Day 132 - 07 Jun 95 - Page 15
1 confer on the employees?
2 A. No, I think that the stated policy of McDonald's is
3 entirely the right one for their type of operation.
4
5 Q. To leave it up to the individual?
6 A. No, to say to the individual that they expect shoes
7 with a slip resistant sole and stout uppers. That is the
8 sort of recommendation that is made throughout the
9 business, throughout the hotel and catering industry.
10
11 Q. Yes, and that throughout the hotel and catering industry
12 workers are low paid, are they not?
13 A. That is not my expertise.
14
15 Q. Some jobs in other industries give people an initial
16 funding to buy necessary equipment?
17 A. No, in other industries it is provided and it has to be
18 provided and you are not allowed to charge for it.
19 However, that is for those instances where, for instance, a
20 high impact resistant and totectors have to be worn, and
21 that sort of thing, and under those circumstances it would
22 normally be provided free of charge, but it is for a
23 different issue than we are talking about here.
24
25 Q. You claimed that McDonald's consults with its employees
26 over safety and, therefore, trade unions or trade union
27 safety reps would -- your words -- not necessarily lead to
28 a disadvantage, the lack of a safety rep. But, as a safety
29 expert, anything that would empower employees to be able to
30 act over safety themselves or have their own
31 representatives act independently of management, would be
32 encouraged, would be something to be encouraged?
33 A. Well, you are suggesting that they are not empowered at
34 all so to do?
35
36 Q. I am asking you -----
37 A. What I have said about safety representatives
38 specifically is that safety representatives are there as a
39 channel of communication, and the regulations were brought
40 in under the joint consultation provisions of the Health &
41 Safety at Work Act. Now, there are other ways of achieving
42 joint consultation. What I have said is that safety
43 representatives do not automatically confer a special
44 advantage if you have a company that consults well. I work
45 with companies, both trade unionised and non-unionised
46 companies. The main thing is that you have a channel of
47 communication.
48
49 Q. Yes, but communication is not the same as taking employee
50 concerns or grievances or proposals, or whatever,
51 seriously, is it?
52 A. I am sorry, it is part of the same thing, as far as
53 I am concerned. Communications are not just talking; it is
54 actually acting on what has been said which is the essence
55 of consultation.
56
57 Q. Yes, but the power of an employee to take action over
58 safety themselves in defiance of management is something
59 that should be encouraged, should it not, in terms of
60 safety?
