Veteran reporter Randi Bjornstad has been fired by the Register Guard newspaper. KLCC's Tiffany Eckert reports, the reasons cited were very similar to those given to another former reporter.
The termination comes two weeks after a judge dismissed a discrimination lawsuit brought by Serena Markstrom against the paper. Bjornstad was a lead witness for the plaintiff. The day after the case was dismissed, Bjornstad was placed on leave.
Bjornstad says R-G Human Resources Director Wendy Baker asked her to come to a meeting on Wednesday. The reporter says it was brief.
Bjornstad:"She simply informed me that she had done an external investigation and had concluded that I no longer merited employment at the Register Guard and she was terminating my employment as of that moment."
Baker told Bjornstad she was being fired for dishonesty, insubordination and destruction of company property. Bjornstad is a union representative with the Eugene Newspaper Guild. She anticipates the Guild will file grievances and unfair labor practice charges. Numerous attempts to reach Wendy Baker were unsuccessful. Bjornstad reported for the Register Guard for 28 years.
