Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 17
1 for better or worse, you are just being asked whether you
2 have heard government inspectors or US DA make these
3 allegations.
4 A. Yes, I have.
5
6 MS. STEEL: And also that maggots, especially in the summer,
7 often infest cutting and processing machinery?
8 A. No, that is incorrect. It is not often. Can it happen
9 -- yes, it can happen. Have I seen it in our plants --
10 no, I have not.
11
12 Q. Never?
13 A. No. Have I even heard about it -- never.
14
15 Q. These complaints are being made by several inspectors, it
16 is not just one or two, is it?
17 A. That is correct. It is the position that the union has
18 taken to keep their jobs. It is as simple as that.
19
20 Q. How many inspectors are in the inspectors' union, do you
21 know?
22 A. In the plants?
23
24 Q. In the union.
25 A. I do not know.
26
27 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Before we come to that, can I make sure, you
28 have said you have heard of these complaints from
29 government inspectors. Who has been making the complaints?
30 You refer to the union from time to time. Is it a union
31 spokesman or US DA, an US DA spokesman, or individual
32 inspectors?
33 A. No, what I have seen it and it is a trick that they
34 use. They go and ask a reporter: "We want to tell you
35 something that you want to know".
36
37 Q. But who is "they"?
38 A. The inspectors.
39
40 Q. Just individual inspectors?
41 A. Individual inspectors. They say: "If you do not
42 mention my name, I will tell you about it". That is how
43 most of the complaints or the claims are being made.
44
45 MS. STEEL: Of course, if they gave their names they would be
46 likely to be sacked, would they not?
47 A. If they gave their name, they should be fired. If they
48 are allowing that to happen, they should be fired.
49
50 Q. It is tens or hundreds of inspectors that are saying these
51 kinds of the things?
52 A. To the overall inspection?
53
54 Q. The inspectors that are making these kinds of complaints?
55 A. Yes.
56
57 Q. It is tens or hundreds of them?
58 A. I do not know how many, no.
59
60 Q. Reports have quoted 70 or 80, would you accept that?
