Day 142 - 26 Jun 95 - Page 60


     
     1        specifically with regard to youth rates of pay.
     2
     3   MR. MORRIS:  So you are aware there were disputes over the
     4        hiring of young people and McDonald's using the hiring of
     5        young people and avoiding higher rates of pay and, thereby,
     6        keeping their labour costs down ----
     7        A.  No ----
     8
     9   Q.   --- as an issue unions were raising?
    10
    11   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do not go on too long.  Might I suggest that
    12        you put it bit by bit.
    13
    14   MR. MORRIS:  The disputes were over ----
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are you aware of disputes over the hiring of
    17        young people with a view to avoiding paying higher rates?
    18        A.  No, my Lord.  The only disputes that I am aware of, if
    19        you can call it a dispute, were the proceedings before the
    20        labour court in New South Wales.  It had nothing to do with
    21        any activity at McDonald's restaurants to my knowledge,
    22        except there were some -- I am sorry, there were some
    23        unrelated boycotts on occasion with regard to construction
    24        and a few other things, but as far as there being a direct
    25        dispute at a McDonald's restaurant, I am not aware of
    26        that.  I am aware of matters before the labour court in New
    27        South Wales, but these are award determinations; I would
    28        not call them disputes. That is where the association and
    29        union were not able to agree upon certain terms.  The
    30        matter was then submitted to the labour court for their
    31        resolutions.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  So there are differences between unions and the
    34        employers over the, as pleaded, industrial award minimum
    35        wage and related working conditions which were arbitrated
    36        through the Labour Board?
    37        A.  The machinery there is that the Labour Boards hear
    38        those matters, then they make determinations.
    39
    40   Q.   You said you were aware of boycotts, activities by
    41        construction unions, amongst others?
    42        A.  I am aware, yes, in general there were from time to
    43        time boycotts by construction unions.
    44
    45   Q.   Were you aware of the details of the awards that were being
    46        debated in the arbitration hearing, the Labour Board
    47        arbitration hearings?
    48        A.  No.
    49
    50   Q.   Were you aware of what the details were that were in 
    51        dispute between the union and employers that related to 
    52        McDonald's? 
    53        A.  The issues before the New South Wales Labour Board had
    54        to do with proportions clauses.
    55
    56   Q.   What is a proportion clause?
    57
    58   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, I wonder where we are going now.  We are
    59        in New South Wales.
    60

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