KOOP-FM Takes A Stand In Support Of Pacifica Workers
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Date sent: Tue, 26 Aug 1997
C.P. Odekirk<tta@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: KOOP's unofficial press release

Please forward this as far and wide as possible.

KOOP Radio in Austin, Texas takes a stand in support of workers at Pacifica stations in their struggle for a fair and equitable union contract

On August 25th the Board of Trustees of KOOP Radio voted to support the workers at Pacifica’s member stations WBAI, KPFK, and KPFA in their fight for a fair and equitable union contract.

We believe that our mission as a community radio station committed to serving and supporting those disadvantaged by the power structures in our society, including workers, requires us to speak out against injustice wherever we find it. And in this case, as fellow members of the public broadcasting community, we have a special obligation to do so if we are to remain true to our ideals and credible to those who support us.

KOOP Radio is especially concerned with Pacifica’s:

1)attempts to remove union protection from unpaid staff at WBAI-FM and KPFA-FM and certain paid staff at all stations.

2) expenditures of the public's money to retain professional union-busting consultants, and attempts to keep knowledge of these expenditures from the public through closed meetings and spin control.

3) disparagement of the contributions and abilities of unpaid workers and community volunteers in radio broadcast operations.

4) enforcement of gag orders designed to keep the public in ignorance.

5) union contract provisions and other personnel policies which threaten workers with termination for revealing internal station matters to the public in any venue.

6) harassment, intimidation and purges of those who are defending the rights of workers within Pacifica to collective bargaining and participation in decision-making or attempting to inform the public of other controversial policies and practices being instituted by the management.

The definition of “support” in terms of KOOP’s actions mean that KOOP will:

1) continue to support individual programmers who broadcast information on the struggles of the UE, CWA, FreePacifica, and it’s paid and unpaid staff in their fight for a fair and equitable union contract.

2) broadcast information on the struggles of the UE, CWA, FreePacifica, and it’s paid and unpaid staff in their fight for a fair and equitable union contract

3) and seek advise from the UE, CWA, and FreePacifica in our actions regarding the struggles of these groups in obtaining their goals

For more information contact KOOP’s Community Board at (512)441-4701

KOOP's Board of Trustees unanimously voted this following resolution into policy:

KOOP, in keeping with our Mission Statement of serving and promoting among others, working people, hearby supports the United Electrical Workers (UE), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), FreePacifica, and the paid and unpaid staff at the Pacifica stations WBAI, KPFK, and KPFA in their struggle for a fair and equitable union contract with the Pacifica Foundation.

The definition of “support” in terms of KOOP’s actions mean that KOOP will:

1. continue to air an updated Pacifica disclaimer before and/or after the Pacifica Network News

2. continue to support individual programmers who broadcast information on the struggles of the UE, CWA, FreePacifica, and it’s paid and unpaid staff in their fight for a fair and equitable union contract

3. seek advise from the UE, CWA, and FreePacifica in our actions regarding the struggles of these groups in obtaining their goals, and

The goals KOOP is supporting are:

1. A fair and equitable contract for the paid and unpaid staff at all the Pacifica stations.

2. open process in all aspects of the Pacifica Foundation’s dealings with the public in accordance to law, including opening the financial statements for review by the UE, CWA, and the paid and unpaid staff at it’s stations as specified by their union contract.

3. full accountability by Pat Scott and the Pacifica Foundation to the communities and community boards they are suppose to serve.

4. an end to secrecy and gag orders at all Pacifica stations.

5. meetings that are open to the public as dictated by law.

6. an end of all purges of community programmers and people who support the struggles for a fair union contract, open process, accountability, an end to secrecy and gag orders, and who oppose purges of community programmers.

7. Pacifica should respect and recognize the value of community volunteers in programming and as volunteer staff.

KOOP demands that the Pacifica Foundation's radio stations KPFK, KPFA, KPFT, and WBAI become accountable and fair to its membership and the communities they serve.