News

UNI Global Union (www.uniglobalunion.org) and South African workers union (SACCAWU) will face Walmart in court on 9 May 2011 when they will call on the South African Competition Tribunal to impose conditions that will protect the local economy on the retail giant’s deal to take over Massmart.



The Tribunal hearings, which started in March, resume on Monday, 9 May and will run until 16 May at the Competition Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.



“We are urging the Competition Tribunal to consider the experience of workers from around the globe as it deliberates on Walmart’s takeover of South African retailer Massmart,” said UNI Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman. “Walmart employs severe tactics to silence workers and keep them from having a voice on the job. It also uses its immense market share to make drastic cuts in its supply costs, often pitting local companies in a vicious race to the bottom to provide goods to Walmart at the cheapest prices. We think this deal will be disastrous for the South African economy if the Tribunal fails to set conditions now to protect local workers and businesses.”



A global coalition of unions contesting the merger – SACCAWU, UNI, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) of North America—will be at the hearing on Monday.