Sacked Sunday Times columnist David Bullard is determined to have his day in court and that day will come on June 22, writes Kashiefa Ajam in the Saturday Star.
That's when he will take on publishing company Avusa in a fight to get his job back.
Speaking to the Saturday Star this week, Bullard said he would not settle out-of-court because he wants "to air the Sunday Times' laundry".
"June 22 is a Monday and Mondays are wash days. I will be airing all their dirty laundry in court. I've worked there for 14 years. I know what goes on there. It will show how dysfunctional it is," he said, alluding to shenanigans among senior staff members.
Bullard's final Sunday Times "Out to Lunch" column (his columns still exist on the Sunday Times' website) was published for the last time on April 6, 2008. It was criticised for being racist and five days after it appeared he was sacked – over the phone – by editor Mondli Makhanya.
In Labour Court papers, Bullard claims he was unfairly dismissed and will be asking Avusa, owner of the Sunday Times, for full reinstatement.
He says his contract stipulated 30 days' notice from either party and the letter he had received from Avusa after he was fired contained those conditions.
He says that if he was hired as an "independent contractor", as Avusa claims, why did he have a desk, parking for 11 years and company business cards?
But Avusa in its replying papers contends that Bullard was an independent contractor and was charged R1500 a month for using company resources.
The company further argues that Bullard was not an employee of the company and that unfair dismissal did not apply as the contract allowed for termination without notice.
Click here to read the full report, posted on iol.co.za.
