R and G Knitting Mills, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

May 28, 1938

7 N.L.R.B. 506 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of R AND G KNITTING MILLS, INO. and INTERNATIONAL
LADIES GARMENT WORKERS UNION
Case No. C-254.-Decided May 28, 1938
Ladies ' Underwear Manufacturing Industry-Settlement : stipulation providing
for cessation of unfair labor practices and taking of certain affirmative action,
including reinstatement of employees on strike-Order: entered on stipulation ;
certain affirmative - action not required in view of employer 's compliance with
provisions of stipulation prior to issuance of order.
Mr. Samuel G. Zack, for the Board.
Mr. Mortimer C. Rhone, of Williamsport, Pa., for the respondent.
Mr. Alfred Jackson and Mr. Isidor Katz, of Philadelphia, Pa., for
the Union.
Mr. M. J. Maggio, of Williamsport, Pa., for the R. and G. Loyal
Workers' Council, Intervenor.
Mr. Eugene R. Thorrens, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon charges duly filed by International Ladies Garment Workers
Union, herein called the Union, the National Labor Relations Board,
herein called the Board, by Stanley W. Root, Regional Director for the
Fourth Region (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), issued its complaint
dated September 17, 1937, against R. and G. Knitting Mills, Inc.,
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, herein called the respondent. Copies of
the complaint and accompanying notice of hearing were duly served
upon the respondent, the Union, and R. and G. Loyal Workers' Coun-
cil, a labor organization alleged to have been dominated by the
respondent.
The complaint alleged that the respondent had engaged in and was
engaging in unfair labor practices affecting commerce, within the
meaning of Section 8 (1) and (2), and Section 2 (6) and (7), of the
National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the Act.
506
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 507
On September 24, 1937, the respondent filed its answer to the com-
plaint, in which it denied that it had engaged in or was engaging in the
unfair labor practices.
Pursuant to notice a hearing was held at Williamsport, Pennsyl-
vania, on September 30, October 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1937, before Paul
Davies, the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board. The Board,
the respondent, the Union and the Councils were represented by
counsel.
Upon the record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
The respondent, R. and G. Knitting Mills, Inc., is a corporation or-
ganized under the laws of the State of New York with its principal
office in New York City and its sole plant in the city of Williamsport,
Pennsylvania. It is engaged in the manufacture, sale, and distribu-
tion of ladies' underwear.
Approximately 95 per cent of the raw materials, consisting of taffeta,
rayon, rayon silk, and sateen, used in its manufacturing process, origi-
nate from points outside the State of Pennsylvania. The total annual
value of its output, based upon manufacturers' prices, amounts to ap-
proximately $1,500,000. About 90 per cent of-the finished products
are sold and shipped outside of the State of Pennsylvania to various
parts of the country.
We find that the respondent's operations at its plant constitute a
continuous flow of trade, traffic, and commerce among the several
States.
H. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
International Ladies Garment Workers Union is a labor organiza-
tion, originally chartered by the American Federation of Labor, but
now affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organization, ad-
mitting to membership all workers engaged in the women's and chil-
dren's garment making and accessory trades.
R. and G. Loyal Workers' Council is an unaffiliated labor organiza-
tion admitting to membership all employees at the respondent's plant.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
On the last day of the hearing the Board, the respondent, and the
Union, by their respective counsel, entered into a stipulation in writ-
1 At the hearing the Council filed its petition to intervene in the proceedings. The
Trial Examiner granted the request.
508 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
ing, dated October 8, 1937, which was read into the record and is
incorporated as an exhibit in these proceedings. The stipulation
provides:
It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel for the respective
parties :
1. The National Labor Relations Board may make Findings
on the basis of the record to date that the respondents have en-
gaged in unfair labor practices as alleged in the Complaint issued
by the Board that the respondent dominated and interfered with
the formation, operation and administration of the said R and G
Loyal Workers' Council and financially aided and supported the
same and thereby violated the provisions of the National Labor
Relations Act relating to such conduct in connection with the
'subject matter of paragraph one of the charge, and that the re-
spondent interfered with and restrained its employees in the
exercise of the rights guaranteed to them as set forth in Section
7 of the said Act.
II. It is further stipulated that the Board may enter a cease
and desist order in this case to the following effect :
The respondent shall :
1. Cease and desist from in any manner interfering with, re-
straining or coercing its employees in the exercise of their rights
to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations,
to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choos-
ing, and to engage in concerted activities for the purposes of col-
lective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed
under Section 7 of the Act.
2. Cease and desist from in any manner dominating or inter-
fering with the administration of the R & G Loyal Workers'
Council, or any other labor organization of its employees; from
contributing financial aid or support to the said organization;
from recognizing or dealing in any manner with the R & G Loyal
Workers' Council or any group or committee purporting to rep-
resent the said organization; or from forming or maintaining
any groups or designating any individuals to act as the repre-
sentative of the employees for the purpose of collective bargain-
ing respecting any of the terms or conditions of employment;
3. Take the following affirmative action to effectuate the poli-
cies and purposes of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a) That the respondent will withdraw all recognition from
the R & G Loyal Workers' Council as the representative of its
employees or any of them for the purpose of dealing with the
respondent concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates
of pay, hours of employment, or other conditions of employment;
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 509
(b) That the respondent will post notices in conspicuous places
about its plant or mills stating that the R & G Loyal Workers'
Council is disestablished as the representative of its employees
or any of them for the purposes of collective bargaining, and
that the respondent will not extend any recognition to such
organization; the said notices to remain posted for at least thirty
,(30) consecutive days from the date of posting;
(c) That it will personally inform in writing the officers of
the R & G Loyal Workers' Council that the organization has
been formed and administered in violation of the National Labor
Relations Act and that it will not in any manner deal with or
recognize such organization;
(d) That it will inform all of its officials and agents, including
superintendents, foremen, and other supervisory employees that
they shall not in any manner approach employees concerning,
or discuss with employees, the question of their labor affiliation
or threaten employees in any manner because of their member-
ship in any labor organization in general, or the International
Ladies Garment Workers Union in particular;
(e) Offer to all of respondent's employees now on strike re-
employment and reinstatement to their work not later than
October 18, 1937, without prejudice to any rights and privileges
previously enjoyed by them, it being agreed however, that those
employees so offered reemployment and reinstatement who do
not accept the same on or before November 1, 1937, shall not be
entitled to reinstatement after said date.
III. It is further stipulated that the respondent will notify
the National Labor Relations Board of compliance with the fore-
going provisions within forty (40) days from the date of this
stipulation.
Since the Board has been advised by the Regional Director for
the Fourth Region that the respondent has complied with the terms
of the stipulation, we shall not include Section 3 (a) to (e), inclusive,
of the stipulation in our order.
ORDER
On the basis of the above stipulation and findings of fact, and pur-
suant to Section 10 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, the
National Labor Relations Board hereby orders that the respondent,
R. & G. Knitting Mills, Inc., and its officers, agents, successors, and
assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist :
(a) From in any manner interfering with, restraining or coercing
its employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization. to
510 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively
through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in con-
certed activities for the purposes of collective bargaining or other
mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act;
(b) From in any manner dominating or interfering with the ad-
ministration of the R. & G. Loyal Workers' Council, or any other
labor organization of its employees; from contributing financial aid
or support to the said organization ; from recognizing or dealing in
any manner with the R. & G. Loyal Workers' Council or any group or
committee purporting to represent the said organization; or from'
forming or maintaining any groups or designating any individuals
to act as the representative of the employees for the purpose of
collective bargaining respecting any of the terms or conditions of
employment.