Day 182 - 02 Nov 95 - Page 45


     
     1        slow to get something mended?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   Q.   It is no different from the ventilation system which you
     5        have been talking about, is it?
     6        A.  No, I would say there is a difference.  The thing about
     7        the ventilation system was that it was wholly inadequate
     8        for the restaurant; it was not adequate, it did not provide
     9        the air exchange that was needed to provide good working
    10        conditions in the restaurant and in the kitchen; and it was
    11        not a matter of routine maintenance, it was a matter of
    12        replacing the whole system.
    13
    14   Q.   What do you say has that got, in any real sense, to do with
    15        the presence of a union in that particular restaurant?
    16        A.  Not in any other matter, that we had complained about
    17        the situation for as long as I have worked there and
    18        nothing had been done until the union put their hands on
    19        it.
    20
    21   Q.   Finally, I think, this -- and this is as far as I can go at
    22        the moment, my Lord, I think -- would you agree with me
    23        that for many people, perhaps most people, in McDonald's
    24        before this agreement, the effect of the
    25        performance-related pay increases was to, in practical
    26        terms -- do you understand the word obviate?
    27        A.  No.
    28
    29   Q.   Make unnecessary -- make unnecessary the need to pay any
    30        overtime?
    31        A.  Could you state that question again?  I am not quite
    32        sure I understand what you are after.
    33
    34   Q.   I think you are telling us that one of the benefits, as you
    35        see it, of the union agreement is that people now get
    36        guaranteed overtime.  What I am suggesting to you is that,
    37        in practical terms, that has not made any difference to
    38        most of the employees, because they were getting as much or
    39        more under the old system?
    40        A.  That is wrong, because we still receive
    41        performance-related pay.  I, myself, I have extra pay for
    42        being Floor Manager.  I do not know exactly what the rates
    43        are for everybody.  But if McDonald's has chosen to abandon
    44        their system of performance-related pay because they now
    45        have to pay overtime, I think that is sad, because I think
    46        they can co-operate quite well.  But I also think that it
    47        is necessary to alleviate and compensate for those who have
    48        to work during the night, during the weekends and in the
    49        evening who work at -- well, what am I trying to say -----
    50 
    51   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I am not sure you are both ----- 
    52 
    53   MR. RAMPTON:  There is a slight misunderstanding but, my
    54        Lord  -----
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is not suggested, is it, as I understand
    57        it, that McDonald's have abandoned performance
    58        related  -----
    59
    60   MR. RAMPTON:  No, not at all.

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