I didn't mean that the principal of Ryerson University had anything to do with this, Michelle, I was referring to your comment about this going on in the summer. University Administrations, like CKLN, frequently wait until the summer to pull off major changes like this.
Purge at CKLN
Mon, 2008-05-12 02:16
#52
Catchfire
Mon, 2008-05-12 02:16
#53
Catchfire
I didn't mean that the principal of Ryerson University had anything to do with this, Michelle, I was referring to your comment about this going on in the summer. University Administrations, like CKLN, frequently wait until the summer to pull off major changes like this.
Mon, 2008-05-12 03:48
#54
Ah, I see! Okay, I get it, thanks Catchfire.
Mycroft - that's hilarious. I love Marvin Gaye (his music, not him as a person, abusive so-and-so that he was) but I think it would be odd to tune in to hear some completely unrelated show and wind up with...Marvin Gaye. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]
Mon, 2008-05-12 03:48
#55
Ah, I see! Okay, I get it, thanks Catchfire.
Mycroft - that's hilarious. I love Marvin Gaye (his music, not him as a person, abusive so-and-so that he was) but I think it would be odd to tune in to hear some completely unrelated show and wind up with...Marvin Gaye. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]
Mon, 2008-05-12 06:10
#56
quote:
CKLN Board of Directors
CKLN 88.1 FM
55 Gould Street
Toronto Ontario
M5B 1E9Dear CKLN Board of Directors
I am writing this letter to announce my resignation as a student representative from the CKLN Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Although this was a tough decision to make, I feel that it was the right decision for me. My current family, career and school obligations are mounting, and it is becoming very hard for me to balance my duties at CKLN as well as my other commitments. Due to personal morals and ethics, I do not believe in holding a position unless I can give it a 110%. Also, as a student member, my responsibility is to represent the best interests of the Ryerson student body, and given the current climate at the station, I feel that my energy has been going to deal with political issues rather than student concerns.
Furthermore, I feel that there is a huge lack of communication at the station, which has resulted in the current climate. I can not work in a setting where I am asked to make decisions without proper and open information. After much independent reflection without any outside interference, I feel that I had not heard both sides of the story before being asked to make decisions, thereby making me feel as if my role as a student member was used to further certain agendas. I am a firm believer in open, honest and respectful dialogue, and this has not been the case at the station for the time I have sat on the board.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at CKLN for this opportunity. I have learned a lot during my time on the board, and have met some really great people. I wish everyone at the station best of luck, and hope that all these issues can be resolved in a timely and positive manner, so that the spirit of CKLN can once again be restored. I am willing to answer any questions about my decision via e-mail, but I ask that all communication remain professional and polite, as I will not be responding to anything that is slanderous or rude.
Sincerely,
Suniya Kukaswadia
Mon, 2008-05-12 06:10
#57
quote:
CKLN Board of Directors
CKLN 88.1 FM
55 Gould Street
Toronto Ontario
M5B 1E9Dear CKLN Board of Directors
I am writing this letter to announce my resignation as a student representative from the CKLN Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Although this was a tough decision to make, I feel that it was the right decision for me. My current family, career and school obligations are mounting, and it is becoming very hard for me to balance my duties at CKLN as well as my other commitments. Due to personal morals and ethics, I do not believe in holding a position unless I can give it a 110%. Also, as a student member, my responsibility is to represent the best interests of the Ryerson student body, and given the current climate at the station, I feel that my energy has been going to deal with political issues rather than student concerns.
Furthermore, I feel that there is a huge lack of communication at the station, which has resulted in the current climate. I can not work in a setting where I am asked to make decisions without proper and open information. After much independent reflection without any outside interference, I feel that I had not heard both sides of the story before being asked to make decisions, thereby making me feel as if my role as a student member was used to further certain agendas. I am a firm believer in open, honest and respectful dialogue, and this has not been the case at the station for the time I have sat on the board.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at CKLN for this opportunity. I have learned a lot during my time on the board, and have met some really great people. I wish everyone at the station best of luck, and hope that all these issues can be resolved in a timely and positive manner, so that the spirit of CKLN can once again be restored. I am willing to answer any questions about my decision via e-mail, but I ask that all communication remain professional and polite, as I will not be responding to anything that is slanderous or rude.
Sincerely,
Suniya Kukaswadia
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:09
#58
Pogo
So was the meeting legal or not? If it was a legal meeting and made legal decisions why hasn't someone gone to the courts to get the decisions enforced?
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:09
#59
Pogo
So was the meeting legal or not? If it was a legal meeting and made legal decisions why hasn't someone gone to the courts to get the decisions enforced?
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:10
#60
quote:
[b]Community Pickets CKLN After Volunteers Locked Out[/b][i]Management, board, voted out in February, refuses to cede control, bans volunteers[/i]
TORONTO, ON, June 26, 2008 --- Locked out CKLN 88.1 FM volunteers and community supporters will hold their first picket outside the community radio station on Friday, June 27 beginning at 6 PM and continue through the evening. The pickets will be led by programmers who would normally be on-air at these times. However, several weeks ago, Mike Phillips unilaterally cancelled these programs and many others, and barred dozens of long-time volunteers from entering the building, sometimes hiring police to guard the entrance.
Phillips continues to misrepresent himself as CKLN’s Station Manager, refusing to recognize the Feb 23 vote of impeachment. Along with Phillips, former Interim Program Director Tony Barnes and former board members Josie Miner and Doug Barrett, will not accept the 90 per cent vote of non-confidence at a meeting of 144 community, volunteer and student members. The CKLN membership democratically elected new community representatives on April 29 and new volunteer representatives on May 3 in accordance with CKLN bylaws, but the old board has refused to relinquish control.
The Friday programs taken off-air are Frameline, Word of Mouth (which also hosts OCAP Radio, No One Is Illegal Radio and Anti-Psychiatry Radio) and Reggaemania. Those claiming to be CKLN management have now locked out over 25 volunteers, including those behind CKLN’s only feminist programs, Radio Cliteracy and Frequency Feminisms, and silenced the the voice of Audrey Redman, the only First Nations woman to host a show on the station. Redman was last heard on Honour the Earth May 11, when Phillips cut her off mid-show as she interviewed other locked-out CKLN members.
Locked out volunteers are urging supporters to sign the online petition to CKLN’s lawyer Paula Boutis at [url=http://www.gopetition.com/online/20115.html]http://www.gopetition.com/on... . The petition calls for Boutis to recognize the democratically elected board, chosen by CKLN members by elections in late April and early May. This board, elected in accordance with the CKLN bylaws, includes Heather Douglas (volunteer rep), Ron Nelson (volunteer rep), Geoff MacDonald (community rep), Arnold Miners (community rep) and Conrad Collaco (former core staff rep) along with the student representatives elected last Fall.
Contacts:
Verlia Stephens (locked out volunteer, Limin’ in De African Diaspora): 416-530-1492 (h), 416-723-1271 (c), [email protected]
Barbara Goslawski (locked out volunteer, Frameline): 416-778-9157, [email protected]
Susy Alvarez (locked out volunteer, Word of Mouth): 416-996-5540, [email protected]
WEBSITE: [url=http://takebackourradio.blogspot.com]takebackourradio.blogspot.com[/url]
EMAIL: [email protected]
quote:
[b]SUPPORT LOCKED OUT VOLUNTEERS![/b]What you can do:
* Sign the online petition to CKLN's lawyer Paula Boutis at: [url=http://www.gopetition.com/online/20115.html]http://www.gopetition.com/on... . The petition asks that Boutis recognize the democratically elected board: Heather Douglas (volunteer rep), Ron Nelson (volunteer rep), Geoff MacDonald (community rep), Arnold Miners (community rep) and Conrad Collaco (former core staff rep) along with the student representatives as the legitimate board.
* Join us at the information pickets outside CKLN starting this Friday, June 27 at 6 PM. Meet outside the front doors of the Ryerson Student Campus Centre at 55 Gould (near Yonge and Dundas). Pickets to carry on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Check website for updates.
* Visit our blog for more information: [url=http://www.takebackourradio.blogspot.com]http://www.takebackourradio.blo... .
* Join the Take Back Our Radio Organizing Committee. Email [email protected] for more info.
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:10
#61
quote:
[b]Community Pickets CKLN After Volunteers Locked Out[/b][i]Management, board, voted out in February, refuses to cede control, bans volunteers[/i]
TORONTO, ON, June 26, 2008 --- Locked out CKLN 88.1 FM volunteers and community supporters will hold their first picket outside the community radio station on Friday, June 27 beginning at 6 PM and continue through the evening. The pickets will be led by programmers who would normally be on-air at these times. However, several weeks ago, Mike Phillips unilaterally cancelled these programs and many others, and barred dozens of long-time volunteers from entering the building, sometimes hiring police to guard the entrance.
Phillips continues to misrepresent himself as CKLN’s Station Manager, refusing to recognize the Feb 23 vote of impeachment. Along with Phillips, former Interim Program Director Tony Barnes and former board members Josie Miner and Doug Barrett, will not accept the 90 per cent vote of non-confidence at a meeting of 144 community, volunteer and student members. The CKLN membership democratically elected new community representatives on April 29 and new volunteer representatives on May 3 in accordance with CKLN bylaws, but the old board has refused to relinquish control.
The Friday programs taken off-air are Frameline, Word of Mouth (which also hosts OCAP Radio, No One Is Illegal Radio and Anti-Psychiatry Radio) and Reggaemania. Those claiming to be CKLN management have now locked out over 25 volunteers, including those behind CKLN’s only feminist programs, Radio Cliteracy and Frequency Feminisms, and silenced the the voice of Audrey Redman, the only First Nations woman to host a show on the station. Redman was last heard on Honour the Earth May 11, when Phillips cut her off mid-show as she interviewed other locked-out CKLN members.
Locked out volunteers are urging supporters to sign the online petition to CKLN’s lawyer Paula Boutis at [url=http://www.gopetition.com/online/20115.html]http://www.gopetition.com/on... . The petition calls for Boutis to recognize the democratically elected board, chosen by CKLN members by elections in late April and early May. This board, elected in accordance with the CKLN bylaws, includes Heather Douglas (volunteer rep), Ron Nelson (volunteer rep), Geoff MacDonald (community rep), Arnold Miners (community rep) and Conrad Collaco (former core staff rep) along with the student representatives elected last Fall.
Contacts:
Verlia Stephens (locked out volunteer, Limin’ in De African Diaspora): 416-530-1492 (h), 416-723-1271 (c), [email protected]
Barbara Goslawski (locked out volunteer, Frameline): 416-778-9157, [email protected]
Susy Alvarez (locked out volunteer, Word of Mouth): 416-996-5540, [email protected]
WEBSITE: [url=http://takebackourradio.blogspot.com]takebackourradio.blogspot.com[/url]
EMAIL: [email protected]
quote:
[b]SUPPORT LOCKED OUT VOLUNTEERS![/b]What you can do:
* Sign the online petition to CKLN's lawyer Paula Boutis at: [url=http://www.gopetition.com/online/20115.html]http://www.gopetition.com/on... . The petition asks that Boutis recognize the democratically elected board: Heather Douglas (volunteer rep), Ron Nelson (volunteer rep), Geoff MacDonald (community rep), Arnold Miners (community rep) and Conrad Collaco (former core staff rep) along with the student representatives as the legitimate board.
* Join us at the information pickets outside CKLN starting this Friday, June 27 at 6 PM. Meet outside the front doors of the Ryerson Student Campus Centre at 55 Gould (near Yonge and Dundas). Pickets to carry on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Check website for updates.
* Visit our blog for more information: [url=http://www.takebackourradio.blogspot.com]http://www.takebackourradio.blo... .
* Join the Take Back Our Radio Organizing Committee. Email [email protected] for more info.
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:18
#62
I find this whole issue so confusing - I've been meaning to read into it more and haven't done so. I think I'd like to hear both sides of this story before I decide that the Board of CKLN is completely at fault. Maybe they are...but I don't know enough to make up my mind. (Which is why babble is so great!)
[url=http://www.ckln.fm/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=18&... is CKLN's side of the story.[/url]
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:18
#63
I find this whole issue so confusing - I've been meaning to read into it more and haven't done so. I think I'd like to hear both sides of this story before I decide that the Board of CKLN is completely at fault. Maybe they are...but I don't know enough to make up my mind. (Which is why babble is so great!)
[url=http://www.ckln.fm/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=18&... is CKLN's side of the story.[/url]
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:24
#64
quote:
Originally posted by Pogo:
[b]So was the meeting legal or not? If it was a legal meeting and made legal decisions why hasn't someone gone to the courts to get the decisions enforced?[/b]
I'd like to know that too. The Board of CKLN claim it wasn't and they say they got a legal opinion to back them up. And the staff union has distanced themselves from it too.
On the other hand, I am acquainted with a few of the people who have been locked out, and they're progressive people.
Now you see why I'm confused. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
[ 26 June 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:24
#65
quote:
Originally posted by Pogo:
[b]So was the meeting legal or not? If it was a legal meeting and made legal decisions why hasn't someone gone to the courts to get the decisions enforced?[/b]
I'd like to know that too. The Board of CKLN claim it wasn't and they say they got a legal opinion to back them up. And the staff union has distanced themselves from it too.
On the other hand, I am acquainted with a few of the people who have been locked out, and they're progressive people.
Now you see why I'm confused. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
[ 26 June 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:48
#66
Going to court is a last resort, I believe, due to the cost and time involved. A similar case involving CIUT a few years ago spent years in court.
As for the union it's a bit more complicated. The staff can't be involved because this would legally complicate bargaining of their first contract and open them up to charges of bad faith bargaining. Management has already exploited and exaggerated one staff member's nominal involvement in the impeachment process and forced him to resign and the union to issue a statement in order to avoid a bad faith bargaining complaint before the labour board.
Most of the programming that's been axed is feminist, anti-racist or otherwise progressive programming and has been replaced by apolitical or even reactionary pap. Eg a music program that came from a Black lesbian perspective was replaced by a show that played the typical sexist booty music you can hear on Flow.
Thu, 2008-06-26 12:48
#67
Going to court is a last resort, I believe, due to the cost and time involved. A similar case involving CIUT a few years ago spent years in court.
As for the union it's a bit more complicated. The staff can't be involved because this would legally complicate bargaining of their first contract and open them up to charges of bad faith bargaining. Management has already exploited and exaggerated one staff member's nominal involvement in the impeachment process and forced him to resign and the union to issue a statement in order to avoid a bad faith bargaining complaint before the labour board.
Most of the programming that's been axed is feminist, anti-racist or otherwise progressive programming and has been replaced by apolitical or even reactionary pap. Eg a music program that came from a Black lesbian perspective was replaced by a show that played the typical sexist booty music you can hear on Flow.
Mon, 2008-08-18 15:05
#68
Maysie
Denise Benson has been let go after 21 years at CKLN.
quote:
I now join the long list of volunteers fired from CKLN 88.1FMhello friends,
Many of you are longtime listeners and supporters of my Mental Chatter radio program, which has been heard on CKLN 88.1FM since 1987. I've been a volunteer at the station for the past 21 years, and also worked on the management team, first as Development Director (fundraising) and then as Program and Music Director for a number of years in the early '90s.
In short, I know CKLN's principles, policies and stated mandate intimately, as I am among the hundreds of people who worked to develop CKLN into the socially, culturally, and artistically progressive and adventurous radio station it once was.
This past weekend, while I was on vacation, I received a one sentence dismissal 'letter' via email from Interim Station Manager (I'll return to the 'interim' part) Mike Phillips. It reads:
-----
Aug 15, 2008
Denise Benson
address
Toronto
OntarioPlease be advised that your volunteer services at CKLN Radio Inc are no longer required effective immediately.
Mike Phillips.
Station Manager
-------
Yes, that's the extent of it. No cause, no reason, no notice, absolutely no respect. This is the exact same dismissal 'letter' sent now to more than 25 volunteers at CKLN over the past few months. Some of these now dismissed programmers include:
- Verlia Stephens, Limin' With Verlia
- Chloe Onari, Dat Dere
- David Barnard, Lowdown to Uptown
- Ron Nelson and Lisa Skeete, Reggaemania
- Claudia McKoy, Upsurgence
- Audrey Redman, Honour the Earth
- the entire Friday Word of Mouth news crew
- Sharron McLeod
- Nik Red and DJ San Fran, Aftrotransit (also as of this weekend)
- DJs Dialect and Vision, Bruckbeat Radio (also as of this weekend)
- and many more....Those of you who have been listening to CKLN over the past six months in particular may have noticed that the radio station not only often sounds terrible technically (Mike Phillips, the Interim Station Manager also happens to be CKLN's technical Engineer), it has been heavily gutted, both in terms of progressive content and with this firing many volunteers.
I don't know exactly how to explain the situation. It would be more clear if I could say 'They're gutting the station to put in more commercially viable programming' (which many people have been speculating may be the case) or if I could, with certainty, say 'They're firing us in order to create lots of room to put in Ryerson student programming' (which may also be the case,, effectively pitting Ryerson students against community members at a campus-community radio station funded by both).
What is 100% clear is that Interim Station Manager Mike Phillips and Interim Program Director Tony Barnes (both appointed by a Board of Directors on which they now sit and have sat on in the past) have specifically targeted and fired volunteer programmers who have spoken out about their being hired (with no hiring process) in the first place and / or the detrimental decisions they have made and are making.
Again, both of these men were APPOINTED on a one-year INTERIM basis and yet they've felt fully justified in turning CKLN's policies, principles and programming upside down. Any time we question them, whether in person, on-air or in volunteer staff meetings, we have been, at best, greeted with no answers to our questions and, at worst, censored and fired from the airwaves. How convenient for them.
Oh yeah, they've even hired off-duty police officers on a number of occasions to keep dismissed programmers physically out of the radio station and studio as well as out of programmer staff meetings so that we can't even have a say or make other CKLN programmers fully aware of all that is happening.
These police officers have been paid more than $60 per hour by CKLN... that's money contributed by you, the listeners, us, the volunteers and, of course, by Ryerson students as part of their student fees (CKLN gets $8.03 from each full-time Ryerson student).
Obviously, after 21 years of putting my heart and soul (and so much time) into CKLN, I am baffled and upset. Mental Chatter has been a very special opportunity for me to share music, information and interviews with hundreds of local and international artists with tens of thousands of listeners over the years. To say I'll miss producing the show and connecting with people through it is a massive understatement.
There are so many elements to this ongoing tale, more than I can share in one note, so, for now, here is one source of further backgrounding and information: [url=http://www.takebackourradio.blogspot.com/]http://www.takebackourradio.bl...
There is also a Facebook group that has been formed if you care to join:
[url=http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18018193979] facebook group[/url]If you care to let Interim Station Manager Mike Phillips or Interim Program Director Tony Barnes know how you feel about their actions, they can be reached at:
416.979.5251Mike Phillips, Interim Station Manager, extension 2383
[email protected]Tony Barnes, Interim Program Director, extension 2374
[email protected]
Mon, 2008-08-18 15:05
#69
Maysie
Denise Benson has been let go after 21 years at CKLN.
quote:
I now join the long list of volunteers fired from CKLN 88.1FMhello friends,
Many of you are longtime listeners and supporters of my Mental Chatter radio program, which has been heard on CKLN 88.1FM since 1987. I've been a volunteer at the station for the past 21 years, and also worked on the management team, first as Development Director (fundraising) and then as Program and Music Director for a number of years in the early '90s.
In short, I know CKLN's principles, policies and stated mandate intimately, as I am among the hundreds of people who worked to develop CKLN into the socially, culturally, and artistically progressive and adventurous radio station it once was.
This past weekend, while I was on vacation, I received a one sentence dismissal 'letter' via email from Interim Station Manager (I'll return to the 'interim' part) Mike Phillips. It reads:
-----
Aug 15, 2008
Denise Benson
address
Toronto
OntarioPlease be advised that your volunteer services at CKLN Radio Inc are no longer required effective immediately.
Mike Phillips.
Station Manager
-------
Yes, that's the extent of it. No cause, no reason, no notice, absolutely no respect. This is the exact same dismissal 'letter' sent now to more than 25 volunteers at CKLN over the past few months. Some of these now dismissed programmers include:
- Verlia Stephens, Limin' With Verlia
- Chloe Onari, Dat Dere
- David Barnard, Lowdown to Uptown
- Ron Nelson and Lisa Skeete, Reggaemania
- Claudia McKoy, Upsurgence
- Audrey Redman, Honour the Earth
- the entire Friday Word of Mouth news crew
- Sharron McLeod
- Nik Red and DJ San Fran, Aftrotransit (also as of this weekend)
- DJs Dialect and Vision, Bruckbeat Radio (also as of this weekend)
- and many more....Those of you who have been listening to CKLN over the past six months in particular may have noticed that the radio station not only often sounds terrible technically (Mike Phillips, the Interim Station Manager also happens to be CKLN's technical Engineer), it has been heavily gutted, both in terms of progressive content and with this firing many volunteers.
I don't know exactly how to explain the situation. It would be more clear if I could say 'They're gutting the station to put in more commercially viable programming' (which many people have been speculating may be the case) or if I could, with certainty, say 'They're firing us in order to create lots of room to put in Ryerson student programming' (which may also be the case,, effectively pitting Ryerson students against community members at a campus-community radio station funded by both).
What is 100% clear is that Interim Station Manager Mike Phillips and Interim Program Director Tony Barnes (both appointed by a Board of Directors on which they now sit and have sat on in the past) have specifically targeted and fired volunteer programmers who have spoken out about their being hired (with no hiring process) in the first place and / or the detrimental decisions they have made and are making.
Again, both of these men were APPOINTED on a one-year INTERIM basis and yet they've felt fully justified in turning CKLN's policies, principles and programming upside down. Any time we question them, whether in person, on-air or in volunteer staff meetings, we have been, at best, greeted with no answers to our questions and, at worst, censored and fired from the airwaves. How convenient for them.
Oh yeah, they've even hired off-duty police officers on a number of occasions to keep dismissed programmers physically out of the radio station and studio as well as out of programmer staff meetings so that we can't even have a say or make other CKLN programmers fully aware of all that is happening.
These police officers have been paid more than $60 per hour by CKLN... that's money contributed by you, the listeners, us, the volunteers and, of course, by Ryerson students as part of their student fees (CKLN gets $8.03 from each full-time Ryerson student).
Obviously, after 21 years of putting my heart and soul (and so much time) into CKLN, I am baffled and upset. Mental Chatter has been a very special opportunity for me to share music, information and interviews with hundreds of local and international artists with tens of thousands of listeners over the years. To say I'll miss producing the show and connecting with people through it is a massive understatement.
There are so many elements to this ongoing tale, more than I can share in one note, so, for now, here is one source of further backgrounding and information: [url=http://www.takebackourradio.blogspot.com/]http://www.takebackourradio.bl...
There is also a Facebook group that has been formed if you care to join:
[url=http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18018193979] facebook group[/url]If you care to let Interim Station Manager Mike Phillips or Interim Program Director Tony Barnes know how you feel about their actions, they can be reached at:
416.979.5251Mike Phillips, Interim Station Manager, extension 2383
[email protected]Tony Barnes, Interim Program Director, extension 2374
[email protected]
Tue, 2008-08-19 07:10
#70
Management is intent on destroying the station.
quote:
From: Kristin Schwartz
Date: Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Subject: [ckln] CKLN fires its News DirectorDear CKLN community:
On Monday August 11 I was fired from my position as News Director. I will be fighting this termination with the support of the staff union, CUPE 1281.
It has been an honour and a privilege to be able to serve CKLN as News Director over the past years, and I have enjoyed working with many of you. I expect to have that opportunity again in the future. In any case, please do stay in touch.
I am circulating the following request for support. Please forward it to anyone you know who is interested in CKLN's news and spoken word programming.
Kristin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
August 18, 2008
Dear friends, colleagues, comrades:
I am writing to seek your support. On August 11 I was fired from my position as News Director at CKLN 88.1fm, without warning and without cause. After 10 years of service to CKLN, and only six weeks after returning from a year-long parental leave, I was told that the current board of directors and I "do not see eye to eye". For that reason I was terminated, effective immediately.
It is true that I "don't see eye to eye" with the current board as they have taken many steps that I disagree with, including interfering in news programming in ways that are totally unprecedented, and expelling 30 volunteers who have produced excellent, community-based, progressive programming at CKLN, without giving any reasons or opportunity to appeal. This course of action is shameful and demonstrates a complete lack of responsible leadership, in my view.
But "not seeing eye to eye" is not a lawful reason for firing employees. Thankfully, I now have some protection from this board's arbitrary behavior because our workplace is unionized with the largest labour union in the country, the Canadian Union of Public Employees. CUPE Local 1281 is fighting my termination on my behalf.
Please, take a few moments to write a letter in support of my work at CKLN. You may want to highlight these points:
- the importance of CKLN's news department for broadcasting progressive perspectives on the critical issues of our time - war, poverty, violence, ecological devastation - and for providing access to the airwaves to poor and working people, racialized people, women, queer and trans people, youth, disAbled people, and others who are underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media
- the opportunities our news department has created for students, youth and community members to learn about broadcasting
- my work as a journalist and producer of programming which has aired across Canada and the United States
- my excellent record of supporting annual special programming for International Women's Day, LGBTQ Pride, and Prisoner Justice Day
- my contributions to the National Campus/Community Radio Association, and
- the outrageous violation of my rights as a unionized worker, in the midst of bargaining for a first contract.You may send a copy to me at [email protected], our union at [email protected], and to Toby Whitfield, a member of CKLN's board of directors representing the Ryerson Students Union, at [email protected]. The RSU is CKLN's largest funder.
Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Kristin Schwartz
p.s. please forward this message to anyone you think will be interested.
Tue, 2008-08-19 07:10
#71
Management is intent on destroying the station.
quote:
From: Kristin Schwartz
Date: Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Subject: [ckln] CKLN fires its News DirectorDear CKLN community:
On Monday August 11 I was fired from my position as News Director. I will be fighting this termination with the support of the staff union, CUPE 1281.
It has been an honour and a privilege to be able to serve CKLN as News Director over the past years, and I have enjoyed working with many of you. I expect to have that opportunity again in the future. In any case, please do stay in touch.
I am circulating the following request for support. Please forward it to anyone you know who is interested in CKLN's news and spoken word programming.
Kristin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
August 18, 2008
Dear friends, colleagues, comrades:
I am writing to seek your support. On August 11 I was fired from my position as News Director at CKLN 88.1fm, without warning and without cause. After 10 years of service to CKLN, and only six weeks after returning from a year-long parental leave, I was told that the current board of directors and I "do not see eye to eye". For that reason I was terminated, effective immediately.
It is true that I "don't see eye to eye" with the current board as they have taken many steps that I disagree with, including interfering in news programming in ways that are totally unprecedented, and expelling 30 volunteers who have produced excellent, community-based, progressive programming at CKLN, without giving any reasons or opportunity to appeal. This course of action is shameful and demonstrates a complete lack of responsible leadership, in my view.
But "not seeing eye to eye" is not a lawful reason for firing employees. Thankfully, I now have some protection from this board's arbitrary behavior because our workplace is unionized with the largest labour union in the country, the Canadian Union of Public Employees. CUPE Local 1281 is fighting my termination on my behalf.
Please, take a few moments to write a letter in support of my work at CKLN. You may want to highlight these points:
- the importance of CKLN's news department for broadcasting progressive perspectives on the critical issues of our time - war, poverty, violence, ecological devastation - and for providing access to the airwaves to poor and working people, racialized people, women, queer and trans people, youth, disAbled people, and others who are underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media
- the opportunities our news department has created for students, youth and community members to learn about broadcasting
- my work as a journalist and producer of programming which has aired across Canada and the United States
- my excellent record of supporting annual special programming for International Women's Day, LGBTQ Pride, and Prisoner Justice Day
- my contributions to the National Campus/Community Radio Association, and
- the outrageous violation of my rights as a unionized worker, in the midst of bargaining for a first contract.You may send a copy to me at [email protected], our union at [email protected], and to Toby Whitfield, a member of CKLN's board of directors representing the Ryerson Students Union, at [email protected]. The RSU is CKLN's largest funder.
Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Kristin Schwartz
p.s. please forward this message to anyone you think will be interested.
Wed, 2008-08-20 17:36
#72
quote:
Respected DJ Denise Benson, Many Other Volunteers Fired From CKLN Without Reason
8/20/2008Denise Benson, one of Canada’s most influential radio hosts (and former Exclaim! scribe), has been abruptly dismissed from her long-running show, Mental Chatter, by the management of Toronto’s CKLN-FM (88.1 FM), Ryerson University’s campus radio station.
In a memo on her Facebook page, Benson reprinted the solitary sentence that ended her 21-year VOLUNTEER tenure at the station, which simply read: “Please be advised that your volunteer services at CKLN Radio Inc. are no longer required effective immediately.”
The termination of Benson, along with Nik Red of Afrotransit, Francis Yee Loy (DJ San Fran) fill-in for Afrotransit and former Full Moon host Mano Narayanan (DJ Dialect) and Cheldon Paterson (DJ Vision) of Bruckbeat Radio, and a number of other volunteers, is the latest chapter in a long struggle between CKLN’s board of directors, management and volunteers. A group called “Take Back Our Radio Station” challenges the legitimacy of the current board and station management.
The management has given little explanation for the dismissal of 30 volunteers since February, including local radio legends Ron Nelson, Chloe Onari and David Barnard. Long-standing news director Kristin Schwartz was also released without reason, stating "After ten years of service to CKLN, and only six weeks after returning from a year-long parental leave, I was told that the current board of directors and I 'do not see eye to eye'. For that reason I was terminated, effective immediately.
Benson has been a tireless supporter of CKLN and campus radio in general, though she had also been sharply critical of management’s actions over the past few months. In her Facebook message, she noted that station management have “specifically targeted and fired volunteer programmers who have spoken out about their being hired (with no hiring process) in the first place and/or the detrimental decisions they have made and are making.”
Benson is one of Toronto’s most popular DJs and club columnists, and was recently appointed to the Polaris Music Prize Grand Jury for 2008.
[url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=124&cs...! News[/url]
Wed, 2008-08-20 17:36
#73
quote:
Respected DJ Denise Benson, Many Other Volunteers Fired From CKLN Without Reason
8/20/2008Denise Benson, one of Canada’s most influential radio hosts (and former Exclaim! scribe), has been abruptly dismissed from her long-running show, Mental Chatter, by the management of Toronto’s CKLN-FM (88.1 FM), Ryerson University’s campus radio station.
In a memo on her Facebook page, Benson reprinted the solitary sentence that ended her 21-year VOLUNTEER tenure at the station, which simply read: “Please be advised that your volunteer services at CKLN Radio Inc. are no longer required effective immediately.”
The termination of Benson, along with Nik Red of Afrotransit, Francis Yee Loy (DJ San Fran) fill-in for Afrotransit and former Full Moon host Mano Narayanan (DJ Dialect) and Cheldon Paterson (DJ Vision) of Bruckbeat Radio, and a number of other volunteers, is the latest chapter in a long struggle between CKLN’s board of directors, management and volunteers. A group called “Take Back Our Radio Station” challenges the legitimacy of the current board and station management.
The management has given little explanation for the dismissal of 30 volunteers since February, including local radio legends Ron Nelson, Chloe Onari and David Barnard. Long-standing news director Kristin Schwartz was also released without reason, stating "After ten years of service to CKLN, and only six weeks after returning from a year-long parental leave, I was told that the current board of directors and I 'do not see eye to eye'. For that reason I was terminated, effective immediately.
Benson has been a tireless supporter of CKLN and campus radio in general, though she had also been sharply critical of management’s actions over the past few months. In her Facebook message, she noted that station management have “specifically targeted and fired volunteer programmers who have spoken out about their being hired (with no hiring process) in the first place and/or the detrimental decisions they have made and are making.”
Benson is one of Toronto’s most popular DJs and club columnists, and was recently appointed to the Polaris Music Prize Grand Jury for 2008.
[url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=124&cs...! News[/url]
Thu, 2008-08-21 06:07
#74
[url=http://www.shamelessmag.com/blog/2008/08/taking-back-the-airwaves/]Taking Back the Airwaves[/url]
quote:
Campus/community radio has long been welcoming to women and their views, especially considering the limited access feminists have historically had to mainstream media. Campus/community radio has been an important platform for feminists to engage in discussions rarely heard on mainstream airwaves, tackle important women’s issues and give underrepresented female musicians a presence. It’s a vital outlet in the face of mass media that is becoming increasingly hostile to feminist ideas and generally perpetuates narrow, stereotypical ideas about gender.That said, I’d like to draw your attention to the horrible situation over at CKLN, the campus/community based at Ryerson University in Toronto. Over the past few months, many programmers and hosts that have been at the station for years have been shut out by illegitimate station management in an effort to make the station commercial.
Among the lists of cancelled shows is Radio Cliteracy, an important and bold feminist talk show, as well as Frequency Feminisms and Honour The Earth, which have been removed from the Sunday grid. So far, over 30 volunteers have been dismissed from CLKN without warning and without cause, including many LGTB, First Nations, and a psychiatric survivor programmers, women of colour and a trans person.
Luckily, people have been fighting to get back into the station and onto the airwaves with pickets, organizing meetings and a website. They need our support, so please do what you can to spread the word about keeping campus/community radio open for all.
[url=http://takebackourradio.blogspot.com/]Check out the blog here.[/url] (My apologies if it's already been posted above.)
Thu, 2008-08-21 06:07
#75
[url=http://www.shamelessmag.com/blog/2008/08/taking-back-the-airwaves/]Taking Back the Airwaves[/url]
quote:
Campus/community radio has long been welcoming to women and their views, especially considering the limited access feminists have historically had to mainstream media. Campus/community radio has been an important platform for feminists to engage in discussions rarely heard on mainstream airwaves, tackle important women’s issues and give underrepresented female musicians a presence. It’s a vital outlet in the face of mass media that is becoming increasingly hostile to feminist ideas and generally perpetuates narrow, stereotypical ideas about gender.That said, I’d like to draw your attention to the horrible situation over at CKLN, the campus/community based at Ryerson University in Toronto. Over the past few months, many programmers and hosts that have been at the station for years have been shut out by illegitimate station management in an effort to make the station commercial.
Among the lists of cancelled shows is Radio Cliteracy, an important and bold feminist talk show, as well as Frequency Feminisms and Honour The Earth, which have been removed from the Sunday grid. So far, over 30 volunteers have been dismissed from CLKN without warning and without cause, including many LGTB, First Nations, and a psychiatric survivor programmers, women of colour and a trans person.
Luckily, people have been fighting to get back into the station and onto the airwaves with pickets, organizing meetings and a website. They need our support, so please do what you can to spread the word about keeping campus/community radio open for all.
[url=http://takebackourradio.blogspot.com/]Check out the blog here.[/url] (My apologies if it's already been posted above.)
Tue, 2008-08-26 19:03
#76
Is radio still relevant seeing that podcasts are becoming a more favoured medium? Also have any of the people displaced by the management brouhaha gone on to keep their shows alive by using podcasts?
Tue, 2008-08-26 19:03
#77
Is radio still relevant seeing that podcasts are becoming a more favoured medium? Also have any of the people displaced by the management brouhaha gone on to keep their shows alive by using podcasts?
Tue, 2008-08-26 20:00
#78
Podcasts won't replace community radio.
Not everyone can afford an iPod and uploading.
Podcasts may have advocates but the community that is built around keeping a station going 24-7 is different.
Maybe not better but different.
Tue, 2008-08-26 20:00
#79
Podcasts won't replace community radio.
Not everyone can afford an iPod and uploading.
Podcasts may have advocates but the community that is built around keeping a station going 24-7 is different.
Maybe not better but different.
Wed, 2008-10-29 05:01
#80
Maysie
Update, meeting tonight in Toronto:
quote:
For Immediate Release October 27, 2008Take Back Our Radio Association
The crisis of governance at CKLN Campus/Community Radio continues to escalate. The illegal Board of Directors has called an
Annual General meeting:Wednesday, October 29th at 7 pm in Oakham House, Room G.
Agenda: Financial Report
Union negotiations
Election of Community Reps to the Board of DirectorsOakham House is part of Ryerson University campus at Gould/ Church.
Station Manager Mike Phillips has called this meeting. As “dismissed” volunteers and community supporters, we strongly object to this AGM for these reasons:
Mike Phillips, Interim Station Manager, has no legal authority to call a CKLN Annual General Meeting, because he was democratically voted out of office by an overwhelming 90% majority on a non-confidence motion on January 23, 2008 at a Special General Meeting called by the membership in accordance with CKLN by-laws. Nevertheless Phillips and a right wing clique have occupied the radio station from January until now and are violating the mandate of the station to be an inclusive and progressive station and a voice for marginalized communities in Toronto.
Programming has deteriorated as indicated by the failure of this illegal board to raise adequate money at the recent Fund fest and the withholding of the student levy to the station by Ryerson Students Union.
At previous meetings Metro Police have been employed to bar the new board and its supporters from participating. We intend to challenge this exclusion on October 29th.
We therefore ask all “dismissed” CKLN volunteer programmers,hosts and staff (35 so far) and concerned community supporters of CKLN and Ryerson students to attend the Annual General Meeting Wednesday October 29th at 7pm. Our purpose is to publicize and protest against this meeting as illegitimate and biased, a mockery of the democratic process, a complete sham!
Signed:
Catherine Holliday 416 533 6630 [email protected]
Owen Leach
Don Weitz [email protected]
(Dismissed volunteers and community supporters)
Wed, 2008-10-29 20:35
#81
Burn it down.
Thu, 2008-10-30 06:17
#82
quote:
Originally posted by peskyfly1:
[b]Burn it down.[/b]
That's not an appropriate comment.
Thu, 2008-10-30 06:49
#83
Yeah, not overly productive.
So, did anyone go last night? What happened?
Thu, 2008-10-30 09:11
#84
quote:
Originally posted by Michelle:
[b]Yeah, not overly productive.So, did anyone go last night? What happened?[/b]
The last AGM was in the spring of 2007. This one was delayed and management decided arbitrarily to disenfranchise anyone who gave money to the station in the fall 2007 Fundfest campaign or anyone who gave money in 2008 before the September 2008 Fundfest campaign. They also arbitrarily raised the minimum donation required to be considered a community member from $10 to $50.
Anyway, yesterday several dozen disenfranchised community members and "fired" volunteers showed up for what was supposed to be a 7pm meeting. Management panicked and changed the location of the meeting and then tried to exclude anyone they didn't want from attending. They were unsuccessful. They then ran away to have an "emergency" board meeting in which they decided to call the cops with the intent of having the police remove individuals who management didn't want there (ie the majority of the attendees). The cops showed up but the manager of the student centre refused to allow CKLN management to use the cops to throw people off of Ryerson Student Union property and so they cancelled the room booking.
CKLN management then returned and adjourned the meeting claiming they were doing so for "safety" concerns (when in fact all that was happening they were doing this because the Ryerson Students Union refused to let them use the cops to throw people out) and said that they'd reschedule the meeting for a later date.
Thu, 2008-10-30 10:45
#85
Cueball
Good show, sounds like.
Wed, 2008-11-19 14:07
#86
ABUSE OF POWER CONTINUES AT CKLNThe illegitimate board and management currently controlling CKLN has re-scheduled "their" Annual General Meeting to take place:
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23rd, from 6 - 8 PM
@ EL MOCAMBO, (464 Spadina Ave., College and Spadina)With
this meeting, they seek to replace the AGM which was to be held on Oct.
29th but never took place due to an internal lack of consensus,
coordination and direction by those in mis-management positions and
their supporters.JOIN THE PICKET!!
Locked out
programmers and community allies were there on the 29th to peacefully
protest this blatant abuse of power. So was the police which was called
by Barnes, Phillips & dismissed board members in a move that
constituted a clear violation of the Student Centre mandate (as a
result the SCC has revoked CKLN's rental privileges for the time being).This
shamed and failed AGM was marked by unfriendly treatment towards
community and volunteers deemed "too critical or outspoken" by
mis-management. Furthermore, a couple of programmers have been
dismissed/locked-out of their shows in retaliation for their perceived
"inability" to be YES people - while turning a blind eye to injustices
- and go along with these blatant violations of regulations, bylaws and
mandate.COME OUT TO EL MOCAMBO ON THE 23rd!!
Most AGM's
are open to the public, yet the ckln.fm website states that this
particular meeting will be a "MEMBERS ONLY MEETING" open exclusively to
"current volunteers in good standing, community members who have
donated $50 or more and have paid in full, and currently enrolled
students of Ryerson University". Their agenda includes:1. New Station Manager introduction
2. Financial Report
3. Union negotiations
4. Elections for community reps to CKLN Board of Directors (2)
5. Other businessThis
re-schedule and it's "exclusive" nature, are both reactionary actions
which clearly seek to disenfranchise the community at large, the locked
out programmers and anyone who disagrees with the status quo calling
the shots at CKLN.DON'T LET THEM SILENCE OR EXCLUDE YOU, RECLAIM CKLN!!!
Wed, 2008-11-19 18:59
#87
Apparently CityTV or CTV(sorry was driving didn't hear who or the numbers) is also laying off a lotof journalists. This appears to have alarmed the journalist community. They claim that Journalism(J for short) is ver labour intensive. J can not do a proper job of reporting if there is a continuation of lay offs. Well maybe you should have thought about that before abdicating your responsibilties and asking tough questions. J is now worried about the concentration of media in only a few hands. Again this is ONLY NOW a problem.
While I do think that it sucks. I think they are more worried about their jobs than actual quality of reporting that they bring to the table. If they did care they would have looked in the mirror a long time ago.
______________________________________________________________________________________
"Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it."
Noam Chomsky
Wed, 2008-11-19 20:44
#88
Thorin, did you read the discussion before you posted? This is a thread about a takeover at a community radio station, not about layoffs in the corporate media.
Fri, 2008-11-21 14:23
#89
Sorry I posetd on the wrong one. I thought I was posting on the Asper thing of 560 jobs, I had them open in different tabs at the time.
______________________________________________________________________________________
"Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it."
Noam Chomsky
Fri, 2008-11-21 18:31
#90
No problem - just trying to prevent thread drift.
I know that when one has something to say on a topic but either doesn't want to open a new thread or isn't sure where an existing thread is there's sometimes a temptation just to post to a thread that's vaguely in the ball park even if one's posting a complete non sequitor.
Wed, 2009-03-04 09:46
#91
Mycroft, could you paint a picture for us since you seem to be familiar with this whole situation? It doesn't say in this article which side of the dispute these people mentioned are on. Or is it more complicated than that at this point?
What a mess.
Wed, 2009-03-04 09:59
#92
Does the CRTC ever intervene in these sorts of messes?
Wed, 2009-03-04 11:31
#93
Mycroft, could you paint a picture for us since you seem to be familiar with this whole situation? It doesn't say in this article which side of the dispute these people mentioned are on. Or is it more complicated than that at this point?
What a mess.
Last year a faction took over CKLN and over a 6 month period purged the station of over 50 volunteer programmers and several staff. Those purged had supported a Special General Meeting that impeached the board and led to the election of a new board. However, the incumbent board did not recognize this meeting and refused to cede control to the new board (and proceeded to purge anyone who openly opposed them). They also delayed the regularly scheduled AGM, raised the membership fee and otherwise gamed the system in order to disenfranchise most of these programmers and their supporters so that they could not vote in the general meeting that was finally held last November.
Despite all this the management faction was not able to elect a complete slate and several individuals who were not with the purged programmers but who were somewhat independent were elected. Nevertheless, for a time, the management faction held a majority on the board.
Last fall the Ryerson Student Union suspended funding for CKLN (a student fee covers 60% of the CKLN budget) because of the dispute between teh two rival boards. That, combined with the withdrawal of support for the station by opponents of the new management leading to a disastrous fundraising campaign as well as the failure of the new managements plans for corporate advertising to take off put the station into a financial tailspin.
The management panicked and announced a lawsuit against RSU and Ryerson University for witholding the student fee. Initially, this lawsuit (amazingly) had the support of the three student members of the Board but it appears that once the lawsuit become public there was tremendous blowback and the fence sitters on the board moved against the management.
Last week, the board (that is the board that had been led by the management who had led the purge last year) turned against management and sacked the chair of the board, the program manager and station manager. The vice-chair became the new chair and announced that the stations bank account was empty and suggested there had been some sort of corrupt activities by management. She locked the station down since the now deposed management refused to recognize their removal.
She has said there will be a new Special General Meeting in a few weeks and that the people who were purged last year will be able to participate - in essence and it seems this is happenign with the cooperation of the alternate board - ie those who were elected last year but whose election was not recognized by management.
So you have three factions
1) the people who were purged last year and who elected their own board (a board in exile, if you like)
2) the management faction who took control last year and who now seem to have been purged
3) a third faction which now has control of the station but whose tenancy is unclear and is being challenged by the managment faction.
The break in on the weeked was committed by supporters of the management faction angry at the turn of events. Dhabid (David) James was the chief cheerleader of last year's purges, was responsible for most of the management's strategy.
Wed, 2009-03-04 11:46
#94
Cueball
Are the police going to investigate the charge of graft against the so called "management" faction for the misuse of funds?
Wed, 2009-03-04 11:57
#95
Cueball, I don't know what's going to happen or what Mercedes (the acting board chair now in control of the station) is going to do.
Here's another article:
Wed, 2009-03-04 12:50
#96
Thanks very much, Mycroft, very informative. I knew the first part of the story, but not the most recent events and players and factions. Such a soap opera, huh?
Fri, 2009-03-06 22:10
#97
A Special General Meeting has been called for March 22.
Fri, 2009-03-06 23:13
#98
Frustrated Mess
[quote] 30-something beatniks[/qupte]???
Sorry, but the Eyeopener is an eye roller. Can you say "credibility" hep cats?
Tue, 2009-03-10 21:21
#99
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 15:23:27 I just had a short telephone conversation with Mercedes of West Indies Flames. She was one of the board members that had allegedly taken over the station when the lock out began (in late February 2009). It appears now that 'Ryerson', or unknown people above RSU, Executive Director of Operations & Services, Michael Verticchio: 'No longer have interests in operating a radio station at Ryerson'. They 'Ryerson' have changed the locks, and when the 2 week rebroadcast ends, so will CKLN, with 24 hours of dead air. I assume it is the President’s office behind the lockout. The President’s office had not returned my phone call of Monday March 9th, 4pm and did not talk to me, or sound very encouraging, when I followed up 24 hours later and explained that this matter is urgent All the parties that have been sued recently by CKLN-FM Inc probably see this (shutting down CKLN) as the quickest and easiest resolution to their problems. What was it that caused this? Perhaps, a $500,000.00 suit against RSU and Ryerson President’s office, and X amount of dollars suit against Ron Nelson. Shannon Reiner aka Freedom DJ/Fire Root/...
Wed, 2009-03-11 07:36
#100
Does the CRTC have a role in this affair? Is a station permitted to just cease broadcasting?
Thu, 2009-10-08 05:27
#101
Sky Captain
Podcasts won't replace community radio.Not everyone can afford an iPod and uploading.
iPods are not that expensive (you can find refurbished ones if you shop around), and downloading to an iPod or any other MP3 player can be done at the Apple Store(s) or at a cybercafe.