Resolution on KPFB Development

The UPSO Council and membership requests full participation in the formulation of all policies for KPFB’s development and asks that these policies be developed quickly. 

Passed unanimously. 12-16-14


(This was a quarterly membership meeting. Attending: Ann Garrison* “Weekend News”, Tim Lynch* “Dead to the World”, Kate Raphael “Womens Magazine”, Clay Leander “Radio Cuba Canto”, Steve Zeltzer “Work Week Radio”, Anthony Fest “Weekend News” “Project Censored Show”, Adrienne Lauby* “Pushing Limits” )

Resolution on Program Evaluations

The Unpaid Staff Organization membership and its elected Council have asked for routine evaluations for a long time. We support the basic concept.   In order to give feedback and to clarify the process for unpaid staff members, we would like a presentation and discussion on management’s announced evaluation strategy and procedure in an evening staff meeting open to all unpaid staff. 12-16-14

Passed with 6 Ayes, 1 No, 0 Abstentions

(This was a quarterly membership meeting. Attending: Ann Garrison* “Weekend News”, Tim Lynch* “Dead to the World”, Kate Raphael “Womens Magazine”, Clay Leander “Radio Cuba Canto”, Steve Zeltzer “Work Week Radio”, Anthony Fest “Weekend News” “Project Censored Show”, Adrienne Lauby* “Pushing Limits” )

Resolution to Restore the Morning Mix to the 8 am Hour

The Unpaid Staff Organization opposes the elimination of the "Morning Mix."  This was a program segment that brought a significant contribution to local community programming and information vitally needed in the morning prime time slot.

It has also received broad support in the communities that KPFA/Pacific serves.

This precipitous action also violated the transparent and democratic process that the UPSO called for in December of 2013 with the KPFA management.  We now call for the present new manager to rescind the action to terminate the "Morning Mix" and develop a collaborative relationship with the Unpaid Staff Organization.  

Yes: 3

No:1

Abstain: 2

Resolution for action on new manager

Last October, the Local Station Board sent four names of candidates for a permanent KPFA manager to the Executive Director of Pacifica, Summer Reese.  Currently, we know of no action taken
by the executive director in response. In the meantime, Richard Pirodsky is now spending half his time managing in L.A.

We ask Summer Reese for progress.  We wish to have a  permanent manager as soon as possible or to have information as to why this is not possible.

Also, we have regularly requested a routine monthly staff meeting with daytime and evening sessions and have been assured that it would occur.  There has been no such meeting in February.

3 aye
0 nay
1 absent

Statement by the Unpaid Staff Organization Membership in Response to Proposed Program Changes

January 2014

The future of KPFA is integrally connected to the future of the communities where it is broadcast.  While there are many problems within KPFA, they are small in relationship to the problems that are faced and solved everyday by our listeners.  We believe in KPFA to the extent that it is useful to these people and our goal is to make this station a healthier and stronger part of the communities it seeks to serve.

The current proposal* for programming changes was developed in a flawed process that included a lack of transparency during the development phase.   Unpaid staff producers were generally kept in the dark as changes were being prepared and not provided a systematic method for feedback.  This lack of communication and lack of clarity in what responses were welcome caused unnecessary tension and dis-empowerment among unpaid staff. 

Nevertheless, most of us feel that KPFA needs to undergo fundamental changes in order to meet current challenges and serve our listeners.** 

What does this mean?

It may or may not include a major overhaul of the program grid.

It should include 1) debuting programs on KPFB, 2) station-wide promotion that is integrated with our current production and promotion work, and 3) more multi-media and website streaming of KPFA programs.

These things are necessary for any future program change at KPFA:

·      Regular monthly staff meetings on a regular day of the month (afternoon & evening) that provide a space for meaningful collaboration.

·      Building a schedule of off-air events to raise revenue, working with current producers from all areas of the station in a transparent procedure.

·      Published policies and procedures for program change.

·      A balance in authority between a representative Program Council and the new General Manager and Program Director in making program changes.

·      Transparency about the reasoning as to why programs are being moved, changed or cancelled.

·      The inclusion and respect for the views and needs of the unpaid staff to the same extent as paid staff.

·      Particular attention to the needs of programming elders as well as others with specific circumstances.

·      A General Manager Report to the Listeners, an on-air program, at least a month before any change begins.

·      A formal listener comment period with multiple points of feedback (mail, e-mail, Facebook, etc) for all program changes.

·      Because the 8-9 am M-F program should include the potential for local information, any possible syndicated programs should be produced in Northern California. 

This list and our thoughts above is only a beginning.  We have other ideas and concerns and have convened a small group to consider them in depth and to work with management toward positive alternatives.  

Given the many problems in the current proposal, we recommend against adopting these changes.   

Signed by the following Unpaid Staff Producers/Hosts***:

Sara Blanco, Apprentice

Adrienne Lauby, Pushing Limits, Unpaid Staff Council Member

Lisa Dettmer, Women’s Magazine

Kazmi Torii, Work Week Radio
Pedro Reyes, Setting the Standard

Kate Raphael, Women’s Magazine

Steve Zeltzer, Work Week Radio

Frank Sterling, Apprenticeship Program, Local Station Board Representative

Clay Leander, Radio Cuba Canta

Rickey Vincent, The History of Funk

Marie Choi, APEX Express, UpFront
Shelley Berman, Pushing Limits

Sabrina Jacobs, Morning Mix

Ann Garrison, unpaid staff

Ruthanne Shpiner, Weekend News

Art Sato, In Your Ear, Music Department

Gregory Jackson, Apprentice, Full Circle

Peter Phillips, Project Censored, Morning Mix

Mickey Huff, Project Censored, Morning Mix

Doug Wellman, Puzzling Evidence
Andres Soto, Morning Mix
Preeti Mangala Shekar, Apex Express
Robynn Takayama, Apex Express
R.J. Lozada, Apex Express
Tara Dorabji, Apex Express
Karl Jagbandhansingh, Apex Express
Salima Hamirani, Apex Express
Ellen Choy, Apex Express

Anthony Fest, Morning Mix, Weekend News

Nina Serrano, La Raza Chronicles, Open Book: Poet to Poet

Davey D., Hard Knock, Morning Mix

----------------------------------

 

*(Richard Pirodsky, 12-24-13, https://www.kpfa.org/system/files/updated_schedule_changes_12-24.pdf)

** The UPSO Council voted on the basic issues of this statement.  Adrienne Lauby & Ann Garrison voted yes.  Tim Lynch voted no.  Shahram Aghamir had left the meeting and David Gans resigned by e-mail as the meeting was in process.

***Program names for identification purposes only.

Resoution on Pacifica Investigation Summary

UPSO RESOLUTION:  We request a copy of the page and a half summary of the investigator’s conclusions. 

In favor:  5

Abstained: 2

Opposed:  1     

Resolution passed 10-17-13 

Resolution on Authority Figures Urging Stands on Internal Issues

We would like this paragraph added to the section of the Pacifica "Volunteer" Handbook titled Policy on Harassment:  No one with authority over air time or employment should circulate a petition, seek a Local Station Board endorsement, or otherwise urge action on internal Pacifica/station issues from staff whom they exercise that authority over. 

This is intended to decrease the potential for retaliation for disagreement about internal politics.

Passed unanimously 7-9-13 

Resolution on title of Pacifica's New Volunteer Handbook

We strongly urge that the handbook with the draft name “Pacifica Volunteer Handbook” be renamed “Pacifica Unpaid Staff and Volunteer Handbook.” Unpaid Staff are those involved in actual radio production work but not paid for it.  Unpaid staff are eligible to vote in Local Station Board elections; volunteers are not.  The word “volunteer” has been consistently used to denigrate our work.

Passed unanimously 7-9-13 

Resolution: Staff Meetings - LSB listener-representatives presence (Tabled)

We call for a meeting policy that staff meetings are primarily for paid/unpaid staff and managers at KPFA.  When listener-representatives of the local station board (LSB) are invited, the invitation should also be extended to all listener LSB representatives.

Proposed by Adrienne

Resolution tabled.  (5-14-13)

Resolution: Welcome to Richard Pirodsky (failed)

The Unpaid Staff Organization elected council members welcome Richard Pirodsky to his position as interim general manager of KPFA.  We look forward to working with him on matters pertaining to the unpaid staff. 

Resolution proposed by Adrienne

 

Tim -  No

David (by prior e-mail) - No

Shahram  - Abstain

Ann - Yes

Adrienne - Yes 

Resolution fails.

Resolution: Staff Meetings - Regular, Evening

We affirm our February 13, 2012 resolution calling on KPFA managers to hold regular all-staff meetings on, at least, a bi-monthly schedule.

Additionally, we note KPFA's long-standing tradition of two meetings, with one in the morning to accommodate those who work in the building during the business hours and one in the evening to accommodate those who work elsewhere.  We call for both afternoon and evening meetings whenever there is an all-staff meeting.

Proposed by Adrienne

Passed unanimously (5-14-13)

Resolution: KPFA Investigation

The Unpaid Staff Organization elected council members understand that an investigation by an outside agency will begin soon at KPFA.  We expect to cooperate fully.

Proposed by Adrienne

Passed Unanimously 5-14-13

Resolution for Equitable Hiring

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Resolution for Equitable Hiring

The announcement of a hiring process for the relief co-host/producer for Up Front has caused a slew of rumors and concern.  Given the often rocky history of hiring at KPFA, we raise the following issues:

1)  We applaud the move toward an open hire for the relief work which most union-staffed programs require.

2)  We call for a similar open process in deciding all new hires at KPFA and hiring committees that include representation from the unpaid staff.

3)  We oppose any prioritizing of additional staff for the Up Front program.  The long-term financial stress at KPFA has led to cuts in hours and jobs since 2010 with many programs (including the Apprenticeship Program) cut beyond what is possible to sustain.  For this reason, no program should be allotted additional salaried support without a station-wide discussion.  We note that the original agreement with Up Front was that they would provide the program within the existing News Department budget.   We realize that the Up Front producers are doing good work under stressful conditions and we encourage them to call out for help from the unpaid staff.   
2-13-13
 
Adrienne: Yes
David: No
Tim: No
Ann: Yes
Shahram: Yes

Resolution: KPFA Worker Website

Motion:  The KPFA Worker site does not represent UPSO.

Yes 19

Opposed 1

Abstain 3

Motion Passed at a membership meeting of the Unpaid Staff Organization. 
12-6-11

This website says it “support the labor rights of all workers at the station,” is “ created by a collective that includes paid and unpaid staff at KPFA” and uses the tag line “supporting the paid and unpaid staff of KPFA…” Unpaid staff member Peter Phillips has tried to respond to attacks on the Morning Mix and did not get a response.  Others including Steve Zeltzer & Shahram Aghamir have had the same experience.

Discussion:  Generally people agreed that if we do not have representation directly for unpaid staff, then we should issue a statement saying that this site does not represent the unpaid staff.  Various people expressed frustration at the secretive nature of KPFA Worker editors/writers, as well as its disruptive effect.  Many ideas were floated about how to deal with it.  Some people said this meeting was too small to issue any proclamations about it.  That opinion did not carry the day.