Day 144 - 28 Jun 95 - Page 26
1 A. But I do not think it is that restrictive, my Lord.
2
3 Q. But it is not that restrictive?
4 A. If I can for a moment? We do not want badges that
5 would cause customers some irritation, or in the political
6 realm, the example you used, my Lord, we would want not to
7 get in between parties. There can be badges -- I know
8 I here in England they use badges for their training
9 purposes to show how far along the person has proceeded.
10 We have used badges on occasion.
11
12 Q. That is another matter. I have interrupted Ms. Steel. You
13 go on, Ms. Steel.
14
15 MS. STEEL: So it would concern you if during the run up to
16 this union election swing managers had made up buttons that
17 stated: "Just say no", i.e. to the union?
18 A. Wait a second. Those words have specific meaning.
19 There is a campaign in the US against drugs, and the
20 campaign -- and I have seen buttons, as soon as you said
21 that -- I have seen buttons that say: "Just say no", say
22 no to drugs, my Lord. I have seen that in a variety of
23 different stores.
24
25 McDonald's has spent lots of money supporting that kind of
26 campaign, to just say no to drugs. So, if that is what you
27 are referring to, yes, there are buttons that are used in
28 many different locations in the US, "Just say no", but that
29 in the US context, Canadian context, is referring to drugs.
30
31 Q. No, Mr. Stein, we are talking about Canada and we are
32 talking about just say no to unions?
33 A. No, and that is not ------
34
35 Q. This was during the election campaign.
36 A. I beg your pardon, ma'am. That was never used in a
37 union context, say no to a union.
38
39 Q. How do you know?
40 A. I am giving you my knowledge of what I am aware of.
41
42 Q. How do you know?
43 A. I am giving you my hearsay, as my Lord has suggested
44 that I do, my knowledge of what transpired and in that
45 situation there was never any buttons used for any purpose
46 against the union never.
47
48 Q. How do you know that?
49 A. I just told you, what knowledge I have, direct
50 knowledge I have, personal knowledge and from speaking with
51 other management people.
52
53 Q. So that was the management that told you that it was not
54 true?
55 A. Yes, I believe -- I believe that it would be some of
56 our -- well, our management people would have told me that
57 it came up in some buttons, and I did not know the wording
58 or what it was all about, but buttons came up in the
59 campaign. It was alleged at the hearing before the Ontario
60 Labour Board that there was something improper about
