name:

Sean Mrozek

section:

Employment

for:	The Defence

experience:

Worker and union organiser at a Dublin McDonald's store.

summary:

The witness outlines the protracted and well documented attempt to gain union recognition and employee protection in the Dublin McDonald's store in 1979.

In reply to a posted query from the defence, the witness reveals the anti-union sentiments and employee abuses which were part of the stores employemnt practices.

Harassment and discrimination continued against all the union members, but the company was very careful to conceal its anti-union hostility instead using other pretexts for picking on us.

Not available for this witness.

Full cv:
(not available for this witness)

full statement:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your recent telephone enquiry regarding whether I was of the opinion that McDonalds Restaurants had an anti-trade union disposition.

Speaking from my own experience I was involved in an industrial dispute for Trade Union recognition here in Dublin. The dispute lasted seven months which alone is a sign of the total reluctance of the company to negotiate. This dispute was in 1979 at which time I was an employee of McDonalds. Wages at that time were pitiful low and after a forty hour week which included working late hours I received £26 a week into my hand (after tax etc.)> My wage was 64p an hour.

On return to work I was subject to a number of accusations by management which including being drunk and loitering with intent to steal from the locker room. After such blatant intimidation I soon left employment there.

In other cases, two to be specific, McDonalds made their former positions defunct. Ann Holmes (now Casey) was a lobby hostess before the dispute. This position was dissolved on her return so too was that of James Macken who was a maintenance man.

During the dispute new staff were hired and told lies that the dispute was not for trade union recognition and better wages and conditions but because an employee was sacked, which was again totally false.

So in conclusion I would state that McDonalds have a definite anti-trade union policy. After all low wages means higher profits.

I hope this has been of some help in answering your query, if you need to contact me please do not hesitate to do so however I will be on holiday from the 1st July to the 6th July.

Yours sincerely
Sean Mrozek

supplementary statement:

Letter of 2nd July 1993 to Dave Morris

Dear Sir,