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Johannesburg - The Walmart deal to take over Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] must be nullified, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Thursday.
"We have seen the rapid increase in imperialist involvement in our financial, manufacturing, textiles, energy, transport, construction and now retail sectors without measures put in place to protect South African jobs and our national sovereignty," general secretary Irvin Jim told journalists.
"Numsa is not against participation of foreign capital in our economy as long as this is not at the expense of jobs and our national sovereignty."
Jim described Walmart as a "hoover", and said jobs would be "liquidated in front of our eyes".
He was speaking after a meeting of Numsa's central committee.
The Walmart-Massmart merger was approved by the Competition Tribunal on May 31, subject to certain conditions.
Numsa reiterated its support for nationalisation and said it should extend to all key sectors of the economy and not be limited to mining.
"ArcelorMittal SA [JSE:ACL], Sasol [JSE:SOL], - we want all of those to be in the hands of the state."
Jim said the South African economy had to be restructured as a matter of urgency.
He said Numsa's joint political school with the SA Communist Party (SACP) was progressing well. The school was aimed at building "industrial units" of the SACP.
"With domination of the exploitive (sic) class, we don't want spontaneity, we want a revolution," said Jim.
This revolution could not take place with creating consciousness.
"The SACP needs to agitate on the need to raise the consciousness of the working class."
Jim said Numsa rejected the proposal for a youth wage subsidy - proposed by the Treasury - as it amounted to "bribing bosses so that they can exploit young workers at the expense of older workers".
"The device of youth wage subsidy is divisive and thoroughly rightwing and reactionary.
"Numsa will, with Cosatu, combat any attempts at diluting the rights the working class have won in this country," he said.
Jim declined to comment on the "leadership dynamics" in the alliance after reports of divisions in trade union federation Cosatu caused by succession battles.
Cosatu and its allies, the ANC and the SA Communist Party, all hold elective conferences in 2012.
Earlier this month, Numsa said it was taking "necessary measures" to protect Jim, following threats against him.
Numsa said the danger came from outside the movement, but alluded to possible threats from inside related to the jostling for positions ahead of Cosatu's elective conference next year.
Fears for Jim's life arose from a conversation overheard last year, indicating that he should be "removed". The context of the discussion, which took place in a social setting, was unclear.
The threats were also attributed to Jim being "a real thorn in the side of the South African capitalist class" and its allies through his articulation on Numsa's support for nationalisation.
On Thursday, Jim said he was "safe" and that if he was not, "I won't come to the media and discuss my safety".
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) reportedly accused Numsa of creating the impression that the threat arose from a disagreement between Jim and Num general secretary Frans Baleni.
The Num is Cosatu's biggest affiliate.
On Thursday, Jim attributed the threats against him to his support for nationalisation.
"We have seen the rapid increase in imperialist involvement in our financial, manufacturing, textiles, energy, transport, construction and now retail sectors without measures put in place to protect South African jobs and our national sovereignty," general secretary Irvin Jim told journalists.
"Numsa is not against participation of foreign capital in our economy as long as this is not at the expense of jobs and our national sovereignty."
Jim described Walmart as a "hoover", and said jobs would be "liquidated in front of our eyes".
He was speaking after a meeting of Numsa's central committee.
The Walmart-Massmart merger was approved by the Competition Tribunal on May 31, subject to certain conditions.
Numsa reiterated its support for nationalisation and said it should extend to all key sectors of the economy and not be limited to mining.
"ArcelorMittal SA [JSE:ACL], Sasol [JSE:SOL], - we want all of those to be in the hands of the state."
Jim said the South African economy had to be restructured as a matter of urgency.
He said Numsa's joint political school with the SA Communist Party (SACP) was progressing well. The school was aimed at building "industrial units" of the SACP.
"With domination of the exploitive (sic) class, we don't want spontaneity, we want a revolution," said Jim.
This revolution could not take place with creating consciousness.
"The SACP needs to agitate on the need to raise the consciousness of the working class."
Jim said Numsa rejected the proposal for a youth wage subsidy - proposed by the Treasury - as it amounted to "bribing bosses so that they can exploit young workers at the expense of older workers".
"The device of youth wage subsidy is divisive and thoroughly rightwing and reactionary.
"Numsa will, with Cosatu, combat any attempts at diluting the rights the working class have won in this country," he said.
Jim declined to comment on the "leadership dynamics" in the alliance after reports of divisions in trade union federation Cosatu caused by succession battles.
Cosatu and its allies, the ANC and the SA Communist Party, all hold elective conferences in 2012.
Earlier this month, Numsa said it was taking "necessary measures" to protect Jim, following threats against him.
Numsa said the danger came from outside the movement, but alluded to possible threats from inside related to the jostling for positions ahead of Cosatu's elective conference next year.
Fears for Jim's life arose from a conversation overheard last year, indicating that he should be "removed". The context of the discussion, which took place in a social setting, was unclear.
The threats were also attributed to Jim being "a real thorn in the side of the South African capitalist class" and its allies through his articulation on Numsa's support for nationalisation.
On Thursday, Jim said he was "safe" and that if he was not, "I won't come to the media and discuss my safety".
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) reportedly accused Numsa of creating the impression that the threat arose from a disagreement between Jim and Num general secretary Frans Baleni.
The Num is Cosatu's biggest affiliate.
On Thursday, Jim attributed the threats against him to his support for nationalisation.
