Day 303 - 19 Nov 96 - Page 34
1
2 As Mr. Coton pointed out, the pressure on a Store Manager
3 is such that he felt it was impossible to achieve what the
4 Company was demanding without all the corner-cutting and
5 exploitation of the staff. So, it is a systemic problem,
6 not a problem of individuals.
7
8 Not only was it a systemic problem, but this was one of
9 McDonald's exemplary stores. No doubt it was exemplary
10 because of the low wage costs and the low food costs and
11 the consequent high profit margins, which, after all, we
12 would say, is the only real thing that counts to
13 McDonald's.
14
15 Can I just say, moving on from that, regarding Ms. Anteneh
16 from McDonald's, who was the floor manager from the Strand,
17 featuring in the film "One Every Mile", which by the end
18 everyone has accepted as being a perfectly accurate
19 portrayal of conditions at ----
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That is not so. You say it is accurate but
22 I do not think it was necessarily accepted as so, but that
23 is again for me to judge.
24
25 MR. MORRIS: Well, it was ----
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27 MS. STEEL: I seem to remember Mr. Rampton saying that he was
28 accepting that it was an accurate portrayal at some stage.
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30 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, there were lots of bits of it.
31
32 MS. STEEL: I am sure I could find the reference.
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34 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No doubt parts were, but it was not accepted
35 that it was all an accurate portrayal. I may think it is,
36 but I have to make up my own mind. I do not think you can
37 say it was just admitted that it was.
38
39 MR. MORRIS: I seem to remember Mr. Rampton saying it was and
40 also, I think it was at the very end of Ms. Anteneh's
41 evidence actually, because she had basically accepted it.
42 And also that Miss Tobin had informed the court that that
43 was what the response was from McDonald's executives,
44 I think, who had seen the film.
45
46 MS. STEEL: I think that the time Mr. Rampton accepted the
47 accuracy of the film was when there was discussion about
48 Jane Gabriel being subpoenaed to come to court to give
49 evidence about the film, and when it was raised again that
50 we were not going to arrange for her to come to court.
51 Mr. Rampton actually said that it was accepted now and
52 there was not any point in her coming anyway. That is my
53 recollection.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not recall that in those terms.
56 Mr. Rampton, what was the position?
57
58 MR. RAMPTON: I am sorry, my Lord, I do not either. I may have
59 said something to the effect that large parts of it were
60 accepted by Ms. Anteneh. I think they were. But I
