Subject: union letter
July 12, 2005
To: KPFA Shop Stewards,
As you may know by now, members of the Flashpoints Team and La Onda Bajita have already contacted CWA Union executives about the failure of CWA/KPFA to represent all the members of the local union equally. And judging by the way KPFA/CWA is currently steamrolling along into new elections for stewards and apparently misrepresenting out point of view in crucial discussion about the future of the current manager, this corrupt and dangerous policy is continuing unabated.
As we wrote to CWA Local 9415, starting nearly a year ago, a number of us have experienced violent attacks in the station and feel that we are now working in a hostile environment. We believe the flames of this hostility have been fanned by the CWA’s biased leadership, which continues to resist real change inside the station, as well as to marginalize and demonize those of us who won’t go along with their narrow-minded program. Simply put, there is no room left in this bargaining unit for real dialogue and zero respect for a minority point of view.
We, the undersigned KPFA producers, paid and unpaid, are calling for a real change in the way the union goes about its business and real representation for unpaid staff. Otherwise, we have no choice but to take action to start the search for a union that really cares about radical politics and KPFA’s crucial role in the movement for social change.
Signed,
Flashpoints Staff (CWA members): Dennis Bernstein, Executive Producer Miguel Gavilan Molina, Roving Producer & Executive Producer of La Onda Bajita Nora Barrows-Friedman, Senior Producer Miguel Guerrero, Technical Producer
La Onda Bajita and Radio del Barrio Aztlan Staff (unpaid, unrepresented members): Pedro Reyes (Co-Producer) Norma La Brava (Across Indian Land) Arihua Ferris (Voz de las Americas) Lisa Gonzales (Chiapas No Se Olviden) Omar Flamenco (Radio Olin) Ventura “Mr. Chuch” (Cruzin’ to the Oldies) Dog Paw Carrillo (Radio Café) Miguel Guerrero (Roc en Rebellion) Miguel Peres (Vox Popoli) Fabian Martinez (Cambios) Roberto Garcia (UFW)
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