Day 144 - 28 Jun 95 - Page 05


     
     1   Q.   Have you taken any action with regard to the UK position on
     2        unions to get them to change their position and recognise
     3        that crew members do have the right to union activity in
     4        the stores?
     5        A.  The UK Company is very ably managed by Mr. Preston, by
     6        Mr. Nicholson.  They have a very fine, competent Human
     7        Resources Department and I am quite satisfied with how they
     8        operate.
     9
    10   Q.   So it does not bother you at all that all union activity is
    11        disallowed in the UK stores?
    12        A.  It is a different country with different laws,
    13        different requirements, different ways of doing business.
    14        It is not for me as an American to question how another
    15        country -- its laws or conducts itself.
    16
    17   Q.   Mr. Stein, you have interfered in the runnings of other
    18        countries.  I suggest the reason you do not interfere with
    19        the running in the UK Company is because it is exactly the
    20        Corporation's position, and you are quite happy with it?
    21        A.  First of all, I think I have mentioned that Labour
    22        Relations in the United Kingdom is managed by
    23        Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Preston and others, and there has never
    24        been anything brought to my attention that I would consider
    25        improper.
    26
    27   Q.   McDonald's UK is a subsidiary of the Corporation of which
    28        you are a Vice President ---
    29        A.  That is correct.
    30
    31   Q.   -- Senior Vice President?  Does it bother you that they
    32        have a policy of not allowing any overt union activity in
    33        their stores?
    34        A.  As I have said before, this is -- this is not the
    35        United States, this is England.  I am assuming they are
    36        complying with all laws.  No-one has ever suggested to me
    37        that they are not complying with all laws in this area and,
    38        as I mentioned, it is a very well-managed company.  I would
    39        not interfere unless there was something that came to my
    40        attention that seemed improper.
    41
    42   Q.   So, basically, your position is that you will only
    43        recognise unions and allow union activity where you are
    44        forced to by the law of the country in which you are
    45        operating?
    46        A.  That is totally untrue.  I have stated time and time
    47        again what our position is, and this is probably the fourth
    48        or fifth time you have said that, and each and every
    49        occasion I have told you it is untrue.
    50 
    51   MR. MORRIS:  Steve Copeland --- 
    52        A.  Yes. 
    53
    54   Q.   -- is a witness in this case.
    55        A.  Yes.
    56
    57   Q.   You know him, yes?
    58        A.  I know Steve Copeland.
    59
    60   Q.   Vice President of Personnel for the McDonald's development

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