Champa Linen Service Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Feb 11, 1963

140 N.L.R.B. 1207 (N.L.R.B. 1963)

CHAMPA LINEN SERVICE COMPANY 1207
to finance his wife's way through beauty school 12 With respect to Dick, there had
been a report of a clash between Dick and the Norwood manager, and also there
had been a disagreement between himself and Dick on a technical matter.
Viewed in its totality, the evidence does not preponderate in favor of a finding that
Welch and Dick were discharged because of their activities on behalf of the Union.13
I shall, accordingly, recommend dismissal of the allegations under Section 8(a)(3)
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 con-
nection with the operations of the Respondent 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 com-
merce and the free flow thereof.
V. THE REMEDY
In view of my finding that Respondent has engaged in certain unfair labor practices
I shall recommend that it be required to cease and desist therefrom and take certain
affirmative action necessary and appropriate to effectuate the policies of the Act.
On the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in this
case, I make the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Respondent is engaged in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and
(7) of the Act.
2. The Union is a labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the
Act.
3. By the acts of Division Manager Henry C. Showalter in threatening employees
with economic reprisals if they engage in activities on behalf of the Union, Respondent
has engaged in conduct that interfered with, restrained, and coerced employees in the
exercise of their rights under Section 7 of the Act, thereby engaging in unfair labor
practices as defined in Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices affect commerce within the meaning of
Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
5. Respondent has not engaged in unfair labor practices defined in Section 8(a) (3)
of the Act.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
L The evidence herein confirms the impression , conveyed by his bearing at the hearing,
of Welch as a person of superior talents and with a zeal to excel and advance but prob-
ably not a docile "organization man."
"The General Counsel relies in part on the conduct of Jack Ray in offering a responsible
assignment to Welch at Collbran on December 15 and in stating to employee Ashby on
December 27 that fitters were needed at Delta. I cannot assign any substantial signifi-
cance to this evidence in view of the clear indications that Ray's authority does not extend
to conversion crews. There is no showing that Ray participated in conferences leading up
to the layoffs Nor can I place any controlling significance on Showalter ' s threats which
I have found above to be interference under Section 8(a) (1) since the record Indicates
that Showalter did not take a controlling part in determination of the number to be laid
off nor the selection of those to be retained.
Champa Linen Service Company and Laundry, Linen and Dry
Cleaning Drivers, Local Union No. 905, and Dry Cleaning and
Laundry Workers, Local Union No . 304. Case No. 27-CA1243.
February 11, 1963
DECISION AND ORDER
On November 15, 1962, Trial Examiner William E. Spencer issued
his Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that
Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom and
140 NLRB No. 112.
1208 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the attached Interme-
diate Report. Thereafter, the Respondent filed exceptions to the
Intermediate Report and a supporting brief.
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 [Chairman McCulloch and Members Rodgers and Fanning].
The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner made
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 Respondent's exceptions and brief, and the entire
record in the case,' and hereby adopts the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of the Trial Examiner.
ORDER
The Board adopts as its Order the Recommended Order of the
Trial Examiner.2
I Respondent's request for oral argument is denied as, in our opinion, the record and
the Respondent's exceptions and brief adequately present the issues and the positions of
the parties.
2 The Appendix attached to the Intermediate Report is amended by deleting the words
"60 days from the date hereof," in the penultimate paragraph, and inserting in their
place the words "60 consecutive days from the date of posting."
INTERMEDIATE REPORT AND RECOMMENDED ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
This proceeding, involving allegations that the Respondent engaged in conduct
violative of Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, 61
Stat. 136, 73 Stat. 519, herein called the Act, is based upon a complaint issued by
the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, the latter herein called
the Board, on August 10, 1962, and a charge filed on June 21, 1962, and an amended
charge filed on July 11, 1962, by Laundry, Linen and Dry Cleaning Drivers, Local
Union No 905, and Dry Cleaning and Laundry Workers, Local Union No. 304, herein
called the Union or Unions. The Respondent in its duly filed answer denied the
commission of the alleged unfair labor practices. A hearing, with all parties
represented and participating, was held on September 18, 19, 1962, at Denver,
Colorado, before Trial Examiner William E. Spencer. At the close of evidence
the parties waived oral argument and subsequent thereto the General Counsel and
the Respondent filed briefs.
Upon consideration of the entire record in the case, and from my observation of
the witnesses, I make the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
The Respondent, with its principal office and place of business in Denver,
Colorado, is engaged in the business of laundry and linen supply. During the
conduct and operation of its business, the Respondent annually purchases and causes
to be shipped directly into Colorado from points outside the State, linen supplies
and other goods, materials, and products valued in excess of $50,000. Jurisdiction
is not contested.
H. THE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
The Unions are, each of them, labor organizations within the meaning of the Act.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
On June 20 and 26, July 10, 19, and 26, and August 2 and 17, all dates in 1962,
officers of and organizers for the Union distributed handbills to Respondent's em-
CHAMPA LINEN SERVICE COMPANY 1209
ployees, principally on the public sidewalk in front of Respondent's place of busi-
ness. Normally, most of Respondent's employees entered and left their place of
employment through one or more of the four doors which fronted on this sidewalk.
The distribution of the circulars was conducted in an orderly manner and any
trespass on Respondent's property was negligible.
During the June 20 distribution, Harry Zimmerman, Respondent's vice president
and general manager, and his two sons, Myron, aged 19, and Jerold, aged 15, stood
or walked up and down on the sidewalk outside the plant during most or all of the
distribution. The distribution occurred between 3:30 and 5 p in. as the employees
were getting off from work. These same Zimmermans were also present on the
sidewalk during the June 26 distribution, as was Ben Elderman, Respondent's presi-
dent and Harry Zimmerman's father-in-law. It appears that the Zimmermans and
Elderman were present on the sidewalk during later distributions also, but the
complaint alleges unlawful conduct specifically with respect to the June 20 and 26
and July 29 distributions.
Organizer Fred Jones testified that upon employees being given handbills as they
left the plant, Jerold Zimmerman physically "grabbed" some of the handbills out
of employees' hands and then tore them up. He was corroborated in this by
Organizer Edward Hogan who testified that Jerold ran up and down the street
taking handbills out of employees' hands, saying, "Give me that handbill. I want
that handbill You don't want it " One of Respondent's employees testified that
Jerold, referring to the handbill she had just received, said, "Can I have it?" where-
upon she let him have it. Hogan, corroborated by Organizer Donald Sutton, testi-
fied that on July 19, Elderman approached a truckdriver who had just been given
a handbill by Hogan, and, saying, "Give me that handbill," took the handbill from
the driver. The entrance to the garage fronts on the sidewalk on which the hand-
bills were distributed and is normally used by some employees in leaving the plant,
as well as the truckdrivers on entering,and leaving the plant.
Zimmerman admitted that he was on the sidewalk outside the plant on occasions
when the Union was distributing its pamphlets, and that his two sons were also
present on some of these occasions, but testified that his duties normally required
his presence outside the plant from time to time, and frequently, for checking the
trucks in and out. He also testified that the plant was located in a slumlike district
and that there had been pilfering by outsiders, a matter requiring vigilance on his
part. He denied that it was for the purpose of observing the distribution of union
literature that he was present on the sidewalk during the periods alluded to. Elder-
man gave similar explanations for his presence outside the plant during some of
these distributions. On the entire evidence, I am convinced that the presence of
Harry Zimmerman and his two sons and Elderman, during almost the entire periods
of the distributions of union literature, on the sidewalk outside the plant, was due
only partially to the performance of their normal duties, and that their prime pur-
pose for being outside the plant for such extended period was to observe the distribu-
tion of pamphlets by the union organizers. Their testimony would have commanded
more credence and been given more weight if they had candidly admitted, as I have
no doubt was the case, that they posted themselves outside the plant and remained
there beyond the time required for the performance of their duties, for the purpose
of observing the distribution of the union pamphlets.
When the four organizers present at the plant on June 20 had finished their dis-
tribution of pamphlets, the Zimmermans were on the sidewalk outside the plant
watching them as they got into their cars and drove away, and on this or a later
occasion Jerold Zimmerman took down the license plate numbers of cars driven
by union organizers
On June 20, soon after the organizers began their distribution of pamphlets,
Harry Zimmerman locked the main front door of the plant, the door which some
of the employees normally use on leaving the plant, whereupon two of the organ-
izers went around to the alley behind the plant and distributed their literature to
some 25 to 30 employees who on this occasion left the plant through its rear doors.
Normally, only some five or six employees leave the plant through these rear doors.
Whereas normally some 40 to 50 employees leave through the main entrances,
only some 18 used these entrances on this occasion Also on June 20, shortly
after Harry Zimmerman had locked the main front door, Myron Zimmerman closed
the three overhanging garage doors and these remained closed for 15 to 20 minutes
except for being raised on two occasions to allow trucks in and out of the garage
area As previously stated, normally some employees leave the plant through these
doors. Finally, the door marked "Employees Entrance" was blocked by Myron
Zimmerman shortly after the closing of the main door, and there was evidence that
one or more female employees were barred from leaving the plant through this door.
1210 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
There was also evidence , in large part undenied , that Elderman used offensive
language in addressing union organizers , and that Myron Zimmerman, on several
occasions during the distribution of union pamphlets , used the loudspeaker located
inside Respondent 's plant for broadcasting inflammatory antiunion remarks, all
plainly heard outside as well as inside the plant.
With respect to the closing of the several doors fronting on the sidewalk while
the distribution of union pamphlets was taking place, the Respondent offered
various explanations . Harry Zimmerman admitted that he caused the garage doors
to be closed on the occasion of the first distribution of union pamphlets , according to
him for only some 10 or 15 minutes. His explanation for this action was that he
did not know the identity of all the organizers who were distributing pamphlets and
that in some instances this distribution interfered with the truckdrivers in the per-
formance of their duties . He testified , and was corroborated by his son , Myron, that
the door to the main plant office was locked for a time on June 20 because its con-
trolling mechanism had been broken earlier that day during a rest period. Myron
further denied testimony of General Counsel witnesses Fred Jones, an organizer,
and Robert L. Hooks, a former employee of the Respondent , that for a time on the
occasion of the first distribution of union pamphlets he barred female employees
from leaving the plant through the employee 's entrance door. These various ex-
planations and denials do not add up to make a convincing defense to the action
complained of.
There were only four organizers on hand during the first distribution of union
literature and since Zimmerman saw and read at least one of their pamphlets, he
could hardly have doubted their identity as union organizers . Further, closing
the garage doors was a dubious measure to take if intended to put an end to alleged
interference with Respondent 's truckdrivers , since the pamphlets were being dis-
tributed on the public sidewalk and not on the inside of the garage . If the clos-
ing of the door to the plant office was necessitated by damage to its controlling
mechanism , and such damage admittedly was not repaired , why did it remain closed
for only some 20 minutes on the occasion of the first distribution , and not thereafter?
As to Myron 's alleged blocking of female employees from egress through the em-
ployees' entrance , there is hardly any other acceptable explanation of the failure
of a majority of employees who normally made their exit from the plant through
this door , to use it on this single occasion. On the entire evidence , I am convinced
that the closing of these several means of egress from the plant represented an effort
by the Respondent to block or impede its employees in their access to the organiza-
tional material being distributed outside the building.
Jerold Zimmerman denied that he snatched any pamphlets from the hands of
employees or received any except on request or voluntary action of employees
handing them to him. I expect that this personable 15-year old was a little too
excited on this occasion to observe all the amenities in receiving and destroying
union pamphlets , and may have a less clear recollection of his conduct than those
who observed him. I am convinced that he did a little snatching and taking as well
as receiving , all under the watchful but not disapproving eyes of Papa. And while he
and his brother , Myron , occupied no job status as such which would constitute
them supervisors within the meaning of the Act, as sons of the plant manager , acting
within the range of his observation and without hindrance from him, they would
reasonably be understood by the employees to have his consent and approval in their
conduct during the distribution of the union pamphlets . With respect to Myron, who
broadcast over the plant 's loudspeaker , obviously with Respondent's consent and
approval , there can be no doubt of representative status, and to some lesser degree,
as observed above, this is true also of Jerold. Elderman 's denial that he took a
pamphlet from a truckdriver was accompanied by an admission of a conversational
exchange with Organizer Hogan , an exchange which would have been meaningless
had not Elderman actually taken the handbill . I find that Elderman took the hand-
bill pursuant to his direction to the truckdriver to let him have it.
In summation , I agree with Respondent 's counsel that there is no rule of law
which required Respondent 's officers and supervisory personnel to retreat to their
respective offices and pull down the shades during the distribution of union literature.
This distribution was taking place on public property, immediately outside the plant,
and these officers had a natural and reasonable interest in seeing , within proper
bounds, that their property rights were not infringed on or violated, as well as any
ordinary citizen 's right to observe what was going on in a public place and in the
vicinity of business operations . There was nothing in any way clandestine in their
observance of the union distribution ; there is no evidence that they took down the
name of any employee receiving or rejecting union pamphlets or addressed any
CHAMPA LINEN SERVICE COMPANY 1211
remarks to them with respect to their receipt or rejection of the pamphlets. Nor
do I see anything improper in the taking of the license plate number on one, or
more, of the organizers' cars. In short, if the observation of the distribution of union
literature occurring on the public sidewalk stood alone in the evidence, I would
find little reason for characterizing this as interference, restraint, and coercion with-
in the meaning of the Act It did not stand alone.
The closing of the main entrance door and shortly thereafter of the three garage
doors and the blocking of the door marked "Employees Entrance" on June 20,
all coming shortly after the distribution of union pamphlets began and at a time
when employees were beginning to leave the plant, was an unlawful interference with
employee rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, not balanced by any considera-
tions of employer rights with respect to protection from abuse of his own property.
The closing of these doors, in all probability, was action taken impulsively and
therefore without full realization of its implications and consequences, as shown
by the brevity of its duration, but its impact was nevertheless registered on the
minds of employees seeking egress through these doors, and was not then or
thereafter erased by conduct of the Respondent or environmental circumstances. The
action of young Zimmerman in taking union handbills from the hands of female
employees, without as well as with their permission-a permission which could
hardly have been withheld from the son of the plant manager who stood nearby-as
well as Elderman's taking a handbill from a truckdriver, also constituted interference
with employee rights guaranteed by the Act, for employees may not lawfully be
molested in such manner in their access to and receipt of organizational material.
While abusive remarks made by Elderman to union organizers, possibly provoked
to some degree, and the inflammatory antiunion broadcasts made by Myron Zimmer-
man over Respondent's loudspeaker, are not alleged to have constituted violations
of the Act, such expressions of extreme animus, undoubtedly heard by most or all
of the employees in the matter of the broadcasts, contributed to the coercive impact
of other conduct alluded to, including the unremitting observation of the distribution
of union handbills by Respondents two leading officials. In such a context, it can
hardly be doubted that this observation, or surveillance,' prolonged beyond any
reasonable requirements of normal business operations, restrained employees in
receiving, or rejecting, according to their own uncoerced choice, the proffered
organizational pamphlets.
It is found that by its surveillance of, and interference with, the distribution of
union literature, its molestation of employees in receiving or rejecting such literature,
and interference with their freedom of access to the distribution of said literature,
the Respondent interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise
of rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, thereby engaging in conduct violative
of Section 8 (a) (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 con-
nection with the operations of the Respondent 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 com-
merce and the free flow of commerce.
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. Laundry, Linen and Dry Cleaning Drivers, Local Union No. 905, and Dry
'Cleaning and Laundry Workers, Local Union No. 304, are, each of them, labor or-
ganizations within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
2. Champa Linen Service Company, an employer within the meaning of Section
2(2) of the Act, is engaged in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and
(7) of the Act.
3. By engaging ,in unlawful surveillance of, and interference with, the distribution
of umon literature to its employees, the Respondent interfered with, restrained,
and coerced its employees in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
i Surveillance," in the sense of "constant guard ; close watch," as defined in Webster's
New Collegiate Dictionary.
1212 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
RECOMMENDED ORDER
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and
pursuant to Section 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, it is
recommended that the Respondent , Champa Linen Service Company , its officers,
agents, successors , and assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Engaging in unlawful surveillance of, and interference with, the distribution
of union literature to and among its employees.
(b) In any like or related manner interfering with, restraining , or coercing its
employees in the right to self-organization , to form labor organizations , to join or
assist the Unions , or any other labor organization , to bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities for the
purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.
2. Take the following affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies of the
Act:
(a) Post at its Denver, Colorado , place of business , copies of the attached notice
marked "Appendix ." 2 Copies of said notice, to be furnished by the Regional
Director for the Twenty-seventh Region, Denver, Colorado, shall, after being duly
signed by a representative of the Respondent , be posted by the Respondent immedi-
ately upon receipt thereof, and be maintained by it for a period of 60 consecutive
days thereafter , in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to employees
are customarily posted . Reasonable steps shall be taken to insure that such notices
are not altered , defaced , or covered by any other material.
(b) Notify the Regional Director for the Twenty-seventh Region, in writing,
within 20 days from the date of the receipt of this Intermediate Report and Rec-
ommended Order, what steps the Respondent has taken to comply herewith.3
3In the event that this Recommended Order be adopted by the Board , the words "A De-
cision and Order" shall be substituted for the words "The Recommendations of a Trial
Examiner" In the notice In the further event that the Board 's Order be enforced by a
decree of a United States Court of Appeals , the words "Pursuant to a Decree of the
United States Court of Appeals , Enforcing an Order" shall be substituted for the words
"Pursuant to a Decision and Order "
' In the event that this Recommended Order be adopted by the Board , this provision
shall be modified to read: "Notify said Regional Director , in writing , within 10 days
from the date of this Order, what steps the Respondent has taken to comply herewith."
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to the recommendations of a Trial Examiner 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 engage in unlawful surveillance of, nor interference with, the
distribution of union literature to our employees , by Laundry , Linen and Dry
Cleaning Drivers, Local Union No. 905, and Dry Cleaning and Laundry Work-
ers, Local Union No. 304 , or any other labor organization.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with, restrain , or coerce
our employees in the exercise of the right to self -organization , to form labor
organizations , to join or assist the above -named Union , or any other labor
organization , to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choos-
ing, and to engage in collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.
CHAMPA LINEN SERVICE COMPANY,
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.
Employees may communicate directly with the Board's Regional Office, 609 Rail-
way Exchange Building , 17th and Champa Streets, Denver 2, Colorado, Telephone
No Keystone 4-4151, Extension 513, if they have any question concerning this
notice or compliance with its provisions.