Day 188 - 15 Nov 95 - Page 33
1
2 Q. Right. Continuing with the statement:
3
4 "Training on how to prepare the food properly was also
5 fairly conspicuous by its absence. Although there are
6 endless details about how the hamburgers, milkshakes,
7 etcetera, should be prepared (55 seconds to dress both buns
8 for the Big Mac, 35 seconds between removing one lot of
9 meat patties and turning over to the next run, etcetera),
10 staff are not really trained on how to do the actual food
11 production.
12
13 "At the Strand store, one lad was grilling the
14 quarterpounder meat patties within 30 minutes of starting."
15
16 How do you know that?
17 A. Again, because I watched that happen, when it was
18 during the period of observation. Somebody came on and
19 started -- it was his first day at the store, and he was
20 taken upstairs, given his uniform, and came downstairs, and
21 there he was on the quarterpounder things.
22
23 Q. Did he have anyone with him?
24 A. No.
25
26 Q. McDonald's say they have a system of -- I think they call
27 it "buddying people up". Have you heard of that phrase?
28 A. I know what the phrase is, and I have seen it in
29 the -----
30
31 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is here in the statement.
32
33 MR. MORRIS: Sorry, yes. I will read out the statement, then.
34
35 "Although the introductory video to new members of staff
36 tells them that a buddy will be assigned to them to induct
37 into the process, the lad doing the quarterpounders was
38 left entirely to himself."
39
40 Did you see other people starting at the store in your
41 times there?
42 A. Yes. I saw, you know, two or three; and that
43 experience was, I think, quite common. They just did not
44 have enough staff to go around to "buddy up". I mean, it
45 was like when I was doing the Big Macs myself, I did not
46 have someone with me to show me how to do it. I was given
47 a very short demonstration and left to get on with it.
48 I think that was quite a common experience.
49
50 Q. Yes. Then it says in the next paragraph: "Indeed, in my
51 case, I was given a quick demonstration of how to do the
52 Big Mac dressing and was then left alone for the entire
53 shift at the Strand. Indeed, the details laid down in the
54 various manuals appeared to exist for testing purposes
55 should a crew member wish to rise up the ladder rather than
56 instruction manuals which demonstrate how to prepare the
57 food properly."
58
59 That was your statement on 23rd July 1993. You agree with
60 that entire statement; yes?
