Record Television dragged to court

By Julius Odeke

Former workers of Record Television have dragged the management of the troubled Record Television Uganda to court over charges of violating workers’ constitutional rights.

The top managers of Record Television will on November 8, 2012 appear at Kampala High Court before Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke to defend themselves against charges that range from; violating workers’ Constitutional Rights, Labour Rights, including breaching Employment contracts, harassment, intimidation, unfair sackings and generally violating the 2006 Labour Union laws with impunity.

Messr Kanyunyuzi and Company Advocates filed the case in the High Court on behalf of Journalists Grace Segirinya and eight others. “So far 20 former workers have indicated readiness to testify as witnesses against Record Television,” says Stephen Ouma Bwire the Secretary General of Uganda Journalists Union (UJU). Bwire said that at least 20 workers, who include journalists and media workers, have been sacked this year while another 10 were forced to resign.

He says recently the Uganda Parliamentary Committee on Social Services summoned Record Television Managing Director to appear and explain continuous violation of Human and Labour Rights, but he declined to appear.

Record Television has in the last few months been in the news for violating workers’ rights with trade union organizations all out to drag the company to court.

Ouma says the Uganda Journalists Union, whose members have suffered gross violations, instructed its Lawyers Kanyunyuzi and Company Advocates to expeditiously institute industrial action against Record Television that culminated in the November 8, 2012 suit.

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Record Television is owned by Brazilian based Record Television International.