Hallenberger, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jul 25, 1961

132 N.L.R.B. 449 (N.L.R.B. 1961)

HALLENBERGER, INC. 449
going on and all parti -3s to the existing relationship acquiesced in the
withdrawal. Obviously my views are limited to the facts here in-
volved and I do not express an opinion as to appropriate times for
withdrawals generally. I believe that it is equally obvious that grant-
ing the employees of Foote & Davies a self-determination election as
to whether they wish to return to a multiemployer unit from which
their employer has withdrawn would run contrary to the concept that
their employer caneffect a withdrawal and has done so.
CHAIRMAN MCCuLLOCU and MEMBER BROWN took no part in the
consideration of the above Decision and Direction of Election.
Hallenberger, Inc. and Chauffeurs, Teamsters and Helpers Local
Union 215, International Brotherhood of Teamsters , Chauf-
feurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America.' Case No.
25-RM-118. July 25, 1961
DECISION AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION
Upon a petition duly filed under Section 9 (c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, a hearing was held before John W. Hines, hearing offi-
cer. The hearing officer's rulings made at the hearing are free from
prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed 2
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (b) of the Act, the Board
has delegated its powers in connection with this case to a three-
member panel [Chairman McCulloch and Members Rodgers and
Leedom].
Upon the entire record in this case, the Board finds :
1. The Employer, an Indiana corporation having a place of busi-
ness in Evansville, Indiana, is engaged in selling and servicing trailer
and tractor equipment at wholesale and retail. During the year end-
ing April 1, 1961, its sales were valued at more than $500,000, of
which in excess of $250,000 represented sales to customers located out-
side the State of Indiana. During the same period, its purchases from
sources outside the State were valued at more than $300,000.
We find, contrary to the Union's contention, that the Employer is
engaged in commerce within the meaning of the Act and that it will
effectuate the policies of the Act to assert jurisdiction herein.'
1 The name of the Union appears as amended at the hearing
2 At the hearing the Union moved to strike from the record the testimony of the
Employer's president because of its allegedly incredible nature and the witness ' allegedly
evasive attitude. The hearing officer denied the motion . See Sec . 102 66 (d) (3), National
Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations , Series 8 (1959 ). The Union has renewed
the motion before the Board . We find no error in the hearing officer ' s ruling. Accord-
ingly, it is hereby affirmed.
8 The Union has moved to dismiss the petition because of the alleged lack of valid
evidence to prove jurisdiction The above findings as to jurisdiction are based on the
132 NLRB No. 35.
450 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
2. The labor organization involved claims to represent certain em-
ployees of the Employer.
3. The Union moved to dismiss the petition upon the ground that
the Employer had agreed not to file a representation petition at least
until October 3,1961.
On October 3, 1960, the Employer and the Union entered into an
agreement for the settlement of the dispute between them. As part of
the settlement, the Employer agreed not to "file a Decertification Per
tition trying to oust the union as the bargaining agent, within the next
twelve (12) months,''' and the Union promised that it would call off its
strike. About 2 weeks after the agreement was signed the Union re-
sumed picketing the Employer's place of business; the Employer filed
the present petition on February 9, 1961. There is disagreement be-
tween the parties as to who was responsible for the alleged breach of
the settlement agreement. According to the Union, picketing was re-
sumed because the Employer failed to live up to certain provisions of
the agreement. According to the Employer, at the request of the
Union the parties agreed to rescind their October 3 settlement so as to
permit the Union to resume its picketing. It thus appears that within
2 weeks of its execution the October 3 settlement agreement ceased to
be effective. Under the foregoing circumstances, and without de-
ciding what effect would be given to such contract if still subsisting,,
we find that the October 3 contract is not a bar to the present petition.*
Accordingly, a question affecting commerce exists concerning the
representation of employees of the Employer within the meaning of
Section 9(c) (1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
4. The parties agree, and we find, that the following employees of
the Employer at its Evansville, Indiana, facility constitute a unit
appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining within the mean-
ing of Section 9 (b) of the Act :
All servicemen, mechanics, helpers, parts men, and truckdrivers,,
excluding office clerical employees, salesmen, professional employees,
guards, and supervisors 5 as defined in the Act.
testimony of the Employer 's president. No evidence was introduced to controvert this
testimony Moreover , the Union has filed a number of unfair labor practice charges
against the Employer, one of which filed on May 2, 1960, resulted in the issuance of a
complaint against the Employer. In April 1960 , the Union also filed a representation
petition with the Board seeking to represent employees of the Employer . The charges,
the complaint , and the representation petition evidence the Union 's understanding and
contention that the Employer is engaged in commerce within the meaning of the Act
Accordingly , we find no merit in the Union ' s motion and it is hereby denied
40n February 13, 1961 , the Union filed unfair labor practice charges against the
Employer alleging that by violating the October 3 agreement including filing of a "de-
certification petition" within 12 months of October 3, 1960, the Employer had committed
unfair labor practices On March 30, 1961 , the Regional Director dismissed the charges.
His dismissal was upheld by the General Counsel on appeal
5 The parties stipulated that Ray Hallenberger , president and general manager, and
John Fuchs , assistant to the president and general manager , are supervisors and should'
be excluded from the unit.
THREADS, INCORPORATED 451
The Union contends that James Nelson, Edwin Herrenbruck, and
Thomas Sharkey should be excluded from the unit as supervisors, and
'Fred Grimm as a salesman; the Employer asserts that all four should
be included.
Nelson and Herrenbruck were foremen before the strike which
began in May 1960. Since the strike Nelson has been working as a
machinist and Herrenbruck as a welder. Neither is now exercising
supervisory authority. It is not clear from the record whether Nelson
and Herrenbruck are merely temporarily assigned to nonsupervisory
'duties because of a decline in business resulting from the strike, or
whether their assignment to their present duties is more or less per-
manent.6 In these circumstances, we shall make no determination at
this time as to whether they are included in the unit but shall permit
them to vote subject to challenge.
Thomas Sharkey is a parts man in the shop and also drives a truck
picking up and delivering merchandise. He receives considerably
more per hour than the other parts man, but there is no evidence that
he has ever acted as a supervisor. We find that he is not a supervisor
and includehim.
Fred Grimm was a salesman when the strike started, but is now
working as an automatic welding machine operator. According to the
Employer, his sales record during the 4 months preceding the strike
was so poor he would have been eliminated as a salesman even if no
strike had occurred. As his assignment to the shop appears to be per-
manent, we include him in the unit.
[Text of 'Direction of Election omitted from publication.]
6 See United States Rubber Company, 86 NLRB 338, 340.
Threads, Incorporated and Textile Workers Union of America,
AFL-CIO. Case No. 11-CA-1651. July 06, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
On February 15, 1961, Trial Examiner William Seagle 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 copy of the
Intermediate Report attached hereto. Thereafter, the Respondent
filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report.
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-
132 NLRB No. 30.
614913-62-vol 132-30