Day 207 - 23 Jan 96 - Page 30
1 people who cannot or choose not to attend.
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: But is nine a reasonable number for a rap
4 session? (Pause) There is a representation for full-timers
5 and part-timers, I see, among the nine. I mean, are you
6 suggesting nine is a pretty measly rap session, or are you
7 just saying if you do not get only -----
8 A. It is a lower number, and there are probably
9 substantially more part-time people than there are
10 full-time people.
11
12 Q. Then, that is why I had it in mind. If there are twice as
13 many part-timers as full-timers, it might be though it is
14 not a bad representation of the mix. But what is your
15 point about the nine? Is it just: do not forget, they are
16 only nine out of the whole complement of crew; or are you
17 suggesting that nine is a poor number for a rap session?
18 (Pause) If I suggest that nine people might be enough to
19 get a feel for what crew are happy with and what they are
20 unhappy with, would you agree with that or disagree with
21 that?
22 A. You could certainly get an opinion of the people there,
23 you know, and how they feel.
24
25 MS. STEEL: Does the Company disregard the comments that are
26 made at rap sessions if there are less than a certain
27 number of people?
28 A. I am not aware of any status that says there must be a
29 minimum number for -- you know, if a person has a
30 complaint, you make it to the Personnel Department,
31 regardless of the size, the number of people making the
32 complaint; it would be treated equally seriously.
33
34 Q. But you, personally, do not agree with that; you think it
35 is a waste of time if there is less than ---
36 A. I personally think -----
37
38 Q. -- nine people there?
39 A. I do not personally think it is a waste of time, no.
40 But, ideally, I would like to see larger numbers at a rap
41 session.
42
43 Q. If we go to page 206, which is the rap session of
44 6th May 1993, under Training and Development: "New OCLs are
45 good, but crew now know all the answers. Training squad do
46 not feel they have the time to do good OCLs and go through
47 them. Babs, Rea and Paul do quite a few OCLs. Generally,
48 not enough all round. Felt they are done as a punishment."
49 Do you remember that complaint?
50 A. I do not remember crew complaining to me that OCLs were
51 done as a punishment.
52
53 Q. Do you remember reading this?
54 A. I do not. As I say, I probably would have read it, but
55 I do not actually, you know, recall that individual remark;
56 it does not stick in my mind.
57
58 Q. Do you recall ever having taken any action as a result of
59 reading rap session notes?
60 A. From rap session reports, the Store Manager would write
