Pat Scott's Letter to KOOP
...annotated and debunked
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Dear KOOPers and other friends,

I would like to debunk the letter from Pat Scott below, as it contains false information from start to finish.

There is a lot at stake here: not only the rights of workers at Pacifica but the future of Pacifica itself, and by extension, our ability as Americans to maintain a free channel of information that serves our interests, rather than manipulates us for the benefit of others. The people who have put their hearts and souls into stations like yours and ours understand the desperate need in this society that there be places on the so-called public airwaves that really *are* public and free.

I want you to get a sense of the context in this -- the union-busting activities at Pacifica are occurring because the Scott administration is determined to remove the community from every aspect of Pacifica Radio -- except the money donating part. In the May 9, 1997 edition of the Oakland Tribune, Burt Glass, spokesperson for the Scott regime is quoted:

"We're going to hire more paid staff to do the news and do more things of higher caliber," Glass said. "These are moves we must make to survive and remain relevant in the 1990's."

"It's a move that rubs people from the old KPFA culture the wrong way and that's really what's going on here -- a fight for what Pacifica and KPFA will be in the future."

Does that mean that KOOP must do the same to "remain relevant" in the 90's? In what way does hiring paid staff to replace community producers create relevance? What it *does* do is create on-air voices who speak for a paycheck...or *don't speak* to keep that paycheck. Do *you* see this as a positive change? Many of us see this as a dangerous precedent, coupled with the fact that those now calling the shots consist of 15 people having meetings behind closed doors.

I would like to draw attention to the actions accompanying the words of the Scott regime:

1) In the letter below and other statements, Scott and her spokesperson claim we were wrong when we reported 30,000 thousand dollars had been paid to the American Consulting Group. We have called upon them to open the books of the Foundation (which is a *public* nonprofit educational foundation) and prove us wrong. They have not done so. Why? If you were being falsely accused by slanderous enemies (as they portray us) wouldn't *you?*

2) Since Pat Scott has been the executive director of Pacifica board meetings have been closed to the public (except 2-3 hours out of a each 3-day meeting, and minutes of the discussions in the meeting are now "confidential." I suggest you write or call Pacifica and request a copy of the National Board Meeting Minutes, if you want to test this out yourself. Here's what the CPB Inspector general was told when he tried to view minutes of the Board Meetings:

"We found that with the exception of a public file containing financial statements, IRS reports, and CPB Station Activity Reports, Pacifica held all other documents as confidential. The Executive Director stated that Board minutes are not released to the public." CPB Compliance Audit, 4/9/97--

...wait, now this is interesting...the Scott regime has also claimed they did not hold closed meetings as the audit states. Why then would they refuse minutes of meetings that were public? They are having a wee bit of difficulty keeping their stories straight here, don't you think?

KOOP's meetings are open to the public -- KOOP has nothing to hide. Why are the Pacifica Board meetings closed? Can you think of a *legitimate* reason for such sudden secrecy?

As I believe one should practice what one preaches, I am going to cite sources for the statements I am about to make in response to the Scott letter. The full text of the documents I cite are available at the Free Pacifica website at http://www.radio4all.org/freepacifica

If you don't have access to the web, please ask a friend to print out material for you. We have placed this information there so that people may see for themselves that there is a very serious problem with the activities of the people now running the Pacifica Foundation.

We have had to do this because there are gag orders imposed on the stations' airwaves and personnel. Why? Pat Scott has in previous press releases referred to us as people trying to discredit the "positive changes" taking place in Pacifica.

If you folks at KOOP were making changes there you believed were positive, would *you* impose gag orders?

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Pat Scott's letter (with annotations)

on Pacifica letterhead "RADIO WITH VISION"

April 30, 1997

KOOP-FM
P.O. Box 49340
Austin, TX. 78765

Dear Ms. Wong and Mr. Alvarez:

My sincere apologies for not responding sooner to your latest letter regarding the disclaimers your station aired before the Pacifica Network News.

Because I touched on many of my concerns in my previous letter, I won't restate them now. However, I did want to respond to a few of your particular questions.

The text of the disclaimer is wrong in stating that the consulting firm we hired to advise us on labor law is listed by the AFL-CIO as a union buster.

1) You can see an image of the cover page of the Report on Union Buster (RUB) generated by the AFL-CIO

2)"However, database keeper Maria Boyle of the AFL-CIO did confirm that ACG, also known by other names, is on its roster of union busters. " Current Magazine, June 16, 1996 Workers Accuse Pacifica of Union Busting by Jaqueline Conciatore

3)" When I was researching my article on unionbusters (in the current issue of Covert Action), I found it very easy to find information about ACG. Simply by calling the AFL-CIO and asking, I was able to get a list ranking the major unionbusting firms in the U.S. today. ACG is prominent on the list. The AFL-CIO published a Report on Union Busters (the RUB Sheet) for many years. " David Bacon, from a letter posted on The Nation Magazine "Nationtalk" forum 4/1/97

First, a listener is left with the impression that Pacifica hired the firm (ACG) to represent management in its negotiations with its union -- the only position it could be in to "bust a union." In reality, we hired them (for $1,000) to advise us only on details related to labor law, an area of great complexity about which we needed instruction in order to comply with the law.

Indeed, ACG did represent KPFK management in 17 contract negotiations sessions. Glenn Haynes is the name of the ACG representative:

" Second, Pat Scott, Executive Director of Pacifica, states that ACG was never hired to negotiate contracts at any Pacifica station. Why is it, then, that a representative of ACG has been doing just that at KPFK for many months now? Glenn Haynes is the ACG consultant who is actually negotiating the union contract with the KPFK local, on behalf of management. When Mr. Haynes' phone number was called by this union, the phone was answered, "ACG." Open letter from UE local 1412 -- Aug 26, 1996

Second, the AFL-CIO does not maintain a union-busting list, as stated in your disclaimer, as far as we can tell. Our office called their national office in Washington again two weeks ago to ask for the list, and we were told that no list exists. Others who have called said that, yes, a list exists. Regardless, Pacifica did terminate its contract with ACG after their reputation was made known to us because we value our reputation as pro-worker and pro-union.

Pat Scott is earning near 70 thousand dollars yearly, "Patricia Scott Executive Director -- $67,017" --IRS 990 for the Pacifica Foundation Fiscal year 1995 and Burt Glass' spin doctor position was advertised at 37, 500.

The Scott regime claims these salaries are jutified in order to retain "professionals" Much has been said by the Scott regime using the desire for "professionalism" as a justification for their actions. Just one of many possible citations re: Pat Scott et al's alleged "professionalism": This also from the Oakland Tribune of May 9, 1997...

"Pat and the board and key members of the staff are in the middle of a big job of moving Pacifica and KPFA from a culture of amateurism and an anything-goes attitude to a new culture that emphasizes accountability and professionalism and draws a larger audience," Glass said.

Well, evidently their "profesionalism" is of no help in obtaining some readily available info about ACG. I got the info by making a phone call, as did many others. Why don't you try? Call the AFL-CIO in Washington, DC and see for yourself what's true.

Again, the airing of a disclaimer, however carefully worded, strongly implies that Pacifica is engaged in union-busting or at a minimum, is up to no good. Otherwise, your listeners will conclude, why else would the station air a special disclaimer?

Why indeed? A small group of people has locked themselves in a room to make decisions about policy and money. They have lied about their activities..hired a person to lie about their activities.. would rather risk censure from the CPB than open their meetings...from the CPB Inspector General's compliance audit, April 9, 1997:

"The Executive Director explained that all governing board meetings use (sic) to be open to the public until the board and staff started experiencing problems with the public." (ht

Pacifica Foundation assets are, by Pacifica's own estimates valued at $100 million and offers totalling $150 million have been made to puchase the frequencies of KPFA and WBAI, which are on commericial bandwidth and could legally be sold ..Scott claims she will reject offers to sell...how would we know as Finance Committee Meetings are closed to the public, by their own policy:

"Some guests wished to attend the Finance Committee meeting. The Committee clarified that all Finance Committee meetings of Pacifica are in Executive Session unless otherwise noted." Minutes of the Pacifica National Board, June 1995

Forgive if I state the obvious: why close the meetings and keep the minutes secret unless what is being discussed is something that will be unpopular with the public at best, or is unethical or perhaps unlawful at worst?

KOOP's meetings are always open to all who wish to attend. Why aren't Pacifica meetings, since the Scott regime took over?

Regarding your questions about the structure and methods for listeners and the public to provide Pacifica and its stations feedback, there are several mechanisms already in place. Each of our five Pacifica-owned stations has a Local Advisory Board with responsibility to act as a conduit for public comment about programming for the local managers and the national Pacifica office. These boards meet on a regular basis to receive comment during public meetings.

Here's a memo sent by Scott and the Executive Committee of Pacifica's Board to the Local Advisory Boards on july 12, 1995:

"The Local Advisory board is hereby directed not to take action that will impede the plans of the station staff. Members of any local Board who do not feel that they can assist Pacifica in its present mission are advised to resign. If there are indications that actions are being taken collectively or individually to countermand the policies, directives, and mandates of the Pacifica Board, the Board will take appropriate steps."

and a memo from the chairpersons of the five Pacifica Local Boards regarding the conduct of the Scott regime:

"It is unacceptable to be sent materials supposedly speaking on our behalf or advising us what to say, but in which we actually had no such input (such as the Glass/Bunce memo). Instead, to support an improved climate, we expect national staff and board members to speak with us directly on relevant issues and positions before they are presented or circulated - both inside and outside the organization - so they honestly reflect our positions." Memo of the Council of Chairs- 4/5/97

The meetings of the national Pacifica Board of Directors are open to the public and feature a public comment period. They are held on a rotating basis in cities with Pacifica-owned stations. The next board meeting is Sunday, June 15, in Oakland.

The Board Meeting is actually from June 13-15 -- all the meetings where anything of importance will be decided are once again scheduled to happen in secret, on Friday and Saturday.

(more)
(page 2)

Listeners and members of the public can, of course, write Pacifica station managers or the national Pacifica office directly (If you wish to invite listeners to write us about national Pacifica programming, here is the address: Pacifica Radio, attn.: Communications, 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704.)

I appreciated the helpful tone of your last letter, and I hope this response addresses your concerns. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,
(signature)
Pat Scott
Executive Director

I hope that KOOP will continue in its mission of community radio, and its practice of speaking truth to power. We don't have a "communications" department, but I will be happy to provide any information to those who wish to be more informed on the subject of what is happening at Pacifica.

Love,

Lyn Gerry
former KPFK staff member (paid, but not for sale)
former UE shop steward
Free Pacifica activist (unpaid)