Day 120 - 03 May 95 - Page 13

     
     1   Q.   But why?
     2        A.  Because we prefer it.  We think it is more beneficial
     3        to us as an organisation; communication is better; the
     4        relationship between management and staff is better.  That
     5        is our belief.
     6
     7   Q.   What if the crew were not in agreement with that and they
     8        would prefer to be -----
     9        A.  Then it was up to them to say so.
    10
    11   Q.   But you do not recall making it explicitly clear to them
    12        that if they did say so then you would negotiate with them?
    13        A.  If I did not -- could you repeat that question?
    14
    15   Q.   You do not recall making it explicitly clear to the crew
    16        members at that meeting that if they did say that they
    17        would prefer to be represented by a union, that you would
    18        negotiate with that union?
    19
    20   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Hold on a moment.
         A.  No, I do not.
    22   .
    23   Q.   I thought the one thing you were making clear, if your
    24        account is accurate, is that they could join a union ---
    25        A.  Absolutely.
    26
    27   Q.  -- but one thing McDonald's would never do is negotiate with
    28        any union which they did join.
    29
    30   MS. STEEL:  Sorry, if the majority of them wanted union
    31        representation -- I will ask the question again -----
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It would not matter if every single employee
    34        of McDonald's joined a union, McDonald's would not
    35        negotiate with the union.  That is the bottom line.  You
    36        may not have said it in those words.  If everyone in a
    37        particular store joined a union McDonald's would not
    38        negotiate?
    39        A.  That would not make any difference to them.
    40
    Q.   It would not make a jot of difference?
    42        A.  If there was, if, of course, there was a massive
    43        national drive -----
    44
    45   Q.   If there was you might end up with no choice in the matter?
    46        A.  That is right, but it never arose.
    47
    48   Q.   But if everyone in a store joined the union you still would
    49        not negotiate with the union?
    50        A.  No. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I think he has made that pretty clear, 
    53        Ms. Steel.
    54
    55   MS. STEEL:  He has now; he has given a different answer to
    56        previously.
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He made it absolutely clear to me when he
    59        gave his evidence-in-chief last week.  I do not think there
    60        has ever been any doubt about it, myself.