Day 196 - 06 Dec 95 - Page 07
1 involved with all the things they actually said, but I
2 have actually heard of or have some knowledge of them.
3
4 Q. You made that statement on 28th October this year. Do you
5 still stand by that statement as your evidence?
6 A. Yes, I do.
7
8 Q. There was a Request for Further Details about your first
9 statement: "(1) Labour Costs" . These were requests made
10 by the Plaintiffs, McDonald's. "Labour Costs - Please give
11 the names of those who put 'a lot of pressure on management
12 to keep labour costs down'. Answer: Everybody above."
13 Presumably, everybody above you in the system?
14 A. Correct.
15
16 Q. "(2) - Please state how that pressure was applied: At
17 meetings, all the time generally, one-to-one, showing by
18 example, instructions and advice." Presumably from people
19 higher up than yourself?
20 A. People who would actually be advising me or supervising
21 me.
22
23 Q. "Management grades had to work very long hours at no extra
24 pay. Once a month I did 23-hour shifts and regularly up to
25 80 hours per week. Under-staffing was the norm, so was
26 cost-cutting to achieve targets. All staff really earn
27 their money at McDonald's. The crew work their butts off
28 continuously. They are expected to obey the instructions.
29 Pay is appalling. Under 18s are cheaper re labour rates.
30 We were expected to hire under 18s. The Job Centre knew
31 who we wanted.
32
33 Question 1.3 - Please state (a) whether there was a set
34 weekly labour percentage for Colchester, if so (b) what it
35 was and (c) how and by whom it was set. (a) 'Keep it
36 within 14 per cent' set by Area Supervisor with knowledge
37 of those higher up. The official headquarters annual
38 percentage set was about 14.5 per cent." That presumably
39 was for your store?
40 A. For our store, yes.
41
42 Q. "Profit goal set was 29 to 31p in the pound takings (per
43 month, seasonally adjusted) in Supervisors' targets from
44 Head Office. Anglia Region held Managers meetings." Was
45 that the Anglia Region, have I got it right?
46 A. It was the Anglia Region yes.
47
48 Q. "Anglia Region held Managers meetings with Senior
49 Supervisor where regional targets (labour food packaging)
50 were set. (Labour was the main one)." I have put PNL. Is
51 it P&L?
52 A. P&L, it stands for the profit and losses.
53
54 Q. "The profit and loss and bottom line was an obsession).
55 Supervises themselves were under pressure from the
56 Region/Senior Supervisors and had to impose targets on
57 their three or so stores. Frank Stanton, Mark Davies
58 continuously told us they were under pressure to achieve
59 their targets. "
60
