got this morning to raise money and also to send a message to those members of National Board who are who think the solution to this economic crisis is by ticking off the specific list of people to get rid of at local level which would decimate the programming and
fundraising capacity of this station. 1-800-439-732.
Before we move in because new people have joined us in course of the show. I want to repeat the news that we announced at the beginning of the show. Our staff union here at KPFA found out this week that three of the KPFA’s representatives on the Pacifica national board Have
drawn up a list of workers that they are proposing to fire in the fiscal year that starts Saturday. From what we understand they are proposing to cut the last two paid reporters in the KPFA’s News
Department, Christopher Martinez and Max Pringle. They are proposing to cut our Evening News anchor, John Hamilton. They are proposing to cut our award winning evening news cast from one hour to half an hour without as far as we can tell enough staff to even produce 30min worth
of news. They would like to fire Sasha Lilley the co-host of Against the Grain. The list includes our executive producer on the Morning Show, Laura Previs, it includes Aimee Allison and it includes me. I am not telling you this to protect my job. I am probably putting my job at risk by telling you this on the air, but I have always tried to be forthright with our listeners about the financial situation particularly during our fund drives so that is what I am doing. And I am worried, and like I will be fine no matter what happens I am worried about KPFA. I think Against the Grain is one of the smartest most radical programs that we put on the air. It is first place here that put Rick Wolf on the air couple of years ago. KPFA’s award winning News Department is one of the last places in broadcasting doing daily reporting, covering what is happening in city halls, covering what’s happening in the state capitol from on the ground. Cut it and we are exactly what we criticize the main stream broadcasters for being. We are bunch of yakking heads who have plenty of opinions but don’t do any original journalism. As for the Morning Show I don’t need to tell you what we do on the air. Clearly if you have your radio on right now you are a listener. I should tell you we raise about three times what we cost at least during these fund drives. And the only reason KPFA is able to finance some of its resource intensive operations like among other things its gem of news department is because of the surpluses we generate in the morning.
And if we decimate the Morning Show I am afraid that much of rest of KPFA follows. KPFA staff has asked these three board members to meet with us. Two declined. One did not write back.
I want to start the next segment momentarily. I just want to say KPFA is bigger than any of us. And with or without me I think that it is very important that this radio station survive. I think it is very important that you support it. KPFA needs money to survive. I just want to encourage you to think where your priorities are in time of economic crisis. I think this is one of the most important times to have KPFA on the air. There are people on the board that support our work, there are
managers that stand up for us, they need to know that listeners are with them.
I spoke longer than I meant to. Luckily, I did not choke up like I did last hour.
We share this very difficult news that there are some national board members who are looking at cutting particular people, myself and Brian included. In a way that doesn’t make any sense.
I just want to answer the caller who asked for names. One of the three board members from what we know is one of the candidates in our elections. I don’t think those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to the airwaves should ever use them to endorse or attack candidates by name so I won’t be doing that. The board elections do run until midnight tonight. Only way to vote if you haven’t put in the mail is to drop your ballot off. We certainly need more good members at KPFA, if you are a KPFA member and haven’t voted yet. Our address 1929 MLK Jr Way, we will accept ballots dropped in person til midnight tonight.
Letters to Washington 9-30-2010
“Our labor union here at KPFA has informed us that our board is proposing to decimate 3 of our most popular shows – the morning show, against the Grain and the Evening News by firing the majority of the staff on those shows. And it is the union that has told us that the word firing would be the correct word to use here. so I am asking for our listener support again for these show
Again it is the KPFA 2010 Fall Fund Drive … and again this comes as our labor union has informed us that our board is proposing to decimate 3 of KPFA’s most popular shows – The Morning Show with Amy Allison and Brian Edwards Tiekert, Against the Grain with Sasha Lilley and CS Soong, and the Evening News with Aileen Alfandary and Mark Mericle by firing a majority of the staff that
works on these shows so what we’re asking now, on Letters to Washingon, and my name is not yet on this list, which the union calls a hit list, a political hit list, but I’m going to keep talking about
it until it is …and again this is the KPFA 2010 Fund Fall Drive … again yesterday so many of you called and supported not just Letters to Washington but The Morning Show, supported Against the Grain and the Evening News, these are 3 shows that which we have found …, our union, Communication Workers of America, has found and informed us tha tis proposing to cut most of the staff from these 3 shows, which would really decimate them. These are 3 of our most popular shows; these are shows that really help bring in the funds and it would seem almost unbelievable to me, I don’t know what it would mean for the rest of the station. The Morning Show, by itself, subsidizes everything else here that happens so we’re trying to send a message to the Board as well that, perhaps we’re not vilianizing, we’re not gonna demonize anyone, we just want to say perhaps this isn’t the best idea that for sure but we don’t think we do that by gutting the shows that really keep this radio station operating…
Dear KPFA,
Your infighting is astounding. Nobody wants to donate to a station where people can't get along. If you spent the time it takes to fight amongst yourselves to produce stories, I think your funding would be a bit better. Instead, it just sounds like whiny activists fighting over the last scraps on the table.
Your infighting is astounding. Nobody wants to donate to a station where people can't get along. If you spent the time it takes to fight amongst yourselves to produce stories, I think your funding would be a bit better. Instead, it just sounds like whiny activists fighting over the last scraps on the table.
---You can help by not getting caught up in the disinformation campaign that claims that the layoffs are union busting political purges. The management laid off two people.
---You can help KPFA get through these hard times by doubling your contribution this year, and asking everyone you know to do the same.
---Pacifica's Executive Director Arlene Englehardt is responsible for the whole Network and this includes wresting KPFA from its previous uncontrolled spending and bad management.
---We should thank and support the Executive Director Arlene Engelhardt and the Chief Financial Officer Lavarn Williams for tirelessly working to put KPFA and Pacifica back on a solid financial footing, and being so steadfast in face of unsubstantiated and baseless charges.
---We need to bridge the divide and all work together to not only strengthen the station so that it can continue as a healthy, vibrant fertile ground for information, inquiry, and engagement but also empower those who are in a position to provide the over 100 affiliated community stations across the country with the progressive programming that we so depend upon to be the informed citizens that are the hope of a decent society -- programs such as Democracy Now!, Free Speech Radio News, Letters To Washington, Flashpoints, Uprising, and many others that are produced at the various Pacifica stations.
---Also read what Carol Spooner, who really did save KPFA in 1999, has to say at www.supportkpfa.org .
Yesterday the Judge ordered that neither Lewis Sawyer or Frank Sterling can be seated at the Local Station Board meeting tommorrow December 4 . There will be a hearing where the Judge will announce his ruling on the matter on December 15 .
"Pacifica had printed a unique serial number on each of KPFA’s supposedly secret ballots, and maintained a list of which serial numbers had been issued to which voters. It then, according to the suit, used that list to determine how staff members like Jeserich and Edwards-Tiekert had voted, and nullified their votes."
The numbering of ballots was not new and not a secret. It may be problematic, but I'm not aware of any objections to it by the 'SaveKPFA'/entrenched staff faction previous to this incident.
But what's more important is that there's no evidence that 'Pacifica', presumably meaning the National Election Supervisor (NES), "used that list to determine how staff members like Jeserich and Edwards-Tiekert had voted". Rather, The three* offending staff members had their ballots disqualified and the votes were recounted without those ballots. It was the least the NES could do to compensate for the outrageous misuse of airtime for factional purposes.
* I don't know yet who was the third staff member to have their ballot disqualified -- that person didn't join E.-T.'s and Jeserich's right-wing lawsuit -- but there were many deserving candidates.
The numbering of ballots was not new and not a secret. It may be problematic, but I'm not aware of any objections to it by the 'SaveKPFA'/entrenched staff faction previous to this incident.
But what's more important is that there's no evidence that 'Pacifica', presumably meaning the National Election Supervisor (NES), "used that list to determine how staff members like Jeserich and Edwards-Tiekert had voted". Rather, The three* offending staff members had their ballots disqualified and the votes were recounted without those ballots. It was the least the NES could do to compensate for the outrageous misuse of airtime for factional purposes.
* I don't know yet who was the third staff member to have their ballot disqualified -- that person didn't join E.-T.'s and Jeserich's right-wing lawsuit -- but there were many deserving candidates.
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