Canadian reporter wins unfair dismissal case

A Canadian television reporter has won a case for unfair dismissal against US network ABC News after it ended his contract when…

A Canadian television reporter has won a case for unfair dismissal against US network ABC News after it ended his contract when he refused to go to Iraq.

Richard Gizbert, who previously reported from Bosnia and Chechnya, had claimed £2.2 million in compensation from ABC after it axed him in 2004.

"This ruling decided he had been unfairly dismissed on the grounds of health and safety," a spokesman for the Central London Employment Tribunal told Reuters. "There will be further hearing to determine compensation in a month or so," he added.

Mr Gizbert's claim for breach of contract was dropped. The London-based journalist (47) was a staff reporter for ABC from 1993 until he quit to go freelance in 2002, with a guarantee of work from the network.

He said his contract was terminated after he refused twice to report from Iraq on the grounds that he no longer wanted to undertake long assignments because of family commitments.

ABC denied that his dismissal was connected with his refusal to work in Iraq and said his fee and lack of flexibility made him too expensive during a time of cost cutting.

The tribunal unanimously rejected ABC's arguments.

ABC said it was considering its options.

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