Day 208 - 24 Jan 96 - Page 32
1 nationally.
2
3 Q. When you started at Bath did you start on the starting
4 rate?
5 A. Yes, and it was 2.70, I believe, at the time.
6
7 Q. Was that a long way ahead of the competitors?
8 A. It was about a pound an hour more than I had been
9 getting at my previous job.
10
11 Q. What was that?
12 A. I used to work in a grocery store.
13
14 Q. In a grocery store. We can have argument about it, but the
15 McDonald's rate, starting rate, was just above the minimum
16 wage, if above the minimum wage, is that correct? A few
17 pence above minimum wage for the industry, the legal
18 minimum wage. I am not sure about groceries, whether that
19 covers grocery stores, but in terms of the industry that
20 you are competitive with -- I do not know, there is no
21 question to answer. We can just leave it for comment
22 later.
23
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Quite frankly, I would leave it there because
25 what you do not have to do and what may very well not help
26 is seeking to get a concession from the witness when what
27 you are going to do is put the material before me to press
28 your point.
29
30 MR. MORRIS: Yes, fair enough. I think we are trying to show
31 that the witness is just using Company phrases because he
32 has basically come here to put the Company line.
33
34 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You put that to him and he has given his
35 answer and if it is a point you make later, I will consider
36 it.
37
38 MR. MORRIS: You have come here, have you not, to put the
39 Company line?
40 A. I disagree with that statement, yes. I would disagree
41 with that.
42
43 Q. Why have you come here as a witness for McDonald's? You
44 are employed by McDonald's, are you not?
45 A. Yes.
46
47 Q. You are loyal to McDonald's, are you not?
48 A. I would say that I was loyal to the Company, but
49 I would not describe myself as a "yes man", as you would
50 obviously like to believe that I am.
51
52 Q. So what do you not like about McDonald's then?
53 A. At the moment I am enjoying pretty much everything.
54 The new job is in an area that I do enjoy working. I get
55 up in the morning and I like to go to work. I do not have
56 any problems at the moment.
57
58 Q. So what are the things you have complained about over the
59 years then?
60 A. In terms of rap sessions it will be broken equipment
