Day 180 - 31 Oct 95 - Page 23


     
     1        remember.  I remember him -- his disappointment was based
     2        on that fact.  So, when I was unable to, you know, provide
     3        substantial material, you know, substantial real extra help
     4        on the spot, he was disappointed, not just for himself but
     5        for the people that he had been speaking to.
     6
     7        He was a lay activist, let down by his trade union at an
     8        early stage.  But I do remember saying to him that I would
     9        as soon as possible talk to other people, other activists,
    10        in his trade union branch about leafleting this
    11        restaurant.  Because a number of us, full-time officials,
    12        branch secretary, union reps in other workplaces where the
    13        employer recognised a trade union, we would find time to
    14        come to the restaurant.  That was the objective.  But it
    15        was going to take time to do it, take time to organise it,
    16        do it properly.
    17
    18        Then I heard he left, he had left.  That is the next thing
    19        I heard.  He had left McDonald's.  All over.  End of
    20        story.  But I remember it.  I remember it particularly
    21        because he came across to me in my office, those two
    22        occasions when I met him, came across to me, my Lord, as a
    23        genuine, concerned, young individual, concerned about
    24        workplace activity, workplace rights; one of many
    25        individuals who sat in my office making their first contact
    26        with the trade union, and I was very sorry that I was not
    27        able to reciprocate his genuine concern with, if I may
    28        describe it as, effective, practical support.
    29
    30        In my own opinion, the response of McDonald's management at
    31        that unit, effectively, snubbed out his enthusiasm,
    32        although I would have wished to have been able to support
    33        him more.
    34
    35   MR. MORRIS:  I would like to move on.  Staff turnover:  You
    36        commented in your statement that if 60 per cent is true,
    37        that is a very high turnover figure, McDonald's UK.  If we
    38        can look at the document that was disclosed, which is the
    39        employment flows in the catering hospitality industry, if
    40        you have a copy, which was put I think behind your
    41        statement, if I give you your book you gave me -- (Handed)
    42         -- it is page 13 of that book, it is your own handwriting
    43        on there?
    44        A.  Thank you, yes, my Lord.
    45
    46   Q.   Can you explain that table?
    47        A.  Page 13?
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    50        A.  Table 2.5? 
    51 
    52   MR. MORRIS:  Actually, if I just give a bit of an introduction, 
    53        it says at the top:  Recruitment and turnover levels, that
    54        2,472 units participated in the study with a total of
    55        42,702 employees, over a three month period.  Without going
    56        into details, this group, the Hotel and Catering Training
    57        Company, what kind of authoritative role did they play in
    58        these kind of research reports?
    59        A.  It is, my Lord, it is the research body for the Hotel
    60        and Catering Industry.  It used to be the Hotel and

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