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

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