American Food Products Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Mar 21, 1944

55 N.L.R.B. 654 (N.L.R.B. 1944)

In the Matter of AMERICAN FOOD PRODUCTS CORPORATION AND MUS-
KEGON DOCK AND FUEL Co. and DEHYYDRATE WORKERS UNION OF
GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA, LOCAL 23582 (A. F. L.)
Case No. 18-R-9P6.-Decided illarch 21, 1944
Mr. Carroll E. Day, of Grand Forks, N. Dak., for American Food
Products Corporation and Muskegon Dock and Fuel Co.
Mr. W. W. Murrey, of Fargo, N. Dak., for the Union.
Cllr. Thomas B. Sweeney, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT Or THE CASE
Upon a petition duly filed by Dehydrate Workers Union of Graf-
ton, North Dakota, Local 23582 (A. F. L.), herein called the Union,
alleging that a question affecting commerce had arisen concerning the
employees of Muskegon Dock and Fuel Co., American Food Products
Corporation, Grafton, North Dakota, the National Labor Relations
Board provided for an appropriate hearing upon due notice before
Francis X. Helgeson, Trial Examiner. Said hearing was held at Graf-
ton, North Dakota, on February 9, 1944. Muskegon Dock and Fuel
Co., hereinafter called the Company, American Food Products Cor-
poration, and the Union appeared and participated. All parties were
afforded full opportunity to be heard; to examine and cross- examine
witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on the issues. At the
hearing the Trial Examiner granted a motion on behalf of the Union
to substitute Muskegon Dock and Fuel Co. for American Food Prod-
ucts Corporation, as the sole party to the instant proceeding. The
Trial Examiner, however, reserved decision on motions to dismiss
made by the Company and American Food Products Corporation.
The Board hereby affirms the Trial Examiner's ruling on the motion
to substitute, grants the motion to dismiss the petition with respect
55 N. L. R. B., No. 115.
654
AMERICAN FOOD PRODUCTS CORPORATION 655
to American Food Products Corporation,' and denies the motion to
dismiss the petition with respect to the Company in view of the find-
ings hereinafter set forth in Section I. The Trial Examiner's other
rulings made at the hearing are free from prejudicial error and are
hereby affirmed. The parties were afforded all opportunity to file
briefs with the Board.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE COJIPANV
Muskegon Dock and Fuel Co. is a Michigan corporation, having
its principal office in Muskegon. Michigan. It owns and operates a
potato dehydrating plant at Grafton, North Dakota. During the
period from October 1, 1943, to June 1, 1944, the Company's purchases
of potatoes for processing (including actual and contemplated pur-
chases) will total 275,000 bushels, all of which have been or will be
purchased within the State of North Dakota. After processing, the
entire output of the plant is sold to American Food Products Cor-
poration, and by it delivered to the United States Army for distribu-
tion within and without the continental limits of the United States.
We find, contrary to the contention of the Company, that it is engaged
in commerce within the meannig of the National Labor Relations,
Act.'
II. THE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
Dehydrate Workers Union of Grafton, North Dakota, Local No.
23582, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, is a labor
organization admitting to membership employees of the Company.
IH. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
The Company leas refused to grant recognition to the Union as the
exclusive bargaining representative of the employees in the appro-
priate unit until the Union has been certified by the National Labor
Relations Board.
'Although the record contains some evidence that the Company and the American Food
Products Coipoiation are affiliated corporations, the extent and nature of such athliation
is not disclosed The record is clear, however, that the employees herein involved are
employed and paid solely by the Company. Therefore, for the purposes of this present
representation proceeding, we deem it inappi opriate to name American Food Products Cor-
poration as coemployer of the employees in the unit which we herein find appropriate for
the purposes of collective bargaining
2N. L. R. B v. Fainblatt, 306 U. S. 601; Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U S. 111; N. L. R. B.
v Van Deusen Dress ?6ffq Co , 138 F (2d) 893 (C C. A 2) ; N L R B v Cleveland ChfTs
Iron Co., 133 F. (2d) 295 (C. C. A 6).
656 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
A statement of the Trial Examiner at the hearing indicates that
the Union represents a substantial number of employees in the -unit
hereinafter found appropriate.'
We find that a question affecting commerce has arisen concerning
the representation of employees of the Company, within the meaning
of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 ( 6) and ( 7) of the Act.
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
The Union contends that the unit should consist of all production
and maintenance employees, excluding executives, office and clerical
employees, together with all employees possessing the right to hire
or discharge or those who may effectively recommend such action.
No objection was made by the Company to the appropriateness of
the unit claimed.
We find that all production and maintenance employees of the Com-
pany, excluding executives, office and clerical employees, and all super-
visory employees with authority to hire, promote. discharge, dis-
cipline, or otherwise effect changes in the status of employees or effec-
tively recommend such action, constitute a unit appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b)
of the Act.
V. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
We shall direct that the question concerning representation which
has arisen be resolved by an election by secret ballot among the em-
ployees in the appropriate unit who were employed during the pay-
roll period immediately preceding the date of the Direction of Elec-
tion herein, subject to the limitations and additions set forth in the
Direction.
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 Relations
Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 9, of National Labor Rela-
tions Board Rules and Regulations-Series 3, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation to ascertain representa-
tives,for the purposes of collective bargaining with Muskegon Dock
and Fuel Co., Grafton, North Dakota, an election by secret ballot shall
be conducted as early as possible, but not later than thirty (30) days
from the date of this Direction, under the direction and supervision
"The Trial Examiner stated at the hearing that the Union had submitted a petition
which bore 91 apparently genuine original signatures ; that the names of such persons were
listed on the Company s pay roll for the period commencing January 30, 1944, which
contained the names of 159 employees in the appropriate unit and that 84 of the 91 names
appearing on said petition are the names of employees listed on said pay roll.
AMERICAN FOOD PRODUCTS CORPORATION 657
of the Regional Director for the Eighteenth Region, acting in this
matter as agent for the National Labor Relations Board, and subject
to Article III, Sections 10 and 11, of said Rules and Regulations,
among the employees in the unit found appropriate in Section IV,
above, who were employed during the pay-roll period immediately
preceding the date of this Direction, including employees who did not
work during the said pay-roll period because they were ill or on vaca-
tion or temporarily laid off, and including employees in the armed
forces of the United States who present themselves in person at the
polls, but excluding those employees who have since quit or been dis-
charged for cause and have not been rehired or reinstated prior to the
date of the election, to determine whether or not they desire to be
represented by Dehydrate Workers Union of Grafton, North Dakota,
Local No. 23582, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor,
for the purposes of collective bargaining.
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