Day 166 - 28 Sep 95 - Page 13


     
     1
     2   MS. STEEL:   Sorry, I am actually finding it extremely difficult
     3        to keep up.
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have to use your judgment as to how much
     6        of this is worth getting down.
     7
     8   MS. STEEL:   I feel actually there are some important parts that
     9        have been said.
    10
    11   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Very well.  Mr. Atkinson, I think you have to
    12        consider which elaborations are really important and which
    13        will be completely forgotten long before we come anywhere
    14        (inaudible).
    15
    16   MR. ATKINSON:  Then if we go to paragraph (5), Mr. Atkinson, of
    17        your statement -- I will read that out -- "Magill is
    18        confused over the system of performance reviews that took
    19        place.  All employees received a performance review at the
    20        end of their three week probationary period.  Thereafter
    21        performance reviews were held every two months.  I recall
    22        that at Magills' first performance review after the
    23        probationary one he was given a 15p hourly rise.  That was
    24        because he was a good performer who was punctual and hard
    25        working and it was felt by the managers, including myself,
    26        that his performance merited such a rise.
    27
    28        I think Magill must be mistaken in his recollection when he
    29        says that he had performance reviews every couple of weeks
    30        after this because, as I said above, these took place every
    31        two months.
    32
    33        As far as Magill's comment about star system are concerned,
    34        I do not agree that it was completely arbitrary.  Stars are
    35        awarded to crew who have achieved a high level of
    36        competence on each of the five stations.  It is correct
    37        that written tests have to be done in order to obtain
    38        stars.
    39
    40        In order to obtain a star on a particular station the crew
    41        member has to past 2 OCLs by different managers and then
    42        successfully pass the relevant test.  However, these tests
    43        were not compulsory, and if a crew member did not wish to
    44        take the test, then that was a matter for them.  All crew
    45        members were, however, offered the opportunity.
    46
    47        Magill says that he was not interested in obtaining stars.
    48        I assume, therefore, that he never took the written test
    49        and that this was the reason he was not awarded any stars.
    50        I do not agree that the star system was patronising, full 
    51        of hype and brain-washing.  It is merely a further process 
    52        by which performance is encouraged, recognised and 
    53        rewarded".
    54
    55        Do you stand by those statements?
    56        A.  Yes.
    57
    58   Q.   Then on paragraph (6):  "Magill's allegation that the Wages
    59        Council order was not pinned up on the notice board in the
    60        crew room is untrue.  It was permanently displayed behind a

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