Day 173 - 16 Oct 95 - Page 32


     
     1        Press release.
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:  This fact sheet, would you agree that it appears to
     4        be some kind of calculation of average rates, probably for
     5        the purposes of publicity?
     6        A.  I do not know.  I do not know why it was prepared and
     7        I do not know who prepared it.
     8
     9   Q.   Looking at the first two sheets, then, the hourly rates of
    10        pay are set out for the three months before the strike
    11        started, and in quite a lot of cases there are increases in
    12        the fourth of the ones that are set out.
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL: There are increases in March, some time in
    15        March, in a number of them.
    16
    17   MS. STEEL:   If there is an increase -- say, look at the first
    18        one for Mr. Mosret (?), the rate goes up, it says 11/3/79,
    19        it goes up to 95 pence.  Presumably, that would be for the
    20        couple of weeks previously?
    21        A.  Sorry, that the increase would be due for a couple of
    22        weeks previous to that?  I do not understand your question.
    23
    24   Q.   Are workers paid in arrears, two weeks arrears, in Ireland?
    25        A.  Yes, two weeks in arrears.
    26
    27   Q.   That pay rise, although it came in on 11/3, it would have
    28        had an effect -- well, would it have had an effect for the
    29        two weeks prior to that as well, or not?
    30        A.  I do not know.
    31
    32   Q.   You do not know?
    33        A.  No.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Why not put your point on this, if you have a
    36        particular point?
    37
    38   MS. STEEL:  The point is -- I was going to come on to that --
    39        the point is that after you received a letter from the
    40        union stating that they wanted a meeting with you to
    41        represent the workers to -- well, I mean, if you want to
    42        check, it is on page 963.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Put your suggestion, and then we will see what
    45        the answer is, first of all.
    46
    47   MS. STEEL:  After you received this letter and knew that there
    48        were rumblings of discontent within the store, you put up
    49        the wage rates for the crew?
    50        A.  Sorry, was that a question? 
    51 
    52   Q.   Yes. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL: That is a question.  It is a suggestion.  Is
    55        that what happened?
    56
    57   MS. STEEL:  For many of the crew; obviously, not all of them?
    58        A.  No.  The rates of pay increased here for this
    59        particular individual.  The 90 days probationary period
    60        probably came into play, the first raise.

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