Basic Products Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 19, 1961

131 N.L.R.B. 140 (N.L.R.B. 1961)

140 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
discharge or otherwise discipline Garland should there be any repetition of the type
of conduct she engaged in against Bailey.
In view of the nature of the unfair labor practices committed, the commission of
similar and other unfair labor practices reasonably may be anticipated . I shall
therefore recommend that the Respondent be ordered to cease and desist from in any
manner infringing upon rights guaranteed to its employees by Section 7 of the Act.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and upon the entire record in the
case, I make the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The Respondent is engaged in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6)
and (7) of the Act.
2. The Union is a labor organization as defined in Section 2(5) of the Act.
3. By discriminatorily discharging Agnes Garland the Respondent has engaged in
and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3) and
(I) of the Act.
4. By interfering with, restraining, and coercing its employees in the exercise of
the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, the Respondent has engaged in and
is engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) of the
Act.
5. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
Anchor Manufacturing Company, a division of Basic Products
Corporation and International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, AFL-CIO. Cases Nos. 12-CA-1563 and 12-CA-1647.
April 19, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
Upon charges duly filed by International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, AFL-CIO, herein called the Union, the General Counsel of
the National Labor Relations Board, by the Regional Director for the
Twelfth Region, on October 7, 1960, issued a complaint alleging that
Anchor Manufacturing Company, a division of Basic Products Corpo-
ration, herein called the Respondent,' had engaged in and was en-
gaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8 (a) (1)
and (5) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the National Labor Relations
Act, as amended. Copies of the charges, complaint, and notice of hear-
ing were duly served upon the Respondent and the Union.
With respect to the unfair labor practices, the complaint alleges, in
substance, that the Union was and is the exclusive representative of
all production and maintenance employees of the Respondent in an
appropriate unit, and that the Respondent unlawfully refused to bar-
gain collectively with the Union.
The Respondent's answer admits certain jurisdictional and factual
allegations of the complaint, but denies the commission of unfair labor
practices.
1 The name of the Respondent has been amended in accordance with the stipulation of
facts entered into by all the parties.
The parties agreed in this stipulation to the dismissal of the allegations of the com-
plaint in Case No. 12-CA-1563.
131 NLRB No. 22.
ANCHOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ETC. 141
On November 9, 1960, all parties to this proceeding entered into a
stipulation of facts, and on the same date jointly agreed to transfer
this proceeding directly to the Board for findings of fact, conclusions
of law, and decision and order. The stipulation states, in substance,
that the parties have waived their rights to a hearing before a Trial
Examiner, and to the issuance of an Intermediate Report, and pro-
vides, further, that the charges, complaint, answer, and stipulation of
facts with accompanying exhibits constitute the entire record in the
case. On November 21, 1960, the Board approved the stipulation,
ordered the transfer of the proceeding to the Board, and granted per-
mission to the parties to file briefs. The Respondent has filed a brief.
Upon the basis of the parties' stipulation, the Respondent's brief,
and the entire record in the case, the Board 2 makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
The Respondent is engaged, at its Bradenton, Florida, plant, in the
manufacture, sale, and distribution of electrical equipment. During
the past year it purchased and received goods and materials valued in
excess of $50,000 directly from points outside the State of Florida.
The parties stipulated, and we find, that the Respondent is engaged in
commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act, and
that it will effectuate the policies of the Act to assert jurisdiction in
this proceeding.
II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, is a
labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
M. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
The facts, as stipulated, show that the Union was certified on Sep-
tember 6, 1960, as the bargaining representative of a unit of the pro-
duction and maintenance employees' of the Respondent, and that the
Respondent, by letter dated September 21, 1960, refused and continues
to refuse to bargain with the Union.
The Union filed its petition for certification of representatives 4 on
March 11, 1960, and an election was held on May 17, 1960, pursuant to
a stipulation for certification upon consent election. Upon the conclu-
'Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the Act, the Board has delegated its
powers in connection with this case to a three -member panel [Members Rodgers, Leedom,
and Fanning].
3 The complaint alleges, and the Respondent admits, that the appropriate unit consists
of all production and maintenance employees employed at the Employer 's Bradenton,
Florida, plant , excluding all office clerical , plant clerical , and professional employees,
guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act.
4 Case No. 12-RC-867.
142 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
sion of the,election, the parties were furnished a tally of ballots.which
showed that, of approximately 35 eligible voters,, 35 ballots were
cast ,, of which 17 were for, and 15, were against, the Union, and, 3
ballots were challenged. The challenged ballots were, thus sufficient in
number to,affect the, results of the election. Thereafter, the Respond-
ent,filed timely, objections, alleging that various preelection materials
circulated by, the, Union were false, and, therefore, prevented the ex-
ercise of the employees', free choice in the election. On June 30, 1960,
the ,Regional Director issued and duly served upon all the parties his
report on challenges and objections, in which he recommended that the
objections be overruled, and that the challenges to two of the ballots be
sustained., As the remaining challenged ballot could not be determina-
tive of the, results of the election, he made no recommendation as to
its dispositions.
The Respondent filed timely exceptions only to the Regional Direc-
tor's recommendation that the objections be overruled. On September
6, 1960, the Board issued its Decision and Certification of Representa-
tives, adopting the recommendations' of the Regional Director that the
Employer's objections be overruled.' The Board noted in this De-
cision that the preelection materials distributed by the Union did not
relate to matters peculiarly within its knowledge; that, except as to a
telegram circulated by the Union, the Respondent had an opportunity
to, and did, respond to the propaganda statements;' and that, as to'the
telegram in' question, the employees could recognize'it as propaganda,
and it was therefore not sufficient to prevent the exercise of a' free
choice in the election. Accordingly, and as the revised tally of ballots
showed that the Union had received a maj ority of the valid votes cast
in the election, it was certified as the collective-bargaining rep're'senta-
tive in the appropriate unit. I ' ' '
On August 5, 1960, prior to the certification, and again on Sep-
tember 16, 1960, subsequent to the certification, the Union requested
the Respondent to bargain collectively with respect to wages, hours
of work, and other conditions of employment in'the production and
maintenance unit. - The Respondent made no reply'to the August' 5
request but, in a letter dated September 21, 1960, refused, and `at'all
times thereafter has refused, to bargain collectively with the Union
as the exclusive representative of the employees in the said unit.
The Respondent, in its brief, urges that the Board-should reconsider
its decision to certify, the' Union on the ground that the decision 'is
in conflict with three courts of appeals decisions' finding, contrary
s Anchor Manufacturing Company, Case No. 12-RC-867 (not published in, NLRB
volumes ) ,, , „ ,
, The Respondent, relies on Celanese Corporation of America v. N.L R.B., 279 F. 2d
204 (C.A. 7,) ; Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company , a Delaware Corporation v.
N.L R.B, 261 F. 2d 613 (C.A. 7) ;'and N.L.R.B. v. Trinity Steel Co, Inc ., 214 F. 2d
120 (C.A. 5).
ANCHOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ETC. 143
to the Board, that elections should have been set aside. All three of
these court decisions, however, had issued prior to the Board's De-
cision and Certification of September 6, 1960. While the Board was,
of course, aware of the import of these decisions, it was convinced,
nevertheless, that the Union's conduct here in question did not war-
rant setting aside the election. Moreover, we note that the Supreme
Court remanded N.L.R.B. v. Mattison Machine Works,' a case pre-
senting an issue similar to that herein, to the Court of Appeals for
the Seventh Circuit for entry of a decree enforcing the Board' s order;
and, in so doing, the Supreme Court pointed out that it was "well
within the Board's province" to find that the conduct complained of
had not affected the fairness of the election, and that this finding
should have been accepted by the court of appeals. We note also that,
since the filing of the Respondent's brief, the Supreme Court re-
manded the Celanese case,8 the most recent of the three cases on which
the Respondent relies, to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
for consideration in the light of the Supreme Court's decision in the
Mattison case.
Accordingly, we find no merit in the Respondent's contention as to
the effect of the decisions it cites on the Board's election standards.
We find further that the Respondent, by its admitted refusal to bar-
gain with the Union as the certified bargaining representative of its
employees, has violated Section 8(a) (5) and (1) of the Act.'
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section III, above,
occurring in connection with the operations as described in section
I, above, have a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic,
and commerce among the several States, and tend to lead to labor
disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the free flow of
commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in certain unfair
labor practices, we shall order that it cease and desist therefrom and
that it take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies
of the Act.
Having found that the Respondent refused to bargain collectively
with the Union as the exclusive representative of employees in the
appropriate unit, we shall order that the Respondent bargain collec-
tively with the Union, upon request, as the statutory representative
7 365 U. S. 123.
8 Celanese Corporation of America , 365 U S. 297.
B International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation , Industrial Products Division, 129
NLRB 221; Washington Aluminum Company, Inc , 128 NLRB 643; The Cross Company,
127 NLRB 691; Old King Cole, Inc., 119 NLRB 837, enfd. 260 F. 2d 530 (C.A. 6)
144 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
of the employees in the unit, and if an understanding is reached,
embody such understanding in a signed agreement.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO,
is a labor organization as defined in Section 2(5) of the Act.
2. All production and maintenance employees at the Respondent's
Bradenton, Florida, plant, excluding all office clerical, plant clerical,
and professional employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the
Act, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bar-
gaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
3. The above-named labor organization was on September 6, 1960,
and has been at all times thereafter, the certified exclusive representa-
tive of all the employees in the above-described unit for the purposes
of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
4. By refusing to bargain collectively with the above-named labor
organization as the exclusive representative of all the employees in
the unit described above, the Respondent has engaged in and is en-
gaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section
8(a) (5) of the Act.
5. By the aforesaid conduct, Respondent has interfered with, re-
strained, and coerced employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed
by Section 7 of the Act, and has thereby engaged in and is engaging
in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (1) of
the Act.
6. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices
affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of
the Act.
ORDER
Upon the entire record in this case, and pursuant to Section 10(c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Respondent, Anchor Manu-
facturing Company, a division of Basic Products Corporation, Bra-
denton, Florida, and its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall :
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Refusing to bargain collectively with International Brother-
hood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, as the exclusive bargaining
representative of the employees in the appropriate unit.
The appropriate bargaining unit is :
All production and maintenance employees at the Respondent's
Bradenton, Florida, plant, excluding all office clerical, plant clerical,
and professional employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the
Act.
ANCHOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ETC. 145
(b) In, any like or related manner interfering with, restraining, or
coercing employees in the exercise of the rights.guaranteed by Section
7 of the Act. ,
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Upon request, bargain collectively with International Brother-
hood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, 'as the exclusive representa-
tive of the employees in the appropriate unit, as found above, and, if
an understanding is reached, embody such understanding in a signed
agreement.
(b) Post at its Bradenton, Florida, plant, copies of the notice
attached hereto marked "Appendix." 10 Copies of such notice, to be
furnished by the Regional Director for the Twelfth Region, shall, after
being duly signed by the Respondent's authorized representative, be
posted by the Respondent immediately upon receipt thereof, in con-
spicuous places, including all places where notices to employees are
customarily posted, and maintained by it for at least 60 consecutive
days thereafter. Reasonable steps shall be taken by the Respondent
to insure that said notices are not altered, defaced; or covered by any
other material.
(c) Notify the Regional Director for the Twelfth Region, in writ-
ing, within 10 days from the date of this Order, what steps the Re-
spondent has taken to comply herewith.
io In the event that this Order is enforced by a decree of a United States Court of
Appeals, there shall be substituted for the words "Pursuant to a Decision and Order" the
words "Pursuant to a Decree of the United States Court of Appeals , Enforcing an Order."
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to a Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations
Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, we hereby notify our employees that :
WE WILL NOT refuse to bargain collectively with International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, as the exclusive
bargaining representative of the employees in the appropriate
unit.
The appropriate bargaining unit is :
All production and maintenance employees at our plant in
Bradenton, Florida, excluding all office clerical, plant cleri-
cal, and professional employees, guards, and supervisors as
defined in the Act.
WE WILL, upon request, bargain collectively with the aforesaid
labor organization as the exclusive representative of the em-
599198-62-vol. 131-11
146 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
ployees in the appropriate unit, and, if an understanding is
reached, embody such understanding in a signed agreement.
WE WILL NOT, in any like or related manner, interfere with, re-
strain, or coerce employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed
by Section 7 of the Act.
ANCHOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
A DIVISION OF BASIC PRODUCTS
CORPORATION,
Employer.
Dated---------------- By-------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from the date hereof,
and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
North Texas Producers Association and United Packinghouse
Workers of America , AFL-CIO
North Texas Producers Association and Dallas General Drivers,
Warehousemen and Helpers Local Union 745. Cases Nos.
16-CA-1388 and 16-CA-1404. April 20, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
On January 16, 1961, Trial Examiner Fannie M. Boyls issued her
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices, and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom and
take certain affirmative action as set forth in the copy of the Inter-
mediate Report attached hereto. The Trial Examiner also found that
the Respondent had not engaged in certain other unfair labor prac-
tices alleged in the complaint and recommended dismissal of those
allegations. Thereafter, the Respondent filed exceptions to the Inter-
mediate Report and a supporting brief.
The Board has reviewed the rulings made by the Trial Examiner at
the hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was committed. The
rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered the Inter-
mediate Report, the exceptions and brief and the entire record in these
cases and hereby adopts the findings, conclusions, and recommenda-
tions' of the Trial Examiner.
'The Trial Examiner recommended that the Respondent cease and desist from inter-
fering with its employees ' rights through the violations of Section 8(a) (1) and (3) which
she found , as well as "in any like or related manner ." Because discriminatory discharges
evince a studied intent to thwart the rights of employees in freely selecting their
collective -bargaining representatives , we shall issue a broad cease and desist order here.
Borg-Warner Controls, Borg -Warner Corporation, 128 NLRB 1035.
131 NLRB No. 34.