RSSRadio KDNA plans to use volunteers to broadcast
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GRANGER, Wash. -- Radio KDNA's executive director plans to use volunteers to resume broadcasting today as station employees continue their strike outside the building.
The 91.9 FM signal was little more than static Monday. Plans by management to air programs were hindered by a blown fuse due to the weekend's heat.
Meanwhile, employees set up a makeshift "Cadenita" station, calling it "La Cadenita" -- or "Little Chain," a reference to the word spelled out by the station's call letters in Spanish. But instead of broadcasting over the airwaves, announcers could only reach passers-by through speakers outside the Granger building.
Maria Fernandez, executive director of KDNA's parent organization, said the station will depend on some long-time volunteers starting to man the station during the strike.
"They'll be doing what they did back in 1979 when KDNA was founded, and that is volunteer their time to ensure the radio continues to operate," she said.
The station reaches Spanish-speaking listeners throughout the Yakima Valley, who rely on it for information about education, employment, immigration and health.
KDNA production manager Jesus Sosa said he doesn't blame volunteers for helping, but called it unfair of management to use volunteers against employees.
"That's a huge offense to the work we produce, as workers, and to the community," he said.
Employees took the Spanish-language public broadcaster off the air on Saturday to protest the dismissals of two co-workers who say they were fired for union organizing.
Fernandez said she dismissed the employees because of their work performance and won't bring them back.
Management and workers are waiting to hear from the National Labor Relations Board, which is investigating the dismissals. The regional director of the board -- an independent federal agency that governs relations between unions and employers -- could not be reached for comment Monday.
Problems at the station began last summer when Fernandez was hired to replace Ricardo Garcia, who led the station for 29 years.
* Melissa Sánchez can be reached at 577-7675 or msanchez@yakimaherald.com.
In response to all the media over the weekend covering this startling story, I couldn't hold back my biggest concern of the people who are still allowed as KDNA staff. More especially to Mr. Lobos who made such a heart breaking statement stating that these staff members are afraid of education. How dare he say such a thing when this radio station was and still is based on education and more importantly based on the support of the community. I, Mrs. Mondragon, am part of this listening community who now finds it difficult and heart wrenching to be aware of the unfair labor practices performed by the new director of KDNA.
Education is not what these staff members fear, I believe they fear ignorant people who are not aware of the purpose of this family orientated station and fear that this new management does not bring this long term family friendly atmosphere. Explain to a community member why they were not greeted by Maria Fernandez in sincere gratitude to have them visit the new building; because from my personal experience, I did not receive that welcoming feeling when I visited.
Also explain to me Maria how these workers have been let go due to their performance when YOUR performance shows in the statistics that you have not allocated enough funds for this station to continue within the past 5-6 months you have been hired. Explain to me how my donations are now being used as a payment for your lawyer to fight this current union controversy.
I am a supporter of this fight and I will continue to spread the word for support. KDNA needs their workers back in their positions they have long worked hard for. Most importantly I would like to see more appreciation to the KDNA listeners this station depends on.
He estado al pendiente de todos los comentarios y he oido las dos versiones tanto de los trabajadores como de la administracion y la verdad dejan mucho que desear la nueva administracion al no saber la mision de esta estacion que por casi 30 años a servido a nuestra comunidad satisfactoriamente y opino lo mismo que la Sra. mondragon como es que usen recursos de la organizacion y sobre todo de nosotros la comunidad para pagar abogados para estar encontra de los trabajadores cuando Radio Cadena se conoce por apoyar a los trabajadores que son maltratados y abusados en sus trabajos, asi que tanto la mesa directiva como la nueva administracion deberia de poner atencion realmente cual es la mision de estas estacion, y dejar a los trabajadores seguir con su labor altruista ya que se ve la Sra. Maria Fernandes no sabe nada de esto, dice que quiere hacer cambios eso estamos escuchando desde que ella entro hace mas de 9 meses , queremos realmente saber cuales son sus cambio por que lo unico que se ve son los cambios negativos que ella esta asiendo al poner gente incompentente al aire y sobre todo que nisiquiera sabe hablar y mucho menos tiene buenos modales y son groceras con la gente al colgarles el telefono y ponerse a discutir con ellos, eso si deja mucho que desear, ahora que se las dos versiones de este problema estoy 100% con los trabajadores y al igual que mucha gente voy a seguir pasando la voz de apoyar al personal de RAdio Cadena. Gracias
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