Burns and Gillespie

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jul 29, 1955

113 N.L.R.B. 434 (N.L.R.B. 1955)

434 DECISIONS; OF NATIONAL LABOR "RELATIONS- BOARD
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in -
the case, the Trial Examiner makes the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Hearst Publishing Company, Inc. (Los Angeles Examiner Division), Los.
Angeles, California, is engaged, and at all times material herein was engaged, in
commerce within the meaning of Section 2_ (6) and (7) of the Act.
2. Los Angeles Newspaper Guild, affiliated with Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions, and Association of Classified Advertising Employees of the Los Angeles Ex-
aminer, unaffiliated, are labor organizations within the meaning of Section 2 (5) of
the Act.
3. The allegations of the complaint, as amended, that Respondent has engaged in
and is engaging in unfair labor practices, within the meaning of Section 8 (a) (1),
(2), and (3) of the Act have not been sustained by substantial evidence.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
T. H. Burns and R. H. Gillespie d/b/a Burns and Gillespie and
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, A.F.L. Case No. 39-CA-215. July 29,1955
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION
On December 19, 1952, the National Labor Relations Board, herein
called the Board, issued its Decision and Order in this case;" in which
it found that T. H. Burns and R. H. Gillespie, d/b/a Burns and Gil-
lespie, herein called the Respondents, had engaged in and were en-
gaging in certain unfair labor practices affecting commerce and
ordered them to cease and desist therefrom and take certain affirmative
remedial action designed to effectuate the policies of the Act.
The Board thereafter petitioned the United States Court of Appeals
for the Eighth Circuit to enforce its order against the Respondents.
In an opinion handed down on October 29,1953 z and a decree entered
on November 25, 1953, pursuant thereto, the court denied enforcement
of the Board's Order upon the ground that the Trial Examiner had
erroneously excluded competent and material evidence, but granted
the Board authority "to open the proceedings for further evidence and
a new order, if so advised."
On March 30, 1954, the Board issued its Order reopening the record
for the purpose of receiving and considering the excluded evidence.
On January 10, 1955, a further hearing was held before Trial Ex-
aminer George Downing, replacing Trial Examiner Stephen S. Bean,
who had presided at the original hearing and who, on November 11,
1954, had disqualified himself. On February 25,1955, Trial Examiner
George Downing issued his Supplemental Intermediate Report, in
=101 NLRB 1181.
2 207 F. 2d 434, 437.
113 NLRB No. 45.
'BURNS AND.GILLESPIE 435
which he found that the additional evidence received required` no
change in the Board's Decision and Order, and recommended that the
Board reaffirm it without modification, as set forth in the copy of.the
Supplemental Intermediate Report attached hereto. Thereafter, the
Respondents filed exceptions to the Supplemental Intermediate Re-
port and a supporting brief. The General Counsel also filed a reply
brief.
Tte Board has reviewed the rulings made by the Trial Examiner at
the reopened hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was com-
initted. The rulings are hereby -affirmed. The Board has considered
the Supplemental Intermediate Report, the Respondents' exceptions
and brief, the General Counsel's reply brief, and the entire record in
the case (including the original record), and hereby adopts the find-
ings, conclusions, and recommendations of Trial Examiner Downing
with the following additions and modifications :
1. We agree with the Trial Examiner that the new evidence, evalu-
ated in conjunction with the relevant evidence in the previous record,
failed to establish the Respondents' defense that the applicants did not
make bona fide applications for work at the Respondents' plant. As
stated in the Supplemental Intermediate Report, the additional evi-
dence does not refute the testimony of the applicants as to their need
and genuine desire for work, or their denials under strenuous cross-
examination that they had been-coached by, or had received instruc-
tions from, Union Representative Gilker as to how to present them-
selves' for work. Clearly, the record does not support a claim of bad
faith. S At both the original and reopened hearings, the Respondents
failed to elicit any evidence to prove that the applicants were aware of,
or had knowingly participated in, any scheme to entrap the Respond-
ents into a violation of the Act, or that they would not have accepted
work if tendered to them. The new evidence only shows that during
the course of the settlement conference Union Agent Gilker made cer-
tain representations which were false and reflected on his judgment
and tactics. Even if the job applicants, who were unemployed at the
time they requested employment, had reason to know or suspect that
the Respondents had a discriminatory hiring policy, such knowledge
would not render their request for work mala fide where all the evi-
dence indicates that they would have accepted work if it had been
tendered' Although Gilker's admissions at-the settlement conference,
and other factors emphasized by our dissenting colleagues, may sug-
gest improbabilities in the testimony of witnesses on both sides of the
decisive issues, resulting in a close fact question, there is ample evi-
dence to support the Trial Examiner's credibility findings. We can
8 Compare Hollywood Ranch Market , 93 NLRB 1147.
'Ewinerton & Walberg Co., 94 NLRB 1079, enfd. 202 F. 2d 511, 515 (C. A. 9).
436 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
see no justification for overturning his conclusions and recommenda-
tions.
2. The Respondents contend for the first time in their brief that
Trial Examiner Bean "evidentally disqualified himself for personal
prejudice" while presiding at the original hearing, and because of the
resulting unreliability of the previous record it was.improper for Trial
Examiner Downing to adopt the previous credibility findings. They
argue that it was therefore mandatory to retry the entire'good4faith
issue. The record reveals that on March 30, 1954, the Board issued
its Order to the Regional Director reopening the proceedings for the
purpose of receiving the excluded evidence. On November 1, 1954,
without stating any reasons for his action, Trial Examiner Bean with-
drew from the case in accordance with Section 7 (a) of the Adminis-
trative Procedure Act,' herein called the A. P. A., and Section 102.37
of the Board's Rules and Regulations, Series 6, as amended. On the
same date, the Chief Trial Examiner assigned Trial Examiner Down-
ing to serve in place of Trial Examiner Bean, and on November 2,
1954, the Board notified all parties in interest of the substitution.
The Respondents did not object to this Board action until after the
Supplemental Intermediate Report had issued. Thus, having failed
to take timely action, although afforded an opportunity to do so, the
Respondents in effect waived any right, they might have had to object
to the substitution of Trial Examiners.6 Neither the A. P. A. nor
the Board's Rules and Regulations require the Trial Examiner to give
his reasons for disqualifying himself.' As the Respondents did not
file a timely. "affidavit of personal bias or disqualification" against
Trial Examiner Bean and as there is no evidence of bias in the record,
we find, contrary to the Respondents, that his withdrawal from the
proceedings is not an admission of bias.
3. Our dissenting colleagues argue that the Respondents were en-
titled to a trial de novo so that a single Trial Examiner could hear
and observe the applicants testify, consider their testimony in the con-
text of Gilker's statements made at the settlement conference, and
reevaluate the total evidence before resolving the critical credibility
issue of their good-faith endeavor to secure employment with the Re-
spondents. In view of the limited scope of the remand and the nature
of the evidence adduced at the reopened hearing, contrary to our dis-
senting colleagues, we do not believe there were any credibility issues
Section 7 (a) of the A. P A. states in part : Trial Examiners "may at any time with-
draw if they deem themselves disqualified and, upon the filing of a proper affidavit of per-
sonal bias or disqualification against them , the agency is required to determine the mat-
ter as a part of the record and decision in the case."
Cf. Dixie Shirt Company, Inc., 79 NLRB 127.
7 The Attorney-General's Manual on the Administrative Procedure Act, 1947, p. 73, in
discussing Section 7 ( a) states that this provision permits any presiding officer to with-
draw from a proceeding if he considers himself disqualified , for example, as being related
to a party.
BURNS AND GILLESPIE 437
to resolve between the applicants and the witnesses at the resumed-
hearing, and therefore it was unnecessary for Trial Examiner, Down-;
ing to hear the job applicants testify and observe their demeanor.
Moreover, the Trial Examiner did not narrow the scope of the re-
opened hearing when receiving the additional evidence, and the Re-
spondents who had the burden of rebutting the prima facie showing-
of -discrimination did not recall the applicants for further examina-
tion. Under the circumstances,;particularly. our reading of the court's
remand order, we do not believe that -a -trial de novo was obligatory.
In N. L. R. B. v. Donnelly Garment Co.' the Supreme Court of the-
United States held that, after a remand order issues, the Board has.
the discretion to determine whether a new hearing is required in order-
to reevaluate the total evidence, and whether the new evidence should
be heard before the original Trial Examiner. In addition to this,
judicial sanction, the literal language of Section 5 (c) and 8 (a) of the-
A. P. A. affirmatively approves such substitutions without making a,
hearing de novo mandatory.'
4. The Respondents further except to the Trial Examiner' s denial.
of their motion to dismiss the complaint because of the undue delay-
in reopening the hearing after the court's remand order. As there is
no substantial basis for believing that the Board's powers were in any-
way impaired by the protracted litigation of this case, and as the doc-
trine of lathes is generally inapplicable to Board proceedings, we find
the Respondents' contention without merit.10 Accordingly, the motion,
to dismiss is hereby denied.
For the foregoing reasons, and also for the further reasons set forth.
in the Supplemental Intermediate Report, we conclude, as did the Trial
Examiner, that the additional evidence received pursuant to the order-
of remand neither requires nor justifies any change in the Decision.
and Order issued in this case. Accordingly, we hereby affirm that,
Decision and Order without modification.
CHAIRMAN FARMER and MEMBER RODGERS, dissenting : -
We do not agree with the majority's decision.
The issue before the Board is whether the applicants who were
refused employment were in good faith attempting to secure positions:
from the Respondents or were attempting to entrap them into com-
833017, S.219 (1947).
9 Section 5 (c) provides : "The same officers who preside at the reception of evidence -
pursuant to section 7 make the recommended decision or initial decision required by sec-
tion 8 except where such oftcers become unavailable to the agency " [ Emphasis supplied ],
National Electric Products Corporation, 80 NLRB 995.
Section 8 ( a) of the A. P . A. provides that where the presiding officer at a hearing be-
comes unavailable as by- illness or leaving the . agency, the agency ^ may direct another
hearing officer to make an initial or recommended decision , or it may issue a tentative-
decision , or it may order a rehearing
10 Eagle-Picher Mining of Smeiting ; Co. v. N. L. R. B., 119 F 2d 903 ( C. A. 8), enfg. 16;
NLRB 727.
438 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
mitting violations of the Act. At the original hearing, Trial Ex
aminer Bean rejected the Respondents' offer to prove, in connection
with this issue, that Union Agent Gilker had said, during a confer-
ence, that he had sent the applicants to Burns in order to make out a
violation against the Respondents. In its brief to the circuit court,
the Board argued that this error was harmless and should be ignored
"'for the credited testimony which was received, and the surrounding
circumstances which corroborated it, were too cogent in character to
be overborne by the rejected evidence"; and that, this being so, any
error in the excluded or the rejected evidence was not prejudicial. The
court rejected this argument and held that the Respondents were
denied due process because the rejected evidence was "competent and
material and should have been received and considered." The court
therefore denied the Board's petition for enforcement, but it granted
authority to the Board to open the proceedings for further evidence
and a new order, if as advised.
The reopened hearing was held not before Trial Examiner Bean,
who presided at the first hearing, but before Trial Examiner Downing.
Trial Examiner Downing found that Gilker had said at a settlement
conference held about January 18, 1952, that he was not particularly
interested in the unfair labor practice charges filed, that what he
wanted was a collective-bargaining contract, and that when the Re-
spondents' attorney expressed doubt as to the soundness of the Union's
unfair labor practice case, Gilker replied : "Well, we have got a vio-
lation against the Company.... I sent the witnesses down there
and I know how to get a violation...."
Gilker's statements at the settlement conference, as found by the
Trial Examiner, obviously require a reappraisal of the bona fides of
the applications for employment. The fact that all the applicants
applied to Burns for employment, and not to Gillespie; the fact that
the applicants were not unemployed, but were rather strikers who
ultimately returned to work for another employer; the fact that
charges against the Respondents were filed on behalf of the Union
which was using these charges to exact a bargaining agreement from
the Respondents; and the fact that the Trial Examiner found that
Gilker, the international representative of the Union, stated he had
sent the applicants down to Burns and knew how to make out an
unfair labor practice violation against an employer-all create a
doubt as to the applicants' good faith in seeking employment. The
only person who was in a position to make a reappraisal of their
good faith without retrying the case de novo was Trial Examiner
Bean who had heard the applicants testify and was therefore in a
position to redetermine their credibility in view of the Gilker state-
ments. Trial Examiner Downing did not make the required reap-
,BURNS AND GILLESPIE 439
praisal, not having seen or heard the applicants who did not testify
at the reopened hearing. Actually, Trial Examiner Downing disposed
of the new, evidence by finding it "false" in the light of credibility
resolutions previously made by Trial Examiner Bean on the basis of
evidence which the' court of appeals held to be incomplete. In other`
words, instead of reweighing the testimony of the job applicants
together with Gilker's statements at the settlement conference to rede-
termine the bona fides of the applicants, Trial Examiner Downing
used Examiner Bean's credibility findings to brand as false represen=
tations made by Gilker, the applicants' own representative and a mem-
ber of the bar. Yet there is nothing so improbable in Gilker's credited
statements as to justify characterizing them as false. Nor did Trial
Examiner Downing from his observation of Gilker find him generally
unworthy of belief. The very fact that Gilker's statements were
against the interest of the people he represented would seem, on the
contrary, to lend support to their acceptance as trustworthy.
What we have said is sufficient to indicate that in our opinion the
procedure followed and the decision reached by the majority is not in
compliance with the spirit or the requirements of the court of appeals
decision. We are compelled to the conclusion that the majority has
merely reiterated its former position that the evidence held to be "mate-
rial and competent" by the court and which goes to the heart of
the case is of no consequence. We believe that proper weight could be
given to the. Gilker statements only by a Trial Examiner who had
heard all the witnesses, including Gilker and the applicants for em=
ployment. We would therefore reject Trial Examiner Downing's,
report and remand the case to a new Trial Examiner for a hearing
de novo.
SUPPLEMENTAL INTERMEDIATE REPORT
On December 19, 1952, the Board issued a Decision and Order in the above-entitled
proceeding ' (101 NLRB 1181) in which it found that Respondents had engaged in
certain unfair labor practices proscribed by Section 8 (a) (1) and ( 3) of the National
Labor Relations Act, as amended ( 61 Stat. 136), and in which it ordered Respondents
to cease and desist from said practices and to take certain affirmative action designed
to effectuate the policy of the Act. Thereafter in an opinion and decree entered on
November 25, 1953, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied
enforcement of the Board's Order but granted the Board authority to open the pro-
ceedings for certain additional evidence proffered by Respondents , and thereafter to
issue a new Order if so advised (207 F. 2d 434, 437). On March 30, 1954, the Board
issued its Order in accordance with the aforesaid Decision , reopening the record for
that evidence and remanding the case to the Regional Director for the purpose of
arranging such further hearing.
Pursuant to due notice issued by the Regional Director, a hearing was held in
Rogers, Arkansas, on January 10, 1955, before the Trial Examiner duly designated by
the Chief Trial' Examiner . All parties were represented by counsel and were afforded
full opportunity to be heard, to examine and cross -examine ` witnesses , to introduce
relevant evidence , and to file briefs , proposed findings of fact, and conclusions of law.
Oral argument was waived . Briefs have been filed by General Counsel and by
Respondents.
379288-56-vol. 113-29
440 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Before summarizing the new evidence, it will be helpful to review briefly the earlier
proceedings to establish the present posture of the case and to state the issue which
is posed by the remand order.
The Board found originally that Respondents had discriminatorily refused employ-
ment to eight applicants because of their union membership and strike activities and
had independently violated Section 8 (a) (1) by certain statements made by Co-
partner Burns. Respondents had defended in part on the ground that the Union had
inspired the applicants to apply for work for the sole purpose of making out a case of
violation of the Act. Evidence was received on that issue except that testimony was
excluded from Copartner Burns (of which an offer of proof was made) that Union
Representative Gilker had stated during a meeting with Respondents, their counsel,
and a Board investigator that he had sent the applicants "down there to talk to
Mr. Burns in order to make out a National Labor Relations Board violation against
Burns and Gillespie"; 207 F. 2d 434, at p. 436 (C. A. 8); 101 NLRB 1181, at p. 1187,
footnote 9.
The applicants (except Dale Bader) had testified as to their need and desire for
work and as to their efforts to obtain employment with Respondents and elsewhere,
and though strenuously cross-examined on the point, they had denied that the union
representative had coached them on how to approach Respondents. The Board
found (adopting the Trial Examiner's findings) that they were sincere in their desire
to work for Respondents and that they had testified credibly that they had received
no instructions concerning their manner of presenting themselves. The court, without
passing on the substantive issue involved, held that the evidence proffered by Respond-
ents was erroneously excluded and that because of lack of due process, it would not
consider the sufficiency of the evidence to support the Board's determination and
order.
The Board's Order reopened the proceedings for the limited purpose of receiving
the excluded evidence; and the hearing on January 10 was limited to receipt of that
evidence, plus other evidence offered either by way of corroboration or contradiction
or to establish the background of the meeting and the setting in which Gilker's state-
ments were allegedly made. Thus the issue under the remand order relates to
Respondents' defense that the applicants had not made bona fide attempts to obtain
employment with Respondents; specifically, it is whether the new testimony, con-
sidered in conjunction with relevant evidence in the previous record, establishes that
the applicants did not genuinely desire work at Respondents' plant and would not have
accepted jobs if offered them.
Upon the entire record in the case, and from his observation of the witnesses,
the Trial Examiner makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
A. Summary of the evidence
Respondents offered the testimony of Burns and Gillespie and of Allan Andrews
(the latter was counsel for Respondents at the previous hearing), and the General
Counsel offered in refutation the testimony of Gilker. The evidence establishes that
the meeting was held and that Gilker's statements were made in the following setting:
The Union had filed charges sometime during the fall of 1951 (the complaint was
not issued until March 12, 1952). An earlier attempt to hold a meeting in January
1952, had failed because Respondents wished to have their counsel present. When
finally held around January 18, the meeting was attended by Burns and Gillespie, by
Crouch and Andrews, their attorneys, by Gilker and a Mr. Sell (now deceased) repre-
senting the Union, and by Seymour Allsher, a field examiner of the Board.' Gilker's
testimony is credited that Allsher called the conference for the purpose of endeavoring
to effect an informal settlement of the Union's charge.
The summary of the new testimony may begin appropriately with Burns, since the
offer of proof had related specifically to his testimony. Burns testified that Gilker
offered to drop the charge if he could get a union contract, that Gilker stated he had
sent the witnesses down to apply to Burns because Burns was not at the plant, and
that he had told the witnesses what to say and how to say it. Burns could recall
nothing else specifically that was said by anyone at the meeting. He conceded, how-
ever, that Gilker and the Board representative may have talked about the amount of
back pay due the applicants and that the Board representative may also have referred
1 There was also some indication that Mrs Gillespie came Into the meeting at one point
during discussions of the amount of back pay.
BURNS AND GILLESPIE 441
to, the fact thaf 'most' of the applicants would decline jobs on the Company's offer,
thereby•making the matter.easy to settle.
Gillespie testified on direct examination that Gilker stated that he was not par-
ticularly interested in the case, that what he wanted was a union contract, and that
if Respondents would give him a contract he would withdraw the case. Crouch
replied that he did not think Gilker had a case; and Gilker said he generally made
his cases strong enough to stick, that he had made up the case against Respondents
by sending the applicants to Burns (instead of to the plant) to ask for work, though
they really did not want work and were just trying to build up a case against the,
Respondents.
Cross-examination developed that Gillespie's recollection of Gilker' s statements.
was at best hazy. Thus he admitted he did not remember just what Gilker had_
said about making out an unfair labor practice charge, but it was to the effect that
if Respondents would sign a union contract he would dismiss "this unfair labor
practice trial." As to sending the applicants to Respondents, Gillespie was able
only to state that Gilker had said something like he had sent them down there just
to make a case against Respondents. And though denying at first that the purpose
of the conference was to discuss a settlement or that settlement was in fact dis-
cussed, Gillespie later admitted that there was some figuring done concerning an
amount and that a proposal was made by Gilker that if Respondents would settle
for so much and grant a union contract, then the matter might be settled. Gillespie,
could remember nothing which the Board representative had said.
Andrews evidenced a clearer recollection than Burns and Gillespie on most mat-
ters. His testimony accorded with Gillespie's that Gilker stated that he was not
particularly interested in the charge, that what he wanted was a union contract,
and that Crouch refused on the ground the Union did not have a case against
the Company. Andrews testified that Gilker continued, "Well, we have got a vio-
lation against the Company . I sent the witnesses down there and I know
how to get a violation"; that he referred to certain affidavits which he had in a
folder and added, "I have got a violation from these witnesses that I sent down
there to get the violation on." Andrews also testified that Gilker said he had
sent the applicants to see Burns, but did not recall that Gilker said why he had
done so.
On cross-examination Andrews summarized Gilker's statements as follows that:
he knew a good case when he saw one, or knew how to make out a Labor Re-
lations Board violation, and he had sent the witnesses down there for that purpose.
Andrews' recollection of the discussions insofar as they related to settlement was
more hazy. He explained that he was. not interested in the discussions of "things
in the nature of a compromise" because, "I didn't think they would be admissible
in testimony when you are trying to compromise a proposition." Andrews did
recall, however, that there was some reference to back pay if Respondents should
lose the case and that something was also said about the posting of notices and
about general procedures if the case were settled.
Gilker's recollection of the setting and details of the meeting proved superior
to that of Respondents' witnesses. He testified that Allsher had called the meet-
ing and that Allsher opened it by stating he had interviewed the witnesses on
both sides and felt that there was a possibility of settling the matter informally
because of the small amount of money -involved and because Gilker had in-
formed him that most of the applicants had obtained other jobs and were no
longer interested in working for Respondents. Allsher proposed a 50-percent
back-pay settlement, plus an offer of employment, and the posting of a notice.
Gilker suggested that Respondents might as well settle the whole matter since
as soon as they posted the notice they would be negotiating with the Union for a
contract anyway. Allsher stated that he would have to leave the room if a con-
tract was to be discussed, but Crouch and Burns replied that there was no need
of that because they were not interested in talking contract. The discussion turned
back to Allsher's proposal, and Gilker agreed to take up with the applicants the
question whether they would accept the 50-percent settlement and the offer of em-
ployment . The meeting concluded with the understanding that Gilker would re-
port to Crouch, would ascertain from him whether the settlement was also ac-
ceptable to Respondents, and would notify Allsher whether agreement was reached.
Gilker denied having stated that he was not interested in the case, but ad-
mitted saying that what he wanted was a contract, and that he commented on the
small amount of back pay and the fact that the charge was therefore not im-
portant. He denied having said , however, that he would withdraw the charge as
part of the settlement for a contract. Gilker also denied having stated that he sent
the applicants to see Burns personally , that he sent them to Respondents to make
442 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
out an unfair labor, practice charge, and that he told them how to present them-
selves or what to say or how to say it. He admitted, however, having said that
he knew a good charge when he saw one and that he had taken affidavits from
the,applicants (which he delivered to the Board) which established a good charge
and one which would "stick" against Respondents for violating the Act.
Questioned as to what directions he had given the applicants themselves, Gilker
testified that probably around June 20 or 21 (during the course of the Pluss strike
in which applicants were participants), he had begun urging the strikers in numerous
meetings to seek other jobs because the strike looked like,a long one, and that he
suggested they go to Burns and Gillespie and to a number of other employers
whom he named,, but he denied that he coached the strikers on how to ^ present
themselves or what to say. He also denied that he had told them specifically who to
contact when applying to Burns and Gillespie, but testified that he might have speci-
fied Burns, as that was the first name in the firm name, saying, for example,, "Go
to Burns, go to the canning factory, go to Swanson's, go to Keesin's."
B. Concluding findings
The record-contains no substantial refutation of Gilker's testimony as to the back-
ground and setting of the meeting, that it was called by Allsher for the purpose of
reaching a settlement of the Union's charge, and that it was devoted largely to dis-
cussions of a settlement. Indeed, the testimony of Respondents' witnesses furnished
both implicit and explicit corroboration that such was the case. When the crucial
matter of the previous offer of proof was reached, however, a sharp conflict developed.
That conflict is to be resolved, as usual, by reconciling the conflicting versions where
possible, by resolving credibility.where necessary, and by then determining on which
side lies the preponderant weight of the evidence?
Of course, a resolution of credibility does not require either full acceptance or com-
plete rejection of a witness' testimony since, "It is no reason for refusing to accept
everything that a witness says, because you do not believe all of it; nothing is more
common in all kinds of judicial, decisions than to believe some and not -all."
N. L. R. B. v. Universal Camera Corporation (L. Hand, C. J.), 179 F. 2d 749, 754
(C. A. 2). In the present case, for example, though certain portions of the testimony
of Respondents' witnesses must be rejected,, their testimony on other points is
mutually corroborative and outweighs the uncorroborated testimony of Gilker,to
the contrary. Thus Burns' testimony that Gilker stated he had told the witnesses
what to say and how to say it cannot be credited in the face of Gilker's denials and
the failure of either Andrews or Gillespie to corroborate Burns.. In Gillespie' s case;
cross-examination developed a substantially weaker version of Gilker' s statements.
However, the latter version is in substantial accord with Andrews' testimony and is
accepted. 1 -
. Indeed, the testimony of Respondents' witnesses is found to be in substantial accord
on the following points that: Gilker stated that he was not particularly, interested in
the charge; he wanted a union contract and would drop or withdraw the charge
if Respondent would give him a contract; and he had sent the applicants to•Respon-
dents to make out a case or a violation against them. On those matters Gilker's
uncorroborated testimony is insufficient to overcome the cumulative weight of the
mutually corroborative testimony of Respondents' witnesses. In fact, Gilker admit-
ted that he had minimized the importance of the charge and had emphasized'his de-
sire for a contract. , • ' •
Some further discussion is necessary on the question whether Gilker stated he had
directed the applicants to go to see Burns because Burns was not at the plant where
the hiring was done. Respondents' witnesses' were agreed that Gilker said he had
sent the applicants to Burns, but Andrews did not- recall , that Gilker said -why he
had--done so. Gilker finally admitted that he had- suggested to the applicants that
they apply to Burns (in abbreviation of the full firm name), and it is entirely probable
that he used the same sort of verbal shorthand during the settlement conference:
The testimony of Respondents' witnesses that he did so is credited. The further claim
by Burns and Gillespie is not credited, however, that Gilker'spelled out his reasons;
since Andrews 'did not corroborate them and Gilker denied having done so:' It is
concluded that Burns' and Gillespie's testimony on that point included the gloss of
an inference they had, drawn from Gilker's statement that he'had sent the applicants
to- Burns. - •
m Since one. of the duties of a Trial Examiner is to determine, the credibility of wit-
nesses"he cannot properly find lack of 'a preponderance of evidence without first ;having
resolved- conflicts in testimony which would tip, the scales -to one, side or the' other.' ', : t
111 ' " , DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT ' COMPANY,-INC. - - - - " 443
There remains the matter of determining whether the new evidence , considered to-
gether with relevant evidence in the previous record , establishes Respondents' de-
fense that the applicants made no bona fide attempts to obtain employment . Laying
aside ( as' the court did ) the point that Gilker 's statements were made during the
course of settlement negotiations , the statements do, of course , constitute evidence
of relevance in support of that defense But the new evidence does not establish the
defense ; it does not refute the testimony of the applicants themselves ( still undenied)
as to their need of work and their genuine desire for it , or their denials that they had
been coached by or had received instructions from the union representative as to
how to present themselves . Indeed , Gilker's testimony now corroborates them in the
latter respects . The new evidence thus leaves their testimony uncontradicted and
unimpeached.
What the new evidence shows is that during the course of the settlement con-
ference Gilker made certain representations which reflected seriously on his good
faith if they were true , and which , if false, reflected on his judgment and his tactics.
What the entire evidence shows is that his representations were false.
In sum , the entire evidence does not establish that the applicants were aware of or
that they . had knowingly participated in a scheme to entrap Respondents into a viola-'
tion of the Act. Cf. Vaughn Bowen , 93 NLRB 1147 , 1179-80 . It shows to the`
contrary that the applicants genuinely desired to work for Respondents and would
have accepted the jobs they sought if offered to them . The Babcock & Wilcox Com-
pany, 110 NLRB 2116 , distinguishing Vaughn Bowen, supra.
It being concluded and found that the evidence fails to establish Respondents' de-
fense that the applicants made no bona fide attempt to obtain employment , it is ac-
cordingly recommended that the Board reaffirm its previous findings of unfair labor
practices against Respondents.
Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. and Aircraft Technical Workers
Union, Local No. 1, Petitioner . Case No. 16-RC-1562. July 29,
1955
DECISION AND ORDER
Upon a petition duly filed under Section 9 (c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, a hearing was held before William H. Renkel, hearing
officer. The hearing officer's rulings made at the hearing are free from
prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed.
Upon the entire record in this case, the Board finds :
1. The Employer is engaged in commerce within the meaning of
the Act.
2. The labor organizations involved claim to represent employees
of the Employer.'
3. No question affecting commerce exists concerning the representa-
tion of employees of the Employer within the meaning of Section 9 (c)
(1) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act for the following reasons :
The Petitioner seeks to sever from a plantwide unit presently repre-
sented by the Intervenor, employees in the tooling subdivision in the
following job classifications : master layout man, loftsmen, planners,
tool designers, tool liaison men, tool project men, duplicating machine
operators, production control clerks, planning clerks, planning release
I International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement
Workers of America, CIO, and its Local No. 1093 were permitted to intervene at the hear-
ing in this proceeding on the basis of their certification and contract with the Employer
for-the. production and maintenance employees at the Employer's Tulsa division.
113 NLRB No. 47.