A. Zerega's Sons, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Feb 19, 1938

5 N.L.R.B. 496 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of A. ZEREGA'S SONS, INC. and COMMITTEE FOR INDUS-
TRIAL ORGANIZATION ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEES OF A. ZEREGA'S
SONS, INC.
Case No. R-190.Decided February 19,1938
Macaroni and Noodle Manufacturing Industry-I1lvestigation of Representa-
tives: controversy concerning representation of employees: rival organizations;
refusal by employer to recognize petitioner as exclusive bargaining representa-
tive without proof of majority-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargainvag:
maintenance, production, shipping, and receiving employees; no controversy as
to-Election Ordered
Mr. Mark Lauter, for the Board.
Kotzen, Mann & Siegal, by Mr. Abraham Mann, and Mr. Joseph
Yaspan, of New York City, for the Company.
Liebman, Robbins, Pressman & Leider, by Mr. Harold I. Cammer,
of New York City, for the Macaroni and Noodle Workers.
Mr. John D'Amico, of Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers.
Mr. D. R. Dimick, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On September 29, 1937, Committee for Industrial Organization 1
on behalf of the employees of A. Zerega's Sons, Inc., herein called
the C. I. 0., filed with the Regional Director for the Second Region
(New York City) a petition alleging that a question affecting com-
merce had arisen concerning the representation of employees of A.
Zerega's Sons, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, herein called the Company,
and requesting an investigation and certification of representatives
pursuant to Section 9 (c)_ of the National Labor Relations Act, 49
Stat. 449. herein called the Act. On October 25, 1937, the National
Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, acting pursuant to
'Since the filing of the petition , Macaroni and Noodle Workers' Local Industrial
Union , No 663 , affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organization , herein called
the Macaroni and Noodle Workers , received a charter from the Committee for Industrial
Organization, and at the hearing the name of the petitioning union wrs amended by sub-
stituting the Macaroni and Noodle Workers for the C. I. O.
496
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 497
Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulation-Series 1, as amended, ordered
an investigation and authorized the Regional Director to conduct it
and to provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice.
On December 3, 1937, the Regional Director issued a notice of
hearing, copies of which were duly served upon the Company, upon
the C. I. 0., and upon the Bakery and Confectionery Workers' Inter-
national Union of America,' a labor organization claiming to represent
employees directly affected by the investigation. Pursuant to the
notice, a hearing was held on December 11, 1937, at New York City,
before H. R. Korey, the Trial Examiner duly designated by the
Board.
The Board, the Company, the Macaroni and Noodle Workers, and
the Bakery and Confectionery Workers participated in the hearing,
the first three being represented by counsel and the latter by its
business agent. Full opportunity to be heard, to examine and to
cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on the
issues was afforded all parties. During the course of the hearing
the Trial Examiner made several rulings on motions and on objections
to the admission of evidence. The Board has reviewed the rulings
of the Trial Examiner and finds no prejudicial errors were committed.
The rulings are hereby affirmed.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
The Company is a New York corporation with its principal office
and plant located in Brooklyn, New York. The Company is engaged
in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of macaroni, noodles, and
similar products. It maintains an office in Chicago, Illinois, and
employs three salesmen who sell in New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and New England.
Flour and eggs are the principal raw materials used in the manu-
facture of the Company's products. During the period from January
1, 1937 to November 30, 1937, the Company paid approximately
'$500,000 for the raw materials used in its business, of which about 90
per cent were shipped from points outside of the State of New York.
Over the same period the volume of business done by the Company
amounted to $890,000. The percentage of sales and shipments to
2 Service was made upon the International Union but Bakery and Confectionery
Workers' International Union of America , Local No . 445, herein called the Bakery and
Confectionery workers , appeared and participated in the hearing
498 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
points outside of the State of New York amounted to 36.7 per cent
of the total business, or in terms of dollars, approximately $326;000.
Although there is some confusion in the record as to the number of-
workers the Company employs, there apparently are from 120, to 125-
general production employees normally employed in the plant, exclu-
sive of foremen, chauffeurs, foreladies, office workers, and salesmen.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Macaroni and Noodle Workers' Local Industrial Union, No. 663;
is a labor organization affiliated with the Committee for Industrial
Organization, admitting to its membership all production, main-
tenance, shipping, and receiving employees of the Company, exclud-
ing supervisory employees, chauffeurs, clerical and office workers, and
salesmen.
Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International Union of Amer-
ica, Local No 445, is a labor organization affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, admitting to its membership the same, classes of
employees as are eligible to membership in the Macaroni and Noodle
Workers.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
During the latter part of August 1937 a committee of the em-
ployees of the Company called at the office of the Bakery and'_
Confectionery Workers 3 and asked to be organized. Thereafter,
between September 1 and September 15, 1937, two or three meetings-
were held by the Bakery and Confectionery Workers and a substan-
tial number of application cards were obtained from the Zerega plant
employees.
Shortly thereafter, on September 20, 1937, at a meeting conducted
by the C. I. 0., a majority of the employees of the Company, whose
names appeared on the above-mentioned application cards, also
signed C. I. O. membership cards. Michael Ricciardelli, a field rep-
resentative for the C. I. 0., testified during the hearing that between
September 21 and September 27, 1937, he called on Frank Zerega,
vice president of the Company, and stated that the C. I. O. repre-
sented a majority of the Company's employees, and requested recog-
nition of the C. I. O. as the exclusive bargaining representative of-
such employees. Mr. Zerega refused to accept the representative's
oral statement as proof of the contention that the C. I. O. repre-
sented a majority of the Company's employees. The C. I. O. submit-
-At this time the Bakery and Confectionery Local was designated as Local No. 334.
About October 10, 1937, the macaroni workers who were members of Local No. 334,
obtained a charter from the A . F. L. International and are now known as the Bakery-
and Confectionery Workers' International Union of America , Local No. 445. Local No.
334 remained in existence after the macaroni workers severed their connection, with it.-
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 499
ted no other proof, and the Company refused to stipulate with the
^C. I. 0. for an election conducted under the auspices of the Board.
We find that a question has arisen concerning representation of
employees of the Company.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON
COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which, has
arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the Company
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States, and
tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce
and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
Both the Macaroni and Noodle Workers, and the Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers claim that all maintenance, production, shipping
and receiving employees of the Company, excluding supervisory em-
ployees, chauffeurs, clerical and office workers, and salesmen, constitute
a unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining. Since both
unions are in agreement as to the classes of employees constituting an
appropriate unit, and since the record supports their contention that
such a unit is appropriate, we see no reason for finding otherwise.
We find that the maintenance, production, shipping and receiving
employees of the Company, excluding supervisory employees, chauf-
feurs, clerical and office workers, and salesmen, constitute a unit
appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining and that said
unit will insure to employees of the Company the full benefit of their
right to self-organization and to collective bargaining and otherwise
effectuate the policies of the Act.
VI. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
The record shows that the Company employs approximately 120
to 125 employees within the unit we have found to be appropriate.
Between September 1 and September 15, 1937, the employees of the
Company signed 87 Bakery and Confectionery Workers' application
cards.4 John D'Amico, organizer for the Bakery and Confectionery
Workers, testified that he knew the names of some of the workers who
signed the application cards. Although such cards were admitted
into evidence, the signatures appearing on the cards Were not verified.
However, the statement was made that the signatures could be authen-
ticated. The implication is clear from the record that the 87 em-
ployees were workers within the appropriate unit.
14 Bakery and Confectionery Workers (A. F. L.) Exhibit 1.
500 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
On September 20, 1937, the organizational activities of the C. I. O.
terminated in a meeting conducted by the C. I. O. at which meeting
approximately 100 to 105 of the employees of the plant attended. At,
this meeting 89 5 C. I. O. membership cards were signed by the work-
ers of the Company, and thereafter on or about September 28, 1937,
an additional card was signed. It was clearly established during
the hearing that all of the names appearing on the C. I. O. cards
represented workers within the appropriate unit, who were in the
employ of the Company on the dates the cards were signed.6
Considering the above facts, it is apparent that a majority of the
employees of the Company became affiliated with the two rival labor
organizations during a period not to exceed 20 days. An examination
of the cards submitted by the two organizations discloses that a great
majority of the cards are duplications. We feel, therefore, that there
is not sufficient evidence to certify either organization as the exclusive
bargaining representative of the employees.
We find that the question which has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of employees of the Company can best be resolved by the
holding of an election by secret ballot to determine which of the
unions, if either, the employees herein concerned desire to represent
them.
In accordance with our usual practice, eligibility to vote in the
election will be extended to those who were in the employ of the
Company, within the appropriate unit, during the pay-roll period
immediately preceding September 29, 1937, the date of the filing of
the petition, exclusive of those who since have voluntarily quit or
have been discharged for cause.
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact, and upon the entire
record in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLusIONs OF LAW
1. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of employees of A. Zerega's Sons, Inc., Brooklyn, New
York, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7)
of the National Labor Relations Act.
2. The maintenance, production, shipping and receiving employees
of A. Zerega's Sons, Inc., excluding supervisory employees, chauf-
feurs, clerical and office workers, and salesmen, constitute a unit ap-
6 Alacaroni and Noodle Workers ( C. I. 0.) Exhibits 1-A to 1-E inclusive.
6 Just prior to the close of the hearing counsel for the Company presented a paper
dated December 9, 1937, allegedly signed by 90 of the employees of the Company. This
paper stated in substance , that the Company 's employees were satisfied with their jobs ;
that they did not want the C. I. O. to represent them ; and that they did not want an
election Upon objection the Trial Examiner refused to admit the paper into evidence
because it wag not competently proved.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 501
propriate for the purposes of collective bargaining, within the mean-
ing of Section 9 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, 49 Stat. 449, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of
National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1,
as amended, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with A. Zerega's Sons, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, an election by
secret ballot shall be conducted within fifteen (15) days from the
date of this Direction, under the' direction and supervision of the
Regional Director for the Second Region, acting in this matter as
agent for the National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article
III, Section 9, of said Rules and Regulations, among the mainte-
nance, production, shipping and receiving employees of said Com-
pany, exclusive of supervisory employees, chauffeurs, clerical and
office workers, and salesmen, who were in the employ of the Com-
pany during the pay-roll period immediately preceding September
29, 1937, excluding those who since have voluntarily quit or have
been discharged for cause, to determine whether they desire to be
represented by Macaroni and Noodle Workers' Local Industrial
Union, No. 663, affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organi-
zation, or by the Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International
Union of America, Local No. 445, affiliated with the American Fed-
eration of Labor, for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by,
neither.
[SAME TITLE]
AMENDMENT TO DIRECTION OF ELECTION
February 26, 1938
On February 19, 1938, the National Labor Relations Board, herein
called the Board, issued a Decision and Direction of Election in the
above-entitled case. On February 24, 1938, the Bakery and Confec-
tionery Workers' International Union of America, Local No. 445,
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, the intervenor in
this proceeding, requested the Board to withdraw its name from the
ballot in the election which the Board ordered in said Decision and
Direction of Election.
Z02 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
After due consideration of this request, the Board hereby
DIRECTS that , the Direction of Election in the above-entitled mat-
ter, dated October 27 , 1937 , be amended by striking out the words,
"to determine whether they desire to be represented by Macaroni and
Noodle Workers' Local Industrial Union, No. 663, affiliated with the
'Committee for Industrial Organization , or by the Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers' International Union of America, Local No. 445,
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, for the purposes of
,collective bargaining, or by neither", which appear in the last sentence
,of the last paragraph of said Direction of Election, and by inserting
in lieu thereof the words, "to determine whether or not they desire
to be represented by Macaroni and Noodle Workers' Local Indus-
trial Union , No. 663, affiliated with the Committee for Industrial
'Organization , for the purposes of collective bargaining."