Day 120 - 03 May 95 - Page 19

     
     1   Q.   It was a normal?
     2        A.  -- the store Manager dealt with the subject of the
     3        interest of some members of the crew towards union
     4        representation.
     5
     6   Q.   When there is a normal crew meeting, does the store Manager
     7        take the normal crew meeting?
     8        A.  Supported by the Supervisor.
     9
    10   Q.   Supported by the Supervisor.  That is the general standard
    11        approach?
    12        A.  Yes, but they are formal and they are open so anyone
    13        from Head Office can indicate to have an interest in
    14        attending for any reason.  I have attended many, many crew
    15        meetings.  It gives me an opportunity to talk to crew
    16        personally, or it did give me that, so I used to enjoy
    17        going to them.
    18
    19   Q.   The only difference between this crew meeting and a normal
    20        crew meeting was the subject of trade unions was on the
         agenda, or that they knew it was going to be brought up,
    22        the manager knew it was going to be brought up?
    23        A.  I cannot say with any certainly that this subject has
    24        not been debated at other crew meetings.  This is the only
    25        one I know of because it was the only one I was invited to
    26        for this particular reason.
    27
    28   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It sounds to me as if there had been some
    29        talk about union membership or union representation?
    30        A.  Yes, there had been.
    31
    32   Q.   You were asked to go up so you could speak to the meeting
    33        about union representation, whether or not it was raised by
    34        any crew member?
    35        A.  Yes, so that I could put the Company stand on trade
    36        unions to them.
    37
    38   MR. MORRIS:  Right.  So, what was the attitude of the large
    39        number of crew members which you said attended?  What was
    40        the general attitude about the issue of trades unions?
         A.  Not a lot of interest.
    42
    43   Q.   Not a lot of interest?
    44        A.  No.
    45
    46   Q.   Did they say:  "Oh, we are not interested" or ---
    47        A.  Oh, no.
    48
    49   Q.   -- they did not speak up?
    50        A.  They did not participate. 
    51 
    52   Q.   No.  What do you conclude from that then? 
    53        A.  There is not a lot of interest in joining a trade
    54        union.
    55
    56   Q.   You do not conclude that when the store Manager,
    57        Supervisor, Regional Manager and top Head of Personnel,
    58        former Head of Security, is present at a meeting that
    59        people might feel intimidated?
    60        A.  No.  I do not think I would want to go to crew meetings