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US giant Walmart is expanding its operations in Africa by bidding for a controlling stake in South Africa's Massmart, the continent's third-largest retailer with 288 stores in 14 countries.
But South Africa's trade unions are not happy. Despite Walmart's promise to create jobs and its assurances that it will honour existing labour agreements and rules, the union are threatening to boycott its operations because of its reputation as a company that engages in unfair labour practices.
Economist Barney Mthombothi of the Financial Mail magazine has described the unions as 'worker aristocrats' who could not care less about the unemployed.
'It's the pinnacle of insanity to insist on so-called fair labour practices when millions of South Africans are going to bed on an empty stomach because there's no work,' Mthombothi said.
By their nature, trade unions are supposed to get involved with their employed members. When they've tried to get involved in things relating to unemployment in the past they've been criticised for that too.
The danger with making the false dichotomy put forward by Mthombothi is that, under conditions where unemployment is high, workers can be completely unfairly treated just because "any job" is better than "no job". This is what labour laws are supposed to guard against.
I was never much of a fan of labor unions. With a Master degree in American history, I determined that labor unions were a thing of the past and a drag on the economy by the end of the 1980's. Then I got a job at Wal-Mart. The only way Wal-Mart will eve be forced to treat their employees with respect and pay them living wages and decent health insurance, is if the employees unionize. State and Federal laws do not protect employees from big corporations like Wal-Mart. African unions are very wise to be very leery of Wal-Mart. Mandatory training sessions at Wal-Mart are loaded with anti-union propaganda. Wal-Mart wants employees who will put their jobs before family obligations. If a Wal-Mart worker gets sick--they have policies designed to force the employee out of their jobs and the health insurance benefits that pay for that illness. I know--I have been there. I hope these African nations and unions are able to do a better job of protecting workers than the USA has.
Thanks for your input, it is good to hear from someone who has real insight. Fortunately our laws, irrespective of unions, would protect workers from some of the worst abuses (such as the sick aspect you explain above).
If she was employed by a US Wal-Mart your statement is contradictory, dung.
How so, demmywemmy? What I mean is that Walmart would not be able to pull those tricks in it's business interests in South Africa.
No, it angers me because I make a conscious effort not to be provincial. I criticize many from my country for being so- and here I am! Ugh. ;>)
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