The United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers Union of America (UE) has filed unfair

labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the Management of

WBAI-New York (99.5 FM) for refusing to bargain in good faith during the current contract

negotiations.

     The charges were filed in the midst of WBAI Management's ongoing attempts to bust the

Union at the station.  WBAI is owned by the Pacifica Foundation, which formerly prided itself 

on pushing forward a progressive agenda.  WBAI Management has used delaying tactics to

avoid actually bargaining with the Union, and has tried to use a "Clarification of Unit"

procedure to get the National Labor Relations Board to remove 90% of the Collective

Bargaining Unit from the bargaining process.  WBAI Management has also attempted to

impose a completely new contract of its own on the staff of WBAI, ignoring the previous

contract and the nine years of past practice at WBAI.  Management has also, at times,

refused to meet more than once or twice a month for contract negotiation.

     The case, number 2-CA-29563, was filed by UE International Representative Bruce

Klipple on behalf of the staff of WBAI.  Below is the statement given by Mr. Klipple to the

National Labor Relations Board.

          "For the past six months, and continuing to date, the Employer, through its

     officers, agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith by

     refusing to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to

     wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment, or the negotiation of

     a successor collective bargaining agreement, in violation of Sections 8(a)(1) and

     (5) and 8(d) of the Act, as amended."

          "For the past six months, and continuing to date, the Employer, through its

     officers, agents and representatives, has failed and refused to bargain in good faith,

     by engaging in overall bad faith bargaining and by refusing to negotiate any

     provisions of a successor agreement for over ninety (90%) per cent of the

     collective bargaining unit, in violation of Sections 8(a)(1) and (5) and 8(d) of the

     Act."

          "By the above and other acts, the above named employer has interfered

     with, restrained and coerced employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in

     Section 7 of the Act."

          Pacifica Foundation rules prohibit the mention or discussion of any issues related

to Pacifica or any Pacifica station, including WBAI, if Management does not like the subject

matter involved, so broadcasters are not permitted to discuss these issues on the air.

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