Drug Plastics & Glass Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Dec 16, 1992

309 N.L.R.B. 1306 (N.L.R.B. 1992)

1306
309 NLRB No. 186
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
1 On May 20, 1992, Administrative Law Judge James L. Rose
issued the attached decision. The Respondent filed exceptions and a
supporting brief, and the General Counsel filed an answering brief.
The National Labor Relations Board has delegated its authority in
this proceeding to a three-member panel.
2 The Respondent has excepted to some of the judge’s credibility
findings. The Board’s established policy is not to overrule an admin-
istrative law judge’s credibility resolutions unless the clear prepon-
derance of all the relevant evidence convinces us that they are incor-
rect. Standard Dry Wall Products, 91 NLRB 544 (1950), enfd. 188
F.2d 362 (3d Cir. 1951). We have carefully examined the record and
find no basis for reversing the findings.
Although the judge in sec. IV, pt. A, subsec. a, appears in his con-
cluding statement to have found merit in the complaint allegation
that the Respondent in its February 7, 1991 letter to employees cre-
ated the impression of surveillance, it is clear from the context in
which the concluding statement is made, the case cited by the judge,
and the absence of such a finding in the judge’s recommended Order
and notice that the judge left the word ‘‘not’’ out of his concluding
statement and in fact dismissed this complaint allegation.
We agree that the 8(a)(1) allegations in the complaint which the
judge found to be violations of the Act were closely related to the
allegation in the charge. We find that those allegations arose out of
the Respondent’s overall plan to resist the Union, Well-Bred Loaf,
303 NLRB 1016 (1991), which continued even after union organiz-
ing ceased; that all the allegations occurred after the Respondent’s
acknowledged awareness of the organizing effort, cf. Harmony
Corp., 301 NLRB 578 (1991); that several of the allegations in-
volved statements to employee Matthews, who was the subject of the
timely 8(a)(3) allegation, Van Dyne Crotty Co., 297 NLRB 899
(1990); and that the 8(a)(1) allegations generally occurred during the
same time period as the 8(a)(3) allegation. Southwest Distributing,
301 NLRB 954 (1991). In these circumstances, we further note that
these allegations assert substantial union animus and therefore are re-
lated to the timely alleged 8(a)(3) discharge of employee Matthews.
Southwest Distributing Co., supra. 1 All dates are in 1991 unless otherwise indicated.
Drug Plastics & Glass Company, Inc. and United
Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers
of America, AFL–CIO, CLC, District No. 1.
Case 4–CA–19931
December 16, 1992
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN STEPHENS AND MEMBERS
DEVANEY AND RAUDABAUGH
Exceptions filed to the judge’s decision in this case1
present the issue of whether the complaint allegations
were barred by Section 10(b) of the Act, and whether
the Respondent, in the context of a union organizing
campaign, solicited employee grievances with the im-
plied promise of correcting them, made threats of plant
closure, and threatened an employee with discharge be-
cause of his union support.
The Board has considered the decision and the
record in light of the exceptions and briefs and has de-
cided to affirm the judge’s rulings, findings,2 and con-
clusions and to adopt the recommended Order.
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board adopts the rec-
ommended Order of the administrative law judge and
orders that the Respondent, Drug Plastics & Glass
Company, Inc., Boyertown, Pennsylvania, its officers,
agents, successors, and assigns, shall take the action
set forth in the Order.
Donna Nutini and Linda Carlozzi, Esqs., for the General
Counsel.
Aaron C. F. Finkbiner III, Esq. (Dechert, Price & Rhoads),
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Respondent.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
JAMES L. ROSE, Administrative Law Judge. This matter
was tried before me on March 2 and 3, 1992, at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, on the General Counsel’s complaint which al-
leged that on April 26, 1991,1 the Respondent discharged an
employee in violation of Section 8(a)(3) of the National
Labor Relations Act. The complaint also alleged certain vio-
lations of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
The Respondent filed an answer admitting the employee
was discharged, but denying that it had violated the Act. The
Respondent further moved that the 8(a)(1) allegations be dis-
missed on grounds that they had not been stated in the
charge.
The General Counsel and the Respondent were represented
by counsel and were given the opportunity to call, examine
and cross-examine witnesses, and to file posthearing briefs.
On the record as a whole, including my observation of the
witnesses and briefs and arguments of counsel, I hereby
make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
It is alleged and admitted that the Respondent annually
ships products valued in excess of $50,000 directly to points
outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that it is an
employer engaged in interstate commerce within the meaning
of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
It is further alleged and admitted that United Rubber,
Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America, AFL–CIO,
CLC, District No. 1 (the Union) is a labor organization with-
in the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
II. THE FACTS
The Respondent is engaged in the manufacture of plastic
bottles and other containers to be used in the pharmaceutical
industry at several plants, including its principal one in
Boyertown, Pennsylvania. At this plant the Respondent has
about 120 production and maintenance employees working 3
shifts. The two general categories of employees are machine
operator/inspector and process mechanic. Process mechanics
principally either work on machines in production or set up
machines for production. But as work demands, they can be
moved from their primary job to the other.
Allen R. Matthews Jr. worked for the Respondent as a
process mechanic for nearly 10 years. His last job was as a
setup mechanic on the third shift. (Though unclear from the
1307DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS CO.
record, this is apparently the night shift, ending somewhere
around 7 a.m.) He also worked for a trucking company,
where he is still employed.
On April 26, Matthews was discharged. According to
Glenn Forte, the Respondent’s vice president for manufactur-
ing, Matthews was discharged because he had smoked on the
production floor when production was in progress and he had
refused to attend a ‘‘pre-control’’ meeting on April 22, and
had said he would not attend the one for which he had been
rescheduled on May 7. Other factors considered by Forte
were reports that Matthews had not been responsive to his
duties and had excessive absenteeism during the first 3
months of 1991 (exceeding all his absences in the previous
year).
The smoking incident occurred on April 19, and was re-
ported by his supervisor, Steve Trembly, who gave Matthews
a ‘‘verbal warning’’ (which was recorded as a ‘‘Disciplinary
Discussion Report’’ dated April 19). Forte learned of this on
April 26, in connection with reports he had requested on
problems he had heard about concerning the third shift.
Matthews denied receiving a formal warning from Trem-
bly. He further testified that he had often smoked in non-
smoking areas, and had seen supervisors do so. Nevertheless,
he knew that smoking was not allowed on the production
floor during production ‘‘because of contamination.’’
Sometime in January, the Union began a modest organiza-
tional campaign. There is no evidence that any of the Re-
spondent’s employees were active participants or even signed
authorization cards. There was no testimony of any union or-
ganizer concerning the nature and extent of the campaign—
whether there were meetings of employees, how many and
when, and whether authorization cards were solicited and
signed. From this record, I find at best there was some mini-
mal discussion about the Union among employees.
However, the Respondent did learn that there was some
union activity afoot and in response held a series of meetings
among employees in early February. There was apparently
one large meeting and then several small meetings at which
five or six employees would attend with Forte and another
representative of management.
There is no evidence that Matthews was actively involved
in the organizational campaign. He did not solicit authoriza-
tion cards, nor is there evidence he even signed one himself.
He did not pass out literature or contact other employees.
There is no evidence, other than his testimony which I basi-
cally discredit, that any representative of management even
knew that he favored the Union.
Though Matthews testified that at the time of his dis-
charge, the campaign for the Union ‘‘was going real good,’’
this is not corroborated by other witnesses for the General
Counsel.
Leo Henry testified that he was somewhat active in speak-
ing for the Union and that he attended two meetings, but he
did not remember if they were ‘‘right before or right after’’
Matthews was terminated. He further testified that a meeting
was scheduled for the Tuesday after Matthews was dis-
charged, but it was canceled. This testimony is generally at
odds with the documentary and other evidence concerning
when the union activity occurred, which places it in January
and February. Nor is it corroborated by testimony of the
union organizer (if there was one), or anyone on behalf of
the Charging Party who would be in a position to know.
Thus I discredit Henry’s testimony to the extent it suggests
that the organizational campaign was ongoing at the time of
Matthews’ discharge.
Indeed, the sum of the testimony supports the assertion of
Forte that there was no union activity after February.
III. ANALYSIS AND CONCLUDING FINDINGS
A. The 8(a)(1) Allegations
The complaint alleges violations of Section 8(a)(1) by so-
liciting employee grievances, promising to improve condi-
tions of employment, creating the impression of surveillance
of employees’ union activities, promising increased wages,
threatening to close the plant and unspecified reprisals,
threatening to discharge an employee for union activity, and
instituting a wage increase.
The Respondent generally denied the substance of these
allegations, and in addition moved for their dismissal on
grounds that they are ‘‘barred by time and the applicable
rules, regulations, and statutes of limitation relating to timeli-
ness of claims.’’ At the outset of the hearing the Respondent
filed a motion in limine to exclude from consideration mat-
ters not in the charge, which I took under advisement.
The charge was filed on July 11, 1991, and alleged: ‘‘The
above named employer unjustly terminated Allen Rich Mat-
thews because of his Union activities and support of the
Union effort in the above named plant. Allen Rich Matthews
was discharged on or around April 26, 1991.’’
When the charge was filed, the alleged 8(a)(1) activity was
not time-barred by Section 10(b); however, by the time the
complaint issued, most of it was. Therefore, in order to sus-
tain the General Counsel’s position, it would be necessary to
conclude that the charge covers that activity.
As often noted, the Act is not self-enforcing. A charge is
required to initiate the Board’s investigatory power. Though
the General Counsel’s authority to initiate a complaint based
on its investigation is broad, he does not have ‘‘carte
blanche’’ to allege anything which might turn up during an
investigation. Only that activity which arises out of or is re-
lated to the charge can be alleged in the complaint. NLRB
v. Fant Milling Co., 360 U.S. 301 (1959).
In Nickles Bakery of Indiana, 296 NLRB 927 (1989), the
Board reversed its policy that the 8(a)(1) boilerplate language
on the charge form could suffice as an allegation of 8(a)(1)
violations not otherwise stated. Alleged violations of the Act
are now deemed covered by the charge only if they arise out
of or are ‘‘closely related’’ to those stated in the charge.
Unquestionably the 8(a)(1) allegations in the instant com-
plaint were not set forth in the charge. The General Counsel
argues, however, that they are closely related because they
have to do with the Respondent’s antiunion campaign, just
as did its discharge of Matthews. Further, this activity is
proof of union animus, which is relevant to the General
Counsel’s case, and therefore must be deemed closely relat-
ed. I agree.
There is an initial issue of whether the Board’s jurisdiction
should be tested by the General Counsel’s allegations, or the
proof. Judge (now Justice) Stevens suggested the former in
his dissent in NLRB v. Braswell Motor Freight Lines, 486
F.2d 743 (7th Cir. 1973). And this seems reasonable, for one
cannot know in advance of considering an allegation on its
merits whether it should be sustained or not.
1308 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
The Respondent contends that proof is controlling. Since
Matthews was discharged for cause, there can be no factual
nexus between his discharge and the alleged 8(a)(1) citing
Nippondenso Mfg. U.S.A., 299 NLRB 545 (1990), wherein it
was held that allegations will not be found ‘‘closely related
based on legal theory alone.’’
Nippondenso, however, is inapposite. As here, the charge
alleged a single 8(a)(3) discharge but the complaint alleged
only violations of Section 8(a)(1). There was no reference in
the complaint to the discharge. While the General Counsel
argued a theoretical connection between the charge allegation
and the complaint allegations, there was no factual connec-
tion because there was no evidence concerning the discharge.
Here, the 8(a)(1) activity is clearly relevant to a material
issue involving the Matthew discharge—union animus. Thus
not only does the 8(a)(1) activity arise out of the same al-
leged antiunion campaign, but those facts must be considered
in evaluating whether the discharge was a violation.
Accordingly, I conclude that 8(a)(1) allegations in the
complaint are closely related to allegation in the charge and
the Board has jurisdiction to consider them. Harmony Corp.,
301 NLRB 578 (1991).
Though I conclude that Matthews’ discharge had no rela-
tion to the union campaign, or any steps the Respondent may
have taken to counter it does not mean the allegations are
not closely related. It means only that all the facts fail to es-
tablish a violation of Section 8(a)(3).
1. February 7 solicitation of grievances and impression
of surveillance
On February 7, the Respondent sent each employee a letter
in which the General Counsel contends employees’ com-
plaints and grievances were unlawfully solicited; and in
which the Respondent created the impression that employees’
union activity was under surveillance.
In material part the letter read:
In conversations with many of you over the past sev-
eral days we’ve become aware of a number of issues
that are of concern to all of us.
We were already working on some of these con-
cerns, particularly in the area of benefits. In fact, we
have been actively discussing possible changes to our
benefit programs with outside consultants for several
months. Certain other issues that have been raised also
are not new to us, but frankly we were not aware that
these issues were as severe as some have described. In
order to make sure that we really understand your con-
cerns, I will be meeting with all of our employees, in
small groups, next week.
We understand that the Rubber Workers Union is
trying to convince some people to sign cards authoriz-
ing the union to represent them. I hope that you don’t
think that signing a union card will resolve your con-
cerns. We think that a ‘‘third party’’ will actually create
problems, not solve them.
Although an employer is permitted by Section 8(c) to ex-
press its opinion on all manner of issues, including a union
organizational campaign, it may not solicit grievances with
the implied promise they will be corrected. Solicitation of
grievances is the thrust of Forte’s letter, and was thereby vio-
lative of Section 8(a)(1). T & H Investments, 291 NLRB 409
(1988).
However, to state that the Respondent had learned there
was some union activity does imply that employees were
under surveillance. Clark Equipment Co., 278 NLRB 498
(1986).
2. The February 14 solicitation of grievances and the
promise to increase wages
Consistent with his letter, Forte met in small groups with
all employees. Leo Henry testified that Forte ‘‘said that he
wanted to tell us that Drug Plastics did not need a third-party
influence; that any problems would be solved, and he wanted
to know what our problems were as employees.’’
Former employee Matthew Landis testified, ‘‘They wanted
to know what the problem was, why we wanted to have the
union in there, what could be done to make things better.’’
Forte admitted he held meetings with, ultimately, all the
employees. He did not deny the essence of the statements at-
tributed to him by Henry and Landis. I therefore conclude
that Forte in fact did meet with employees, during which he
solicited grievances from them. Such necessarily implies a
promise to remedy the grievances, and coming at the outset
of an organizational campaign interferes with employees Sec-
tion 7 rights.
He did not, however, promise a wage increase in violation
of the Act. Employees asked about their wage increase,
which the Respondent had given every April for years. Forte
stated, as he always did, that they would be pleased. Forte
did not initiate the subject of wage increases; and to grant
such in April was an established practice. Accordingly, I
conclude that Forte did not make and unlawful promise as
alleged in paragraph 5(b) of the complaint.
3. The threat by John Rogers
In paragraph 6 of the complaint it is alleged that Assistant
Vice President John Rogers threatened employees with un-
specified reprisals if they signed union authorization cards.
To this allegation, Henry testified that ‘‘Mr. Rogers said
that he wanted to tell us and warn us not to sign union cards
if [we] were approached because union cards could be used
against us because they were a binding contract.’’ And Lan-
dis testified: ‘‘They [Ken Pake and John Rogers] talked
about the union coming in and recommended us not signing
the cards, the union cards because they heard we were being
approached to sign the union cards and, if you signed one,
you were stuck. It was a commitment. It was like a contract.
Basically, it was just union talk.’’ Collingwood testified that
Rogers said ‘‘that a union card was a legal binding state-
ment. Your signature was legal and binding. And that by you
signing that it could be used against you.’’ Matthews testi-
fied that Rogers ‘‘said if you signed the cards, that could be
like a legal and binding contract to be used against you.’’
The Respondent called no witnesses to deny or explain the
statements attributed to Rogers. I therefore find that he did
tell employees in substance that a union authorization card
is a legal document. However, this was a true statement, al-
beit superficial, since the legal effect of an authorization card
is complex. In any event, nothing in the statements attributed
to Rogers was a threat; thus I conclude Section 8(c) protects
1309DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS CO.
his right to make them. Daniel Construction Co., 257 NLRB
1276 (1981).
Accordingly, I will recommend the allegation in paragraph
6 of the complaint be dismissed.
1. Threat of plant closure by Tim Matthews
It is alleged in paragraph 7 of the complaint that in mid-
to late February Supervisor Tim Matthews (a cousin of Allen
R. Matthews) threatened two employees with plant closure if
the Union was selected as the employees bargaining rep-
resentative.
Matthews testified that in a conversation with Tim Mat-
thews about the Union, Tim said, ‘‘it [whether Matthews fa-
vored the Union] didn’t really matter. If the union ever got
in, Fred Bersecker [sic] would close the plant.’’ Fred
Beisicker is president and one of the family members who
own the Respondent.
Similarly, Landis testified that Tim Matthews ‘‘said Fred
would shut the place down before he’d let the union in
there.’’ And this statement, according to Landis, was made
by Tim Matthews several times.
Neither Tim Matthews nor anyone else denied that he
made the statements attributed to him. I therefore find these
statements were made in substance as testified to by Mat-
thews and Landis, and that a supervisor threatened employ-
ees with reprisals if they exercised their Section 7 right to
select a bargaining representative.
The Respondent’s only defense to this allegation (and that
in paragraph 8) is that Beisicker would not likely in fact
close the plant. Forte’s opinion in this regard has no tend-
ency to disprove that Tim Matthews told employees that
Beisicker would close it.
I therefore conclude that an agent of the Respondent made
a threat to employees in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the
Act.
2. Threat of plant closure by Fred Beisicker
Undenied is the testimony of Matthews that sometime in
March, in the lunchroom with several employees present,
Beisicker ‘‘said it was the worst week of his life. We were
sitting around and somebody had mentioned about the union,
and he himself said he’d close the plant if the union got in.’’
Although I found Matthews not to be a reliable witness,
and generally do not credit him where there is a conflict in
the testimony, the statement attributed to Beisicker is
undenied. Since Beisicker could have testified but did not, I
must infer he would not have denied Matthews’ testimony.
I therefore conclude that he made a threat of plant closure
in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
As above, that it makes little sense he would in fact close
the plant is not relevant, particularly where there is undenied
testimony of the threat.
6. Activity of Bill Mellen
It is alleged in paragraph 9 of the complaint that on June
20, Supervisor Bill Mellen created the impression that em-
ployees’ union activity was under surveillance and threatened
an employee with discharge.
The evidence supporting this allegation is in the testimony
of Leo Henry. Mellen did not testify.
Henry testified that after Matthews was discharged the or-
ganizing drive ‘‘was totally eliminated.’’ Yet he further testi-
fied that some 2 months later, his Supervisor Mellen
said he would suggest to me that I would do a little less
talking and a little more working because he said I had
been labeled as one of the union organizers at Drug
Plastics; that he had noticed it and also some of the
managers.
And I asked him right then, I said, what does this
ultimately mean? Does this ultimately mean I’m going
to be fired? He said, yes, it could come to that.
While this testimony appears inconsistent with Henry’s
statement that there was no more union activity after Mat-
thews’ discharge, it stands undenied. Therefore I must con-
clude that Mellen made the statements attributed to him.
For the reasons set forth above, I do not believe that the
statement of Mellen created the impression that employees’
union activity was under surveillance. However, the threat of
a possible discharge of an employee who is stated to be a
known union supporter is a threat in violation of Section
8(a)(1).
Since this occurred 2 months after Matthews’ discharge,
the Respondent argues it could not possibly be closely relat-
ed to the charge allegation, and therefore should be dis-
missed. I conclude, however, this violation does have some
relevance to the Matthews discharge in that it tends to sug-
gest that the Respondent was disposed to discharge union ad-
herents. Although I conclude that Matthews was lawfully dis-
charged, such does not alter therelevance of the statements
by Mellen, and therefore I find they are closely related to the
charge.
7. The April wage increase
For years the Respondent has given a general wage in-
crease in April. The General Counsel nevertheless alleges
that the one given in 1991 is violative of the Act because
in 1990 a 4.9-percent increase was given, whereas the 1991
increase was 6.4 percent. Forte testified, however, that in-
crease was really 5 percent, since it was anticipated that a
revamping of the health insurance in the summer of 1991
would require employees to contribute 15 cents per hour.
I found Forte’s testimony concerning the wage increase
credible and reasonable. I find that the Respondent granted
a wage increase on generally the same factors (similar indus-
tries in the area and company profits) as it had in the past
and the increase, even if it was 6.4 percent, was consistent
with its past practice. Accordingly, I conclude the Respond-
ent did not violate the Act by granting its customary wage
increase. Alco Venetian Blind Co., 253 NRLB 1216 (1981).
B. The Discharge of Matthews
Matthews is alleged to have been discharged because he
‘‘supported and assisted the Union.’’ On this the evidence is
paltry to nonexistent. The total of evidence that Matthews
even supported the Union was his testimony that he talked
to other employees about the Union in the lunchroom; in late
February he talked to his cousin, Supervisor Tim Matthews,
who said ‘‘he heard I was interested in the Union;’’ and in
1310 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
‘‘small talk’’ with day-shift Supervisor Al Gambler in mid-
April Matthews said he was in favor of the Union.
Even though Tim Matthews and Gambler did not testify,
I have difficulty believing these conversations took place. I
found Matthews not to be a credible witness. For instance,
he denied receiving any ‘‘written warning’’ and when two
‘‘Disciplinary Discussion Reports’’ (dated February 25 and
March 20) were produced, he stated that they were not
‘‘written warnings.’’ They were ‘‘verbal warnings.’’ This se-
mantic distinction may be literally true, but his testimony
was certainly not forthcoming. I conclude that Matthews ini-
tial testimony was an attempt to mislead me in an area he
considered material.
But even if Matthews did talk to his cousin and Gambler
about the Union and even if he did state his preference for
it, such hardly rises to the level of assistance or support
which would motivate the Respondent to single him out for
discharge. There is just no evidence that Matthews was ac-
tive in whatever organizing effort there may have been.
Further, there is no basis to infer or impute knowledge of
union activity by Matthews to the Respondent. The General
Counsel argues that a supervisor’s knowledge of one’s union
activity is imputed by law to the Respondent, citing
Pellegrini Bros. Wines, 239 NLRB 1220 (1979). But this is
available only when it is shown that the employee in fact en-
gaged in union activity and a supervisor knew of it. Here,
even accepting the testimony of Matthews, all two super-
visors knew was that he was favorably disposed to the
Union. If in fact Matthews had been active on behalf of the
Union, then imputing this to management would be war-
ranted. Since he was not, no such conclusion can be reached.
I credit Forte’s testimony that he did not know whether or
not Matthews supported the Union; and, it was Forte who
made the decision to discharge Matthews.
In essence, the General Counsel argues that the Respond-
ent condoned smoking in nonsmoking areas of the plant,
from which it can be inferred that this reason for discharging
Matthews was a pretext, which in turn leads to the inference
that the real reason was something else. The something else
can be inferred to have been the Union’s attempt to organize
employees, given Matthews activity on behalf of the Union,
the Respondent’s animus toward the Union, and the timing
of the discharge with the organizational campaign.
On this record I conclude that the inferences sought by the
General Counsel are not valid. While there may have been
smoking in some nonsmoking areas, there is no evidence that
Forte, or other members of management, were aware of
smoking on the production floor while production was in
progress. And I find there was none—or at least none known
to management. There is simply no evidence that any other
employee had been found smoking on the production floor
during production had not been discharged. I conclude that
smoking on the production floor while production was in
progress (if in fact there were other instances of it) was not
condoned.
The General Counsel contends that ‘‘smoking in other
than designated areas’’ is a violation of group I work rules
which provide for progressive discipline. To discharge Mat-
thews was excessive under the rules and was therefore a pre-
text. I disagree. Most of the plant is designated nonsmoking.
Matthews’ offense went beyond simply violating the rule.
Smoking near production is much more serious. The fact that
what Matthews did is not specifically covered in the work
rules does not make his discharge a pretext. Indeed, failure
to wear a hair net is also not covered in the work rules, yet
there is no doubt wearing one is required.
Smoking in other nonsmoking areas, while a breach of
company policy, differs in seriousness from smoking around
production. Because of the end use of the products manufac-
tured, extraordinary steps are taken by the Respondent to en-
sure they are free from contamination. For instance, employ-
ees working around production are required to wear hair
nets.
The seriousness of the Respondent’s policy against smok-
ing around production is further corroborated by an event
which happened a few weeks prior to Matthews’ discharge.
A customer complained about ashes in a bottle it received.
The Respondent’s director of quality control concluded the
bottle had become contaminated after it had been shipped,
and wrote that the Respondent’s practices do ‘‘not allow
smoking on the production floor. Smoking on the production
floor is grounds for dismissal.’’
Finally, while admitting the incident of smoking for which
he was discharged, Matthews testified that he had not been
smoking near production and that he would not do so ‘‘be-
cause of contamination.’’ Matthews understood that the pos-
sibility of contamination was the reason for the rule against
smoking near production.
Thus the fact issue whether Matthews smoked near pro-
duction, or whether Forte reasonably believed he did. I find
both to have been the case. Matthews’ denial is not convinc-
ing. I believe, and find, that Matthews in fact smoked a ciga-
rette near a machine which was running production and this
was stated in a ‘‘Disciplinary Discussion Report’’ and subse-
quently reported to Forte. And I find credible Forte’s testi-
mony that he was ‘‘furious’’ when so informed.
Matthews was a 10-year employee with a good record.
However, his recent record was not so favorable as to sug-
gest that absent the union activity the Respondent would not
have discharged him. He was told he had been scheduled for
a ‘‘pre-control’’ meeting after his shift on April 22. He re-
fused to attend and indeed left his shift early, for reasons he
could not explain. When told he had been rescheduled for
May 7, he told his supervisor he could not make it (because
he had to be with his son). Matthews testified that his super-
visor said he would ‘‘take care of it.’’ However, these ‘‘pre-
control’’ meetings were considered important and another
employee who had missed his assigned meeting was told he
would attend the meeting for which he had been rescheduled
or be discharged.
Further, since moving to the third shift in January 1991,
Matthews’ attendance had been poor. He had been absent
more in the 4 four months of 1991 than the entire previous
year. While these factors were not the reason for his dis-
charge, they form a credible basis for the Respondent not
considering Matthews favorably.
Additional evidence that the discharge of Matthews was
not a pretext is the Respondent’s well documented policy of
giving discipline when the situation requires. The General
Counsel put into evidence 171 ‘‘Disciplinary Discussion Re-
ports’’ and other written evidence of discipline covering the
period from early 1991 through February 1992.
The Respondent discharged three other employees within
the same general timeframe as Matthews. Steve Boyer was
1311DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS CO.
2 Order dated April 15, 1992.
3 If no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102.46 of the
Board’s Rules and Regulations, the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommended Order shall, as provided in Sec. 102.48 of the Rules, be
Continued
reported to have been abusive to a female employee and his
immediate supervisor. Forte directed he be discharged.
Marge Reitnauer was reported to have been observed sleep-
ing on the job. Forte directed she be discharged. And Forte
directed Doug Levengood be discharged because ‘‘he had
failed his test, refused to retake it, was not attending class.
That he was absent from the floor, that his job performance
was in question and upon being questioned when he was ab-
sent from the floor he said to his supervisor, fire me, why
don’t you fire me.’’
Forte learned about Levengood at the same time he
learned about Matthews, both as a result of Forte’s instruct-
ing his subordinates to report to him concerning problems he
had heard about involving the third shift. Prior to his dis-
charge, Levengood had told Forte he was opposed to the
Union.
Since it is the General Counsel’s theory that the Respond-
ent sought to rid itself of those favorable to the Union, it
would follow that the Respondent would keep those opposed
to the Union. Forte’s knowledge of Levengood’s antiunion
sentiments is some evidence negating this theory.
Thus I conclude that the reason for discharging Matthews
as testified to by Forte was not a pretext. Further, given the
dearth of evidence that Matthews was active on behalf of the
Union, or even that the Union mounted much of an organiza-
tional drive, and the strong evidence of cause for his dis-
charge, I conclude that the General Counsel did not prove
the alleged violation of Section 8(a)(3) by a preponderance
of the credible evidence.
C. The Johnnie’s Poultry Allegation
Michael Collingwood was called as a witness by the Gen-
eral Counsel, was examined, cross-examined, and excused.
Thereafter, counsel for the General Counsel moved to amend
the complaint to allege unlawful interrogation of
Collingwood by counsel for the Respondent during the
course of counsel’s pretrial preparation.
Counsel for the General Counsel admitted that she knew
she would offer the amendment before Collingwood took the
witness stand. She offered no jusification why counsel for
the Respondent was not notified of the proposed amendment
as soon as reasonably possible. Thus I denied the motion to
amend on grounds that offering the amendment after the wit-
ness had testified and had been excused and just before the
General Counsel rested was fundamentally unfair. I did not
consider there was a due process problem, because had I
granted the amendment I would have recessed the hearing to
allow the Respondent adequate time to prepare. My concern
was to protect the integrity and fairness of the process.
A special appeal was taken to the Board, and my ruling
was reversed.2 Accordingly, the allegation of unlawful inter-
rogation is now before me. In a telephone conference, con-
firmed by letter, counsel for the Respondent declined my
offer to reopen the record to take further evidence on this
issue, and asserted that if the record were to be reopened, he
would call no witnesses.
Collingwood testified that ‘‘I explained to Ron Halk [a su-
pervisor] that I was subpoenaed and I would voluntarily an-
swer his [Counsel] questions.’’ He met with counsel on Feb-
ruary 20, and again on February 27, with another of the Re-
spondent’s attorneys.
He testified, when asked ‘‘what if any assurances were
given to you during this interview,’’ ‘‘None.’’ This testi-
mony was the same for both the February 20 and 27 meet-
ings. Thus the interviews took place without the Respond-
ent’s counsel having given Collingwood the assurances re-
quired by Johnnie’s Poultry Co., 146 NLRB 770 (1964), enf.
denied 344 F.2d 617 (8th Cir. 1965). Failure to follow John-
nie’s Poultry makes interrogation about protected activity by
an employer’s counsel per se violative of Section 8(a)(1).
Standard-Coosa-Thatcher, Inc., 257 NLRB 304 (1981), enfd.
691 F.2d 1133 (4th Cir. 1982). This does not mean, however,
that the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act sim-
ply by failing to give assurances.
There is no evidence that Collingwood was questioned
about anything involving his Section 7 rights or was even
questioned. Johnnie’s Poultry defines the rules for an excep-
tion to the general proscription against interrogation of em-
ployees concerning matters involving protected, concerted ac-
tivity. Johnnie’s Poultry does not stand for the proposition
that an interview, even by an attorney, is a per se violation
of the Act. Safelite Glass, 283 NLRB 929 (1987). Indeed, in-
terrogation is not per se violative of the Act. Rossmore
House, 269 NLRB 1176 (1984).
To make out a violation of Section 8(a)(1) by coercive in-
terrogation the General Counsel must prove, at a minimum,
that there were questions asked of an employee. And these
questions must relate to the employee’s Section 7 rights. Fur-
ther, these critical elements of proof cannot be assumed.
Maybe Collingwood was interrogated by the Respondent’s
counsel but maybe he was not. If he was interrogated, maybe
in another context it would be found unlawful but maybe
not. It is unknown what, if anything, was asked of
Collingwood. The entirety of his testimony on this issue,
was:
Q. What if any statements were made to you con-
cerning the purpose of the meeting (February 20)?
A. Yes.
Q. What was that?
A. He was interested to see why I had been subpoe-
naed.
. . . .
Q. During the meeting (February 27) with Mr.
Finkbiner’s assistant, what if any statements were made
to you concerning the purpose of the meeting?
A. Yes.
Q. What was that?
A. The purpose of the meeting was to explain court
procedure and to better prepare their defense.
On this record I conclude that the General Counsel failed
to establish that Collingwood was interrogated by counsel in
such a manner as would be violative of Section 8(a)(1) of
the Act.
On these findings of fact and conclusions of law and on
the entire record, I issue the following recommended3
1312 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
adopted by the Board and all objections to them shall be deemed
waived for all purposes.
4 If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court
of appeals, the words in the notice reading ‘‘Posted by Order of the
National Labor Relations Board’’ shall read ‘‘Posted Pursuant to a
Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order
of the National Labor Relations Board.’’
ORDER
The Respondent, Drug Plastics & Glass Company Inc.,
Boyertown, Pennsylvania, its officers, agents, successors, and
assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Soliciting complaints and grievances from its employ-
ees.
(b) Threatening employees with plant closure should they
select the Union as their collective-bargaining representative.
(c) Threatening employees with discharge if they engage
in union or other protected activity.
(d) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restrain-
ing, or coercing our employees in the exercise of the rights
guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to ef-
fectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Post at its facility in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, copies
of the attached notice, which marked ‘‘Appendix’’4 Copies
of the Notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director
for Region 4, after being signed by the Respondent’s author-
ized representative, shall be posted by the Respondent imme-
diately upon receipt and maintained for 60 consecutive days
in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to
employees are customarily are posted. Reasonable steps shall
be taken by the Respondent to ensure that the Notices are
not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
(b) Notify the Regional Director in writing within 20 days
from the date of this Order what steps the Respondent has
taken to comply.
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we have
violated the National Labor Relations Act and has ordered us
to post and abide by this notice.
WE WILL NOT solicit complaints and grievances from our
employees in order to discourage their activity on behalf of
any labor organization.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees with plant closure
should they select any labor organization as their collective-
bargaining representative.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees with discharge
should they engage in union or other protected activity.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with,
restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of the rights
guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS COMPANY, INC.