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AFGE Fights November RIF of Office of Cuba Broadcasting Employees
September 19, 2022
Categories:
The Insider
The Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) is planning a Reduction in Force (RIF) in November that could initially affect 20-30 employees.
OCB currently has approximately 65 employees. Based on the information provided to the union, approximately 40 employees would remain. Of the 40 employees, 13 are managers/supervisors and 27 would be bargaining unit employees. That equals 2.07 employees per manager/supervisor.
But the final number is unclear. AFGE Local 1812 President Paula Hickey said what the agency gave the local was a competitive list of possible positions, which can fit more than one employee. If RIFed, employees will not be called back to work. It’s a permanent separation as their positions are abolished.
“The union is greatly disappointed that the USAGM has decided to take the unnecessary step of a RIF. This will prove catastrophic for OCB employees, OCB’s mission, the Cuban people and U.S. Cuban policy,” said the local president. “We urge USAGM to work with Congress to provide the funds to preserve this vital beacon of hope.”
With the increased oppression on the Cuban island, OCB employees cannot understand how USAGM/OCB and the Biden administration are abandoning such an important arm of the U.S. government in providing the oppressed on the island news and information that is so important and vital to them, the local said.
“Many employees at OCB were themselves political prisoners or oppressed by the Cuban government and are here at OCB fighting against what the Cuban regime is doing to political activists on the island,” said Local 1812 Vice President Oscar Mora.
USAGM told the local that the RIF is due to budgetary constraints. The local brought the issue up with a bipartisan group of members of Congress, who questioned the agency’s financial excuse.
“We were briefed that on August 16, 2022, the American Federation of Government Employees was informed that the RIF was pursuant to OCB’s ‘budget constraints.’ However, Congress provided transfer authorities for FY2021 and FY2022 to avoid a RIF. Even though Congress has not yet passed a FY2023 funding bill, Congress still retains the prerogative to provide transfer authorities to OCB for FY2023. For USAGM to base such drastic actions on assumed budget levels, prior to Congressional action, is premature,” the lawmakers said in a Sept. 12 letter to OCB Director Sylvia Rosabal and U.S. Agency for Global Media Acting Chief Executive Officer Kelu Chao.
The lawmakers also questioned why USAGM has repeatedly requested drastic cuts of more than 50% to OCB starting in fiscal 2019. They said the agency’s mission to support the right of the Cuban people is important especially after historic protest in July last year and the Cuban’s regime internet blackouts blocking access to information across the island.
“We understand that many of the employees included on a preliminary RIF list are international broadcasters, television technicians/video editors and other employees whose skills are necessary to support USAGM’s wider effort to produce more digital content,” said the lawmakers. “We believe that USAGM has failed to justify to Congress as to how these changes will further OCB’s mission to support the right of the Cuban people to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas.”
The letter was signed by Florida senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, four Florida representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, and Reps. Albio Sires and Nicole Malliotakis from New Jersey and New York respectively.
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