Day 138 - 20 Jun 95 - Page 06

     
     1        unions.  I mentioned McDonald's has no unions.  I know that
     2        several of our competitors, our competitors do have unions
     3        in various places, not uniform and not to the degree that
     4        would exist in the auto industry or the trucking industry,
     5        but there would be representation in some of their
     6        locations.
     7
     8   MR. RAMPTON:  You mentioned the automobile industry; that brings
     9        to mind, at any rate to an ignorant foreigner, Detroit; is
    10        that right?
    11        A.  Again, I did not hear the first part?
    12
    13   Q.   I will try to speak more distinctly.
    14        A.  I do not think it is you.
    15
    16   Q.   It is a very difficult court.  You mentioned the automobile
    17        industry?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   Q.   To our minds, that brings Detroit to mind.  Is that still a
         centre of the automobile industry?
    22        A.  Yes, the metropolitan Detroit area, yes.
    23
    24   Q.   Is that what one would, therefore, would call a heavily
    25        unionised city?
    26        A.  Very much so, sir, yes.  Another one that would come to
    27        mind, by the way, is Pittsburg where I received my training
    28        with the National Labour Relations Board.
    29
    30   Q.   Is that steel; it used to be?
    31        A.  Yes, although the steel industry is not as prominent,
    32        frankly, in the US as it once was.  That is still heavily
    33        steel.
    34
    35   Q.   Mr. Stein, I think you told us yesterday, there has not
    36        been an organised Corporation, company owned restaurant in
    37        your time working at McDonald's in America; is that right,
    38        I think you told us that?
    39        A.  Would you repeat the question?
    40
    Q.   Sorry.  During your time working at McDonald's since 1974,
    42        has any of the Company's restaurants in the United States
    43        been unionised?
    44        A.  OK.  No.  The Company's restaurants, no.
    45
    46   Q.   I think you told us yesterday that the last time an
    47        owner/operator restaurant was unionised was, I think, in
    48        1976?
    49        A.  It would be, yes, 75/76.  I cannot be precise on the
    50        year. 
    51 
    52   Q.   I think you said that was Mason City, Iowa? 
    53        A.  Yes.
    54
    55   Q.   Can I ask you this:  It may after all that time that has
    56        passed seem something of a hypothetical question, but if
    57        you were given a choice, or forced with a choice, between
    58        negotiating with your workforce directly and negotiating
    59        with a union, which, if either, would you prefer?
    60        A.  Oh, we would prefer working directly with our