Fashion Piece Dye Works, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Mar 30, 1938

6 N.L.R.B. 274 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of FASHION PIECE DYE WORKS, INC. and FEDERATION
OF SILK AND RAYON DYERS AND FINISHERS OF AMERICA
Case No. C-22
Mr. Gerhard P. Van Arkel, for the Board.
Mr. Norbury C. Murray, of Newark, N. J., Mr. William H. Schnel-
ler, of Catasauqua, Pa., and Mr. Hugh P. McFadden, of Bethlehem,
Pa., for the respondent.
Mr. Frank J. Benti, for the Union.
Mr. Warren L. Sharfman, of counsel to the Board.
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION
AND
ORDER
March 30, 1938
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On March 4, 1936, after a hearing, the National Labor Relations
Board, herein called the Board, issued a Decision in this case
in which it found that Fashion Piece Dye Works, Inc., Easton,
Pennsylvania, herein called the respondent, had engaged in unfair
labor practices affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section
8 (1) and (3) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the National Labor
Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449,,herein called the Act. The unfair labor
practices so found consisted in discrimination against five of the re-
spondent's employees in regard to hire and tenure of employment,
thereby discouraging membership in a labor organization known as
the Federation of Silk and Rayon Dyers and Finishers of America,
herein called the Union, and in the employment of a detective to spy
upon its employees in the course of their efforts to exercise the rights
guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act. The Board ordered the re-
spondent to cease and desist from such actions, and to reinstate to
their former positions, with back pay, the employees found to have
been discriminated against.
Pursuant to Section 10 (e) of the Act the Board, on August 27,
1937, petitioned the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the
11 N L. R B 285 That Decision contains a detailed statement of the pleadings and
proceedings prior thereto.
274
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 275
Third Circuit, herein called the Court, for the enforcement of this
order. On October 11, 1937, the respondent filed a petition with the
Court alleging that it had failed to call witnesses and introduce any
evidence at the hearing before the Board because it was advised that
the Act was unconstitutional, and praying leave to adduce additional
evidence before the Board in order to establish the falsity of the
charges made against it. On October 19, 1937, the Court ordered
that the respondent have leave to adduce additional evidence; and
that such additional evidence be taken before the Board, its member,
agent or agency, and together with any findings thereon, be made a
part of the transcript of the record in this case.
Pursuant to notice, duly . served upon the respondent and the
Union, a hearing was held in Easton, Pennsylvania, on November
18, 19, and 20, 1937, before Alvin J. Rockwell, the Trial Examiner
duly designated by the Board. The Board and the respondent were
represented by counsel and participated in the hearing. Full oppor-
tunity to be heard, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to
introduce evidence bearing upon the issues was afforded to the
parties.
During the course of the hearing the Trial Examiner granted the
Board's motion to amend the complaint to allege that Rocco Montoro
was discharged by the respondent because his brother, .Anthony
Montoro, had joined, the Union, because the respondent believed he
had joined the Union, and because he had engaged in concerted
activities with other employees for the purposes of collective bar-
gaining and other mutual aid and protection. The Board's motion
to amend the complaint, by substituting Federation of Dyers, Fin-
ishers, Printers and Bleachers of America for Federation of Silk
and Rayon Dyers and Finishers of America was also granted. The
Trial Examiner made several other rulings on motions and on ob-
jections to the admission of evidence. The Board has reviewed the
rulings of the Trial Examiner and finds that no prejudicial errors
were committed.
On December 21, 1937, counsel for the respondent presented oral
argument before the Board in Washington, D. C. Subsequently a
brief was filed on behalf of the respondent.
On January 12, 1938, the Board, acting pursuant to Article II',
Section 38, of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-
Series 1, as amended, ordered the Trial Examiner to prepare and file
an-Interniediate Report.
On February 28, 1938, Trial Examiner Rockwell filed his Inter-
mediate Report on the record in which lie found, on the basis of the
testimony and evidence taken at both hearings, that the respondent
had engaged 'in unfair labor practices affecting commerce, within the
meaning of Section 8 (1) and (3) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the
276 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Act, in that it had discharged Joseph Regina, Anthony La Rosa,
Anthony Montoro, and Antonio Marra because they had joined the
Union, and Rocco Montoro, -because it believed he had joined the
Union, thereby discouraging membership in the Union.
On March 9, 1938, the respondent filed exceptions to the Inter-
mediate Report. The Board has considered these exceptions and
finds them to be without merit.
Upon the entire record in the case, as made at both hearings, the
Board supersedes the findings of fact made in its original Decision
with the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
Fashion Piece Dye Works, Inc., a New Jersey corporation organized
in 1934, is engaged in the business of dyeing and finishing rayons
and acetate yarns belonging to its customers at its plant near Easton,
Pennsylvania. The respondent also has a sales representative in New
York City.
Approximately 50 to 80 or 90 per cent of the goods to be processed
by the respondent are transported to Easton from points outside of
Pennsylvania. Ninety per cent of the finished goods are delivered to
customers in New York City by the respondent's truck.
H. THE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
Federation of Silk and Rayon Dyers and Finishers of America,
which filed charges in this -case, is a labor organization. It is now
known as Federation of Dyers, Finishers, Printers and Bleachers
of America, a labor organization affiliated with the Committee for
Industrial Organization, which admits to membership some of the
respondent's employees.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
The complaint, as amended, alleged that the respondent discharged
Joseph Regina, Anthony La Rosa, and Anthony Montoro on Sep-
tember 18, 1935, because they joined the Union. The respondent
admitted the discharges, but alleged that they were made for in-
efficiency and for interference with the duties of other employees.
Joseph Regina was employed by the respondent early in July 1934.
His employment was terminated by the respondent on September 18,
1935. During the course of his employment he worked at various
jobs, and was operating the palming machine in the finishing depart-
ment when discharged. He was replaced by' Paul Gruve. Regina
earned 45 cents an hour, and worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 277
He did not work after his discharge until April 1937, when he ob-
tained a job with the Forest Piece Dye Works which was similar
to his previous job. His new job pays him 45 cents an hour, but
his earnings have only averaged $15 a week. He would like to return
to work for the respondent.
Anthony La Rosa was employed by the respondent on October
31, 1934. He was one of the two operators on a framing machine
in the finishing department when he was discharged on September
18, 1935. He was replaced by Dick Shriver. La Rosa earned 45
cents an hour, and worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. The first
work that he obtained after his discharge was with the City of
Easton Highway Department on April 1, 1936. He has worked
intermittently on this job. While employed he worked 40 hours a'
week and received 50 cents an hour. He earned approximately $700
from the date of his discharge up to the time of the second hearing
in this case. He would like to return to work for the' respondent.
Anthony Montoro was employed by the respondent on or before
December 15, 1934. At the time of his discharge on September 18,
1935, his job consisted of loading and unloading dye boxes in the
dyeing department. Nine months after his discharge a man from the
night shift took his place, and a new man was hired for the night
shift. Anthony Montoro earned 45 cents an hour, and worked 12
hours a day, 6 days a week. After his discharge he worked from
July 15 to August 15, 1936, at the National Piece Dye Works. He
earned 45 cents an hour, and worked 12 hours a day for 28 days on
that job. On January 2, 1937, he obtained a job as a shipping clerk
at the Lehr Furniture Store in Easton. Up to the time of the second
hearing in this case, he had earned $948.21 on this job. He would
like to return to work for the respondent.
On the evening of September 17, 1935, these three men and Joe
Riehl, a fellow employee, met in Easton on the street corner at
Fourth and Pine Streets, with Frank Benti, the vice president of the
Union, and one Spaviro, an organizer for the Union. The three of
them joined the Union at this time. The following morning when
they reported for work they were told by either the night watchman
or a policeman that Joseph Carroll, the president of the respondent,
wanted to see them. Carroll discharged them. La Rosa and Anthony
Montoro testified that when Carroll discharged them he told each
of them that he had a Pinkerton detective trailing them the previous
night. Carroll denied that he made these statements, but did not
testify as to what conversations did take place. Carroll did testify
as to the conversation he had with Regina when he discharged him.
This testimony, which corroborates that given by Regina, shows that
he gave Regina no reason for his discharge. Carroll also testified
that he had asked the policeman to be present because he was afraid
278 NATIONA L LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the men might cause some trouble, but that he had never employed
a detective, and that he had no knowledge of the meeting on the corner
of Fourth and Pine Streets. Carroll's bare denials do not in our
.opinion refute the testimony of La Rosa and Anthony Montoro.
The respondent contends that these men were discharged for ineffi-
ciency. The testimony of its witnesses in support of this contention
is in conflict, and is contradicted by the Board's witnesses. The testis
•mony also indicates that the defective work then prevalent in the
plant could equally have been caused by the inefficiency of other
employees.
The respondent also contends that these men were discharged be-
cause they were responsible for a disturbance in the finishing depart-
ment. Carroll testified that as he entered the plant shortly after five
o'clock on the afternoon of September 17, he saw about 15 men gath-
ered together around Joseph Regina's palming machine. He became
very angry as he associated the defective workmanship then prevalent
in the plant with gatherings such as this. He called Goodear, the fore-
man of the finishing department, and told him to find out who was
responsible for the gathering. Goodear testified that he questioned
the employees and found that Regina, La Rosa, and Anthony Montoro
were responsible for the disturbance. Goodear reported this to Car-
roll. Carroll decided to discharge the men, and in the presence of
Goodear made out their checks. Both Carroll and Goodear testified
that this happened shortly after 6 o'clock on the afternoon of Septem-
ber 17, the inference being that the decision to discharge the men
was made before the Union meeting on the corner of Fourth and Pine
'Streets took place. Carroll discharged the men the following morn-
ing. Six of the respondent's employees corroborated some of the
details of the story of the gathering. La Rosa and Regina testified
that there was no gathering in the finishing department on the after-
noon of September 17.
Although Goodear. testified that he determined who was re-
sponsible for the gathering by questioning the employees, none of
the employees who testified were ever asked any questions by Good-
ear at the time of the disturbance. Goodear could not remember
whom he had questioned, and did not find out the cause of the dis-
turbance or the duration of the disturbance. The 6 employees who
corroborated Carroll'5 story of the disturbance all testified that there
were 10 or 15 employees in the gathering, yet with the exception of
-3 names, each of which was mentioned once, the only persons they
could remember having seen there were the 3 men reported to have
caused the disturbance, and only one of the six could place all three
in the gathering. Frank Donato, one of the six employees, testified
that he was in the group himself, yet no one else who testified re-
membered seeing him there. As the gathering was by Regina's
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 279
machine, which he was operating at the time, he would necessarily
be there irrespective of any gathering. He testified that there was
no gathering at his machine on the afternoon of September 17,
but that the drinking fountain and the entrance to the men's room
were next to his machine and that there was a stream of people
passing his machine at all times. While Carroll and Goodear testi-
fied that Carroll made out the checks to pay these employees on the
evening of September 17, the checks are dated September 18. More-
over, Carroll's statement to Rocco Montoro on the morning of Sep-
tember 18 as to the reason for Rocco's discharge-"You ask your
brother. He knows what it is about."-is meaningless if Carroll
discharged Anthony Montoro for causing a disturbance on the pre-
ceding afternoon, for it would not enable Anthony to tell Rocco
the reason for Rocco's discharge.
In balancing the conflicting testimony given by the witnesses for
the Board and the respondent, it must be remembered that the Board's
witnesses testified within 2 months of the events they described,
while the respondent's witnesses were relating events which occurred
almost 2 years before. Weight must also be accorded to the findings
,of the Trial Examiner, who from his observation of the demeanor
of the-witnesses had an opportunity to form a trustworthy opinion of
their credibility. With these factors in mind, and noting the gaps
and inconsistencies in the respondent's evidence in support of its posi-
tion, we find that at the time Carroll discharged La Rosa and Anthony
Montoro he told them that he had a Pinkerton trailing them the previ-
ous night. We also find that neither inefficiency nor the creation of a
disturbance on the afternoon of September 17 was the reason motivat-
ing the respondent in discharging these employees.
We find that the respondent discharged Joseph Regina, Anthony
La Rosa, and Anthony Montoro on September 18 because they joined
the Union on September 17, and engaged in other concerted activities
for the purposes of collective bargaining and other mutual aid and
protection, thereby discriminating against them with respect to hire
or tenure of employment for the purpose of discouraging membership
in the Union.
Rocco Montoro was employed by the respondent on April 2, 1935,
to work in the boil-off room, of the dyeing department. He was dis-
charged on September 18, 1935. He earned 45 cents an hour, and
worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. He has been working at the
National Piece Dye Works in Allentown, Pennsylvania, since July
or August 1937. He is receiving 60 cents an hour, and had earned
between $300 and $400 up to the time of the hearing. He would like
to return to work for the respondent in Easton.
Rocco Montoro had not joined the Union at the time of his dis-
charge. Carroll testified that he discharged Rocco because he was,
80618-38-voL. VI-19
280 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
afraid that Rocco might commit some sabotage on the goods as a
result of the discharge of his brother, Anthony Montoro.
As we have already found that Anthony Montoro was discharged
because he joined the Union, we necessarily find that the discharge
of Rocco Montoro discriminated against him with respect to hire or
tenure of employment, thereby discouraging membership in the
Union.
. Antonio Marra was employed by the respondent as an operator of
the dyeing machine from the time the respondent was organized
until he was discharged on October 1; 1935. Several months after his
discharge a man from the night shift took his place and a new man
was hired for the night shift. Like all of the other employees he
earned 45 cents an hour, and worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.
After his discharge he worked on relief for a period of 8 or 10 months;
ending on December 4, 1936: He earned $60.50 a month on this job.
He has had no other employment, and would like to return to work
for the respondent.
Marra testified that Willemsen, his foreman, discharged him on
October 1, 1935, and said that he could not tell him the reason for his
discharge or he would get in trouble, but that Carroll wanted it that
way. Marra persisted in learning the reason for his discharge, and
finally, he testified, Willemsen said Carroll did not want him because
he had a Union meeting at his home. Willemsen denied that he made
this statement. La Rosa, another employee, and Spaviro, a Union
organizer, did have a meeting at Marra's home several days after the
discharges of September 18. At this time Marra was a member of
the Union, and his visitors asked that he try to get the discharged
men returned to work. The following day Marra, armed with a copy
of the Act, told Willemsen that "if it is the law, he should not dis-
charge the three or four men". Willemsen grabbed. the Act out of
Marra's pocket, and asked what he wanted it for.
The respondent contends that Marra was not discharged for join-
ing and assisting the Union, as alleged in the complaint, but because
he gave away the respondent's trade secrets and was inefficient.
Willemsen was directly responsible for Marra's discharge, and his
testimony is to the effect that although Marra was inefficient he was
discharged because he disclosed trade secrets. In spite of this the
respondent introduced evidence to show that Marra was discharged
for inefficiency. The evidence as to Marra's efficiency is in conflict,
but he had worked for 22 or 23 years in the dyeing industry, and even
Willemsen admitted that his work was as good as the average man if
he kept after him.
The testimony of Willemsen and Caroll would indicate that the
immediate reason for Marra's discharge was the disclosure of the
respondent's trade secrets. Willemsen testified that shortly before
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 281
Marra's discharge he was in Paterson, New Jersey. While there he
talked to Jim Strang, the foreman for a competitor of the respondent,
now deceased, who asked, "How are you getting along with your
spots?" Willemsen was embarrassed, and when he returned to
Easton he asked Marra if he had told anyone about the respondent's
difficulty with spots. He testified that Marra admitted he had been
in Paterson while he was laid off a few weeks before and that he had
told Ralph Lembo, a former foreman for the respondent, that the re-
spondent was having difficulty with spots. Willemsen reported this
to Carroll, who told him to discharge Marra. Willemsen did so, al-
though he did not tell Marra why he was being discharged. Carroll
corroborated Willemsen concerning the part he played in this
discharge.
Marra's testimony as to the circumstances of his discharge have
been related above. In addition he denied that he ever made any
statements about the respondent's business to any one, or that he
ever admitted having done so to Willemsen or any one else. Ralph
Lembo testified that he had not seen Marra in Paterson before he
was discharged or in Easton during the year prior to his discharge,
and that Marra had never told him anything about the respondent's
business.
The conflicts in the testimony of Marra and Willemsen must be
weighed in the light of the findings of the Trial Examiner, who from
his observation of the demeanor of the witnesses had an opportunity
to form a trustworthy opinion of their credibility. Consideration
must also be given to the fact that a period of 2 years elapsed before
Willemsen told his story, while Marra testified 2 months after the
events occurred.
We find that Willemsen told Marra that the reason for his dis-
charge was that he had a Union meeting at his home. We also find
that the alleged inefficiency of Marra was not the reason motivating
the respondent in discharging him. We find, further, that Marra
never disclosed any of the respondent's trade secrets to Lembo, and
that he never admitted having done so to Willemsen. In view of this
finding, and in view of the fact that the respondent first advanced
this defense at the hearing in November 1937, rather than in its
answer to the complaint which was filed on December 23,1935, we find
that the disclosure of trade secrets also was not the reason motivating
the respondent in discharging Marra.
We find that the respondent discharged Antonio Marra on October
1, 1935, because he joined the Union and engaged in other concerted
activities for the purposes of collective bargaining and other mutual
aid and protection; thereby discriminating against him with respect
to hire or tenure of employment for the purpose of discouraging
membership in the Union.
282 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
We also find that the respondent, by its actions set forth above,
has interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the
exercise of the rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the respondent set forth in Section III above,
occurring in connection with the operations of the respondent de-
scribed in Section I above, have a close, intimate, and substantial rela-
tion to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States, and
tend to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce
and the free flow of commerce.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the
entire record in the case, as made at both hearings, the Board makes
the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Federation of Silk and Rayon Dyers and Finishers of America,
was, and Federation of Dyers, Finishers, Printers and Bleachers of
America, its successor, is, a labor organization within the meaning
of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
2. The respondent, by discriminating in regard to hire or tenure
of employment and thereby discouraging membership in a labor
organization has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor prac-
tices, within the meaning of Section 8 (3) of the Act.
3. The respondent, by such action and by otherwise interfering
with, restraining, and coercing its employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair practices, within the meaning of Section 8 (1) of
the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices
affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of
the Act.
ORDER
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and conclusions of law
and upon the entire record in the case, and pursuant to Section 10 (c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations
Board hereby orders that the respondent, Fashion Piece Dye Works,
Inc., Easton, Pennsylvania, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns,
shall :
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the
exercise of the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor
organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their
own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities, for the purpose of
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 283
collective bargaining, or other mutual aid or protection as guaranteed
in Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act;
(b) Discouraging membership in the Federation of Dyers, Finish-
ers, Printers and Bleachers of America, or any other labor organiza-
tion of its employees, by discriminating against its employees in
regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of
employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Offer to Joseph Regina, Anthony La Rosa, Anthony Montoro,
Antonio Marra, and Rocco Montoro immediate and full reinstate-
ment to their former positions, without prejudice to their seniority
and other rights and privileges;
(b) Make whole Joseph Regina, Anthony La Rosa, Anthony Mon-
toro, Antonio Marra, and Rocco Montoro for any loss of pay they have
suffered by reason of the respondent's discrimination in regard to
hire and tenure of employment by payment to each of them of a sum
of money equal to that which he would normally have earned as
wages from the date of his discharge to the date of the respondent's
offer of reinstatement, less the amount which each, respectively, has
earned during said period;
(c) Post immediately notices in conspicuous places in its plant in
Easton, Pennsylvania, stating that the respondent will cease and de-
sist as aforesaid, and keep such notices posted for a period of thirty
(30) consecutive days from the date of posting;
(d) Notify the Regional Director for the Fourth Region in writ-
ing within ten (10) days from the date of this order what steps the
respondent has taken to comply herewith.