Olathe Healthcare Center

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jun 20, 1994

314 N.L.R.B. 54 (N.L.R.B. 1994)

54
314 NLRB No. 15
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
1 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.
2 All dates are in 1993 unless otherwise indicated.
3 Wright Line, 251 NLRB 1083 (1980), enfd. 662 F.2d 899 (1st
Cir. 1981), cert. denied 455 U.S. 989 (1982).
Olathe Healthcare Center, Inc. and Textile Proc-
essors, Service Trades, Health Care, Profes-
sional and Technical Employees International
Union, Local No. 2. Cases 17–CA–16148 and
17–RC–10769
June 20, 1994
DECISION, ORDER, AND DIRECTION OF
SECOND ELECTION
BY MEMBERS STEPHENS, DEVANEY, AND COHEN
On June 1, 1993, Administrative Law Judge David
L. Evans issued the attached decision. The Respondent
filed exceptions and a supporting brief and the General
Counsel filed an answering brief to the Respondent’s
exceptions.
The National Labor Relations Board has delegated
its authority in this proceeding to a three-member
panel.
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,1 and con-
clusions and to adopt the recommended Order.
1. We agree with the judge, essentially for the rea-
sons he set forth, that the warning notice issued to em-
ployee Dawn Birdsong on March 17, 1993,2 violated
Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act. We find that the
General Counsel has proved elements of a prima facie
case—protected activity, knowledge, and animus—and
that the timing of the warning makes his case a par-
ticularly strong one. Thus, the record shows that
Birdsong, together with other employees and a union
representative, handed out authorization cards and
other union literature at the parking lot entrance in
front of the Respondent’s facility on March 17.
Birdsong and her colleagues were in plain view of
anyone looking out the windows of the Respondent’s
facility. The judge discredited Administrator Sandra
Rekstad’s testimony that she did not know the identi-
ties of the employees who openly engaged in that so-
licitation and distribution on March 17. The judge
found, and we agree, that the evidence warranted the
inference that the Respondent knew about Birdsong’s
union activities. The Respondent demonstrated union
animus by posting, on that same day, an unlawfully
broad no-distribution rule which supplemented the un-
lawfully broad no-solicitation rule in the employee
handbook. Finally, barely 2 hours after Birdsong had
openly engaged in union activity in the parking lot, the
Respondent gave her a disciplinary warning for two al-
leged incidents of resident abuse or neglect. One of the
incidents was alleged to have occurred 12 days earlier,
on March 5. The Respondent gave no legitimate reason
for the delay in warning Birdsong about that incident.
This evidence warrants an inference that Birdsong’s
union activities were a motivating factor in the Re-
spondent’s decision to issue her the disciplinary warn-
ing.3
We also find that the Respondent failed to meet its
burden of showing that it would have issued Birdsong
the warning notice in the absence of her union activi-
ties. The judge credited Birdsong’s denial that she en-
gaged in the incidents of resident abuse or neglect as
alleged in the disciplinary warning. Further, in reject-
ing the Respondent’s argument that it disciplined
Birdsong based on a good-faith belief that she had en-
gaged in misconduct, the judge found that the Re-
spondent presented no competent, credible evidence
that Birdsong had engaged in resident abuse or neglect.
The Respondent relied on the testimony of Adminis-
trator Sandra Rekstad who reported on her dealings
with Director of Nursing Debbie Greenley. Greenley
allegedly investigated complaints from certain sources
and, according to Rekstad, had claimed that Birdsong
was responsible for the misconduct. The Respondent
did not call any witnesses who could testify directly
about Birdsong’s involvement in the incidents, and did
not even call Greenley, the supervisor who had sup-
posedly investigated the matter first-hand and, accord-
ing to Rekstad, had actually drafted the warning no-
tice. Neither before us nor before the judge has the Re-
spondent explained why it failed to call Greenley. The
judge concluded—and so do we—that the Respondent
had failed to show even a good-faith belief that
Birdsong had engaged in abuse or neglect of residents.
Thus, we agree with the judge’s finding that Birdsong
was disciplined for her union activity in violation of
Section 8(a)(3).
2. We also agree with the judge that the Respond-
ent’s issuance of a disciplinary notice to Birdsong con-
stituted a violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act as en-
forcement of the Respondent’s unlawfully broad no-so-
licitation and no-distribution rules. We have found that
Birdsong was disciplined solely for her union activity.
The only union activity at issue was Birdsong’s solici-
tation of authorization cards and distribution of union
literature to her fellow employees at the entrance to the
parking lot of the Respondent’s facility. Although the
warning letter made no overt reference to the Respond-
ent’s rules, we find that Birdsong was in effect dis-
ciplined for her solicitation and distribution in viola-
tion of the Respondent’s rules. The Respondent thus
55OLATHE HEALTHCARE CENTER
1 All dates are in 1992 unless otherwise indicated.
enforced its unlawfully broad no-solicitation and no-
distribution rules in violation of the Act.
[Direction of Second Election omitted from publication.]
Richard C. Auslander, Esq., for the General Counsel.
Jerry Kronenberg, Esq., of Chicago, Illinois, for the Re-
spondent.
Barbara Gumbel, Esq., of St. Louis, Missouri, for the Charg-
ing Party.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
DAVID L. EVANS, Administrative Law Judge. This case
under the National Labor Relations Act (the Act) was tried
before me on November 12, 1992,1 in Mission, Kansas. On
May 6 the charge in Case 17–CA–16148 was filed by Textile
Processors, Service Trades, Health Care, Professional and
Technical Employees International Union, Local No. 2 (the
Union), alleging that Olathe Healthcare Center, Inc. (the Re-
spondent), had committed unfair labor practices in violation
of the Act. On June 30, on the basis of the charge, the Gen-
eral Counsel issued a complaint alleging violations of Sec-
tion 8(a)(1) and (3) of the Act by Respondent. Respondent
duly filed an answer admitting jurisdiction of this matter be-
fore the Board and the status of certain supervisors under
Section 2(11) of the Act, but denying the commission of any
unfair labor practices.
Also, on March 18 the Union filed the petition for election
in Case 17–RC–10769. On April 21 the Regional Director
approved a Stipulated Election Agreement providing for an
election among Respondent’s certified nursing assistants,
nurses aides, dietary employees, housekeeping employees,
and maintenance employees, but excluding licensed practical
nurses, registered nurses, department heads, and guards and
supervisors as defined in the Act. On May 5 the Regional
Director conducted an election among the employees in that
unit. The tally of ballots showed that, of approximately 103
eligible voters, 23 cast ballots for representation by petitioner
and 33 cast ballots against. (There was one void ballot, and
no ballots were challenged.) On May 8 the Union filed time-
ly objections to conduct affecting the results of the election.
Certain portions of the objections to the election were with-
drawn by the Union or dismissed by the Regional Director
after investigation. The remaining objections concern a dis-
ciplinary warning notice to employee Dawn Birdsong, the
use of an alleged supervisory employee as an election ob-
server, and promulgation, maintenance, and enforcement of
disciplinary no-solicitation and no-distribution rules. The
warning notice to Birdsong and the alleged promulgation,
maintenance, and enforcement of the disciplinary rules are
also the subject of the unfair labor practice charges and com-
plaint mentioned above. On July 17 the Regional Director
issued an order consolidating the representation and com-
plaint cases and for hearing.
On the entire record, including my observation of the de-
meanor of the witnesses, and after considering the briefs that
have been filed by the parties, I make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
At all material times, Respondent, a Kansas corporation
that maintains an office and place of business in Olathe,
Kansas (Respondent’s facility), has been engaged in the op-
eration of a nursing home providing long-term care to the el-
derly. During the 12-month period preceding issuance of the
complaint Respondent, in the course and conduct of those
business operations, derived gross revenues in excess of
$100,000, and, during the same period of time, Respondent
purchased and received at its facility goods valued in excess
of $5000 directly from suppliers located at points outside the
State of Kansas. Therefore, Respondent is engaged in com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the
Act, and it is a health care institution within the meaning of
Section 2(14) of the Act. As further admitted by Respondent,
the Union is a labor organization within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(5) of the Act.
II. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Facts
1. The no-solicitation rule
Respondent purchased the nursing home about August 1,
1991, from Delmar Gardens Enterprises. Sandra Rekstad was
hired as administrator on September 25, 1991. When Rekstad
became administrator, she reissued on behalf of Respondent
an employee handbook that had been previously used by
Delmar Gardens. The handbook is 16 pages long. The first
two pages contain statements captioned ‘‘Welcome’’ and
‘‘Philosophy of Olathe Healthcare Center.’’ The remaining
pages contain a list of ‘‘Personnel Policies’’ which are num-
bered 1 through 46. The numbered policies include a listing
of benefits and various employee conduct rules. Policy 30
states:
Canvassing of any kind is prohibited. Any solicitation,
poll, collections for any purpose, or the sale of tickets
or merchandise must have the prior approval of the Ad-
ministrator.
The complaint alleges that, by maintenance and discrimina-
tory enforcement of this rule, Respondent has violated Sec-
tion 8(a)(1).
Policy 38 of the handbook lists 25 separate disciplinary of-
fenses which constitute ‘‘grounds for discipline, suspension,
and/or immediate discharge.’’ The third offense is listed as:
Soliciting Patients or Visitors—Attempting to sell any-
thing or solicit donations from patients or visitors is
prohibited at all times on facility premises. Solicitation
of other employees is limited to non-patient areas dur-
ing non-work time.
Respondent contends that, by concurrent maintenance of the
last-quoted sentence in its set of disciplinary rules, any other-
wise unlawful effect of its policy 30 has been nullified.
56 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
2. Initial union activity and petition date
Union Representative John Watson testified that he went
to Respondent’s parking lot on March 17, about 1 p.m. At
the parking lot entrance Watson and some employees, includ-
ing alleged discriminatee Birdsong, handed out authorization
cards and other union literature to employees as they came
to work or as they were leaving work. About 3:15 p.m., Wat-
son went to the office area of Respondent’s facility and
asked to speak to the administrator. Watson was shown to
the office of Rekstad where he met Rekstad and Neil Kjos,
a management consultant for Respondent’s parent corpora-
tion. On behalf of the Union, Watson requested recognition;
Kjos declined. Watson testified that he left the premises ‘‘a
little bit after 3:30.’’
Watson then went to the local office of the Board. Watson
gave to a Board agent the authorization cards that he had se-
cured from some of Respondent’s employees and further
gave the agent information necessary for the filing of a peti-
tion for a Board election. Watson acknowledged that ‘‘the
office was closing’’ by the time that the petition was com-
pleted. The petition was not date-stamped until the next day,
March 18.
As noted, one objection to the May 5 election is to the
issuance of a warning notice to Birdsong on March 17. An-
other objection is to the posting of a no-distribution rule, ei-
ther on March 17 or 18. Under Ideal Electric & Mfg. Co.,
134 NLRB 1275 (1961), to be considered as a valid basis
for objection to a Board election, the conduct in question
must occur after a petition is filed and before the election.
On brief, the Union does not argue that the discipline of
Birdsong occurred after the petition was filed. Because the
Union does not so argue, and because it is clear from Wat-
son’s testimony that the Board office had closed on March
17 by the time the instant petition had been completed, I find
that the discipline of Birdsong, as discussed infra, occurred
before the petition was filed and therefore cannot be consid-
ered as a ground for an objection to conduct affecting result
of the May 5 election, and I shall recommend that the objec-
tion be dismissed. Whether the no-distribution rule was post-
ed during the critical period is a factual issue to be discussed
infra.
3. Birdsong’s warning notice
Birdsong, a nurse’s aide, testified that she assisted Watson
in distributing union authorization cards and literature to em-
ployees between 1 and 3 p.m. on March 17. Birdsong testi-
fied that, when so assisting Watson, she stationed herself 100
feet from the building, at a parking entrance, in plain view
of anyone who might look out the windows of Respondent’s
facility. (Birdsong also testified that two persons, a ‘‘Bryan’’
and a ‘‘Neal’’ were maintenance supervisors and she saw
them watching her as she distributed union literature on
March 17. There was no further identification of Bryan or
Neal, and there was no allegation or stipulation that any such
persons were supervisors within Sec. 2(11) of the Act.)
Debbie Greenley is Respondent’s director of nursing; she
reports directly to Rekstad. Greenley did not testify.
Birdsong testified that she punched in at 3 p.m. and got to
her workstation on the nursing floor about 3:30 p.m. At that
point Greenley approached Birdsong and asked Birdsong to
step into an office area on the nursing floor. When the two
women reached the office, Greenley presented a ‘‘Discipli-
nary Action Form’’ to Birdsong. The form is dated March
17 and, where the form calls for ‘‘Statement of the Prob-
lem’’ Greenley had written:
Two incidents of residents (two separate residents) on
north side complained that Dawn spoke ‘‘abruptly’’ and
‘‘in a harsh tone,’’ to them when asking for assist-
ance—such as—‘‘I’m not going to help you’’—‘‘you
can help yourself.’’ One report that a resident was left
sitting on toilet seat in bathroom for 30–45 minutes be-
fore returning to assist them. This is inappropriate nurs-
ing practice and can be considered abuse/neglect.
In a blank for ‘‘Recommendations’’ Greenley had written
‘‘any further reports of this nature can & will result in fur-
ther discipline.’’ In a blank for ‘‘Consequence If Not Re-
solved’’ Greenley had written ‘‘possible discharge.’’
Birdsong testified she asked Greenley what the warning
notice was in reference to; according to Birdsong:
Debbie Greenley said that she had been investigating
the situation for a couple of weeks. That’s why she had
not notified me of the write-up before that day, and I
asked her, well who it involved and what they said and
when it was supposed to have happened. . . .
[Greenley] said that she couldn’t give me that informa-
tion for fear that it might put the resident in jeopardy.
Birdsong testified that she told Greenley that she had never
done anything like the conduct described in the warning no-
tice. (Birdsong wrote a similar statement on the back of the
warning notice when she signed the notice to acknowledge
receipt.)
At trial Birdsong again denied, credibly, any conduct such
as that described in the warning notice. Respondent did not
present Greenley and offered no explanation why it did not
do so. Respondent did call Rekstad who testified that
Greenley told her (Rekstad) that she (Greenley) had received
anonymous complaints, not from patients, but from persons
purporting to be relatives of patients. Further according to
Rekstad, the anonymous complainants did not name
Birdsong, but, again according to Rekstad, Greenley told
Rekstad that, somehow, Greenley had figured out that
Birdsong was the individual to whom the anonymous com-
plainants had referred.
Rekstad testified that on the basis of Greenley’s report to
her, she authorized the above-quoted warning notice that
Greenley had drafted.
Rekstad denied that, at the time she authorized the warn-
ing notice on March 17, she knew that Birdsong had joined
Union Representative Watson in the parking lot distribution
of literature on the same day. Rekstad testified that she knew
of such distributions, but she denied knowing the identity of
any employees who were involved. (Rekstad did not testify
that she authorized the above-quoted warning notice before
learning that the March 17 distributions had occurred.)
4. The no-distribution rule
On March 17 Rekstad issued a one-page letter to all em-
ployees. The letter begins with a statement that: ‘‘Olathe
Healthcare is absolutely opposed to have [sic] a union rep-
resent any portion of our work force.’’ The letter concludes:
57OLATHE HEALTHCARE CENTER
‘‘Don’t jeopardize our success with the possibility of busi-
ness disruption, inefficiencies or discord among the employ-
ees and with management. In the long run that will hurt us
all. You control our future!’’
At some point on March 17 or 18, Rekstad posted at the
facility copies of the following:
NOTICE
SOLICITATION FOR ANY PURPOSE IS NOT TO
OCCUR DURING WORKING TIME. DISTRIBU-
TION OF LITERATURE OF ANY KIND IS NOT
PERMITTED AT ANY TIME ON COMPANY PREM-
ISES.
Rekstad testified that she posted this notice before Wat-
son’s 3:15 p.m., March 17 demand for recognition. Rekstad
further testified that she posted the notice because some em-
ployees had complained to her that other employees who
were distributing union authorization cards had interfered
with them as they attempted to do their work on that date.
The notice remained posted through the May 5 election.
Penny Clay and Linda Sue Hayman are currently em-
ployed as nurse’s aides at Respondent’s facility. Both Clay
and Hayman testified that they did not see the above notice
before they reported to work on March 18.
I credit Rekstad’s testimony that she posted the rule before
Watson’s 3:15 p.m., March 17 demand for recognition be-
cause I believe that Rekstad knew immediately of the park-
ing lot distributions that began at 1 p.m.; and I believe that
Rekstad reacted immediately by posting the no-distribution
rule in question. Accordingly, I shall recommend that the ob-
jection to the May 5 election, based on the promulgation of
the no-distribution rule, be dismissed because the promulga-
tion of the rule occurred before the March 18 petition for
election was filed. See Ideal Electric, supra.
Both Clay and Hayman further testified, without contradic-
tion, that both before and after the posting of the March 17
no-distribution rule, employees and supervisors (including
admitted Supervisor De Rhonda Rinas, assistant director of
nursing) sold cookies and cosmetics and other such items at
or around the nurses’ stations, undisputed work areas. Both
Clay and Hayman credibly testified that such solicitations
and distributions had continued until approximately a week
before the hearing.
Except for the case of Birdsong, there is no evidence that
any employee who attempted to solicit for the Union, or dis-
tribute literature for the Union, was disciplined for such con-
duct after the posting of the March 17 notice.
5. Election observer objection
At the May 5 election, the Employer used Carla Breitling
as its observer. Breitling was hired in September 1991, or
about 8 months before the election. She first worked alter-
nate weekends, then daily, as a receptionist. On April 17 she
was reclassified as ‘‘staffing coordinator.’’ She had quit her
employment by the time of the hearing. The Union contends
that the Employer’s use of Breitling as an election observer
was objectionable because, as staffing coordinator, Breitling
was either a supervisor within Section 2(11) of the Act or
she was an individual who was ‘‘closely aligned with man-
agement.’’
Breitling testified that, when she was staffing coordinator,
the director of nursing would usually create a monthly mas-
ter schedule stating which personnel (including supervisors)
would be working during the coming month and what shifts
that personnel would work. Using the master schedule,
Breitling would create daily schedules which were posted for
the employees. The hospital is divided into seven working
areas. For each shift, in each area, the hospital is staffed by
a nurse/supervisor and three or four nurse’s aides. The mas-
ter schedule created by the director of nursing does not indi-
cate where an employee, or supervisor, would work during
the month; however, that information is listed on the daily
schedules that Breitling would complete. Breitling testified
that she used previous schedules and some handwritten notes
from the director of nursing to indicate on the daily sched-
ules where personnel would be working. Breitling has no
nursing experience and there is no evidence that any degree
of discretion was required in her entering on the daily sched-
ules the places where the employees (and supervisors) were
to work.
Breitling testified that sometimes the monthly schedules
that were issued by the director of nursing did not include
sufficient staffing for the nursing areas for each day of the
coming month. Also, employees would occasionally report
off for work unexpectedly. In either event, when she was
staffing coordinator, Breitling had the duty of calling em-
ployee after employee until all the staffing slots were filled.
Breitling testified that she made her telephone calls alpha-
betically according to lists of employees who had previously
shown a willingness to work additional shifts or hours.
Breitling testified, without contradiction, that employees who
called in to report prospective absences were also required to
call to report to the director of nursing. In the 3-week period
before the election that Breitling was the staffing coordinator,
she was paid hourly and received the same benefits as other
hourly employees. She had no office, but worked where she
could find space. She attended no supervisory meetings, and
there is no evidence that she campaigned on behalf of man-
agement (or the Union) during the election. Breitling worked
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; she received
a 1/2-hour paid lunchbreak; and she punched the same time-
clock that other employees punched. When Breitling was
promoted from receptionist to staffing coordinator, her wages
were raised from $6.95 to $8 per hour.
Employees Birdsong, Clay, and Hayman testified that they
called Breitling to report absences, but there is no probative
evidence that Breitling used any discretion in granting time
off to any employees.
Employee Hayman testified that at the May 5 election
‘‘ten to eleven’’ employees approached the polling area and
then turned around and left.
B. Analysis and Conclusions
1. Election observer objection
There is no evidence that Breitling was a statutory super-
visor at the time of the May 5 election. The Union contends,
alternatively, that Respondent’s use of Breitling as an elec-
tion observer was objectionable because Breitling held a po-
sition that was ‘‘closely aligned with management,’’ under
Mid-Continent Spring Co., 273 NLRB 884 (1985), and Sun-
ward Materials, 304 NLRB 781 (1991). In Mid-Continent,
58 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
2 Lucky Stores, 269 NLRB 942 (1984); McDonald Land & Mining
Co., 301 NLRB 463 (1991).
3 GHR Energy Corp., 294 NLRB 1011 (1989).
the individual selected by management was the personnel
manager, unquestionably a management position. In Sunward
Materials, the individual selected by management as its ob-
server was its training administrator and, as such, was di-
rectly involved in the hiring and review processes of employ-
ees. Moreover, the training administrator in Sunward Mate-
rials appeared at antiunion campaign meetings that were con-
ducted by management, and he stationed himself with man-
agement personnel as antiunion messages were being deliv-
ered. Therefore, the cases cited by the Union are distinguish-
able. Moreover, that one employee saw other employees turn
away from the polling area is not evidence that those other
employees were, in fact, discouraged from voting by the
presence of Breitling. Accordingly, I shall recommend dis-
missal of this objection to the election.
2. The disciplinary rules
The complaint, paragraph 5, alleges Respondent’s policy
30 is an unlawful no-solicitation rule and that by maintaining
and enforcing its policy 30, Respondent has violated Section
8(a)(1) of the Act.
Policy 30 is not limited to solicitations conducted on
working time; it would cover nonworking time also, and, it
is therefore presumptively invalid. Stoddard-Quirk Mfg. Co.,
138 NLRB 615 (1962).
Respondent contends that policy 38 somehow cures any
unlawfulness of policy 30 because policy 38 states that so-
licitations are to be conducted in nonpatient areas, during
nonworking time. Policy 38, at most, indicates where ap-
proved solicitations may be conducted; it does not remove,
in any way, the requirement for prior management approval
as stated in policy 30. Respondent further contends that the
policy 30 was never enforced. This is not true. The discipline
of Birdsong, as discussed infra, was, in effect, an enforce-
ment of policy 30. Also, the Board stated in J.C. Penney Co.,
266 NLRB 1223 at 1224–1225 (1983):
Moreover, with regard to Respondent’s assertion in its
brief that the rule never was enforced, we note that it
is well established that the mere maintenance of such
a rule serves to inhibit employees from engaging in oth-
erwise protected organizational activity, and, therefore,
the absence of evidence of enforcement of a rule does
not preclude the finding of a violation or the issuance
of a remedial order.
Respondent’s maintenance and enforcement of policy 30 vio-
lated Section 8(a)(1), as I find and conclude.
In response to the union activity that began on March 17,
Rekstad posted at the facility a notice that stated, ‘‘Distribu-
tion of literature of any kind is not permitted at any time on
company premises.’’ Respondent cites several cases to the
effect that an employer, when faced with interference with
production caused by employees engaging in solicitations or
distributions, may post valid no-solicitations or valid no-dis-
tributions rules. However, the quoted no-distribution rule is
unlawfully broad, as it is not limited to working areas or im-
mediate patient care areas. Accordingly, by posting of the
unlawfully broad no-distribution rule on March 17, Respond-
ent violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act, as I find and con-
clude.
3. Warning notice to Birdsong
Birdsong and others were engaging in open and obvious
union activities on March 17 at the entrance to the Respond-
ent’s parking lot. Rekstad admitted that these activities were
reported to her, but denied learning the identities of the em-
ployees who were engaging in such activity. This denial is
too much to believe, and I do not. The activity prompted a
full-page warning to the employees stating that Respondent
was ‘‘absolutely opposed to having a Union.’’ The notice
further cautioned the employees in most dire terms, stating,
that union activity, ‘‘will hurt us all.’’ Following that, Re-
spondent posted a blatantly violative no-distribution rule to
supplement the violative no-solicitation rule that was then
contained in its employee handbook. Finally, the timing of
Respondent’s action, as it was directed towards Birdsong,
demonstrates unlawful motivation; immediately after
Birdsong engaged in open and obvious union activities, she
was given a warning notice for something that had happened
as much as 2 weeks before the fact. Respondent has sug-
gested no legitimate reason for this delay.
Accordingly, I find that the General Counsel has presented
a prima facie case that Birdsong was given a violative warn-
ing notice for engaging in union activity. Under Wright Line,
251 NLRB 1083 (1980), Respondent must show that it
would have issued Birdsong the warning notice absent her
protected union activities.
Respondent presented no evidence that Birdsong engaged
in any misconduct. Moreover, Birdsong credibly denied hav-
ing engaged in the misconduct attributed to her in the warn-
ing notice of March 17. Respondent cites cases to the effect
that an employer cannot be held to have violated Section
8(a)(3) if a supervisor who disciplines an employee, in good
faith, believed that the employee had engaged in the conduct
for which the employee was disciplined (and the discipline
for such conduct was meted out on a nondiscriminatory
basis). In the cases cited by Respondent, however, the em-
ployers produced at trial more evidence than bare reports of
misconduct and bare testimony that the reports were relied
on. In each case cited by Respondent, someone, either the
supervisor who disciplined the alleged discriminatee2 or
someone who made a report to the supervisor,3 testified that
the alleged discriminatee did something which could, in good
faith, be interpreted as the proper subject of discipline. Here,
there was no such testimony; Respondent did not produce
anyone who might have been able to testify that Birdsong
engaged in any conduct that might have, in good faith, been
intrepreted by management as misconduct. (Respondent did
not even produce Greenley who could not have testified
about Birdsong’s conduct, but could only have testified that
she decided that Birdsong had engaged in certain conduct
and that she reported her conclusions to Rekstad.)
Therefore, because the General Counsel has presented a
prima facie case that Birdsong’s March 17 warning notice
was issued because of her union activities, and because Re-
spondent has failed to show that it would have issued that
warning notice even absent Birdsong’s protected activities, I
find and conclude that the issuance of the warning notice
violated Section 8(a)(3) of the Act, as alleged. I further find
59OLATHE HEALTHCARE CENTER
4 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
adopted by the Board and all objections to them shall be deemed
waived for all purposes.
5 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.’’
that the issuance of the March 17 warning notice to Birdsong
constituted discriminatory enforcement of the no-distribution
rule that Respondent posted that date because, as is
uncontested, Respondent has continued to allow other dis-
tributions (and solicitations) at the facility.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. By maintaining and enforcing an unlawfully broad no-
solicitation rule, and by promulgating, maintaining, and en-
forcing an unlawfully broad no-distribution rule, Respondent
has violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
2. By issuing, on March 17, 1992, to employee Dawn
Birdsong a written warning notice because she had become
or remained a member of the Union or had given assistance
or support to it, Respondent has violated Section 8(a)(3) and
(1) of the Act.
3. The above unfair labor practices affect commerce within
the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
The Objections to the Election
I find that the objections based on Respondent’s mainte-
nance of unlawfully broad no-solicitation and no-distribution
rules during the period between the filing of the petition on
March 18 and the election of May 5 are valid because such
conduct reasonably would have interfered with the free
choice of the employees, and I conclude that the election
held May 5 must be set aside and that a new election be held
at such time as the effects of the unfair labor practices found
herein are dissipated to the extent that a free and fair election
may be held.
On these findings of fact and conclusions of law and on
the entire record, I issue the following recommended4
ORDER
The Respondent, Olathe Healthcare Center, Inc., Olathe,
Kansas, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Issuing warning notices to employees because they
have become or remained members of Textile Processors,
Service Trades, Health Care, Professional and Technical Em-
ployees International Union, Local No. 2, or because they
have given assistance or support to that labor organization.
(b) Promulgating, maintaining in effect, or enforcing un-
lawfully broad no-solicitation or no-distribution rules.
(c) In any like or related manner interfering with, restrain-
ing, or coercing its employees in the exercise of rights guar-
anteed in Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to ef-
fectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Remove from its files any reference to the unlawful
written warning notice issued on March 17, 1992, to Dawn
Birdsong and notify her, in writing, that has been done and
that the warning will not be used against her in any way.
(b) Post at its place of business in Olathe, Kansas, copies
of the attached notice marked ‘‘Appendix.’’5 Copies of the
notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for Re-
gion 17, after being signed by Respondent’s authorized rep-
resentative shall be posted by Respondent immediately upon
receipt and maintained for 60 consecutive days in con-
spicuous places including all places where notices to employ-
ees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken
by the Respondent to ensure that said notices are not altered,
defaced, or covered by any other material.
(c) Notify the Regional Director in writing within 20 days
from the date of this Order what steps Respondent has taken
to comply.
IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that the election held on
May 5, 1992, in Case 17–RC–10769 be, and it hereby is, set
aside, and that the case be severed from Case 17–CA–16148
and remanded to the Regional Director for Region 17 of the
Board for the purpose of conducting a new election at such
time as he or she deems the circumstances permit the free
choice of a bargaining representative.
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 vio-
lated the National Labor Relations Act and has ordered us
to post and abide by this notice.
Section 7 of the Act gives employees these rights.
To organize
To form, join, or assist any union
To bargain collectively through representatives of
their own choice
To act together for other mutual aid or protection
To choose not to engage in any of these protected
concerted activities.
WE WILL NOT issue warning notices to you because you
become or remain members of Textile Processors, Service
Trades, Health Care, Professional and Technical Employees
International Union, Local No. 2, or because you have given
aid or support to that labor organization.
WE WILL NOT promulgate, maintain, or enforce any rule,
regulation, or other prohibition that forbids solicitation or
distribution of literature, on behalf of a union by our employ-
ees, during their nonworking time in nonworking areas or
other areas where such conduct would not adversely affect
patient care.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with,
restrain, or coerce you in the exercise of the rights guaran-
teed you by Section 7 of the Act.
60 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
WE WILL remove from our files any reference to the un-
lawful written warning notice that we issued to Dawn
Birdsong on March 17, 1992, and WE WILL notify her in
writing that this has been and that the warning notice will
not be used against her in any way.
OLATHE HEALTHCARE CENTER, INC.