By: E&P Staff The Times-Standard (Eureka, Calif.) reported Tuesday that the state's director of Industrial Relations is reviewing the Daily Triplicate's appeal of a recent labor commission decision. The commission found the newspaper guilty of unlawfully firing a reporting after he decided to run for public office.
The Daily Triplicate (Crescent City, Calif.) -- in addition to many papers nationwide -- have polices that restrict the political activities of its reporters that include participating in protests and running for public office.
Former reporter Kent Gray told the Times-Standard he was aware of the Triplicate's policy and suggested he take another position or leave of absence during his campaign. However, when all was said and done, he allowed himself to be terminated.
?This is a labor issue, not a freedom of the press issue,? he told the paper. ?The paper is still free to gather, edit and print the news as it sees fit without government pressure to alter its expression.?
However, the Triplicate's attorney, Stuart Miller, said that the newspaper was given no choice but to fire Gray. There are only two reporters on the staff, and one running for office could disrupt the newspaper's sense of neutrality.
?The facts here were pretty strong,? Miller told The Times-Standard. ?This guy wasn't just signing a petition or making a political contribution, this guy was running for the county board of supervisors.?
The decision that the commission made -- that the newspaper discriminated against Gray and ordered that he be reinstated and reimbursed for lost wages and other costs -- is on hold pending the appeal. If the director does not overturn the appeal, the case is likely to end up in court.
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