Day 006 - 05 Jul 94 - Page 66


     
     1        prepared to ----
              A.  Do this from their pay packet?
     2
         Q.   ---- deduct their subscriptions at source and pay them to
     3        the union.  But Mr. Morris really has been dealing with
              the first one, whether they can be members at all.
     4
         MR. MORRIS:  If a group of employees wish to join a trade union
     5        in a particular store, I believe you said on Friday that
              that is up to them.  Would you be prepared to negotiate as
     6        a company?
              A.  What is a group?  Three people?
     7
         Q.   With a trade union branch?
     8        A.  Three people out of a staff of 100?  No.  That is
              hardly representative.
     9
         Q.   So if a substantial amount of employees such as a third?
    10        A.  No.
 
    11   Q.   What about 51 per cent in a store?
              A.  Over half, I would consider it.
    12
         Q.   You would consider it, but is it not their right?
    13        A.  They can join anything they wish.  My negotiation with
              a third party is quite another question.  I think we
    14        should separate the two.
 
    15   Q.   Is not one of the main purposes of being in a trade union
              to negotiate?  It is not just like a club?
    16        A.  Well, is it?  You tell me.
 
    17   Q.   It will come up later in the employment section, that in
              Ireland the Labour Board ordered that if a group of
    18        employees in a store wished to join a union, the company
              must accept a representative of that group and negotiate
    19        with them over conditions that those employees wish to
              negotiate over.
    20        A.  What is "a group"?
 
    21   Q.   Well -----
              A.  Is it 51 per cent, or is it 3?
    22
         Q.   You are saying the problem seems to be the need for a
    23        third party, if there is a need for a third party.  If
              employees think there is a need for a third party because
    24        they feel whatever, hard done by, rightly or wrongly,
              would you be prepared to negotiate with them?
    25
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just pause a minute.  What Mr. Preston was 
    26        asking you, you say if employees think there is a need for 
              a third party, which presumes that all employees are going 
    27        to feel the same way about it.
 
    28   MR. MORRIS:  No, I am talking about a section.
 
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  You are being asked -- I do not know
              what the Labour Board ordered, whether the Labour Board
    30        said:  Provided X per cent belonged to a union McDonald's
              must negotiate with them, or whether they put no

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