Day 182 - 02 Nov 95 - Page 29


     
     1        A.  Yes, so it would not be so hard on the legs.
     2
     3   Q.   What about breaks?  Is there anything you want to say about
     4        breaks in terms of employment law?
     5        A.  Yes.  The law states that if you work more than five
     6        and a half hours you are entitled to a break, and if your
     7        working hours are eight or more, that should be at least
     8        half an hour.  It also states that if you do not get this
     9        break, it should be paid after -- you should have a paid
    10        break after you have finished working.
    11
    12        But the way it worked at McDonald's, especially on
    13        Saturdays when I worked a lot, was that it was very busy
    14        and very many people did not get breaks, because there just
    15        was not enough people at work, and they never got any extra
    16        money for that.  They were never given a paid break after
    17        that, as the law provides for.  That was not followed.  But
    18        after the agreement, they made sure that everyone got their
    19        allotted break.
    20
    21   Q.   On top of statute law, you now have agreements that -- at
    22        least, all the references here have been disclosed -- as
    23        I understand it -- I am sure there will be no dispute about
    24        me putting this as a leading question -- you have an
    25        agreement through the -- what is the LO NHO?
    26        A.  Well, the LO is the Norwegian TUC and the NHO is the
    27        Employers Union -- I cannot remember .....
    28
    29   Q.   Federation or something?
    30        A.  Yes, well, the Employers' Federation, yes.
    31
    32   Q.   Does that cover any workplaces where there is any union
    33        recognition?
    34        A.  Yes, that is part of the agreement you sign when you
    35        get a collective agreement, that is part of it.  In
    36        addition to the LO, there are other smaller unions as well,
    37        but .....
    38
    39   Q.   We are concerned -----
    40        A.  This is absolutely the biggest and most important union
    41        in Norway.
    42
    43   Q.   Right.  Sorry.  Then there is a specific agreement covering
    44        the catering industry; is that correct?
    45        A.  Yes, that is the HRAF.
    46
    47   Q.   Agreement?
    48        A.  And the Employers, the Hotel Federation.  McDonald's is
    49        not a member of the Hotel Federation but they still signed
    50        the same agreement. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Agreeing to abide by these? 
    53        A.  Yes.
    54
    55   Q.   Presumably, these incorporate the employment statutes but
    56        they are an improvement on them?
    57        A.  Yes, well, they are an improvement on them.
    58
    59   Q.   You said something about overtime rates -- sorry, let me
    60        just have a look -- being 50 and 100 per cent, I did not

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