Galis Electric & Machine Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 24, 1963

142 N.L.R.B. 222 (N.L.R.B. 1963)

'222 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
APPENDIX A
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to the Recommended Order of a Trial Examiner of the National Labor
Relations Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, as amended, I hereby notify my employees that:
I WILL NOT discourage membership of any of my employees in Montana
Carpenters District Council, or in any other labor organization, by laying off,
discharging, denying employment to, or reducing the seniority status of, any
individual , or in any other manner discriminating against any individual in re-
gard to his hire, tenure of employment , or any term or condition of employment,
except as authorized in Section 8(a) (3) of the said Act.
I WILL NOT in any other like or related manner interfere with , restrain, or
coerce employees in the exercise of their right to self-organization ; to form, join,
or assist any labor organization; to bargain collectively through representatives
of their own choosing ; to engage in concerted activities for the purposes of
collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection ; or to refrain from any
or all such activities, except to the extent that such right may be affected by an
agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a conditions of em-
ployment, as authorized in Section 8(a)(3) of the said Act.
I WILL reimburse Harry A. Hill for any loss of pay he may have suffered by
reason of the fact that I discriminated against him by laying him off.
LYMAN H. CLARIDGE, INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS CLARIDGE LOGGING CO.,
Employer.
Dated------------------- By-------------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from the date of posting and must
not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
Information regarding the provisions of this notice and compliance with its terms
may be secured from the Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board,
Logan Bldg ., 500 Union Street , Seattle, Washington , 98101 , Telephone No. Mutual
2-3300, Extension 553.
Galis Electric & Machine Company and United Steelworkers
of America , AFL-CIO. Case No. 6-CA-1560. April 14, 1963
DECISION AND ORDER
On January 30, 1963, Trial Examiner Thomas S. Wilson issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom and
take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the attached Intermedi-
ate Report. Thereafter, the General Counsel and the Respondent filed
exceptions to the Intermediate Report and supporting briefs.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the Act, the Board
has delegated its powers in connection with this case to a three-member
panel [Members Leedom, Fanning, rand Brown].
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 entire
record in this case, including the Intermediate Report and the excep-
142 NLRB No. 30.
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 223
tions and briefs,' and hereby adopts the findings,2 conclusions, and
recommendations 3 of the Trial Examiner, with the modifications
noted herein.
ORDER
The Board adopts as its Order the Recommended Order of the Trial
Examiner, with the following modifications :
(1) The notice appended to the Intermediate Report is amended
by inserting the word "other" after the fifth word in the fourth in-
dented paragraph which shall read : "WE WILL NOT in any other
manner . . . . "
(2) The paragraph set out below shall be substituted for the note
in the notice concerning reinstatement rights of employees serving in
the Armed Forces :
NoTE.-We will notify the above-named employees if presently
serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of their right to full
reinstatement upon application in accordance with the Selective Serv-
ice Act and the Universal Military Training and Service Act of 1948,
as amended, after discharge from the Armed Forces.
1 The Respondent contends , in its exceptions to the Intermediate 'Report, that the Trial
Examiner improperly credited the testimony of the alleged discriminatees and discredited
the testimony of the witnesses for the Respondent. It is the Board's established policy
not to overrule a Trial Examiner's resolutions as to credibility unless the clear preponder-
ance of all the relevant evidence convinces us that they are incorrect. Such a conclusion
is not warranted here. Standard Dry Wall Products, Inc., 91 NLRB 544, 545, enfd. 188
F. 2d 362 (C.A. 3).
2In view of our affirmance of the Trial Examiner ' s 8(a) (3 ) and (1 ) findings we find it
unnecessary to pass upon his 8 ( a) (4) finding with respect to Schuman and Akers, as such
a finding would not affect the scope of our Order and remedy herein. Accordingly, we deny
the General Counsel's exception to the Trial Examiner's failure to include the 8(a)(4)
finding in his conclusions of law.
8 The record clearly establishes that the Respondent has evinced a studied intent to
thwart the rights of employees in freely selecting their collective-bargaining representa-
tives. We therefore find no merit in the Respondent 's exception to the broad cease-and-
desist order recommended by the Trial Examiner . See North Texas Producers Association,
131 NLRB 146.
For the reasons set forth in the dissenting opinion in Isis Plumbing & Heating Co., 138
NLRB 716 , Member Leedom would not award interest on backpay in this proceeding.
INTERMEDIATE REPORT
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon a charge and an amended charge duly filed on July 19, and September 10,
1962, respectively, by United Steelworkers of America , AFL-CIO, hereinafter called
the Steelworkers or the Union, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations
Board, hereinafter called the General Counsel l and the Board respectively, by the
Regional Director for the Sixth Region (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ), issued his com-
plaint dated September 17, 1962, against Galis Electric & Machine Company; herein
called the Respondent. The complaint alleged that Respondent had engaged in and
was engaging in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of
Section 8 ( a) (1), (3), and (4) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Labor Management
Relations Act, 1947, as amended , herein called the Act. Copies of the charge,
amended charge , complaint , and notice of hearing thereon were duly served upon
the Union and Respondent.
1 This term specifically includes the attorney appearing for the General Counsel at the
hearing.
224 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Respondent duly filed its answer admitting certain allegations of the complaint but
denying the commission of any unfair labor practices.
Pursuant to notice , a hearing thereon was held at Morgantown , West Virginia, on
October 23 , 24, and 25, 1962, before Trial Examiner Thomas S. Wilson . All parties
appeared at the hearing, were represented by counsel or representative , and were
afforded full opportunity to be heard , to produce , examine and cross-examine wit-
nesses, to introduce evidence material and pertinent to the issues, and were advised
of their right to argue orally upon the record and to file briefs and proposed findings
and conclusions or both . Oral argument was waived . Briefs were received from
Respondent and General Counsel on November 30, 1962.
Upon the entire record in the case and from his observation of the witnesses, the
Trial Examiner makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF RESPONDENT
Galis Electric & Machine Company is, and has been at all times material herein, a
corporation duly organized under, and existing by virtue of, the laws of the State of
West Virginia . At all times material herein, Respondent has maintained its prin-
cipal office in Morgantown , West Virginia, and operates plants in Morgantown and
Fairmont , West Virginia, herein respectively called the Morgantown plant and the
Fairmont plant . Respondent is engaged in the manufacture , repair, and sale of coal
mine and other equipment . During the past 12 -month period Respondent received
directly from outside the State of West Virginia , goods and materials valued in ex-
cess of $50,000 . During the past 12 -month period , Respondent manufactured, sold,
and shipped products and provided services directly outside the State of West Virginia
valued in excess of $50,000.
The complaint alleged, the answer admitted , and the Trial Examiner finds that
Respondent is engaged in commerce within the meaning of the Act.
II. THE UNION INVOLVED
United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, and United Mine Workers, District 50,
are labor organizations admitting to membership employees of Respondent.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The facts
Prior to March 1961 , Respondent was a one-plant concern making and repairing
coal mining equipment . Its sole plant with its 30-odd employees was located at
Morgantown , West Virginia . At that time Respondent 's employees were represented
by District 50 under a contract which by its terms was to expire during the year
1961 . District 50's shop steward at that time was Donald DeVall , then employed
by Respondent as a machinist first class.
On or about March 1, 1961 , Respondent bought the plant and equipment of the
Fairmont Machine Company at Fairmont , West Virginia . The employees of that
plant had never been represented by a union . For some months after the purchase
the Fairmont plant apparently stood idle while Respondent officials contemplated
what use should be made thereof . Finally at some undetermined date in 1961,
Respondent reopened the Fairmont plant apparently for manufacturing , as dis-
tinguished from repair purposes . Slowly some of the Morgantown equipment-and
employees-were transferred to Fairmont.
Also sometime in the month of March the Steelworkers began a campaign to
organize Respondent 's employees at both Morgantown and Fairmont . Donald
DeVall was one of the first of Respondent 's employees to be approached by the
Steelworkers and became one of the three most active Steelworkers supporters in
trying to organize the employees?
On May 11, 1961, Steelworkers filed two representation petitions covering the
Respondent's Morgantown and Fairmont operations individually.
Pursuant to a Board Order and Direction of Election dated September 1, 1961,
elections were held at both Morgantown and Fairmont on September 29, 1961. At
the Morgantown election Donald DeVall acted as the Steelworkers ' observer while
Paul Sisler , machinist third class , acted in that capacity on behalf of District 50, UMW.
a The other two leaders in that movement ultimately left Respondent 's employ voluntarily
during 1961.
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 225
Steelworkers filed objections to both elections based upon alleged illegal assistance
given UMW by Respondent.
The Steelworkers ' objections were based in large measure on the following evi-
dence which all occurred at or about the time of the September 29, 1961, election:
(1) Respondent's owner, Alex Galis, told employee Joe Akers that-
He [Galis ] had done a lot for me, and that he would continue to go along
with me, as long as I stuck with him. That he expected me to stay with him,
that I owed him a favor, and stay with him and vote for District No. 50, and
support District No. 50 . That if the Steelworkers did get in and win the
election that he would not give them a contract, that he would move to out of
State, or he would move to Fairmont.
(2) Earl Hebden, then assistant to the executive vice president and who at that
time was working under the personal direction of Galis, said to Akers that-
I [Akers] didn't owe him [Hebden] anything, but he thought that I owed
Alex Galis favors in return, . . . that I had been paling [sic] around with Don
DeVall and that was the wrong company for me to keep . Well, I
[Hebden] think you want to stay with Mr. Galis and work for District 50 and
support them, . but if we have any more trouble out of you, I, myself, will
come up from Fairmont and fire you.
(3) On or about September 19, 1961, Galis told employee James Hawley-
Jim, I hear you have been campaigning for the Steelworkers on company time.
If I catch you at this , I will fire you, and I won 't hesitate a minute to do it .. .
When you get into the ring with a prizefighter , you have got to be prepared
for any eventuality When you get into something like this, you can
get hurt, not physically, but there are other ways you can get hurt . .
You know I wanted District 50, . . . your father, when I hired him and
he went to the Fairmont plant, he went right up there and went to work for
the Steelworkers . When he done this, I had no alternative but to
let him go . . . . But since you are no longer loyal to this company, we
have to cut your wages and they will stay cut?
(4) On the day before the September 29 elections Galis had a second conver-
sation with Hawley in which Galis said
Jim, I want to give this to you personally. I want you to read this and give
it a lot of serious thought. You know, I can't tolerate the Steelworkers and
I can't convince fellows like you . . . I will tell you one thing; if you want
to lose your money, you just bet that I won't move this whole outfit to Bluefield
if the Steelworkers win this election.
(5) About August 1961, Galis told employee Eugene Forquer that he had heard
that Forquer was going to vote for the Steelworkers, that he was "surprised" that
Forquer was going to vote that way because he had been an employee for such a
long time and, "well, let's see who gets in and maybe if the Steelworkers get in, they
can look after your job later."
A little later Galis asked Forquer how many and which employees had attended
a Steelworker meeting. Galis particularly wanted to know if Jim Hawley had been
present. Galis offered to bet that after the election Jim Hawley would not be working
for Respondent.
On a later occasion just before the election Galis suggested that, if District 50
won the election, he would see if he could return Forquer to his old job from
which he had been transferred during the organizing campaign.
(6) Just prior to the September 29 elections Galis spoke to the Fairmont employees
during which he told them that
He [Galis] wanted us to know that he could not operate under the Steelworkers
Union and that if they got in, that he would have to bulldoze the [Fairmont]
plant over the hill, . that Compton [Manufacturing Company] at Clarks-
burg had had the Steelworkers Union and that they were no longer in business,
and that he could not operate under the Steelworkers Union.
Galis also told the assembled Fairmont employees that
He [Galin] had had past experience with District 50 at the Morgantown Plant,
and if we could get that union voted in up there (Fairmont] at the election,
8 James Hawley had suffered a 25-cent per hour decrease in his wages after the Steel-
workers' campaign began.
226 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
that he would be able to get more work from the mines, and when work slacked
down in the shop, he could transfer his men from the shop out on assembly
work and construction in the minefields and give us all more steadier work; and
if the Steelworkers win the election, that he could not meet with their demands,
then we would have to shut the place totally down.
(7) Just prior to the election Earl Hebden took occasion to tell employee Leonard
Reeves "We are having an election here in a few days . . . you know, we can't
operate without District 50 . . . I understand that you are a friend and neighbor
of Joe Kendricks [Steelworker organizer] . . . and I am working you under protest
now because you live next door to him."
(8) About the same time Galis had employee Wayne Schuman brought to his
office where he told Schuman
Well, . I guess you know the election is coming up. I did you a favor
when I hired you so you could learn a trade, and I think that you owe me a
favor in return . . We have operated under District 50 up until this time
without any labor problems and I can't see why we can't continue to do so . . . .
He [Galis] could not see how he could possibly give the Steelworkers a con-
tract . . . . Well, if the Steelworkers get in, I [Galis] could not give them
a contract, and that we knew that work was awfully hard' to get at that time, and
things were pretty rough in this area, and it would put an awful lot of guys out
of work if they did get in and they could not give them a contract. It would
make it awfully hard on several of the guys; it would put several of the guys out
of work . . And if everything went fine at the election, the way he was
hoping it would go, that I [Schuman] would get a machine and I would be
given a raise.
(9) Shortly before the election Assistant Foreman Wilcox asked employee Charles
Stiles "if there was anything that he could say or do ... about the way I [Stiles]
felt about District 50."
That same evening Hedben came to Stiles' machine and told him, "Well, as you
know, you will be going to Fairmont pretty soon." Hebden returned a few minutes
later after conversing with Wilcox and Paul Sisler and said to Stiles "Huh, no District
50 button!" 4
(10) During the organizing campaign Hebden told Hugh DeVall, brother of
Donald DeVall and an active Steelworker adherent, that Hugh DeVall "Was going
to be a short timer there" and that "If [Hugh DeVall] did anymore union work;
that [he] wouldn't be there long."
(11) Assistant Foreman Don Knotts asked employee Tracy Danser if he had
signed with the Steelworkers to which Danser answered that that was none of Knotts'
business.
As noted the September 29, 1961, election was inconclusive with objections thereto
having been filed by the Steelworkers. On February 27 and March 28 and 29,
1962, the hearing on these objections was held at which much of the above evidence
was produced. Akers and Schuman, among the alleged discriminatees, testified
while Don DeVall and his brother Hugh were subpenaed and present in the hearing
room but did not testify.
Many, if not all, of the statements attributed to Galis were denied by him at the
hearing on the objections. In recommending that the election be set aside, the
hearing officer discredited Galis. The Board adopted the hearing officer's
recommendations.
At the present hearing all the testimony regarding Galis remains undenied on the
record.
Of course, due to Section 10(b) of the Act, this undenied and credited testimony
in this record cannot be found to constitute unfair labor practices because it oc-
curred more than 6 months prior to the filing of the charge. On the other hand
this evidence does prove beyond a preadventure of a doubt that Respondent was
4 Respondent objected at the hearing and in its brief that neither Wilcox nor Don Knotts
were supervisory employees. The evidence, however, showed that these two individuals
supervised the work of the various employees on the afternoon and evening shifts, that they
alternated shifts every 2 weeks, unlike the ordinary employee, that they used independent
judgment in assigning the various jobs to individual machinists according to ability. They
transferred men from shift to shift. They made recommendations and were consulted
in regard to promotions. The ordinary employee approached them for pay increases. One
UlFW grievance was settled upon the admission of Galls that Wilcox was an assistant
foreman and, therefore, not in the bargaining unit. Accordingly, the Trial Examiner must
find that Wilcox and Knotts were each supervisory employees within the meaning of the Act.
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 227
violently opposed to the Steelworkers as the bargaining agent for its employees and
had threatened reprisals in the form of loss of jobs or closing of the plants in the
event that the employees voted for the Steelworkers as well as promises of more and
better jobs if District 50 won the election Furthermore, it also proves that the
Respondent knew or suspected that all of the alleged discriminatees in the present
hearing were supporters of and active on behalf of the disfavored Steelworkers. The
Trial Examiner so finds.
1. The discharges
a. H. DeVall, Akers, Schuman, Stiles, and Danser
On April 13 Respondent announced through Assistant Foremen Don Knotts and
Earl Hebden to the 20 employees remaining in the gear shop in Morgantown that the
gear shop would be closed at the end of the second shift that day, that the employees
would be discharged at the end of their shift but that, if they wanted employment
at Fairmont, they could apply for work at Fairmont the next morning, April 14,
as new applicants for employment.
Actually 4 of these 20 employees continued working at the Morgantown plant.
So on the morning of April 14 all but one of the remaining employees 5 from the
Morgantown gear shop applied to Hebden at Fairmont for jobs.
Don DeVall, the No. 1 man on Respondent's seniority roster at Fairmont and a
machinist first class, was the first man to be interviewed by Hebden. After telling
Don DeVall "Well, we got a pretty good bunch of boys up here. We don't want any
union trouble," and then practically repeating this statement with the request that
DeVall "cooperate," Hebden offered DeVall a job on the second or afternoon shift.
DeVall inquired whether seniority did not mean anything in relation to the offer of
the afternoon shift, Hebden answered "We don't have any seniority up here."
DeVall then accepted work on the afternoon shift.6
When Akers appeared for his interview, Hebden said "Joe, I will make it short
and sweet with you. I told you before that if I had any trouble out of you con-
cerning the election, that I would fire you" and that he "would try it this way."
Akers was not given work.
When Charley Stiles came in for his interview, Hebden's first question was "Where
was you at last night?" Stiles told him that he had been at a bar with Don DeVall
where he had also seen Hebden. Hebden then stated "Stiles, we haven't got any-
thing for you at this time . . . If we get a machine open, we will get in touch with
you." Stiles then countered by saying that ability did not have anything to do with
working for Respondent and that, "if they [Respondent] could think and control
your thoughts, then you were their boy." Hebden shrugged. Stiles has never heard
from Hebden since.7
As of April 14 Hebden refused jobs to eight of the Morgantown employees includ-
ing Hugh DeVall, Schuman, Akers, Stiles and, of course, Danser who had not ap-
plied that day but did so on April 16.
Within a few days after April 14 Hebden did give employment to three of these
eight leaving only those named above without employment. At the hearing he ex-
plained that he gave this employment to the three because of their "interest" in se-
curing employment by reason of the fact that they either approached him individu-
ally again or had somebody speak to Hebden on their behalf so that, because of this
"show of interest" in securing employment, Hebden reemployed them.
Employee Tracy Danser, who had missed his ride to Fairmont on April 14, at-
tempted to see Hebden about employment on the morning of April 16 but was told
by the secretary that Hebden was "too busy" to see Danser. This incident was re-
peated again when Danser attempted to apply on April 18 Subsequently on April 18
Danser succeeded in talking to Hebden by telephone when Hebden's sole comment
was to dismiss Danser's request on the grounds that he had not appeared on April 14.
Apparently these subsequent attempts by Danser did not indicate to Hebden any
"interest" in securing employment on the part of Danser. Thus Danser's employment
ceased.
5 Employee Danser missed his ride to Fairmont that morning and so he did not apply
until April 16
a This interview and Hebden's version thereof will be discussed at greater length in the
next section of this report.
7 As in the case of other of the employee witnesses, Hebden could not "recall" saying
that he would get in touch with them because, as he put it, "this wouldn't be a usual thing
with me."
712-548-64-vol. 142-16
228 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Thus the transfer of the gear shop to Fairmont on April 14, 1962, resulted in the
elimination, with the exception of Donald DeVall, of only five employees, each of
whom the Respondent knew or suspected was active on behalf of or sympathetic with
the Steelworkers.
2. The discharge of Donald DeVall
As noted heretofore Hebden on April 14 actually did accept the known leader of
the Steelworkers, Donald DeVall, as a probationary employee at Fairmont after ad-
monishing him that Respondent had "a pretty good bunch of boys up here. We
don't want any union trouble." 8
On April 24, 1962, Hebden received an order from Respondent's Bluefield plant
for a certain bearing sleeve. Respondent had the master vellum of that part in its
files. Hebden had two prints made from that master vellum. He then took both
prints to Fairmont production manager, Raymond Larsok, with orders to have one
bearing sleeve manufactured. Larsok in turn placed one of the prints in his produc-
tion file and turned over the other print to Foreman Hamrick. Because of the
complications of the piece to be made. Hamrick selected Donald DeVall to do the
work thereon and gave DeVall the print and the timecards in connection therewith.
8In his testimony Hebden admitted having told DeVall that Respondent had "a good
group of people up there and that we hadn't had any difficulty with them" and asked
DeVall "to cooperate." Hebden's testimony is that he requested this "cooperation" be-
cause of the confusion over moving existing then at the Fairmont plant. Later Hebden
explained that he requested DeVall's cooperation in an effort to prevent " personal ani-
mosities" from arising . And lastly Hebden suggested that he had heard that DeVall
had threatened to "beat him up" and that his request was in regard to this alleged
situation.
Hebden denied that he had said anything in regard to the Union.
The following excerpts from Hebden's testimony chaiacterized his testimony throughout:
Q. (By Mr. TOMASKY. ) Was Mr. DeVall's union activity, any factor or considera-
tion at all, on his discharge at this time on April 25? On your part?
A. I wasn't aware of any union activity on his part.
TRIAL EXAMINER : I think you testified that you had no knowledge that Mr. DeVall
was engaged in any union activity, is that accurate?
WITNESS : I would stipulate that as far as his employment at the Fairmont plant
was concerned-
TRIAL EXAMINER : You would stipulate what?
WITNESS • That I had no knowledge of any of his union activities at the Fairmont
plant
TRIAL EXAMINER : How about his activities at the Morgantown plant, had you
ever heard of that?
WITNESS: I was well aware of the fact that he had been an officer in District 50
for one thing I believe he appeared at that time or prior to that time in the hearing
or two that we had with the Labor Board
TRIAL EXAMINER: And he was representing who at that time, at the time of the
hearing?
WITNESS : As I recall this was the United Steelworkers.
TRIAL EXAMINER He was representing the Steelworkers?
WITNESS: Yes, I believe so at that time.
TRIAL EXAMINER : Did you hear that he was the observer for the Steelworkers at
the election?
WITNESS : Yes, I did
TRIAL EXAMINER Did you know that Paul Sisler was the observer for the UMW at
that same election?
WITNESS : Yes, I did.
TRIAL EXAMINER • 'So that your answer about lack of knowledge about Mr. DeVall's
union activity was limited to his action at the Fairmont plant between April 16 and 25
or whatever the dates were?
The WITNESS: Yes, sir.
TRIAL EXAMINER: I see.
On the other hand Donald DeVall appeared to be answering questions fully and truth-
fully and was, indeed, corroborated in large measure by Respondent 's witnesses other
than Hebden
Accordingly the Trial Examiner credits the testimony of Donald DeVall.
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 229
During the making of the piece Donald DeVall admittedly called the attention of
Assistant Foreman Don Knotts specifically to the fact that some of the figures on
the print seemed to have been penciled in. Thereafter when the piece was largely
completed at about 11 p.m. that night, DeVall asked Knotts and Assistant Foreman
Ferris to check the piece for accuracy. The two assistant foremen "miked"
the piece and found it to be 0.001 out of round but otherwise correct according to
the print. Ferris then ordered Donald DeVall to emery the piece into round which
he did. Thereafter the two assistant foremen again checked the piece including
the o.d.-outer dimension-and found it to be correct shortly before quitting time
and when there was about 5 or 10 minutes more work to be done on the piece.
At or about 8:30 on the morning of April 25 Inspector Robinson was ordered by
some person unknown on this record to inspect the piece. He thereupon collected the
piece and a print and took them to the inspection table where, with Hebden
standing by, he discovered that the outer dimension was 0.008 inch too small.
Inspector Robinson then called over to Inspector McGee whose check also disclosed
the discrepancy of 0.008 in the o.d. Hebden testified that he also miked the piece.
Hebden then took the print to Chief Engineer Taylor "for disposition," i.e., to
determine if the error could be corrected or whether the piece had to be scrapped
or not. Sometime later that day Taylor informed Hebden that the piece had to be
scrapped, a loss estimate by Hebden at $75 or $80.
That morning Hebden talked to Foreman Hamrick whom Hebden "chewed-out,"
as Hebden put it, about the bearing sleeve because he "was wrong." 9
Next, in Hebden's phraseology, "I jumped Don Knotts about the part." Knotts
informed Hebden that he and Assistant Foreman Ferris had checked the piece and
found it to be correct according to the print except for this 0.001 out of round.
Knotts also told Hebden about the penciled dimensions on the print. Hebden then
inquired of Knotts if he had checked the piece against the print and finally succeeded
in getting the answer that Knotts had accepted the dimension given to him orally by
DeVall from the print. Next, according to Hebden's own testimony.
I in so many words, accused Don Kotts in being in collusion with Don DeVall
in fabricating this story, because Don had also mentioned to me something about
pencil marks on the print,'() which I had seen the print in the morning and I
knew darn well that there were no pencil marks on it . well, let us say, an
explanation of my statement about this. My suspicion of collusion between these
two individuals, of course, both of them said something about pencil marks,
which I knew were not there, and he [Knotts] further said he had checked the
part later, and then said he had not checked it to the print. And I had also seen
this part, I knew it was not to the print.
Then Hebden checked with Ferris who again told Hebden that both he and Knotts
had checked the piece, that the dimensions were correct and that they found it 0.001
out of round. Again Hebden inquired whether Ferris had checked the part to the
print. According to Hebden, Ferris admitted that he had not."
Shortly before the beginning of the afternoon shift at 4 p.m. that day, Hebden
sought to retrieve the print of the piece from Chief Engineer Taylor. According
to Hebden, Taylor was unable to find the print.12 The print in question has never
since been found.
When DeVall reported for work he was called to Hebden's office where a 2 or
21/2 hour conference between Hebden, Larsok, and Donald DeVall followed. During
this conference Hebden stated that there were three possible alternatives: (1) to
forget the whole matter; (2) to discharge DeVall; or (3) to lay him off so that he
could collect his unemployment compensation and not have a black mark on his
record. At the conclusion of the conference, DeVall was "permanently laid off."
Hebden testified that he selected this alternative largely because DeVall refused
0 Hebden explained this "chewing out" of Hamrick in the following answer:
A. Yes. But on the other hand. there wasn't nothing too much I could say to him,
he wasn't there at night, although at that time I did consider him as lead foreman
in the machine shop and all. I felt it was his responsibility.
10 Hebden has here confused his times because he accused Knotts of "collusion" before
Donald DeVall even had reported for work on the afternoon of April 25 and therefore before
Hebden had spoken to DeVall about the incident.
n Ferris was not called as a witness. Although no longer in Respondent's employ, Ferris
was known to be working at a ballistics plant near Morgantown.
12 Taylor was not a witness at the hearing. According to Hebden, Taylor had had an
appendectomy "a week" before the bearing.
230 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
to admit his "error" by insisting that the piece had been correctly made according
to the print as well as the fact that the print had contained pencil marks.
That very same day, April 25, machinist Paul Sisler scrapped two pieces of un-
known value. He admitted his carelessness . For this Respondent suspended Sisler
for a period of 7 days, but recalled him to work 2 days later so that his actual
suspension was a period of 2 days. Sisler had been the District 50 observer at
the National Labor Relations Board election.
Within a few days after the layoff of Donald DeVall, ex-employee William S.
Moore, who had been one of the three leaders of the Steelworkers organizing cam-
paign at the Morgantown plant and who had been told by Hebden after Moore had
voluntarily left Respondent's employ that Moore could come back to work for
Respondent "if he promised never to be engaged in union activities again," was
informed by Hebden "I said I'd get Donald DeVall and I got him , didn't I?"
B. Conclusions
1. Akers, Hugh DeVall , Schuman, Stiles , and Danser
Respondent's brief justifies the discharge of Akers, Hugh DeVall, Schuman , Stiles,
and Danser as a group on what it refers to as the "compelling economic necessity"
for moving the gear shop from Morgantown to Fairmont . No doubt there was a
compelling economic necessity for moving all manufacturing operations including
the gear shop to Fairmont . But, even assuming that to be true , there was nothing
in that move which compelled the "discharge" of the employees who had for varying
lengths of time been satisfactory employees at Morgantown , because of the 18- to
20-mile move of the gear shop in which they formerly worked , to Fairmont. In
fact , prior to the final move of April 13, this record fails to disclose the discharge
of a single Morgantown gear shop operator when his machine was transferred to
Fairmont . In other departments which had moved to Fairmont the Morgantown
operators transferred to Fairmont along with the machines.
Hebden attempted to explain Respondent 's earlier failure to "discharge" the
Morgantown operators when their machines were transferred to Fairmont on the
ground that Respondent already had operators for those machines at Fairmont at
the time of the move on April 13. In the prior move Hebden indicated that the
operators went with the machines because Respondent had nobody else to operate
those machines . But the record here disclosed that , if Hebden actually had operators
available for the gear shop machines on April 13 , he had hired those operators,
usually as trainees, between April 9 and April 11, 1962, during which period he
hired seven such machinists and trainees . It was these newly hired and untried
machinists and trainees whom Hebden was going to have operate the gear shop
machines upon their arrival at Fairmont instead of the previously satisfactory and
longer employed Morgantown operators.
It seems almost axiomatic that no employer would intentionally choose to operate
his plant with new and untried employees instead of old, tried, and true employees
whose work had proved satisfactory for some period of time-unless he had some
compelling reason for wanting to be rid of his seasoned employees.
It is, therefore , of interest that Respondent here has leveled charges of incom-
petence against only two of the five discharged; Akers and Schuman. Respondent
had no complaints against the other three dischargees : Hugh DeVall , Stiles, and
Danser . Thus the latter three must be considered to have been competent , satis-
factory employees.
The charges Respondent chose to level against Akers and Schuman were so old as
to be stale because Hebden had to go a long period in the past in his efforts to justify
calling them unsatisfactory . These charges , if true, would have justified the dismissal
of the two men as of the time of their occurrence . But Galis himself at the time
of the occurrence had found these identical charges to be insufficient to warrant
the discharge of the two men. Therefore , as of April 13, 1962, the Trial Examiner
must find that all five, including Akers and Schuman , were satisfactory employees.
Why then did Hebden discharge the five on April 13, 1962?
Hebden's choice of these particular five men to drop from Respondent 's employ
makes the reason for their discharge quite clear . Galls was violently anti-Steelworker
and pro-District 50. Hebden , an ambitious and fast-rising young man who worked
under the personal direction of Galis, had also taken on the identical coloration of
his mentor . The five men Hebden chose not to give jobs to were the five men he
and Respondent had good reason to know or suspect were active Steelworker sym-
pathizers . Consequently it becomes quite clear that this known sympathy for the
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 231
Steelworkers was the underlying reason Hebden and Respondent were not only
willing, but indeed anxious, to replace even though with untried workmen.
Consequently the Trial Examiner must, and hereby does, find that the Respondent
discharged Joseph Akers, Hugh DeVall, Tracy Danser, Wayne Schuman, and
Charles Stiles on April 13, 1962, because of their known sympathy and activities
on behalf of the United Steelworkers of America in violation of Section 8(a)(3)
of the Act.
Further it must be noted that when Hebden tried to discharge Akers and Schuman
allegedly for incompetence-"goofing off," in Hebden's words-Galin refused to
permit their discharge. This, however, was prior to the time these two employees
testified on behalf of the Steelworkers at the objections hearing. However within
a few weeks after that testimony on behalf of the Steelworkers, Galis had convinced
himself that these two employees deserved to be discharged-purportedly for the
very same causes that he had earlier found insufficient. Thus it is obvious that the
decision to discharge Akers and Schuman was largely influenced by the fact that
they each had testified for the Steelworkers and contrary to Respondent's desires
at the hearing on the objections.
Consequently the Trial Examiner must and does find that Respondent discharged
Joseph Akers and Wayne Schuman on April 13 because of the fact that they had
given testimony in a hearing before the Board in violation of Section 8(a) (4) of
the Act.
2. Donald DeVall
Respondent's brief points with pride to the fact that Donald DeVall, the known
leader of the Steelworkers' campaign, was given work by Hebden on April 14 and,
therefore, could not have been discriminated against by Respondent. This conten-
tion is true so far as it goes. Hebden would have been even more obvious about his
discriminatory selection of employees than he actually was if he had not rehired
Donald DeVall on April 13 because Donald DeVall not only was the No. 1 man on
Respondent's seniority roll but was also the well-recognized leader of the Steel-
workers' campaign. But, although he denies it, Hebden did warn Donald DeVall
when "rehiring" DeVall against engaging in any union activity at Fairmont and im-
pressed upon DeVall that he was being rehired as a new probationary employee "to
see what kind of work he was doing" and, strangely, asked DeVall "to cooperate." 13
But, despite "rehiring" Donald DeVall on April 14, Hebden succeeded in "getting,"
as Hebden was later to express it, Donald DeVall 10 days thereafter under circum-
stances which leave little, if any, doubt as to the real reason Hebden discharged
DeVall.14
Ostensibly Hebden discharged Donald DeVall either for having made an 0.008 inch
error on the bearing sleeve DeVall fabricated on April 24 or else because in Hebden's
estimation DeVall obstinately refused to acknowledge that he had made an "error."
In his efforts to prove that the work done by Donald DeVall was an "error,"
Hebden found it necessary, according to his own testimony, to "chew out" Foreman
Hamrick because Hamrick "was wrong" even though acknowledging that Hamrick
was not the foreman on duty at night when the work was performed but because
Hebden then considered Hamrick to be the "lead foreman." Hebden then "jumped"
Knotts and "accused Don Knotts of being in collusion with Don DeVall in fabricat-
ing" exactly the same facts which Donald DeVall reported subsequently that: (1)
There had been penciled changes on the print; (2) at DeVall's request he and Assist-
ant Foreman Ferris had miked the piece just prior to completion; and (3) they had
each found it to be correct except that it was 0.001 inch out of round which he had
corrected by emerying on orders of Ferris.
Hebden further had words with Ferris until he was able to secure an admission
from Ferris, according to the evidence of Hebden, that Ferris had accepted some-
body else's word for the dimensions in the print, an admission he also secured from
KnottS.15
Thus was Hebden able to handle the human element regarding this "error." The
sockdolager turned out to be the print itself. During Hebden's angry investigation
18 An earlier footnote indicated Hebden's many explanations as to what he meant to
convey by this word.
14 Hebden preferred to refer to this discharge as a "permanent layoff." Although this
terminology may have had some technical effect upon unemployment compensation, the
result as far as the employment status of Donald DeVall with Respondent was identical.
1S Knotts so testified at the hearing but this testimony by Knotts is hardly consistent with
his other testimony that he had seen penciled marks on the print.
232 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
of the bearing sleeve incident as described above, this vital piece of evidence sud-
denly turned up missing by 4 p.m. that afternoon and has never since been seen,
according to Respondent's evidence. This loss Hebden blamed on Chief Engineer
Taylor whose nonappearance as a witness was excused by Hebden on the ground that
Taylor had had an appendectomy "last week." Thus Hebden handled the docu-
mentary evidence,
Thus the facts prove that Knotts had noted the penciled changes on the print, that
Knotts and Ferris had checked the piece individually and each had found it to be
correct-and that the print from which Donald DeVall had worked and Knotts and
Ferris had checked, Respondent suddenly lost for good.
Under these circumstances it is hardly any wonder that Donald DeVall refused to
confess "error" at Hebden's demand.
In addition to the other evidence indicating the possibility of a frameup against
DeVall, the uncontradicted evidence disclosed that Donald DeVall's discharge was
the first in Respondent's history where an employee was discharged for having
caused scrap.
In this regard Hebden was unfortunate in the fact that on the same day, April 24,
when Donald DeVall allegedly caused $75 to $80 worth of scrap, Paul Sisler,
who had been District 50's election observer, carelessly scrapped two pieces of a
value unknown on this record. Whereas Respondent "permanently laid off" the
Steelworkers' leader for his alleged error, Respondent only suspended the District 50
observer for a period of 2 days. Hebden attempted to distinguish these two cases
on the grounds that Sister, unlike Donald DeVall, confessed his error. There is, of
course, another distinction: Sisler had been the election observer for District 50
whereas Donald DeVall had acted in that same capacity for the Steelworkers at the
consent-election meeting and was the acknowledged leader of the Steelworkers' cam-
paign and, in addition, had been warned 10 days before against engaging in any
Steelworkers' activities at Fairmont.
It is therefore quite obvious that Hebden "rehired" Donald DeVall on April 14 in
order to try to disguise the discriminatory nature of the discharges of the five other
suspected or known Steelworker supporters that same day and then 10 days later
Hebden either framed Donald DeVall or used the bearing sleeve episode as a pre-
text for completing the elimination of Steelworker followers during the move to
Fairmont. Hebden knew, of course, that there would be another election at Fair-
mont and was still determined to prevent the Steelworkers from becoming the bar-
gaining agent of the Fairmont employees.
Hebden himself confirmed this conclusion when after the discharge of DeVall, he
bragged to a former Steelworker leader at Fairmont and an ex-employee: "I told
you I'd get Donald DeVall and I did."
Accordingly the Trial Examiner is convinced and, therefore, finds that Respondent
discharged Donald DeVall on April 25, 1962, because of his known sympathy and
activity on behalf of the United Steelworkers of America in violation of Section
8(a)(3) of the Act.
N. 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, have a close,
intimate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several
States and tend to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and
the free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
It having been found that Respondent has engaged in certain unfair labor prac-
tices, it will be recommended that it cease and desist therefrom and that it take cer-
tain affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies of the Act.
It having been found that Respondent discriminated in regard to the hire and
tenure of employment of Joseph Akers, Hugh DeVall, Wayne Schuman, Charles
Stiles, and Tracy Danser by discharging each of them on April 13, 1962, and re-
fusing each of them employment on April 14 or 16, 1962, and by discharging Donald
DeVall on April 25, 1962, the Trial Examiner will recommend that Respondent
make each of them whole for any loss of pay he may have suffered by reason of said
discrimination against him by payment to him of a sum of money equal to that
which he would have earned as wages from the date of the discrimination against him
to the date of his reinstatement less his net earnings during such period in accordance
with the formula set forth in F. W. Woolworth Company, 90 NLRB 289 with interest
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY 233
thereon at the rate of 6 percent per annum to be computed in the manner set forth
in Isis Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., 138 NLRB 716.
Because of the type of unfair labor practices engaged in by Respondent , the Trial
Examiner senses an attitude of opposition to the purposes of the Act in general, and
hence the Trial Examiner deems it necessary to order that the Respondent cease and
desist from in any manner infringing upon the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of
the Act.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, is a labor organization within the
meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
2. By discharging and refusing employment to Joseph Akers, Hugh DeVall, Wayne
Schuman, Charles Stiles, and Tracy Danser on April 13 and 14, 1962, and by dis-
charging Donald DeVall on April 25, 1962, because of their sympathies for, and
activities on behalf of, the Steelworkers, thereby discriminating in regard to their
hire and tenure of employment and discouraging union activities among its employees,
Respondent has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the mean-
ing of Section 8 (a)(3) and (1) of the Act.
3. By interfering with, restraining, and coercing its employees in the exercise of
the rights guaranteed to them in Section 7 of the Act, Respondent has engaged in and
is engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning 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.
RECOMMENDED ORDER
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and upon
the entire record in this case, the Trial Examiner recommends that Galis Electric &
Machine Company, Morgantown and Fairmont, West Virginia, its officers, agents,
successors , and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Discouraging membership in or activities on behalf of United Steelworkers
of America, AFL-CIO, or in any other labor organization, by discriminatorily dis-
charging or refusing to employ its employees or by discriminaitng in any other manner
in regard to their hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employ-
ment.
(b) In any other manner interfering with , restraining , or coercing its employees in
the exercise of their right to self-organization, to form labor organizations, to join or
assist United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, or any other labor organization,
to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing , and to engage
in other concerted activities for the purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection, or to refrain from any or all such activities, except to the extent that
such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor or-
ganization as a condition of employment , as authorized by Section 8(a)(3) of the
Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Trial Examiner finds will ef-
fectuate the policies of the Act:
(a) Offer to Joseph Akers, Hugh DeVall, Wayne Schuman, Charles Stiles, Tracy
Danser, and Donald DeVall immediate reinstatement to his previous , or substantially
equivalent , position and make each of them whole for any loss of earnings he may
have suffered as a result of the discrimination against him in the manner set forth
in this Intermediate Report under the section entitled "The Remedy."
(b) Preserve and, upon request, make available to the Board or its agents, for ex-
amination and copying all payroll records, social security payment records, timecards,
personnel records and reports, and all other records necessary to analyze the amount
of backpay due under the terms of this Recommended Order.
(c) Post at its plants in Morgantown and Fairmont, West Virginia, copies of the
attached notice marked "Appendix A." is Copies of said notice to be furnished by
19 In the event that this Recommended Order be adopted by the Board , the words "a
Decision and Order" shall be substituted for the words "the Recommended Order of a Trial
Examiner" in the notice. In the further event that the Board's Order be enforced by the
United States Court of Appeals, the words, "a Decree of the United States Court of
Appeals, Enforcing an Order" shall be substituted for the words "a Decision and Order,"
234 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the Regional Director for the Sixth Region, shall , upon being duly signed by Re-
spondent 's representative , be posted by it immediately upon receipt thereof and
maintained by it for 60 consecutive days thereafter in conspicuous places, including
all places where notices to employees are customarily posted . Reasonable steps shall
be taken by Respondent to insure that said notices are not altered , defaced, or
covered by any other material.
(d) Notify the Regional Director for the Sixth Region , in writing within 20
days of the date of the receipt of this Intermediate Report what steps have been taken
to comply with the foregoing Recommended Order.17
The Trial Examiner further recommends that, unless within 20 days from the date
of the receipt of this Intermediate Report, Respondent has notified said Regional
Director that it will comply with the foregoing Recommended Order, the Board
issue an order requiring Respondent to take the aforesaid action.
17 In the event that this Recommended Order Is adopted by the Board this provision shall
be modified to read : "Notify the Regional Director for the Sixth Region In writing within
10 days from the date of the receipt of this order , what steps the Respondent has taken
to comply herewith."
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to the Recommended Order of a Trial Examiner of the National Labor
Relations Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended , we hereby notify you that:
WE WILL NOT discourage membership in or activities on behalf of United
Steelworkers of America , AFL-CIO, or in any other labor organization, by
discriminatorily discharging , permanently laying off or refusing employment to
any of our employees , or by discriminating in any other manner in regard to
their hire and tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment.
WE WILL offer reinstatement to their same , or substantially equivalent , employ-
ment to each of the following named employees and make each of them whole
for any loss of pay he may have suffered by reason of the discrimination prac-
ticed against him: Joseph Akers, Hugh DeVall , Wayne Schuman , Charles
Stiles, Tracy Danser, and Donald DeVall.
WE WILL NOT in any manner interfere with , restrain , or coerce our employees
in the exercise of their right to self-organization , to form labor organizations,
to join or assist United Steelworkers of America , AFL-CIO, or any other labor
organization , to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choos-
ing and to engage in any other concerted activities for the purposes of collective
bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, or to refrain from any or all such
activities , except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement
requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment
as authorized in Section 8(a) (3) of the Act, as amended.
All our employees are free to become, or remain , or to refrain from becoming or
remaining , members of the above -named labor organization.
GALIS ELECTRIC & MACHINE COMPANY,
Employer.
Dated------------------- By-------------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
NOTE.-We will notify any of the above-named employees presently serving in
the Armed Forces of the United States of their right to full reinstatement upon ap-
plication in accordance with the Selective Service Act after discharge from the Armed
Forces.
This notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of posting,
and must not be altered , defaced, or covered by any other material.
Employees may communicate directly with the Board 's Regional Office, 2107 Clark
Building, 701-717 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, 15222, Telephone No.
471-2977, if they have any question concerning this notice or compliance with its
provisions.