Day 187 - 13 Nov 95 - Page 27


     
     1        occurred.
     2
     3   Q.   I think I may have finished.  I want to check if there is
     4        anything. (Pause)  When you wrote to George Brown -- did
     5        you write to George Brown from McDonald's France?
     6        A.  Yes.
     7
     8   Q.   What did Mr. Brown say they would -- what their concern
     9        would be about employment conditions in the Lyon area?
    10        A.  He said that I should return to the Lyon restaurants
    11        and that McDonald's France did not interfere in those
    12        matters of working conditions.
    13
    14   Q.   Did he say anything, when they would interfere, on what
    15        grounds would they interfere?
    16        A.  McDonald's France did not want to involve itself with
    17        these problems.
    18
    19   Q.   I am just going to ask a leading question, because it is in
    20        the letter anyway.  Did they say they would be concerned
    21        that there were breaches in the law?  I think an exception
    22        should be made in this case, because this is a letter from
    23        George Brown; it is B4; and, actually, George Brown is a
    24        witness in this case.
    25
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just pause a moment.  Mr. Rampton, it seems
    27        to me that it is better that that just be translated and
    28        then -----
    29
    30   MR. RAMPTON:  Left.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Left, yes.  So what I suggest is that,
    33        Miss Scutcher, if you can find the letter B4?
    34
    35   THE INTERPRETER:  Yes I have it here.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  If you could, taking as much time as you
    38        want, read out into English the letter.  It comes from
    39        McDonald's France; it is from Boulogne, on
    40        3rd November 1992.  It is addressed to M. Hassen Lamti:
    41        "Sir" -- and then can you read on, please?
    42
    43   THE INTERPRETER:  "I have received your letter dated
    44        22nd October 1992.  Following this letter, I have contacted
    45        Michel Antolinos, who has informed me about the current
    46        situation.  Within the framework of our normal relations
    47        between ourselves, McDonald's France, and our franchisees,
    48        we do not wish to involve ourselves in the affairs which
    49        only concern the franchisees and their employees.  Our only
    50        concern is to make sure that the law is perfectly applied 
    51        throughout our restaurants.  I am sure that this is the 
    52        case in the restaurant of Vilpaix.  I can but recommend 
    53        that you re-approach Mr. Antolinos to re-discuss your
    54        problem, and I would ask you to...."
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Then the usual salutation.
    57
    58   MR. MORRIS:  It is signed "George Brown, Vice president of Human
    59        Resources, McDonald's France".
    60

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