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 ----
    26
    27   MS. STEEL:   I seem to remember Mr. Rampton saying that he was
    28        accepting that it was an accurate portrayal at some stage.
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, there were lots of bits of it.
    31
    32   MS. STEEL:   I am sure I could find the reference.
    33
    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

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