Day 172 - 12 Oct 95 - Page 23

     
     1        were unable to get answers to their questions and were
     2        ignored when they attempted to pursue the matter.  It was
     3        an unnerving experience to be a witness to this event and
     4        I was glad that I, unlike so many other employees, had an
     5        alternative career ahead of me.
     6
     7        "The occasion that brought all the above crashing together
     8        for me during my employment at McDonald's was the day that
     9        a burst water pipe caused a flood in the work area of our
    10        branch.  The water came rushing through the ceiling above
    11        the work area and there was soon at least a quarter of an
    12        inch of water over the entire area.  I was working at the
    13        till that day, but covered the making of the fries whilst
    14        the employee normally responsible tried to mop up the
    15        water.  The Manager did not stop us from working despite
    16        the treacherous conditions and the employees did not stop
    17        working.  I, myself, continued to work around the vats of
    18        boiling fat regardless of the situation.  It was only after
    19        about 20 minutes that I suddenly woke up and realised the
    20        danger in which I was putting myself by continuing to try
         and keep up with the normal output.  I was horrified that
    22        I and my companions had become so much a part of the
    23        machine that we thought nothing of our safety.  Eventually
    24        the Manager was forced to close for the day, but the
    25        initial reaction of both Manager and employees was one that
    26        made a lasting impression upon me.  It seemed that if I, a
    27        violinist, who then went on to a career playing
    28        professionally in an orchestra, could become so deadened by
    29        the McDonald's environment that I would risk my future by
    30        ignoring such obvious dangers, then it was an unhealthy,
    31        dehumanising environment that all the employees were
    32        working in.  I do not consider that by virtue of my musical
    33        talent my safety was of any more importance than that of
    34        any other employee, but that every McDonald's employee
    35        should be safe and allowed to maintain a sense of their
    36        individuality."
    37
    38        Signed: "Karen Anstee, 26th July, 1993".
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
    41
    42   MR. RAMPTON:  Next is Nicholas Magill, and I fear I do have
    43        quite a number of problems with this.  Can I say, I said to
    44        your Lordship yesterday, and this remains my position,
    45        I actually do not give a row of beans how much hearsay
    46        evidence your Lordship looks at, because I know it does not
    47        make any difference; equally so with what I call
    48        speculation on the part of witnesses of fact or expressions
    49        of opinion.  My concern arises from the fact -- and I
    50        believe this is why your Lordship asked me to make these 
    51        objections -- Mr. Morris wanted to read these out so that 
    52        he can use them as public documents. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have got no objection.  It is perfectly fair
    55        that you should be entitled to object in that way; and
    56        I know from my own reading that there are parts which are
    57        quite clearly hearsay and, therefore, should not be read
    58        out.  But it is the ones where I can clearly, on the face
    59        of the document, come to that conclusion that I am
    60        interested in.