name:

Ray Coton

section:

Employment

for:	The Defence

experience:

McDonald's Manager, Colchester, 1983-1990

summary:

In the end I left because I objected to being told how to treat those who were employed at the store. Many of the company procedures and systems were fine in theory, or on paper, but in practice at store level it was impossible to comply due to the pressures from those in the management grades above.

cv:

I worked for McDonald's for 7 years. Rising from position of Security Coordinator to Store Manager at the Colchester store.

Full cv:
(not available for this witness)

full statement:

I left in August 1990. I resigned after writing a letter to Head Office criticising management style at the company, and certain practices I was expected to sanction or enforce. I took this decision despite the fact that I was generally satisfied with my pay as Manager, and despite enjoying many aspects of my work.

Some of the practices which give me cause for concern regarding my experiences:

1. Labour Costs

There was a lot of pressure on management to keep labour costs down. This applied on a store by store basis, and also within the region as a whole. The store was expected to keep within its set budget. When senior officials visited the store we would have to increase staffing levels (e.g. up to around 20% of sales) and then we would have to drasticly decrease labour costs for the rest of the week (e.g. down to 10%) in order to conform to the usual weekly budget for such costs.

2. Food Costs

3. Hours worked

It was not abnormal for me to have to work 70 hours per week. Those who were interested in promotion often would feel they had to work very long hours in order to impress. This was an unwritten rule.

The schedule could be, and was, used in a discriminatory way. I was told to use my scheduling power to favour some crew at the expense of others (regarding getting the hours they requested etc).

4. Trade Unions

In the end I left because I objected to being told how to treat those who were employed at the store. Many of the company procedures and systems were fine in theory, or on paper, but in practice at store level it was impossible to comply due to the pressures from those in the management grades above.

supplementary statement:

Have read the statement made by Simon Gibney 15/ 7/93 I can confirm the facts as stated as true with regards to section:

1. Operation target

2. Collective activity

3. Scheduling staff hours

4. Under 18 year old males working past midnight

5. Working with sewage underfoot

6. Overtime payments

7. All night closes

With regard to section 7) on burns although commonplace action or correct actions regard this in my view were always taken and although I remember the case stated there was no form of "hush money". During my early time under training many of my shifts were spent working with Simon and much cross training between us went on and I was present or have knowledge of all cases stated. I have also read the statements made by Adrian Brett, Kevin Harrison, C. Harrison, Siamak Alimi, Omid Shaftibeik. All people that I worked with at the Colchester Store during my time there from Security to Store Manager and I can confirm the facts in those statements as true or being correct to the best of my knowledge.

date signed:

28th October 1995

status:

Appeared in court

references: Not applicable/ available

exhibits: Not applicable/ available

transcripts of court appearances:

• Day 196 - 06 Dec 95,
• Day 197 - 07 Dec 95,
• Day 198 - 08 Dec 95

related links:

• Complete witness list
• 'People' top page
• McLibel court transcripts index
• 'McLibel' top page
• Employment section of 'The Issues'
• 'McLibel' section of the Debating Room