Friday, 30 March 2007

BEMAWU

Welcome to BEMAWU.

We are the biggest specialist trade union organised in the Broadcast, Electronic, Media and related sectors, and the only independent, non-political, non-racial, non-sexist union in our sector. We are not a member of any Federation.

All employees (including freelancers) in these sectors are most welcome to join BEMAWU.

These sectors include (but are not limited to) the SABC, M-Net, Multichoice, all Radio Stations, E-Tv, the Newspapers, like Beeld, Rapport, Sunday Times, Citizen, City Press, Sowetan, Mail & Guardian, Telkom, Sentech, Urban Brew, all Production Houses, Advertising Agencies, etc.

To join BEMAWU, mail us at headoffice@bemawu.org.za to get an application form.

Membership fees where we do not have stop order facilities are R25,00 per month, else 0.475% of your basic salary. Members get free legal advice and free representation at the CCMA, Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court and any other forum in connection with their employment. (Legal fees for a labour matter average between R20 000 and R60 000!)

It is a constitutional right to join a trade union and to participate in its lawful activities. No employer may prevent an employee from belonging to a trade union of choice or penalise or victimise or dismiss such an employee.

BEMAWU will represent its members in all labour matters, including disciplinary hearings, CCMA hearings, Labour Court matters, Labour Appeal Court matters, High Court matters, etc.

We also represent our members at the following forums:
  • Collective bargaining (Salaries and substantive conditions of employment where we are sufficiently representative)
  • Employment equity,
  • Skills development,
  • Medical Aid,
  • Pension Fund,
  • MAPP SETA,
  • ISETT SETA,
  • Policy and procedure issues
We normally don't take on members already in trouble. It is therefore best to join and be a member to ensure proper representation. Employers usually employ legally qualified people who's job it is to defend them in labour matters. At best of times you don't stand a chance against them, simply because you were employed to do something else, i.e journalist, camera person, admin, secretarial, etc.

You may NOT be represented at the CCMA by an attorney in an unfair dismissal case related to conduct or capacity, unless the employer and the Commissioner agrees and you may not be represented by a fellow employee. Only a registered trade union may represent you in such matters.

Join today.