Fired TV broadcaster files Human Rights complaint

[radiofan]

Fired TV broadcaster Damian Goddard files Human Rights complaint against Rogers Communications Inc.

TORONTO, June 23, 2011 /CNW/ - Veteran TV personality Damian Goddard, who was fired after tweeting about his support of the Catholic Church's stance on marriage, will be filing a Human Rights complaint against his former employer, Rogers Communications Inc.

On May 10, 2011, Goddard, a lifelong Roman Catholic, issued a tweet from his personal Twitter account stating: "I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and true meaning of marriage." Approximately 24 hours later, Goddard, who has worked as a TV sports broadcaster in Canada for the past 15 years, was terminated from his position as an announcer on Rogers Sportsnet.

"We believe this sudden and very public termination represents a clear violation of Damian's freedom of speech and his freedom of religion - two fundamental rights that are supposed to be afforded to every Canadian," said William Gale, a partner with employment and labour law firm Grosman, Grosman & Gale, which is representing Goddard in this matter. "Critics on Twitter were calling for his head because he expressed a commonly held opinion that they didn't like. Rogers answered that call swiftly and publicly. By doing so, they cemented the impression that his Catholic beliefs are inappropriate and grounds for dismissal. We also contend that unless it is challenged, this 'termination after a tweet' threatens to set a dangerous precedent for all Canadians in this still-evolving world of social media."

Over the past six weeks, Goddard's termination by Rogers Communications Inc. has generated international media coverage.

"My message to the millions of Canadians participating in social media is that 'this can happen to you'," said Goddard. "I was terminated 24 hours after expressing a widely-held opinion from my personal Twitter account - an opinion consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. And an opinion that is supposed to be protected by Canada's constitution."

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c8846.html

[Howaboutthat]

I'm guessing he'll have to get in line.

[slowhand]

Gotta wonder if expressing such a belief on Twitter would not be grounds for dismissal as a Human Rights Commissioner. Probably so which means he won't have a hope with his appeal.

Going to federal and provincial government labour departments sounds like a better approach. At least federally he could appeal to the MP or Prime Minister who likely hold the same beliefs. It would be hard for Rogers to explain how those beliefs could reduce his ability to report on Sports enough to justify firing him.

The Human Rights approach has another downside in that expressing strongly held views of the religion you belong to can violate Canadian law. Some Canadian Islamic religious leaders were caught supporting the actions of 9/11 during their speeches in their Mosque shortly after the events of 2001. That does not give anyone who heard it the right to say they agree on Twitter and expect to keep their broadcasting job.