Day 134 - 13 Jun 95 - Page 59
1 time they would have their rate of pay enhanced as it might
2 already be, nevertheless, increased by the amount per hour
3 that the Wages Council had increased minimum rates by, do
4 you understand?
5 A. Yes, I do.
6
7 Q. Against that background, would you like to ask your
8 question, Ms. Steel? Look back if you want to, but it does
9 not have to be in the same words. Put what you want to put
10 to Ms. Mead.
11
12 MS. STEEL: Right. (To the witness): Is it basically the
13 position that prior to that date, if, say, the minimum wage
14 was increased by 15 pence, but somebody through their
15 performance reviews was already 25 pence over the old rate,
16 they would be now 10 pence over the new rate and they would
17 not get a pay increase?
18 A. I believe that is so, yes, from recollection here,
19 without having checked it, but I believe that is what that
20 would imply, that that was the change at that point.
21
22 Q. If they were 15 pence over the old rate and the wages went
23 up 15 pence, they would be bang on the minimum from that
24 year?
25 A. I think so. You said if they were -- if the increase
26 awarded was 15 pence and they were already 15 pence above
27 it?
28
29 Q. Yes, above the old rate, yes?
30 A. And the rate then moved?
31
32 Q. Yes.
33 A. Yes, I think that would be how it would be.
34
35 MR. MORRIS: We are just finishing up a few bits and pieces.
36
37 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If you are confident that you are going to
38 finish this afternoon, I would rather you got yourself
39 organised. If it is nip and tuck, I would like you to keep
40 going; if you are not going to finish this afternoon, then
41 we will sit tomorrow. I am prepared to sit a little later
42 this evening if it will help. But I would rather you sat
43 down and got your yourself organised. If you know whether
44 there is a real prospect of finishing or not tonight, then
45 say so.
46
47 MS. STEEL: There is a possibility but I do not think we are
48 really entirely sure about whether we will finish or not.
49
50 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Sit down for a moment. Get yourself
51 organised and then carry on.
52
53 MR. MORRIS: If I can deal with one matter, there was the matter
54 at the Gravesend ------
55
56 MR. RAMPTON: That is the Gravesham conviction we have been
57 through, I think it is about, four times in the course of
58 this case. It has to do with Health and Safety at Work.
59 It was a conviction in the Magistrates Court which was
60 allowed on appeal in the Crown Court -- sorry, was
