Day 166 - 28 Sep 95 - Page 19


     
     1
     2   Q.   Then paragraph (18):  "It is correct that the restaurant
     3        used to be visited by senior operations staff on a frequent
     4        basis.  As far as 'Mr. Big Mac (UK)' is concerned, I assume
     5        Magill means Paul Preston.  Paul lived round the corner
     6        from the restaurant and consequently he visited it quite
     7        frequently.  In my opinion, Paul Preston was never
     8        patronising, and nor was it ever his style to put his arm
     9        round the managers.  He was interested to talk to both
    10        managers and crew to find out how things were going, to
    11        encourage them and to boost morale.  Both management and
    12        crew were pleased by this interest and encouragement".  Do
    13        you stand by that?
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   Paragraph (19):  "It is quite correct that employees are
    17        expected to read and familiarise themselves with procedural
    18        documents; this is the whole purpose of having training
    19        manuals.  As I have already said, I do not agree that
    20        McDonald's brainwashes its employees.  In my view, this is
    21        and idiotic suggestion."  Do you stand by those statements?
    22        A.  Yes.
    23
    24   Q.   Paragraph (20):  "As far as I am concerned, Trade Unions
    25        have never been an issue at McDonald's.  I have never heard
    26        the subject raised and I have no idea whether any of my
    27        crew members or managers are members of a union.  It is
    28        certainly not true that if anyone had joined a union they
    29        would have been sacked.  It is also not true that
    30        management would try to force employees to leave by making
    31        their lives a misery.
    32
    33        Magill's comments about Ray Kroc's and McDonald's
    34        management's views on blacks and women are, in my
    35        experience of McDonald's, utterly ridiculous and, as far as
    36        I am personally concerned, offensive."  Do you stand by
    37        that?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   Then:  "Turning to the further allegations made by
    41        Mr. Magill in his Continuation Statement I have the
    42        following comments adopting his headings"; paragraph (22),
    43        referring to the 24 hour shifts:  "This is untrue.  None of
    44        my staff would ever have worked a 24 hour shift".
    45
    46        Paragraph (23), referring to more than five hours without a
    47        break:  "It is possible on occasions when the restaurant
    48        was very busy that a crew member may go five hours without
    49        a break.  However, this was rare occurrence."
    50 
    51        Paragraph (24), referring to pressure to follow prescribed 
    52        steps:  "It is correct that all crew members were trained 
    53        to follow specific procedures."
    54
    55        Paragraph (25), referring to smiling:  "Crew members are
    56        certainly encouraged to smile; this is a rational part of
    57        treating customers in a friendly, welcoming manner."
    58
    59        Then paragraph (26), referring to levels of takings:  "It
    60        is not correct to say that the takings of the Marble Arch

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