McD seems to operate very differently in Sweden. Altogether, based on what you say, it seem to follow a much more liberal system there than anywhere else. Although I would have liked to hear the crews view too on their conditions of work. Things often look different depending on which angle they are looked at; a senior manager or a simple crew member. However, the Swedish case shows that the stronger the workers' unions and the fairer the labour laws, the better the conditions of work. Anyhow, a few questions I am curious to find answers to:
1. What is your position in McD now? Sometimes you use past tense when talking about your management days. But you are obviously still working at McD.
2. What was the target % of labour costs to turnover of the stores you were in charge of.
3. would you recommend the system you have discribed to be adopted by McD in every country. For example, would you say McD should allow trades union representation and activity within all their stores?
4. If workers' unions are accepted by you in your stores, why do you think McD does not allow their activity within its stores in other countries?
5. You say: "If you take the average wage for people working in industry in Sweden, then my people had roughly about 70-75% of that. What has to be taken into consideration, is that initially we work with unskilled people. When they got skilled, they got more." Presumably the average wage for industry already includes wages of the unskilled people too. So the average for your store should have really been equal to the average for the industry at least. So I still consider the wage you paid as low by industry standards confirming the judge's verdict on this issue at McLibel trial. At what stage did your staff earn wages equal to industry average?
6. You say " My own, as my managers wage, was higher than that of my employees." Ok, but you have not yet told us by how much? Let's put it this way, roughly, what was the difference between the wage of a 5 star crew member (yellow badge) and thet of the store manager?
Finally, you say:
"I would finally say that I take offense in your comment of my credibility. How is it, that you in one follow up ask of us to accept McSpotlight as a credible source, and then will not accept my statement".
Well, McSpotlight is an organisation with proven track record. I am not saying accept everything they say. What I am saying is I have not come accross anyone who has put a serious argument forward for doubting the integrity of this site and its organisers. They do not knowingly spread misinformation. That is what I was saying in the message you are referring to. Now, with respect, there is a big difference between a public site like this one and individuals like me and you who can be entirely anonymous and say what they want without any risk. So don't take it too seriously if I doubt your word - it's nothing personal, just style of debate.
