300 Mine Workers Spend 1 Week Underground To Protest Against Boss Who Loves Sex

300 Mine Workers Spend 1 Week Underground To Protest Against Boss Who Loves Sex

300 mine workers at Lanxess’s in Rustenburg, South Africa, remained underground for the sixth day yesterday in protest against their boss who loves sex.  The mine workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), have been underground since Wednesday afternoon and the protest which was in reaction to the alleged sex-for-jobs scandal at the chrome mine is aimed at initiating an investigation into the scandal. 

 

It was learned that the alleged perpetrator had not been suspended and no disciplinary action had been taken against him, even after the NUMSA members raised a series of issues with the mine bosses. NUMSA's general secretary Irvin Jim, who confirmed that the 300 mine have remained underground  in protest against their boss who loves sex, said; 

“We are in the middle of a crisis. Our workers have been exposed to a risky situation for six days and because of the conditions underground, some of them fell sick and had to be taken to hospital. Other issues relate to organizational rights, our union is not recognized despite having the majority in terms of numbers. About 50 members have been dismissed and in our view, that was orchestrated by them joining the union.”

Ben Marais, managing director at Lanxess, confirmed that the strike started on Wednesday. He said the company’s management received a list of demands that address various labor-related matters, including a case of sexual harassment.