defendants were denied a jury trial (McDonald's argued that the issues were too complex A HIGH Court libel trial to allow their assessment by a brought by the $24 billion jury). The case is being heard a year McDonald's Corpo- by a single Judge and, with no ration looks likely to be- legal aid in libel cases, the decome the longest libel trial fendants are forced to conduct their own defence against in British history.
McDonald's team of top libel It began in June 1994 and lawyers. is expected to last until at least The trial is of particular imDecember 1995. The defen- portance to trade unionists and dants are two unwaged Lon- the labour movement. The dedon Greenpeace Supporters, fence will be calling 40 exHelen Steel and Dave Morris. McDonald's workers as well as The libel is alleged to have trade union activists and offitaken place in the mid-1980s. cials from around the world. London Greenpeace activists These will include trade undistributed a factsheet accusZionists from Lyons in France, ing McDonald's of, amongst where ten McDonald's manother things, ruining the enviagers were arrested in July ronment, committing cruelty 1994 for trying to rig union to animals, and of exploiting elections. children through advertising Historically trade unions and workers through low pay. have been given a rough ride After sending private inves- by McDonald's management. tigators into London GreenIn the 1970's McDonald's in peace meetings McDonald's the USA used to send "flying issued five people with libel squads" of managers to "reswrits. Though three of those taurants" the moment union served apologised, Steel and organisation began. Morris decided to fight on. The "flying squads" were At McDonald's request the generally successful: trade unions have made very little headway in the USA or anywhere else for that matter.
Sweden
The exceptions are Sweden and the Republic of Ireland where after protracted struggles unions have gained recognition.
In Ontario during a recent long running dispute McDonald's management took the extraordinary measure of getting its employees to lie in the snow forming the word "NO" (to trade unions!)
Working conditions are poor. Wages are low, and workers do not have guaranteed hours. 80% of McDonald's employees work part time, while annual staff turnover is 60% (in the USA it runs at a staggering 300%)
McDonald's UK President, Paul Preston, maintains that £3.10 an hour for crew members is not a low wage. When asked why the company could not pay higher wages out of the $1 billion profits made last year, he replied that "people are paid a wage for the job they A 1992 Health and Safety Executive investigation into the working conditions of McDonald's employees criticised the company's policy of getting staff to "hustle" ie. work at speed at all times.
Safety last
The HSE report concluded "the application of McDonald's hustle policy in many restaurants was, in effect, putting the service of the customer before the safety of employees.' The McLibel defendants are not the only people to have been threatened by the company with legalibel action.
McDonald's solicitors have sent legal threats to a number of labour movement and campaigning organisations, including the Scottish TUC to try and suppress criticism.
Corporations like McDonald's are precisely those which any incoming Labour government has to come to grips with.
A statutory minimum wage set at a decent rate, maternity and paternity leave entitlement, the right to join a trade union are reforms which can start to lay the basis of decent standard of living for those workers in the private sector who are the victims of "a dynamic market economy."
The McLibel Support Campaign is asking branches and other labour movement bodies to pass the following Model Resolution.
"This branch/organisation recognises the poor working conditions at McDonald's and their hostility to trade unionism and supports the rights of staff to organise and take industrial action; protests against the company's attempts to suppress criticism, in particular the use of libel laws as censorship. We agree to circulate information about the trial." • Send copies of the resolution and donations to McLibel Support Campaign, c/o London Greenpeace, 5 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 80 March 25 1995, Page 12.