KCBS likes to preach how much they're "family" and staffers routinely are exposed to a homey "all for one and one for all" mentality. It sounds good in theory even if it's rings a bit hollow around 855 Battery.
One view from an industry source:
" Another act of Age Discrimination at CBS masked as a reorganization. Look back at the Layoffs of Bill Schechner, Manny Ramos, Tony Russomanno, Barbara Rogers at KPIX. All let go under the guise of "down sizing", only to see those same positions filled with younger-cheaper people."
"Sadly, CBS and Corporate America have gotten used to getting away with this kind of bull shit. Most of the KPIX people never worked in TV again. Many of them, did ---however--- got a nice windfall. But Danos was member of the "throw away" PART TIME army in broadcasting and AFTRA is going to be no help at all. Just ask the KPIX Crew."
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Aftra is a joke. They're a useless union that just collects fees. I feel bad for Dean. KCBS is getting by because there is no competition. Old KGO would have made KCBS management nervous but not now. They can do whatever they want with no consequences. Ed Cavagnaro belongs in the Hall of Shame
ReplyDeleteAFTRA is no joke. The station I worked for was sold in 2012 in a bankruptcy sale to a cluster here in town where overwhelmingly most of the stations are non union. Those on the air staff who were hired by the cluster remain in the union to this day. Those who were not hired by the cluster (which included me) got our full severance packages, even though the owners of my station fought hard not to pay because of the bankruptcy. My severance helped me bridge to a new career. AFTRA is no joke.
DeleteThey have any other employees in their 80's? If so, they should be worried too.
ReplyDeleteSo Rich, people who work in broadcasting should never be fired? Guess broadcasting is different than all other industries, employment for life.
ReplyDeleteDean Danos's firing has age discrimination written all over it.
ReplyDeleteThere are no shockwaves in the KCBS newsroom. Most people working there don't even know yet that Dean has been let go. He wasn't let go because of downsizing. Did you hear him on the air during the earthquake?
ReplyDeleteAre you REALLY comparing this guy to Bill Schechner et al? I'm betting you'd never even heard of him before you started treating this like you treat everything. Never miss a chance to turn a molehill into Mount Everest.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Dean is a perfectly kind and nice and decent person, but his delivery was tortuously slow. You could finish his sentences for him in your own head. Laborious and tedious listening.
ReplyDeleteThere is illegal age discrimination in the workplace. If a person is fired because they are "too old" and between the ages of 40-70, and can show proof that was the reason, they may have a case. There is age discrimination also, which is not illegal. In any event, I think broadcasters ought to hold a fundraising farewell party for this gentleman, who has survived longer than anyone in the Bay Area ever. One of the greatest broadcasters, Andy Rooney was still knocking them out of the park at what age? There are jobs out there that have great protections against such discrimination. Those would be the true professions that require licensure, testing, a difficult course of study. As long as you are still mentally and physically capable, you can practice medicine, law, etc. There are no specific educational requirements needed to be a journalist, a t.v. reporter or a radio announcer. There is no tenure in broadcasting for anyone. AFTRA can't change federal age discrimination statutes.
ReplyDeleteNo one at KCBS is worried for their job. Firings are about as common as a major earthquake, it happens maybe once every 20 years. Age discrimination could be a good defense but what happens (and Christine, perhaps you can answer this) when a person is no longer performing to a particular standard? And the reason might be because age has caused either impairment or has just slowed you down to a point where you can't keep pace on breaking news when it happens?
ReplyDeleteReread my last post. The protected class is 40-70. Outside of that, you lose those protections. There's no further need to examine anything. Now if a 75 year old employee, hypothetically is fired because of race, creed, gender,national origin, and not age, the fired worker may have a remedy.
ReplyDelete