Day 141 - 23 Jun 95 - Page 14

     
     1        what you are putting to the witness follows from what he
     2        already said.
     3
     4   MR. MORRIS:  He did say it was about training.
     5
     6   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He did, but he did not say -- in my view,
     7        anyway, it did not amount to what you were beginning to
     8        put.
     9
    10   MR. MORRIS:  About to put.
    11
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  By all means, ask him about what you were
    13        about to put and see if he can -- I keep calling you
    14        "he" -- ask Mr. Stein if he can verify what you are
    15        suggesting were the facts.  Get them straight first.
    16
    17   MR. MORRIS: (To the witness)  Is the fact, as you understand it,
    18        that he was subsidising the wages of staff from state
    19        funds; he was receiving state funds to subsidise staff
    20        wages, on the basis that they were being specially trained
         or they were getting some kind of special training,
    22        whatever?
    23        A.  All I can tell you -- because I just have some general
    24        information on this, I am not specifically handling this
    25        matter, as I mentioned -- that the owner/operator obviously
    26        is handling it, and it is a matter that our office in Spain
    27        is involved with.  I know, generally, that there are
    28        training contracts.  I know, generally, that there are
    29        obligations under training contracts; and it appears the
    30        dispute centre around that.  But, really, I have,
    31        frankly -- well, I cannot even read this.  I have never
    32        read through any pleadings, and I really do not know
    33        specifically the specifics of the matter.
    34
    35   Q.   Was there any concern that you had about potential for
    36        trade union sympathies amongst the workers ---
    37        A.  None whatsoever.
    38
    39   Q.   -- at that store, or in the Canary Islands?
    40        A.  None whatsoever.  To my knowledge, that is not an issue
         and has never been an issue.  To my knowledge, I am not
    42        aware of any issue with regards trade unions.
    43
    44   MR. RAMPTON:  That is not what was pleaded.  We are on a fishing
    45        expedition again.
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The answer, in any event, is that Mr. Stein
    48        does not know.
    49
    50   MR. MORRIS:  But, of course ----- 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Leave it there. 
    53
    54   MR. MORRIS:  If you thought there was something to do with union
    55        sympathies involved with this, you would have flown out
    56        there immediately to sort out the situation?
    57        A.  Not to one store in the Canary Islands.  I would not
    58        personally go for that kind of a situation.  Here we have
    59        an office in Spain, sir, that has Human Resource people
    60        who, frankly, know far better than I do about contracts of