TO:  PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY BROADCASTERS
FROM:  PAT SCOTT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PACIFICA RADIO
RE:  UNION NEGOTIATIONS - UNFAIR ALLEGATIONS OF UNION BUSTING
DATE:  JULY 2, 1996
 
Recently Pacifica was publicly accused of "union busting" in
the press, on the internet and on the DACS.  Specifically,
our use of the American Consulting Group was cited as
"proof" that Pacifica's intent is to disband our union.
These allegations are not true.
 
American Consulting Group was never hired to negotiate
contracts at any Pacifica station.  For the record:
Pacifica is currently engaged in contract negotiations with
UE at two of our five stations, KPFK in Los Angeles and WBAI
in New York.  It is an inevitable fact of any such process
that there will be differences of opinion across the
bargaining table, and frequently we see these differences
aired in public.  That is what is happening here.  In the
course of doing our best to come up with a reasonable
contract that is fair and equitable to all our workers, our
critics have hunted for any opportunity to brand us as
"union-busters."  Lately they have been using a six year old
brochure put out by a firm that was advising us on labor law
and other matters to impugn our motives.  We have not asked
for advice on how to "bust" our unions (nor have they
provided such advice).
 
For the record-- the facts --  KPFA employees enjoy decent
benefits and working conditions:  5 weeks paid vacation per
year, 14 paid holidays including May Day and International
Women's Day, fully paid health and dental insurance for
employees and their families, paid maternity/paternity
leave, 12 sick days plus 5 training days per year, employer
contributions to 403(b) retirement plans, child care
allowances and flexible work schedules.  Benefits at KPFK,
Los Angeles  and WBAI, New York are comparable.  Management
is in full support of our employees right to union
representation, and our right to negotiate wages and working
conditions with our employees.
 
The other two Pacifica stations currently in labor
negotiations (KPFK and WBAI) are continuing to bargain in
good faith with their locals, attempting to make agreements
that insure salaries, benefits and optimal working
conditions to employees.  KPFA will do the same next year.
Pacifica and individual stations management continues to sit
at the table with their local unions.
 
In spite of our honorable intentions, commitment to union
representation and fair and reasonable working conditions,
we have no doubts that our detractors will be back in their
search for opportunities to discredit the current positive
changes going on at Pacifica Radio.
 
It is important to understand that there is a very small
group of former employees and volunteers who believe that
Pacifica Radio can continue as a viable operation under its
once well known and well beloved dictum -- as long as there
is one intelligent listener and one intelligent speaker,
there should be a place on the air for such a program.
 
Unfortunately, not only is this an elitist view, but it is
not a practical way to utilize radio, especially with large
signals in large metropolitan areas.  This approach is also
antithetical to Pacifica's other long stated commitment --
to act as a leader for progressive social change, to empower
and bring together all segments of our diverse community,
and to provide a voice for the disempowered and the
disenfranchised.  As long as we speak only to ourselves --
we can not fulfill this commitment.
 
In truth, the history of Pacifica radio is one of struggle,
debate, criticism and self-criticism.  And not always
polite, either.  We have been harsh on ourselves, simply
because we are different from mainstream radio, and want to
stay that way.  And we will continue to struggle to find
solutions which will benefit our audiences -- all of them.
We are committed to providing outstanding, thoughtful and
accessible programming which will bring in listeners who can
use the information Pacifica and our member stations provide
to educate themselves and organize around the critical
issues of the day.
 
                              Sincerely,
 
                              Pat Scott
                              Executive Director