Day 195 - 04 Dec 95 - Page 21


     
     1   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you want to read -----
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:   I can do.  I do not mind reading it, but it is all
     4        in the first statement on page 3 anyway.
     5
     6   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The thing is I either leave it in because it
     7        is read or I cross it out because it is not.
     8
     9   MS. STEEL:  I will read it out:  "There wasn't actually a
    10        conversation, someone had talked on a previous shift about
    11        unions.  Trudie had heard about it and she asked:  'Who was
    12        talking about it?'  No-one replied.  She then went on to
    13        say:  'We do not want any talk of unions'.  This happened
    14        in about April or May 1987".  With the corrections that you
    15        have made to this continuation statement, are you happy for
    16        that to be taken as your evidence?
    17        A.  I am reasonably happy, but I would have liked to have
    18        it for longer and had a look at it to probably iron out the
    19        inconsistencies because I literally have read it, you know,
    20        once or twice probably.
    21
    22   Q.   Shall I go on to the next one then?
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We will have the five-minute break now.
    25
    26                          (Short adjournment)
    27
    28   MS. STEEL:  If we go to the third statement that you made:  Have
    29        you got that there?
    30        A.  Yes.
    31
    32   Q.  "Supplementary statement regarding McDonald's working
    33        practices.  I would like to add to my previous statement of
    34        25th March 1988 the following points:  1. Hygiene.  1.1
    35        I remember that frozen food was to be cooked from frozen.
    36        However, I recall numerous occasions where, due to various
    37        reasons, e.g. break down of freezers, meat or fish was
    38        accidental defrosted.  To reduce waste, in most cases this
    39        defrosted meat or fish was cooked and served to the
    40        customers.  This happened with the knowledge of the
    41        Managers.
    42
    43        1.2.  Searing is the action of pressing the frozen meat
    44        against the hot grill with a metal instrument during the
    45        cooking process in order to seal it.  This was said to
    46        produce better quality burgers and reduce the cooking
    47        time.  Proper searing of pieces of frozen meat requires
    48        time and quite a bit of strength, specially if the meat is
    49        thick like quarter pounders.
    50 
    51        Without proper searing, the meat would still be raw in the 
    52        middle after being removed from the grill.  I recall this 
    53        happening frequently during the busy periods or when a
    54        physically weak crew member was put on the grill.  I also
    55        recall bringing the matter to the attention of the
    56        management on various occasions.
    57
    58        In reply, I was always told that this was OK since the meat
    59        continues cooking for a few seconds in the heated storage
    60        cabinet after being removed from the grill.  This I thought

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