Pacifica vindicated

Pacifica Foundation vindicated on all labor issues at KPFA

July 15, 2011

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 the Communication Workers of America, Local 9415, against The Pacifica Foundation. We are pleased to announce that all of the claims have either been withdrawn or decided in the foundation's favor.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 endeavors.

Additionally, each of the three complaints filed by the Communication Workers of America Local 9415 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) 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that its charges related to the layoffs conducted by the foundation were without merit and would be dismissed if not withdrawn by the union.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 Engelhardt
510-849-2590, ext. 208
arlene [ ] pacifica.org

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Also see:

KPFA financial status & layoffs, by Arlene Engelhardt & Carrie Core. March 7, 2011

The Layoffs by Terry Goodman

NLRB finds CWA complaints without merit; Advice Memorandum of April 18, 2011

CWA-KPFA Collective Bargaining Agreement. 2010-2013

Why are CWA and the "left" trying to take down KPFA? by Carol Spooner, November 23, 2010

for more information and updates please visit Support KPFA at www.supportkpfa.org




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