"Me first" politics

& financial irresponsibility

"SaveKPFA" again puts its members jobs before the survival of KPFA/Pacifica

by Richard Phelps, former Chair KPFA LSB
Saturday Jul 21st, 2012

At yesterday's (July 20th) Pacifica National Board meeting in Berkeley "
SaveKPFA " leaders spoke of the importance of not having layoffs at KPFA, ignoring the financial crisis as they did in the past when they put their low seniority members jobs over the survival of KPFA/Pacifica. If it were Dennis Bernstein or Miguel Molina that was likely to get laid off "SaveKPFA" wouldn't be there arguing against layoffs. These were the same folks that didn't say one word when their favorite General Manager refused to recognize the Unpaid Staff Organization. The history below raises the question: is "SaveKPFA" trying to do what's best for KPFA/Pacifica or are they just power hungry opportunists?

In 2005 Brian Edwards-Tiekert "SaveKPFA" Staff leader wrote:

"how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come?"

Brian Edwards-Tiekert is the Karl Rove of the pseudo-progressive "Save KPFA" sectarian group that wants to control KPFA and separate it from Pacifica, if necessary, to have complete control. If they destroy Pacifica in the process, that is just unfortunate collateral damage given their "entitlement" to control KPFA since they have the only correct line to focus the stations programming around: "working within the Democratic Party."

As you can see from the e-mail below, layoffs were needed as early as 2005 and Tiekert's faction was running the station and putting their group members' jobs before the financial stability of KPFA/Pacifica. When they used up all the surplus and layoffs were necessary they reverted back to Brian's favorite tactic:

"how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come?"

Out of Brian's philosophy came "
Save KPFA's" manufactured union busting charges and all their nasty rhetoric trying to blame the problems on their "enemies", problems that came from their selfish using up of the KPFA surplus. When the necessary layoffs came "SaveKPFA" allies filed multiple frivolous complaints with the NLRB and all were denied; most on a first review. The cost to KPFA/Pacifica to defend against these false charges was $80,000.00+. How does this "Save KPFA"?

Evidence to support "Save KPFA" not being true union supporters.

In the Fall of 2010, on an LSB Motion to require the budget be implemented in line with the UNION CONTRACT since layoffs were likely, each and every "SaveKPFA" LSB member voted NO!! Why would "SaveKPFA" vote against the union contract?

They had been use to controlling the hiring and firing at the station and knew that if layoffs were going to be governed by the UNION CONTRACT they would not be able to manipulate the process and protect their loyal followers with low seniority, Brian Edward-Tiekert being one of the lowest.

In his infamous e-mail Brian Edwards-Tiekert also suggests RECALLING LSB members, another offensive move to shift the focus from his group's "me first" politics and financial irresponsibility that caused the problems. What's next? Dismantling the LSB if they lose their slim majority. Karl Rove would be so proud.


The e-mail below was found at the station in September 2005. It has been acknowledged as real by the author. I have contacted in person or by e-mail everyone but one on that strategy group to ask them if they were just recipients of an e-mail that discussed "dismantling the LSB" and other interesting topics or were they active participants and none of them have denied active involvement.

This e-mail was sent shortly after the LSB voted down a staff motion to fire the GM for sexual harassment. It was voted down 15-5. Four of the five votes for it were in this e-mail group. There was NO evidence of sexual harassment found after two separate investigations. It was an attempt to fire an African-American GM who wouldn't toe their line and had stated that he was going to move Democracy Now! to prime time at 7 a.m. Their pushing for this unjust firing caused them to lose the majority on the LSB, thus their need for a strategic retreat. This e-mail gives one a view of what these folks really believe in! Sort of like a Pentagon Paper. Richard Phelps, former Chair KPFA LSB.

"
Save KPFA" is in QUESTION since they stole that name from a group that was true to the name.


(Yahoo! Domain Keys has confirmed that the below message was sent by gmail.com.)

From:" Brian Edwards-Tiekert"
To: "Lemlem Tekle" , "Bonnie Simmons" ,
Lisa Rothman [at] kpfa.org
CC: "Sasha Lilley" , "Lemlem Tekle" ,
mawu_mama37 [at] yahoo.com, "Amelia Gonzalez-Garcia" , Rain
Geesler" , "Sherry Gendelman" , "Gary Niederhoff"
Subject: Re: budget
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 20:58:28 -0700

I'm up for coffee Saturday? Lisa and I can still meet Tuesday afternoon. Also, we need a general strategy session. How about Tuesday night?

Issues include:

How should we be handling the expiration of the union contract? is a strike in order, or is it a really terrible idea?

What's the best way to deal with these layoffs?

Coming up with, and presenting, an alternative budget.

Getting the Roy issue to the national board.

Propping up staff morale.

Strategic retreat on the LSB? how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come? Alternatively, should we be recalling LSB members/dismantling the LSB?

Dealing with the grievances underway.

Building community support? formation of a labor-community coalition.

Brian Edwards-Tiekert
Staff Representative, Local Station Board
KPFA 94.1FM
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley CA 94704


Notice Brian's great concern for the staff: "Propping up staff morale."

What people say when they think the people they are trying to fool aren't listening shows you the true politics and moral character or lack thereof of the author and his/her allies.

RICHARD PHELPS is a Former Chair of the KPFA LSB, 38 years listener/subscriber and former AM and FM Radio Announcer.


articles on KPFA's financial crisis

Minority Report Re KPFA Budget Approved By LSB Sat. Sept.17, 2005

A Few Comments on the Financial Crisis at Pacifica by Max Blanchet, January 10, 2011

Scenarios of bankruptcy & sale of Pacifica stations by Steve Brown, WBAI

For information on the particulars of the recall charges, and their rebuttals, see


Stop the KPFA Recall.org



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Updates, reports & essays about KPFA & Pacifica Foundation Radio at
UNITED FOR COMMUNITY RADIO


KPFA 94.1 FM is one of five stations of the Pacifica radio network which are located in major cities across the country. The other stations are WBAI 99.5 in New York, WPFW 89.3 in Washington DC, KPFT 90.1 in Houston, and KPFK 90.7 in Los Angeles. There are also about 160 affiliate stations.





















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