Interviews
Walmart would threaten India's economy - UNI report
21 Mar '12
4 min read
Ian Campbell, Assistant Research Director at the UFCW said “What we have seen in towns across the US is that small businesses have gone under because of Walmart's entry into the market. India's small businesses, including kiranas, will likewise not be able to survive Walmart's cut-throat and unfair competition without proper enforceable protection. These profits will be taken out of India's economy and go to Walmart.”
UNI's South African affiliate, the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) took part in the meeting and brought a message from the unions who have been fighting the Walmart/Massmart merger there. SACCAWU and other leading South African unions have shown that it's possible to win concessions from Walmart by standing up to them and this was the message for India. The South African unions backed by UNI joined with three Government departments to challenge the merger.
By standing up to Walmart they won conditions to protect workers in the supply chain and small businesses. Although the Competition Appeal Court has agreed to allow the merger it has ruled that Walmart must reinstate a group of workers who had lost their jobs because of the merger and that Walmart, SACCAWU and the Government must work together on a study to safeguard the livelihoods of small businesses in the wake of Walmart's arrival.
Mduduzi Mbongwe from SACCAWU said, “India and South Africa have a lot to share on the Walmart invasion. We have to think globally when considering Walmart because the company is changing the game everywhere, from South Africa to India and Latin America to China. A global threat needs a global solution.”
Click here to read more details:
UNI Global Union is the voice of 20 million service sector workers around the world. Through 900 affiliated unions, UNI represents workers in 150 countries and in every region of the world.
UNI's South African affiliate, the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) took part in the meeting and brought a message from the unions who have been fighting the Walmart/Massmart merger there. SACCAWU and other leading South African unions have shown that it's possible to win concessions from Walmart by standing up to them and this was the message for India. The South African unions backed by UNI joined with three Government departments to challenge the merger.
By standing up to Walmart they won conditions to protect workers in the supply chain and small businesses. Although the Competition Appeal Court has agreed to allow the merger it has ruled that Walmart must reinstate a group of workers who had lost their jobs because of the merger and that Walmart, SACCAWU and the Government must work together on a study to safeguard the livelihoods of small businesses in the wake of Walmart's arrival.
Mduduzi Mbongwe from SACCAWU said, “India and South Africa have a lot to share on the Walmart invasion. We have to think globally when considering Walmart because the company is changing the game everywhere, from South Africa to India and Latin America to China. A global threat needs a global solution.”
Click here to read more details:
UNI Global Union is the voice of 20 million service sector workers around the world. Through 900 affiliated unions, UNI represents workers in 150 countries and in every region of the world.
UNI Global Union
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