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