TO: PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY BROADCASTERS FROM: LYN GERRY, AUTHOR OF REPORT ON UNION BUSTING AT PACIFICA RADIO----July 4, 1996 RE: RESPONSE TO PACIFICA DENIAL OF JULY 2, 1996 Pat Scott (Executive Director of the Pacifica Foundation) wrote: AMERICAN CONSULTING GROUP WAS NEVER HIRED TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS AT ANY PACIFICA STATION. Ms. Scott has already admitted in articles published in "Current" magazine (6/17/96) and the East Bay Express (6/21/96) that this consulting firm, whose name currently appears on the AFl-CIO's roster of union busters, was hired by the Pacifica foundation. Futhermore, an American Consulting Group (ACG) consultant has been present at 16 contract negotiating sessions at its Los Angeles station, KPFK-FM. ACG has also represented Pacifica in a charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board by the collective bargaining unit at KPFK-FM. Workers at that station, as well as KPFA-FM (Berkeley) and WBAI-FM (New York) are represented by The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). Ms. Scott decribes : DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ACROSS THE BARGAINING TABLE The three Pacifica stations' long-standing contracts were terminated by Pacifica management. KPFK and WBAI are currently in negotiations. Ms. Scott claims Pacifica management is bargaining in good faith. This is not the opinion of the unions. Press releases by the unions at WBAI and KPFA have made this plain. The unions are dissatisfied with Pacifica's proposed contract, authored by ACG, which would effectively decertify the unions by excluding most of the personnel from membership. Scott also writes: LATELY THEY HAVE BEEN USING A SIX YEAR OLD BROCHURE ON A FIRM THAT HAS BEEN ADVISING US ON LABOR LAW...... She is now admitting to being advised by ACG, who put out the document she is referring to; this, as well as other internal ACG documents, US government documents and Labor Union documents in my possession make clear ACG is in the business of anti-union activity. ACG's own material clearly advertises that fact to potential clients. Ms. Scott attempts to (falsely) imply ACG is not currently involved in anti-union persuader activity. ACG has campaigns of this nature currently in progress. Regarding the "excellent benefits" she details for the employees at KPFA, these are the ones guaranteed by the old contract she is striving to terminate there. It remains in effect there only because management failed to provide the legally required notice of termination. KPFA union members thus retained their favorable contract for another year. The new proposed contract curtails many of the benefits she details. Ms. Scott attempts to trivialize the critics ranged against what she terms "positive changes." This opposition is gaining force and volume, in spite of gag orders and attempts to intimidate critics. Ms. Scott is so adverse to criticism, a new personnel handbook put out under her direction makes discussing labor disputes publicly grounds for termination. Critics are responding to Ms. Scott's attempt to change the very nature of the Pacifica Foundation, and furthermore shrouding its decision making processess in secrecy. Open meeting laws mandated by the CPB have been violated by the Scott administration. Detailed reports and documents relating to the above discussed issues are available via e-mail. I urge you to acquaint yourself with them. Please request material from: redlyn@ix.netcom.com Lyn Gerry former staff member and UE shop steward at KPFK-FM