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PACIFICA FOUNDATION VINDICATED ON LABOR ISSUES AT KPFA

This statement is to inform our listeners, subscribers and any other interested members

of the public of the final resolution of all legal claims brought by Communication Workers of America Local 9415 against Pacifica Foundation. We are pleased to announce that all the claims have either been withdrawn or decided in the foundation’s favor.

A decision has been reached in the arbitration proceedings regarding the employment of Aimee Allison, who was laid off as a result of a reduction in force at KPFA for budgetary reasons. In a victory for the foundation, and after months of acrimony from some on-air union staff members, a neutral arbitrator denied the union’s grievance and determined that the foundation laid off Ms. Allison, who had less seniority than other program hosts, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. The arbitrator found that the foundation actively explored alternatives to the layoff proposed by the union, but that most of the alternatives “would do nothing to attack the root cause of KPFA’s problems, which is expenses greater than costs, and especially the need to cut personnel costs.” The arbitrator agreed with the foundation’s position that the “only apparently effective way to do this was to lay off personnel.” We wish Ms. Allison well in her future endeavours.

Additionally, each of the three complaints filed by the Communication Workers of America Local 9415 with the National Labor Relations Board have been closed. The union withdrew two of the charges after the NLRB concluded its investigation into each. An advice memo issued by the NLRB’s General Counsel on April 18, 2011 reveals that the NLRB advised the union that its charges related to the layoffs conducted by the foundation were without merit and would be dismissed if not withdrawn by the union. The advice memo can be found here. The union’s third charge, protesting what the union has incorrectly called the foundation’s “gag rule,” was dismissed by the NLRB. The NLRB found that the foundation’s rules concerning on-air statements “were narrowly confined to protect the foundation’s core purpose.”

Pacifica Executive Director Arlene Engelhardt states “I am pleased that Pacifica was vindicated on all counts and that these matters have now been resolved”.

Any requests for additional information may be directed to arlene@pacifica.org.

Donors for the Mackie Speakers Fund for the Performance Room

KPFA’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) is the local group mandated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  It is charged with assessing and reporting the needs of the community served by KPFA to the governing board and management of KPFA.  Members are appointed by the Local Station Board and meetings are held once per month with a 2 week notification.  Meetings are open to the public.

Please take the CAB survey at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/KPFACAB

Members of the CAB can be reached at:

CAB.KPFA@gmail.com

The next meeting of the Community Advisory Board  is scheduled for May 20th, 2012

The KPFA Community Advisory Board

CAB members fall 08-10

CAB minutes Oct 8

CAB minutes March 09

CAB meeting notes May 09

CAB Meeting Notes July 09

KPFA Public File Documents

A listing of KPFA staff contact numbers and email addresses.

The History of KPFA, from 1946 until today!

• To promote cultural diversity and pluralistic community expression
• To contribute to a lasting understanding between individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors
• To promote freedom of the press and serve as a forum for various viewpoints
• To maintain an independent funding base