Day 121 - 04 May 95 - Page 43
1 Q. Who was?
2 A. A man called Richards; he has gone now.
3
4 Q. Do you not think it is irresponsible of them not to have
5 briefed you on the kinds of ---
6 A. No, I do not think so.
7
8 Q. -- disciplinary action that the Company had been taking to
9 ensure that it kept within the law?
10 A. I think he probably did tell me and -- he almost
11 certainly told me and pointed out that that was one of the
12 areas that I had to watch, and we did rigorously.
13
14 Q. Do you happen to remember what the disciplinary action was
15 taken, if any, following the Luton Magistrates Court
16 conviction of McDonald's in September 1982 ---
17 A. No.
18
19 Q. -- for 40 offences of Employment Regulations for Young
20 People?
21 A. No.
22
23 Q. As Head of Personnel, presumably, you were aware of the
24 laws relating to staff employment that will affect
25 McDonald's crew, yes?
26 A. Yes, I made myself aware of that, yes.
27
28 Q. If somebody worked without a break of any kind for, say,
29 seven hours or something, would that be a breach of the
30 law?
31 A. I cannot remember what the actual regulations were at
32 that time, but there were -- breaks had to be given when
33 they worked certain hours, the length of the break was a
34 certain time. I knew them well in those days. I forgot
35 them now. But, yes, I was aware of that.
36
37 Q. Are you aware in September 1987 an employee, Richard Atkin,
38 in the Gravesend branch worked at least two occasions for
39 seven hours without any sort of break?
40 A. No.
41
42 Q. You were not aware of that?
43 A. No.
44
45 Q. That was when you were Head of Personnel, was it not?
46 A. Yes.
47
48 Q. Are you aware that a representative of the Company wrote a
49 letter to the Gravesend Weekly News -- maybe we should go
50 to it.
51
52 MS. STEEL: It is the Defendants' list of documents, bundle IV.
53 A. Defendants' documents?
54
55 MR. MORRIS: It is the king Fisher blue bundle IV.
56
57 MS. STEEL: Document No. 128.
58
59 THE WITNESS: Yes, sorry, I have the bundle. The reference?
60
