Day 213 - 31 01 96 - Page 27

 
 

                                                                  DAY 213
 
                                        STEPHEN PLAISTER, Cross-examined:
 
 
 
     1        for 12 days continuous.
     2
     3   Q.   So the Company does not mind if people do 16 hour shifts
     4        then?
     5        A.  Well, they do come down on you if you do do a 16 hour
     6        shift, yes, they would.
     7
     8   Q.   They would?
     9        A.  Yes.
    10
    11   Q.   Would it be a danger to yourself and your fellow workers if
    12        you did a 16 hour shift?
    13        A.  It depends where you are working.  If you are just
    14        working in the office it would not be a danger to you.
    15
    16   Q.   I mean, if you were working -----
    17        A.  What, on the floor?
    18
    19   Q.   On the floor, yes.
    20        A.  Yes, it probably would be a danger to you, yes.
    21
    22   Q.   It might also be a danger to the customers if you did not
    23        cook the food properly?
    24        A.  Yes, it would be.
    25
    26   Q.   It would be.  You said that when you have stayed on at the
    27        end of your shift usually for an hour or two only, which
    28        usually only happens if someone has failed to turn up, or
    29        there has been a mistake with the scheduling, it would be
    30        on a strictly voluntary basis, is that to you fair then,
    31        that it should be on a strictly voluntary basis that people
    32        stay on at the end of their shift?
    33        A.  Well, it is on a voluntary basis.
    34
    35   Q.   Do you think that is fair?
    36        A.  Yes, it is fair.
    37
    38   Q.   It is not fair if you are ordered to stay on?
    39        A.  I have never been ordered to stay on -- I have not
    40        personally anyway.
    41
    42   Q.   But if you were ordered to stay on do you think that would
    43        be unfair?
    44        A.  Yes, it would be unfair.
    45
    46   Q.   Right.  You said that you have been asked to go on breaks
    47        early on in the shift, and that "We were all aware that if
    48        the break is declined at that time another opportunity may
    49        not arise until after the rush is over", i.e. towards the
    50        end of your shift? 
    51        A.  Yes, towards the end of the shift. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Right.  If your shift ends at 2 o'clock, like yours did,
    54        which is the lunchtime period?
    55        A.  Just after lunchtime period, yes.
    56
    57   Q.   Just after lunchtime?
    58        A.  Yes.
    59
    60   Q.   It would be difficult to get a break at the end of your
 
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