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A distorted picture of Pacifica Radio

To the Editor:

I'm happy that Eyal Press concedes that change at Pacifica Radio was long overdue ("Not So Pacific at Pacifica," Media Circus, June 13). But by giving credence to tired, trumped-up charges against Pacifica of union-busting, he distorts the picture for Salon's readers.

For example, he writes that Pacifica "recently hired the American Consulting Group, a notorious union-busting firm." Actually, our brief relationship with ACG was two years ago and was quickly terminated after we learned of their anti-union reputation. Pacifica paid a total of $1,000 to ACG for over-the-phone advice on complying with labor law. We regret it and have apologized for it, but such a brief incident that happened two years ago is hardly proof of union-busting.

Press adds that Pacifica "illegally attempted to eliminate volunteer workers from having a voice in union affairs" -- a serious charge, if laws were indeed broken. But in truth, Pacifica did nothing illegal in challenging the union's decision to include volunteers. Working through the National Labor Relations Board, the board's New York office found in favor of the volunteers and the New York station's union. Pacifica appealed, and the national NLRB found merit in our complaint and agreed this month to revisit the case.

Pacifica management has maintained that volunteers and paid staff have distinctly different -- sometimes conflicting -- needs and interests, and that including volunteers in the collective bargaining actually dilutes the power of paid staff to negotiate over wages and working conditions. If this practice were to spread, for example, managers in other organizations or in for-profit companies could use volunteers to weaken unions. To be sure, Pacifica believes volunteers are an indispensable part of our organization and that they deserve a voice in Pacifica's operation. We believe, however, that negotiating and voting on the wages and working conditions of other people is not the right way to go about it. Again, a real disagreement exists, but it's not union-busting.

Sincerely,