Day 194 - 01 Dec 95 - Page 13
1 I would not know it was happening.
2
3 Q. Right, OK. I think we have said in our pleadings that a
4 Mr. Wilson was involved -- is that the case -- in this
5 unionisation drive, or attempt -----
6 A. Right. That is probably ---
7
8 Q. Discussion.
9 A. -- too grand a title. Andrew Wilson, certainly, was
10 interested in joining a union. Had he stayed there longer,
11 he would also have joined. Andrew Wilson was one of the
12 people who was advised by the junior manager as I have
13 stated.
14
15 Q. As you have stated?
16 A. Yes.
17
18 MS. STEEL: Mr. Sexton said that you were always talking about
19 unions -- and we are not asking about that. He said that
20 you talked to him about unions and that he also overheard
21 you speaking to other people about unions. Do you have any
22 comment about that?
23 A. Yes. I certainly never spoke to Dave Sexton, or spoke
24 to any manager, because of fear of what it would have meant
25 in terms of losing -- I believe that it would have led to
26 me losing my job, had I spoken to a manager, had they known
27 what we were doing. If Dave Sexton overheard it, I would be
28 most surprised because, apart from the one occasion which,
29 as I stated in here, where the junior manager came into
30 what is called the back room area, discussions were
31 deliberately held when managers were not around -- in the
32 store room, whilst taking deliveries out of the side door,
33 or in the crew room when there were not any managers
34 around. So I would be very surprised if Dave Sexton had
35 overheard it. If he had, it would sound more like
36 deliberate eavesdropping. He would not have casually
37 overheard it.
38
39 Q. So you would not talk about it while they were in the same
40 room or in sight, or anything like that?
41 A. Certainly not.
42
43 MR. MORRIS: I think we have nearly finished now. Mr. Nicholson
44 said that one of the questions raised at the meeting held
45 at the store -- that he attended at the store, as Head of
46 Personnel -- during this time, was a crew member
47 saying: "Why could we not have a union member in the
48 restaurant", and Mr. Nicholson answered: "I told him we
49 would prefer to deal directly with our crew rather than
50 through a third outside party."
51
52 When you said people were frightened for their jobs, how
53 did that relate to membership or activity? Do you see what
54 I am saying?
55 A. We believed even membership alone would jeopardise our
56 chances of keeping our job. I imagine activity would have
57 made the situation even worse.
58
59 Q. Mr. Nicholson also said -- I asked him: "They would not be
60 allowed to inform the union about conditions inside the
