Day 116 - 26 Apr 95 - Page 41


     
     1        round the country saying "We would like to join a union" or
     2        anything like that?
     3        A.  No.
     4
     5   Q.   Or even from a particular area?
     6        A.  No.
     7
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You said a little while ago this afternoon
     9        that you only ever had one approach from a trade union?
    10        A.  Yes.
    11
    12   Q.   Was that Mr. Pearson?
    13        A.  That was on that occasion.
    14
    15   Q.   Is there any kind of formal or indeed any other kind of
    16        letter from a trade union raising the question of ----
    17        A.  Not on one single occasion.
    18
    19   Q.   -- membership or representation?
    20        A.  I had no approaches in the time I was in the personnel
    21        department; not one single approach was made to me, other
    22        than that request, from Warren Street from any union.
    23
    24   Q.   While I am asking questions, I know certainly so far as an
    25        action for damages of personal injury if an employee is
    26        injured at work, sues his employer and is a member of the
    27        union, the union very often supports the claim in the sense
    28        of paying the union's solicitors to pursue the claim.  Do
    29        you know whether that happens at industrial tribunals, that
    30        if an applicant is a member of a trade union the trade
    31        union supports them, perhaps sends a union officer along to
    32        represent them, that sort of thing, or can you not help me
    33        about that?
    34        A.  No, I cannot help you about that, my Lord.  I can only
    35        talk about McDonald's.
    36
    37   MR. RAMPTON:  Finally on unions, you said that you have never
    38        really had any serious request from your employees to
    39        become unionised whether individually or en bloc, yes?
    40        A.  That is right.
    41
    42   Q.   Why do you think it is?  Do you think it is simply because
    43        they are all working part-time and are harassed out of
    44        their lives so that they have not got the resources to be
    45        unionised?
    46        A.  No.
    47
    48   Q.   What do you think the reason is?
    49        A.  I do not think they are interested.
    50 
    51   Q.   Why do you think they are not interested? 
    52        A.  Well, I do not really know. 
    53
    54   MR. RAMPTON:  Well, if you do not know do not speculate.  My
    55        Lord, I was going to pass to promotion and pay next.
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, shall we break off there?  Do not talk
    58        to anyone else about the case, Mr. Nicholson.
    59
    60             (The court adjourned until the following day).

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