Day 002 - 29 Jun 94 - Page 42


     
     1        It is a practice and it is a reality.  McDonald's in many
              of these cases throughout the leaflet, they either know
     2        something is going on or they are reckless as to its
              happening.
     3
              It is our case that McDonald's is an anti-union
     4        organisation.  Mr. Rampton said in this case he did not
              think it was that important.  I cannot remember the very
     5        words he used.  But we think it is important.  He said
              unions are trying to invade the workplace.  He quite
     6        accurately, if unknowingly, reflected the paranoia of the
              McDonald's Corporation and the war-like mentality and
     7        importance they attach to preventing trade unions and
              trade union sympathisers invading the workplace.
     8
              Trade unions in this country have 8 million members,
     9        something like that, the largest single membership
              organisation in this country.  If McDonald's consider that
    10        union activities is an invasion, then maybe that is
              indicating something about their state of mind on the
    11        subject.
 
    12        We believe this is a contested ground in society.  I do
              not think anyone would disagree that there is a continual
    13        antipathy between employers and their trying to prevent
              workers having the power to organise themselves, whether
    14        it is a union, or whether it is just having the right to
              have meetings in work-time, or whatever.  Again this is
    15        something which is not comparative.  It is something that
              is fundamental.
    16
              We are not saying that -- well, we are saying they have a
    17        worse attitude to trade unions than other employers in
              many respects, but, in any case, they clearly take the
    18        steps they need to stop unions from having any foothold.
              I have gone on too long on that subject, but we will be
    19        calling evidence from other countries, if we can afford to
              bring witnesses over.  We have the General Secretary of a
    20        union in Australia; we have people that have tried to
              organise trade unions in McDonald's in the States and
    21        Canada including a 17 year old girl from Ontario who will
              give her experience of taking on the McDonald's
    22        Corporation.  We will rely on other examples and trade
              union material.
    23
              I think the next point is they say they are providing jobs
    24        for school leavers and take them on regardless of sex or
              race.  "The truth is McDonald's are only interested in
    25        recruiting cheap labour - which always means that
              disadvantaged groups, women and black people especially, 
    26        are even more exploited by industry than they are already" 
              which is the last line of that section. 
    27
              Mr. Rampton and the McDonald's Corporation seem to think
    28        that what we are saying is that McDonald's discriminates
              against women and black people, either by not hiring them
    29        or by not promoting them.  We are not saying that at all.
              That is not our case at all.  It is clearly not the
    30        interpretation of that statement.  All their evidence
              about equal opportunities is a complete red herring to

Prev Next Index