Nicole Mitchell, a former Weather Channel anchor, is suing the
network, claiming her status as an Air Force reserve officer got
her fired.
Mitchell, who holds
the rank of captain, said this week her contract was not renewed
back in 2010 because Weather Channel management did not want to
contend with the time she took off for her military duties, the
Marietta Daily Journal reported. Mitchell has accused the
Weather Channel and its parent companies of violating her rights
under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act of 1994.
Nicole Mitchell was an on-air meteorologist
for the network for seven years. She said the trouble
started after the Weather Channel was sold in 2008 to NBC
Universal and private equity firms Bain Capital and the
Blackstone Group. She said that management told her she
would have to get clearance before taking any Air Force
assignments.
“I was told in an email, ‘before you agree to military duty, you
need to clear it through us first,’” Mitchell told Fox. “But if
you don’t show up for orders, you could be court-martialed.”
The Weather Channel said in a statement the
company supports the law and doesn’t comment on litigation.
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