March 10: Pacifica's interim board, meeting in Los Angeles, voted 10-0 for the resolution below to settle the Pacifica Network News stringers' strike. Then the audience and the board members rose to give the strikers and their newscast a standing ovation, and to thank us for our crucial role in the struggle. Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship (which produces Free Speech Radio News) will hold a ratification vote on this resolution within 10 days.
RESOLUTION TO SETTLE THE PNN STRINGERS' STRIKE
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2000, the majority of Pacifica's freelance reporters went on strike against Pacifica Network News to protest the network's censorship of legitimate news stories and the wave of bannings and firings at Pacifica,
WHEREAS, since then, those original striking reporters have been joined by over 100 grassroots radio journalists in producing Free Speech Radio News, which is now a chosen newscast by all the station managers at Pacifica-owned stations (KPFA, KPFK, KPFT, WBAI and WPFW) and dozens of Pacifica affiliate stations,
WHEREAS, the legal settlement agreement creating the interim Pacifica National Board specifically names the "PNN stringers' strike" as a 3hot issue2 that must be resolved by the interim Pacifica National Board,
WHEREAS Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship is an independent, worker-run collective and a non-profit, public benefit corporation registered in the state of California which produces Free Speech Radio News and bargains on behalf of its member-reporters,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Pacifica Foundation recognizes the role that Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship and Free Speech Radio News have played in the struggle to return the network to its historic mission,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
The Pacifica Foundation pledges not to censor Free Speech Radio News or any other programs that air on the network1s five stations,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
The Pacifica Foundation continues to provide access -- as it does for numerous independently-produced progressive radio programs -- to the KU satellite system for Free Speech Radio News and other programs produced by Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship,
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED THAT
After being passed by the interim PNB, this agreement is subject to ratification within 10 days by the membership of Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship. If ratified, this agreement settles the PNN stringers' strike.