Day 144 - 28 Jun 95 - Page 24
1 not need a union because they had X, Y, Z?
2 A. There is -- first of all, there is nothing wrong with
3 having crew meetings. There is nothing wrong with -- I do
4 not know what the context was that you are talking about --
5 of expressing one's view on the pros and cons of unions.
6 There is nothing wrong with that under any laws in the US
7 or Canada.
8
9 Q. No, but I am asking whether you personally think it is
10 acceptable, whether you are happy with managers or
11 supervisors or people in authority addressing crew during
12 crew meetings on the disadvantages of unions or why they do
13 not need unions?
14 A. My opinion, frankly, is immaterial.
15
16 Q. I am asking you for your opinion.
17 A. My opinion is it is perfectly fine. The opinions of
18 the Ontario government, which it sounds like you are
19 talking about, the matter out of Ontario, the opinion of
20 the US government, the National Labour Relations Board, is
21 that is perfectly fine. That is the way things should be
22 conducted. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with that.
23
24 Q. Right. That is your opinion too?
25 A. Absolutely.
26
27 Q. "He also told crew they would lose their McGold cards" and
28 then "(a certain privilege that entitles you to half price
29 food once a day)". Is that what McGolds cards are for,
30 roughly, or amongst other things?
31 A. McGold cards is a benefit that is unique to Canada.
32
33 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do you know what it is?
34 A. Yes, I do, my Lord. It is when they are off duty, my
35 Lord -----
36
37 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, I am not asking you. I just wanted to
38 make sure you knew what Ms. Steel was referring to.
39 A. Yes, I do.
40
41 MS. STEEL: Would it concern you if Mr. Valentine, or any other
42 member of management at McDonald's in Canada, said to crew
43 that they would lose their McGolds cards?
44 A. Absolutely.
45
46 Q. That would concern you?
47 A. Absolutely.
48
49 Q. We have seen that franchisees are instructed to make the
50 crew wear uniforms stipulated by the McDonald's
51 Corporation.
52 A. My Lord, I am not -- first of all, I am not sure of the
53 licensee provision. My understanding is there needs to be
54 approval of something that they would like to use, but that
55 is my -- in practice, that is my understanding because they
56 do have different uniforms throughout the US. I do not
57 know how it exists here in London -- I have not been in
58 enough stores -- but I believe in practice it is an
59 approval; it is not that we dictate the exact uniforms.
60
