The Anti-Wal-Mart Coalition is disappointed by the report and recommendations of the Competition Commission, the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) said on Monday.
The commission said the proposed Wal-Mart and Massmart merger did not raise competition concerns last week and made a recommendation to this effect on the deal between Wal-Mart Stores and Massmart Holdings Limited to the Competition Tribunal.
Wal-Mart is acquiring a controlling stake in Massmart.
“The coalition believes that the commission did not seriously consider the submissions made by various interest formations, including but not limited to labour organisations and civil society formations,” said Saccawu spokesperson Mike Abrahams in a statement.
“We believe that the findings by the commission are not very different from the position they articulated in the correspondence to Saccawu on the 11th January before affording us or other interest parties any formal engagement or audience with the commission.”
“Further, we are disappointed in the glib acceptance by the commission of vague and general undertakings or assurances made by the merging parties, which are devoid of any concrete commitments,” Abrahams said.
“Our experiences with such undertakings given to the commission are that such undertakings are not even worth the written report of the commission as same is hardly ever observed and the commission either does not have the capacity or the will to enforce such commitments,” he said.
Abrahams said: “The end result of this has always harmed workers in such firms and the working class in general, and in this case — the consumers and members of communities at large.”
The union also threatened to intensify mass mobilisation and engagement with the public, which may include public protests and demonstrations if this became a necessity.
“The coalition is emphatic in its opposition to the Wal-Mart philosophy and business practices and will continue opposing such tendencies, even if the deal is approved,” Abrahams said. – Sapa