Day 192 - 27 Nov 95 - Page 14
1 I mean, now he knows what it's like to feel intimidated,
2 and how he made the crew feel. I got great satisfaction
3 out of that.
4
5 "After Cam's speech there was a slide show - which they
6 played twice - with 'Just Say No' buttons and everybody
7 goofing off at work. People wanted to change their minds
8 about the union, because they were scared of losing their
9 jobs. People were very intimidated and scared - and
10 brainwashed, too. The slide show was synchronised with
11 background music like 'Shiny Happy People' and 'It's a
12 Wonderful World'. It's a psychological thing that
13 McDonald's seems to have the power to be able to do.
14 I think McDonald's has this ability to make you think that
15 there's nothing wrong, everything's beautiful.
16
17 "I stood at the bottom of the steps of the church where the
18 slide show was being held. As people were going out, I was
19 trying to tell them about a union meeting we were having
20 that night. Cam came down and stood almost right beside
21 me, and then people wouldn't speak to me or even look at
22 me. I think it just shows you what management can do. How
23 they can intimidate people. They wouldn't even look at me.
24
25 "On the day of the vote I didn't know what I was supposed
26 to be doing, so I went out for breakfast with my
27 committee. Then I got on the phone with one of the
28 lawyers, and he said, you'd better be on the phone with
29 people, making sure that they have rides, especially the
30 ones who you think are going to vote yes. So I was trying
31 to do that, but the media just flooded my house, and my
32 phone, and I couldn't seem to get anything done."
33
34 Further down the column:
35
36 "I said, even if we don't win, we've already put ourselves
37 into a win-win situation, because working conditions have
38 changed. McDonald's treated us like gold. It was
39 unbelievable how they reacted to the union coming in."
40
41 That is the last section I have picked out. Is that all
42 true and based on your experience?
43 A. Yes.
44
45 Q. And you stand by it now?
46 A. Yes.
47
48 Q. When you started at McDonald's, do you remember what wage
49 you were on?
50 A. I think it was five cents from the minimum wage, so it
51 was $4.55, I think. It was either $4.55 or $4.60 an hour.
52
53 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am afraid you are going to have to keep
54 your voice up. Speak out loud and clear.
55
56 MR. MORRIS: You can put that away if you want.
57
58 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Put that on the side table, if you like. Do
59 speak up.
60 A. I believe I was making $4.55 or $4.60. I do not
