Day 139 - 21 Jun 95 - Page 11

     
     1        A.  Yes.  I recall talking about the owner refusing to move
     2        from Washington to Puerto Rico, yes.
     3
     4   Q.   In your statement -- of course, you might dispute that that
     5        was the reason, but -----
     6
     7   MR. RAMPTON:  On what basis might it be disputed?
     8
     9   MR. MORRIS:  We will come on to that later.  On page 11 of your
    10        statement, you say  -- I will read it out to you.
    11
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Let Mr. Stein read it.
    13
    14   THE WITNESS:  At tab 4?
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It has page 60 stamped at the bottom?
    17        A.  Thank you.  I have it.
    18
    19   MR. MORRIS:  You conclude, at the bottom of that page, before
    20        (v): "McDonald's re-opened in Puerto Rico in 1980 and we"
         -- I emphasise -- "we have had no labour relations
    22        problems since then."  Puerto Rico, is that a -----
    23        A.  Would you help me for a second?  I need to find where
    24        you are at.
    25
    26   Q.   Page 11 in your statement.
    27        A.  Yes, I have that, but I am trying to figure where you
    28        are at.
    29
    30   Q.   It is the last line of the last full paragraph on that
    31        page.
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Last sentence above paragraph (v).
    34        A.  I have got: "McDonald's re-opened in Puerto Rico in
    35        1980".  Is that what you are referring to?
    36
    37   MR. MORRIS:  Yes; and "We have had no labour relations problems
    38        since then"?
    39        A.  Yes, I have that.
    40
    Q.   Do you agree with that?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   You note use of the word "we".  What does the Puerto
    45        Rico -- is it a franchise, joint venture partner,
    46        subsidiary, or what?
    47        A.  I think I mentioned, either Monday or Tuesday, that
    48        I use the term "we" because I consider McDonald's a family;
    49        and I think I mentioned to my Lord directly that I do not
    50        use the term "I".   I will generally use the term "we", 
    51        because I think of us as a family; and it is not "them 
    52        versus us", kind of thing, with our owner/operators or our 
    53        employees; it is "we".  So whenever I refer to our
    54        employees, whenever I refer to our owner/operators, I refer
    55        to "we".  It is just the way I have been -- it is the
    56        culture of the organisation.  It is all of us.  None of us
    57        are better than all of us, and we all try to work together.
    58
    59   Q.   What is the present situation in Puerto Rico?  Is it a
    60        franchise, or what is it officially termed as?