Up to 15 Australian gold miners have lost their six-figure-salary jobs after posting a “Harlem Shake” viral dance craze video to YouTube.
The 30-second video shows the overnight crew working at the Agnew Mine in Western Australia performing the pelvic-thrusting dance, which typically begins with one solo dancer who quickly is joined by others.
The workers were employed by Barminco, an Australia-based underground services company, Mercury News reports. Barminco could not be reached for comment after a dismissal letter sent to the workers was obtained by The West Australian newspaper, saying the stunt breached the company’s “core values of safety, integrity and excellence.”
The firings sparked an online debate, with a Facebook page calling for Barminco to reinstate the “sacked WA Harlem Shake Miners.” The miners told The West Australian that they were not endangering safety, pointing out that they were wearing helmets and portable oxygen. The workers even removed their work shirts in order to prevent the company’s name from being displayed on camera.
The miners also been prohibited from being “subcontracted by Barminco at any site domestically and globally.”
Jessica Chasmar is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Born in 1930 in rural Missouri, Charles Vandegriffe, Sr., brings his time and place to the Communities.
The world impacts us. What happens in our towns, cities, states, country and on this planet makes a difference to us.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
California wildfires wreak havoc
37 Photos
