Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

Raveena Aulakh Death: Union Representing Toronto Star Employees Asks For 3rd-Party Probe

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jun, 2016 12:36 PM
    TORONTO — The union representing Toronto Star newsroom employees says it has asked the newspaper to appoint an outside investigator to conduct an inquiry into events surrounding the death of a reporter.
     
    A memo from Steve Gjorkes on behalf of Unifor's Star unit said it wants "the third-party investigator's mandate to include workplace health and safety and harassment issues, along with company policies and practices."
     
    "For transparency's sake, we are calling for a third-party investigation into a newsroom tragedy," reads the memo. "While many of us continue to grieve the death of our colleague Raveena Aulakh, your union has listened to newsroom members and has formally asked the Toronto Star to appoint an outside investigator to conduct an inquiry into the events surrounding the tragedy."'
     
    A Toronto Star article published online Tuesday night from public editor Kathy English said Aulakh had taken her own life. Aulakh, 42 covered the environment and was part of a National Newspaper Award winning Star project that was published in 2013.  
     
     
    English said senior management at the Star said they "conducted a thorough internal investigation" after allegations were made in emails from Aulakh that were sent to several people in the newsroom before she died.
     
    English reported that the emails said Aulakh and Jon Filson, who spearheaded the paper's StarTouch tablet project, had been in a relationship that had ended recently and that a "clearly heartbroken" Aulakh made allegations about a relationship between Filson and his boss, managing editor Jane Davenport.
     
    Neither Davenport nor Filson could immediately be reached for comment.
     
    "Action has been taken ...," reported English. "Filson and Davenport have lost their jobs in the newsroom."
     
    Davenport has transferred to a different role and will remain an employee of parent company Torstar Corp, the company has said. Last week, spokesman Bob Hepburn said Filson had left the organization.
     
     
    In the Star article Tuesday, Torstar chairman John Honderich is quoted as saying that the newspaper is open to suggestions about policies.
     
    “We have conducted a serious investigation at the highest levels; two senior managers have lost their jobs in the newsroom and policies are under review. We are open to any suggestions about policies moving forward and are ready to listen to anyone who wants to come forward with concerns.”
     
    English reported that the Star says it has looked at the issues the union says should be investigated and offered to meet with officials to outline what was learned in its investigation. "The offer was turned down," the Star article said.  
     
    The Unifor memo says "a significant amount of unconfirmed speculation is swirling about" and advised its members not to speculate publicly. It also advised staffers who need help to use the company's employee assistance program.
     
    Torstar holds an investment in The Canadian Press as part of a joint agreement with a subsidiary of the Globe and Mail and the parent company of Montreal's La Presse.
     
    IRENE GENTLE NAMED NEW MANAGING EDITOR OF THE TORONTO STAR AMID NEWSROOM CRISIS
     
    TORONTO — The Toronto Star has a new managing editor following the recent newsroom departure of Jane Davenport.
     
    Irene Gentle, the paper's city editor, was named to the post today by editor-in-chief Michael Cooke.
     
     
    The announcement comes in the midst of a personnel crisis at Canada's biggest newspaper. The union representing the newsroom has asked the Star to appoint an outside investigator to conduct an inquiry into events surrounding the death of a reporter.
     
    A memo from Steve Gjorkes on behalf of Unifor's Star unit on Tuesday said it wants "the third-party investigator's mandate to include workplace health and safety and harassment issues, along with company policies and practices."
     
    "For transparency's sake, we are calling for a third-party investigation into a newsroom tragedy," reads the memo. "While many of us continue to grieve the death of our colleague Raveena Aulakh, your union has listened to newsroom members and has formally asked the Toronto Star to appoint an outside investigator to conduct an inquiry into the events surrounding the tragedy."'
     
    A Toronto Star article published online Tuesday night from public editor Kathy English said Aulakh had taken her own life. Aulakh, 42, covered the environment and was part of a National Newspaper Award winning Star project that was published in 2013.  
     
    English said senior management at the Star said they "conducted a thorough internal investigation" after allegations were made in emails from Aulakh that were sent to several people in the newsroom before she died.
     
    English reported that the emails said Aulakh and Jon Filson, who spearheaded the paper's StarTouch tablet project, had been in a relationship that had ended recently and that a "clearly heartbroken" Aulakh made allegations about a relationship between Filson and Davenport, his boss.
     
     
    Efforts to reach both Davenport and Filson for comment have been unsuccessful.
     
    "Action has been taken ...," reported English. "Filson and Davenport have lost their jobs in the newsroom."
     
    Davenport has transferred to a different role and will remain an employee of parent company Torstar Corp, the company has said. Last week, spokesman Bob Hepburn said Filson had left the organization.
     
    In the Star article Tuesday, Torstar chairman John Honderich is quoted as saying that the newspaper is open to suggestions about policies.
     
    "We have conducted a serious investigation at the highest levels; two senior managers have lost their jobs in the newsroom and policies are under review. We are open to any suggestions about policies moving forward and are ready to listen to anyone who wants to come forward with concerns."
     
    Torstar holds an investment in The Canadian Press as part of a joint agreement with a subsidiary of the Globe and Mail and the parent company of Montreal's La Presse.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Teen Suspects Charged In Assaults At Manitoba Addiction Treatment Centre

    Teen Suspects Charged In Assaults At Manitoba Addiction Treatment Centre
    SELKIRK, Man. — Two teens arrested after two workers at a Manitoba addictions treatment centre were viciously attacked have been charged with  aggravated assault.

    Teen Suspects Charged In Assaults At Manitoba Addiction Treatment Centre

    Lack Of Any Nova Scotia Probe Of Nursing Home Pushing Death Shocks Daughter

    Lack Of Any Nova Scotia Probe Of Nursing Home Pushing Death Shocks Daughter
     After 87-year-old Dorothy Stultz died following a shove from another resident in her nursing home, her daughter says she expected the Nova Scotia Health Department would try to learn from the tragedy.

    Lack Of Any Nova Scotia Probe Of Nursing Home Pushing Death Shocks Daughter

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall
    REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall's office says no one there is calling people looking for financial information.

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown
    HAMILTON — The prosecution in the Tim Bosma murder trial says the jury doesn't have to decide who pulled the trigger because both of the accused planned to kill the Hamilton man and cover up the crime.

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals
    Nellie Acar pleaded guilty to one count of secret commissions and one count of using a forged document, while Esther Cruz pleaded guilty to two counts of secret commissions.

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline
    NEW YORK — Teen pregnancies fell again last year, to another historic low, a government report shows.

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline