Day 173 - 16 Oct 95 - Page 41


     
     1        keeping your head down.  I assume they have the same phrase
     2        in Ireland as we do in England?
     3        A.  You could say that, my Lord.
     4
     5   MS. STEEL:  The position was basically that you did not want to
     6        have any dealings with the union; is that fair to say?
     7        A.  Well, no, it is not fair to say.  The union had not
     8        clearly identified who they represented; and, from my point
     9        of view, I did not see a need to respond to that letter
    10        until there was some proof that they were acting on behalf
    11        of somebody.
    12
    13   Q.   So you then go on to say in your statement that it was
    14        after the opening of the second restaurant in January 1979
    15        in Upper O'Connell Street that you received a further
    16        approach from the Irish Transport and General Workers
    17        Union.  Can you just confirm, is that the letter we see on
    18        page 963 of tab 59?  That would be in the pink bundle; it
    19        is the first page.
    20        A.  Sorry, what page?
    21
    22   Q.   Page 963.  It also has a "1" at the bottom.
    23        A.  Yes, yes.
    24
    25   Q.   That is the letter you are referring to there?
    26        A.  Yes, that is correct.
    27
    28   Q.   Dated 14th February 1979, from the branch secretary of the
    29        ITGWU, seeking an early meeting in relation to wages and
    30        conditions of the members that they were representing?
    31        A.  Yes.
    32
    33   Q.   If we just turn over to page 964, this is a memorandum re
    34        possible union activity at the Upper O'Connell Street
    35        branch.  If you look on page 967, it has your name at the
    36        bottom of it, but it also says copies to you.  Was this a
    37        document that you prepared?
    38        A.  Yes, it would have been.
    39
    40   Q.   It is dated 28th February, 1979?
    41        A.  Yes, that is the date of it.
    42
    43   Q.   It says here: "The Manager, Martin Coughlin, bought to my
    44        attention the fact that there were some rumblings amongst
    45        the crew of possible union activity on 12th February 1979."
    46        Was that the date that Mr. Coughlin brought this to your
    47        attention, or is that the date that the rumblings were
    48        going on, or were they one and the same thing?
    49        A.  I cannot remember the date at this point.  It is a long
    50        time ago. 
    51 
    52   Q.  "On 15th February I received a letter which was delivered 
    53        from the Irish Transport and General Workers Union by hand
    54        seeking a meeting with us in relation to their members
    55        employed in our establishment.  After discussions with
    56        Martin Coughlin he felt that there could possibly be up to
    57        20 involved and these were mostly females.  He felt the
    58        people mostly responsible for instigating things were Sean
    59        Mosrek, Marie Walsh (ex Grafton Street), Mary Golding, Paul
    60        French, Mark Tyrell and Theresa Baker."

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