RI Public Radio Reporter Says Station Blocking Her Unemployment
GoLocalProv News Staff and Kate Nagle
RI Public Radio Reporter Says Station Blocking Her Unemployment
Jonic says she was fired after she raised issues and ultimately filed a complaint for alleged gender-based discrimination by the station.
Specifically, Jonic claims that a male reporter made nearly 30% more than female counterparts with more broadcast experience. Now, Jonic is asking RI listeners to shift to listen WGBH. The Boston station already has twice as many RI listeners than RI Public Radio commands.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDispute over unemployment claim
"I was surprised to learn on Friday, April 11th, that Rhode Island Public Radio is contesting my right to receive unemployment insurance benefits. RIPR (General Manager) Joseph O'Connor has gone out of his way to avoid saying I've been fired because he knows that to do so would be in direct conflict with federal law, which prohibits retaliation against any person alleging discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission," Jonic told GoLocal on Saturday.
In an email on Saturday night from Joseph O'Connor to GoLocalProv, O'Connor refuted Jonic's claim that the station was disputing her unemployment benefits. "Not true," said O'Connor.
Pay discrimination
Jonic claims that the station's policies are discriminatory, "He has issued a statement calling my accusations of pay discrimination "false." He knows they're not false. If they were false, Mr. O'Connor and the Rhode Island Public Radio Board of Directors would never have offered to mediate their way out of this predicament."
According to Jonic, the station tried to resolve the issues through a mediation process, "My relations with station management became noticeably frostier after they received notice that I was not interested in mediation. I declined this opportunity because the average EEOC mediation payout last year was about $20,000 -- which is far less than I am owed by Rhode Island Public Radio for earning at least 33% less than political reporter Ian Donnis for more than five years."
Jonic may not be the only woman
Jonic who has filed a complaint in both RI and Massachusetts say she is not the only woman being under compensated.
"Mr. O'Connor has also pointed out that the station is "quite proud of its record of hiring and promoting women, including its Morning Edition Host, its News Director and its Chief Operating Officer." I cannot speak to the salary of Chief Operating Officer Susan Greenhalgh, but I know with certainty that Morning Edition host Elisabeth Harrison and news director Catherine Welch earn less than Donnis," said Jonic.
Calling for a Boycott
Jonic told GoLocal that there is a need for the public to understand the importance with this case of discrimination. "I am doing what I never thought I would do: asking Rhode Islanders to boycott Rhode Island Public Radio. When they ask for money, just switch the dial to 89.7 FM. That's WGBH in Boston. It has twice as many listeners in Rhode Island as RIPR because it has one very strong signal while RIPR operates on three FM signals and does not cover the entire state. I believe in the mission of public radio, but I believe this station is not acting in the public interest," said Jonic.
O'Connor refused any other new comment.
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Editor's note: An earlier version incorrectly had RIPR reporter Scott MacKay as breaking the story.
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