The New Age reports that unions have strongly condemned Lonmin and its CEO Ben Magara over his statement that miners who skipped work on Wednesday to attend occasions in remembrance of the Marikana massacre would be subjected to a “no work, no pay” policy.  

Magara’s statement raised eyebrows and provoked anger, which resulted in him being booed on Wednesday when he arrived at the Nkaneng event.  National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) Phakamile Hlubi said:  “We condemn Lonmin for this cruel response in the face of the suffering of the workers at Marikana.  We believe August 16 should be declared a holiday so that if workers wish to commemorate this day, they can do so freely.”  Cosatu condemned Lonmin’s actions and called for the platinum producer to reconsider its decision.  Other unions such as the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) shared the same sentiments.

• Read this report by Akani Mangena in full at The New Age
• See too, August 16 must be a public holiday, says Malema, at The Citizen
• And also, PAC wants 16 August to be declared a public holiday, at The Citizen
• As well as, North West plans to commemorate Marikana massacre in September, at EWN
  
  Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page