Day 003 - 30 Jun 94 - Page 27


     
     1        value, and get it all very consistently.  That is the
              end-all be-all of any business, turnover -- no turnover,
     2        you are sunk.
 
     3   Q.   Then can we jump to the next paragraph -- I will read the
              rest of this.  If you want to comment on it, tell me:
     4        "McDonald's is no exception:  three-quarters of its
              workers are under 21.  The production-line system deskills
     5        the work itself:  Anybody can grill a hamburger, and
              cleaning toilets or smiling at customers needs no
     6        training."  Any comment on any of that?
              A.  I think factually probably some of it is incorrect.
     7        I suppose it is right, anyone can grill a hamburger, but
              I am not after selling one.  I am after trying to feed 500
     8        million a year minimum, as we talked about earlier.  This
              is an exercise of building a business.  I dare say it is
     9        not so easy to do 500 million people a year without some
              kind of organised system which can deliver on a regular
    10        basis to mum, dad and the kids quality, service,
              cleanliness and value to bring them back -- after all, the
    11        population of the UK is only 56 million.
 
    12   Q.   That is ten meals per head of the population per year
              roughly?
    13        A.  So we must be doing something right.
 
    14   Q.   Do your staff get trained in the cooking systems they use?
              A.  They get intensely trained in all production
    15        facilities, in all service facilities; how to use the
              equipment, how to work as a team.  They get trained in
    16        health and hygiene practices.  We try to leave no stone
              unturned in terms of what they are given as to preparation
    17        to do the jobs required.
 
    18   Q.   Now we move on:  "So there is no need to employ chefs or
              qualified staff - just anybody prepared to work for low
    19        wages.  As there is no legally-enforced minimum wage in
              Britain, McDonald's can pay what they like, helping to
    20        depress wage levels in the catering trade still further".
              I think you already told us about that?
    21        A.  I think so.
 
    22   Q.  "They," that is McDonald's "say they are providing jobs for
              school leaveers and take them on regardless of sex or
    23        race".  Is that true, that statement attributed to your
              organisation?
    24        A.  We do provide jobs for school-leavers and we do take
              them on regardless of sex or race.  We are absolutely
    25        equal opportunity.
  
    26   Q.   The next sentence says this:  "The truth is McDonald's are 
              only interested in recruiting cheap labour which always 
    27        means the disadvantaged groups, women and black people
              especially, are even more exploited by industry than they
    28        already are."  So far as you and McDonald's in
              this country are concerned, is that the truth,
    29        Mr. Preston?
              A.  That is false.
    30
         Q.   There is nothing else about this leaflet to which I need

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