Day 137 - 19 Jun 95 - Page 55
1 that is a term, an NLRB term -- because they will not hold
2 their election until they clear up the unfair labour
3 practices charges. The unfair labour practice charges
4 similarly were dismissed, and there was no election. The
5 union did the same thing. They withdrew any claims they
6 had to representing the employees.
7
8 Q. Tell me, from your experience, if there is an election of
9 this kind, is it fairly common for one side or the other or
10 both to make allegations of unfair labour practices?
11 I seem to have come across it a number of times.
12 A. Yes, sometimes the process looks very similar to your
13 House of Commons, as is TV backed to the US. It is
14 sometimes a political arena with allegations going both
15 ways.
16
17 Q. So that is Frezno, California, Mason City, Iowa, both in
18 early to mid-70s; is that right?
19 A. Mid 70s.
20
21 Q. Mid 70s and both licensed or owner/operator, not Company
22 restaurants?
23 A. That is correct.
24
25 Q. Puerto Rico is another one, I think. We are coming to that
26 in due course later on in your evidence.
27 A. OK. Yes, that would be a little earlier, I think, but
28 similar in that time frame.
29
30 Q. Aside from those two or, if you like, three cases where
31 there was an agreement with a union, have there been any
32 other agreements where the employees have been represented
33 by a union in the United States, whether owner/operated or
34 in Company restaurants since that time?
35 A. No.
36
37 Q. To what do you attribute this almost total absence of
38 unions from McDonald's operation, in whichever form it
39 takes, during your time at McDonald's?
40 A. It is an employee choice thing. The employees have not
41 chosen to be represented by a union and are satisfied with
42 their relationship with McDonald's.
43
44 Q. That is why I asked you to look at this page 313 and its
45 following pages. Do you think that these provisions
46 actually work in practice, rap sessions, crew meetings,
47 opinion surveys and so on and so forth?
48 A. I do not mean to be flip, but we would not spend all
49 the time and effort if they did not work. This is an
50 organisation that only does things if, in fact, it makes a
51 difference. It absolutely does work.
52
53 Q. Do you think -- tell me "yes" or "no" -- whether the
54 absence of unions from your US and operation at large has
55 or has not got anything to do with the operation of these
56 routes of communication?
57 A. I think that it is clear that if you are going to
58 remain non-union, you have to treat your people with
59 dignity and respect, you have to have very good
60 communications systems, because, if not, you can have
