THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1999
From: National Writers Union nwu@nwu.org
NATIONAL WRITERS UNION CONDEMNS
ANTI-WORKER ACTIONS, CENSORSHIP AT PACIFICA
The National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981), which represents over 5,000
writers in all genres, including 650 in the San Francisco Bay Area,
deplores
recent actions by the Pacifica Foundation board which threaten employee
rights, gravely violate free speech principles, and place in serious
jeopardy Pacifica's important role as an independent source of news,
opinion
and culture.
The board's recent treatment of paid and unpaid staff at Pacifica's
Berkeley, CA station KPFA --summary firings, a de facto (if not de jure)
staff lockout, protracted refusal to negotiate on issues of deepest staff
concern-- would be reprehensible at a for-profit company, let alone at a
non-profit institution which has been historically dedicated to the
promotion of better conditions for all working people. The board earlier
took other anti-union steps which include the hiring of union-busting
consultants and attempts to reduce the number of Pacifica workers
represented by unions.
The "gag order" on on-air discussion of the current controversy over the
future direction of the Pacifica Foundation -in effect at all five Pacifica
stations-- is, in a word, censorship. Such censorship is unacceptable at
any media outlet anywhere in the world, and it is all the more so at an
institution that has been specifically dedicated to free speech since its
founding 50 years ago. It has resulted, directly or indirectly, in the
firing of KPFA employees and in the disturbing spectacle of a Pacifica
station broadcasting only taped programming and protected by armed police
and security guards against the entry of staff and listeners.
The National Writers Union calls on the Pacifica board to immediately lift
the "gag order" at all Pacifica stations, to end the "collective
administrative leave" of KPFA staff, and to reinstitute regular programming
at KPFA . We call for independent mediation and support the call of KPFA
staff and community representatives for the rehiring of KPFA employees,
including station manager Nicole Sawaya, who have lost their jobs as a
result of recent Pacifica board actions. These actions bring into serious
question whether the board as it is currently constituted truly represents
listeners and staff and bring into question as well its ability to carry
out
Pacifica's founding mandate of providing a free and open community voice in
the areas its five stations are licensed to serve.
Jonathan Tasini, President
National Writers Union
Steering Committee, SF Bay Area Local 3
National Writers Union
Alice Sunshine, Organizer
Back to the main opening window...
********************************
National Writers Union/ UAW Local 1981
337 - 17th St., Oakland, CA 94612
tel: 510-839-0110
fax: 510-839-6097
alices@nwu.org