Day 302 - 18 Nov 96 - Page 13


     
     1        That is what he said on day 124, page 51, line 45.  In
     2        fact, I have two references for that.  125, page 17, line
     3        13 as well.  But he accepted the McDonald's only paid
     4        overtime because they were forced to, which I think is
     5        quite a revealing admission.  So even though it was fair,
     6        they were only doing it because otherwise it would be
     7        illegal, and that was on day 125, page 17, line 29.
     8        I think that in a nutshell sums up the situation of low pay
     9        in the States.
    10
    11        Regarding trade unions, Mr. Beavers agreed that in the
    12        early 1970s McDonald's employed an official, John Cook,
    13        with the responsibility "to keep the unions out".  That is
    14        day 4, page 69, line 50.  We quoted John Cook from a book,
    15        from the Behind the Arches book, and in the book John Cook
    16        had said, or was said to have said:  "Unions are inimicable
    17        to what we stand for and how we operate.  They peddle the
    18        line to their members that the boss will be forever more
    19        against their interests", which of course is completely
    20        true; the boss is against their interests.  And that was
    21        read out on day 4, page 70, line 15.
    22
    23        Mr. Beavers admitted he was actually -- Mr. Beavers
    24        actually verified the book being made with McDonald's
    25        backing.  That was day 4, page 47, line 30.  Then he said
    26        he was aware of the fact that "John Cook organised a flying
    27        squad of experienced store managers who were despatched to
    28        a restaurant the same day that word came in of an attempt
    29        by trade unionists to organise it."  That was day 4,
    30        page 70, line 33.
    31
    32        The book also stated that "of the 400 serious organisation
    33        attempts in the early '70s none were successful", and
    34        Mr. Beavers admitted this was due to "steps" taken by
    35        McDonald's "to prevent trade union organisation... around
    36        that time when it was actually a problem."  And that is day
    37        4, page 71, line 41.  So really it was all around page 70
    38        and 71, that evidence.  Surprising enough, unions made no
    39        progress in McDonald's US stores which, of course, were
    40        setting a pattern for their expansion worldwide, McDonald's
    41        expansion worldwide.
    42
    43        We questioned Mr. Beavers about the use of lie detectors on
    44        staff, polygraph tests, and he admitted that in the '70s he
    45        himself and company managers around the country had used
    46        lie detectors -- that is day 124, page 23, line 26 -- on
    47        current or potential employees and the practice only ceased
    48        when it was obvious that the law was going to be passed
    49        making it illegal".  And that was day 124, page 17, line
    50        18.  He admitted that in some cases refusal to take such a
    51        test would have led to dismissal.  That was day 124,
    52        page 18, line 56.
    53
    54        We heard about how the San Francisco authorities in
    55        particular, the Californian authorities, basically
    56        threatened legal action against McDonald's as a result of
    57        all this.  I am not sure of this reference here.  But it
    58        was apparent, I think, from Mr. Beavers' evidence that the
    59        same policy against workers getting tips existed in the
    60        States.  And that was brought up on day 124, page 20.

Prev Next Index