Day 144 - 28 Jun 95 - Page 19
1 the witness to give a more detailed answer than that when
2 we just do not know what the full and true factual matrix
3 is.
4
5 MR. MORRIS: Yes. I will just check one reference to make sure
6 I have got it absolutely correct. Mr. Nicholson has, as
7 Ms. Steel has already said, agreed that in the UK
8 McDonald's employees "would not be allowed to carry out any
9 overt union activity on McDonald's premises". He also
10 agreed that employees would not be able to inform a union
11 about conditions pertaining inside the stores. If (and it
12 is a matter for the judge) that is construed as being
13 anti-union or making -----
14
15 MR. RAMPTON: Sorry, my Lord, I would like the reference to that
16 because again I believe that it may be wrong.
17
18 MR. MORRIS: Yes. The first point was day 120, page 5, line 29,
19 and the second one was day 119, page 52, lines 48 to 57.
20 (To the witness): Do you have any concerns about that?
21 A. You just stated a variety of different things that,
22 frankly, I lost track of. I can just say to you, as I have
23 said earlier, that the United States is one environment.
24 It has a different history in this entire area, a different
25 set of laws in this entire area. You are now talking about
26 the United Kingdom and you had Mr. Nicholson on the stand,
27 and I assume you talked about the experience and practice
28 and what the laws here are in the UK. You are talking
29 about two different environments, two different situations.
30
31 Q. Are you not concerned about the conditions pertaining to
32 employees in the countries where McDonald's operates?
33 A. Absolutely, and if there is something that comes to my
34 attention that I would consider to be a problem, I would
35 look into it. But I need to understand the context, I need
36 to understand what all the circumstances are.
37
38 I think I have mentioned to you that we do business in 79
39 countries. We are highly decentralised. We respect the
40 fact that the Managing Directors in each country need to
41 manage their business appropriately within the laws and to
42 fit into the country. So, you are asking me questions that
43 go far beyond the scope of my ability to answer.
44
45 Q. Mr. Stein, trade unions: You have agreements with trade
46 unions in some countries, do you not?
47 A. Yes, we do.
48
49 Q. They represent the staff in some countries.
50 A. Yes, they do.
51
52 Q. Staff are members and collectively negotiate ---
53 A. We have discussed -----
54
55 Q. -- with some management or on a national level?
56 A. Sir, we have discussed all of that many, many times.
57 Is this a speech or is this a question?
58
59 Q. No, I am saying to you that you do not have any kind of
60 relationship like that with any insurance salesmen, do you
