Day 119 - 02 May 95 - Page 55
1 hanging your hat on here by putting to him: "Was such and
2 such a matter of complaint or was there a trend to
3 complaints about this topic or the other?" If you just
4 ask: "What particular trends were there?" I cannot see that
5 it is a topic where you have a peg to hang your hat on.
6
7 MR. MORRIS: The reason I am saying that is not because I want
8 to know every trend, but because I do not believe actually
9 that the Company is interested in staff grievances. They
10 do not compile information, they do not take any action,
11 and it is very much to what happens in the store, whether
12 it happens or not. The reason I am asking Mr. Nicholson is
13 because I am giving him the opportunity to say: "Yes, we
14 do know that there was a trend in this" -----
15
16 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He has answered both those in the way you
17 would like him to answer. They do not have any formal
18 gathering of information about trends or grievances. He
19 does not recall any particular trends or none come to mind
20 in May 1995. So, if that is the point you are making, you
21 have the answers you want.
22
23 MR. MORRIS: So where, for example, it turns out after much
24 application from the Defence that you do compile statistics
25 to some extent on accidents at work and trends, i.e. which
26 areas of the store have the most accidents, you do not do a
27 similar job for crew members' grievances or conditions, is
28 that correct, for any crew members' grievances or
29 conditions, whether as Ombudsman or Head of Personnel or
30 whatever?
31 A. They would be dealt with -- no, no, the Ombudsman would
32 not; they would be dealt with locally, crew grievances.
33
34 Q. The difference between crew members' general grievances and
35 accidents, reportable accidents, is that accidents
36 reportable are reportable by law; is that correct?
37 A. Some are, yes.
38
39 Q. The ones that are reported by law are the ones that are
40 compiled as information?
41 A. Yes.
42
43 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think I have to add, from my own knowledge,
44 that the other reason for recording accidents, quite apart
45 from those which are reportable by law, is that any
46 sensible employer realises there may at some stage, up to
47 three years in the future and in some circumstances even
48 later than that, be action seeking compensation by
49 somebody?
50 A. Yes, there is a requirement to keep the accident book
51 for three years.
52
53 Q. So it is sensible to make a record in -----
54 A. I believe Jill Barnes is compiling an examination of
55 accidents.
56
57 MR. MORRIS: Is the Crew Handbook available in any other
58 language apart from English to crew members?
59 A. I do not think so.
60
