Day 302 - 18 Nov 96 - Page 32
1 would contain elements of all these major issues, but, to
2 be honest, I think that our case virtually supersedes the
3 actual testimony because the documentation is so strong on
4 the employment issue that it deals with all the points
5 relevant to the fact sheet. Even before you go into the
6 detail of local stores, that comes out of the testimony.
7 Although, of course, the local testimony is very important
8 because it backs up everything we have been saying, in any
9 event.
10
11 I mean, although I say that, I do say that I would have
12 analysed the testimony from all the local stores if I had
13 had the time and the ability to do so, which I just have
14 not had, for whatever reason.
15
16 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, anyway, you want me to pick up any
17 point I see there one way or the other?
18
19 MR. MORRIS: Yes, please.
20
21 I think that deals with health and safety. On the union
22 side, before I go on to Mr. Pearson -- maybe I will go on
23 to Mr. Pearson now, actually. Unfortunately, I am going to
24 have to go through the transcript. I will try and do
25 it.... Can I ask if you might be able to actually read
26 Mr. Pearson's evidence.
27
28 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, I propose to read his, and, I regret to
29 say, I have forgotten the name of the other -----
30
31 MR. RAMPTON: Turnbull, my Lord.
32
33 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Mr. Turnbull, yes. Anyway, you would like me
34 to read both, would you?
35
36 MR. MORRIS: Yes, please, yes. In that case, I will try and
37 whip through it quickly, but it is pretty important.
38 Obviously, we would say he is thoroughly versed in the
39 issue as an expert from his present position as a research
40 worker for industrial relation services. He was in the
41 Transport and General Workers Union as an official,
42 I think, for about eleven years, and then he had worked for
43 an organisation called the Pay Equity Project which was
44 concerned with low pay and unequal pay, and he worked for
45 the low pay unit. And he was a member of various wages
46 councils relevant to this issue as an official. He was
47 concerned with hotel and catering, an official in the
48 Transport and General Workers Union. He had also worked
49 for a migrant advisory group, I can't remember the name of
50 it now, which dealt with the special concerns of ethnic
51 minority and migrant workers.
52
53 There was a point where Mr. Rampton said that the witness
54 was relying on a substantial quantity of hearsay in some
55 parts of his statement and then he said, "I do not object
56 to that because an expert is entitled to form a view on
57 what he has been told." And we would say that is very
58 true. Sorry, that was on day 180, page 4, line 39.
59
60 MR. RAMPTON: Yes, but my Lord that does not mean to say that
