Sitco (Stainless Ice-Tainer Corporation)

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 12, 1982

265 N.L.R.B. 375 (N.L.R.B. 1982)

SITCO (STAINLESS ICE-TAINER CORPORATION)
Sitco (Stainless Ice-Tainer Corporation) and Interna-
tional Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers Union, Local 1127, AFL-CIO-CLC.
Case 23-CA-8624
November 12, 1982
DECISION AND ORDER
BY MEMBERS JENKINS, ZIMMERMAN, AND
HUNTER
On June 23, 1982, Administrative Law Judge
Hutton S. Brandon issued the attached Decision in
this proceeding. Thereafter, Respondent filed ex-
ceptions and a supporting brief. The General Coun-
sel also filed exceptions and a supporting brief.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the
National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board has delegated its au-
thority in this proceeding to a three-member panel.
The Board has considered the record and the at-
tached Decision in light of the exceptions and
briefs and has decided to affirm the rulings, find-
ings,' and conclusions of the Administrative Law
Judge and to adopt his recommended Order.
ORDER
Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor Re-
lations Board adopts as its Order the recommended
Order of the Administrative Law Judge and
hereby orders that the Respondent, Sitco (Stainless
Ice-Tainer Corporation), San Antonio, Texas, its
officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall take
the action set forth in the said recommended
Order.
I Respondent and the General Counsel have excepted to certain credi-
bility findings made by the Administrative Law Judge. It is the Board's
established policy not to overrule an administrative law judge's resolu-
tions with respect to credibility unless the clear preponderance of all of
the relevant evidence convinces us that the resolutions are incorrect.
Standard Dry Wall Produce Inc., 91 NLRB 544 (1950), enfd. 188 F.2d
362 (3d Cir. 1951). We have carefully examined the record and find no
basis for reversing his findings. In affirming the Administrative Law
Judge's finding that Gloria Hernandez was discharged in violation of Sec.
8(aX3) of Act, Member Hunter does not rely on the fact that Hernandez
was replaced by an employee who had no purchasing clerk experience.
Member Jenkins does not rely on Wright Line, a Division of Wright
Line, Inc., 251 NLRB 1083 (1980). That decision concerns identifying the
cause of discharge where a genuine lawful and a genuine unlawful reason
exist. Here he would find that the asserted lawful reason, Hernandez' un-
satisfactory work performance, was not in fact relied on by Respondent
but was a pretext. Since, therefore, only one genuine reason remains, the
unlawful one, Member Jenkins would not apply Wright Line, as to do so
would be confusing and misleading.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
HUTTON S. BRANDON, Administrative Law Judge:
This case was heard in San Antonio, Texas, on May 12,
265 NLRB No. 47
1982. The charge was filed on August 12, 1981,1 by In-
ternational Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers Union, Local 1127, AFL-CIO-CLC, herein
called the Union, alleging that Sitco (Stainless Ice-Tainer
Corporation), herein called Respondent or the Company,
violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the National Labor
Relations Act, herein called the Act, in the discharge of
Gloria Jean Hernandez on June 25. The complaint in the
matter issued on October 2 alleging not only the unlaw-
fulness of Hernandez' discharge but also alleging inde-
pendent violations of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act through
two supervisors involving interrogation of Hernandez
about union activities. Respondent filed a timely answer
denying that it engaged in the unfair labor practices at-
tributed to it.
Upon the entire record, including my observation of
the demeanor of the witnesses, and after due considera-
tion of the briefs filed by the General Counsel and Re-
spondent, I make the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. JURISDICTION
Respondent is a Texas corporation maintaining its
principal office and place of business in San Antonio,
Texas, where it is engaged in the manufacture of bever-
age dispensers. During the 12-month period preceding is-
suance of the complaint Respondent, in the course and
conduct of its business operations, purchased goods and
commodities valued in excess of $50,000 from suppliers
located outside the State of Texas, which goods and
commodities were shipped directly to Respondent's San
Antonio facility. The complaint alleges, Respondent by
its answer admits, and I find that Respondent is an em-
ployer engaged in commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. The complaint alleges,
Respondent also admits, and I find that the Union is a
labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of
the Act.
II. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Background
It is undisputed that the Union had been the collec-
tive-bargaining representative of Respondent's employees
in a unit of production employees excluding office cleri-
cal employees beginning from about 6 months prior to
the events involved in the instant case. Moreover, the
Union and Respondent were parties to a collective-bar-
gaining agreement scheduled to expire in November
1982. No history of unfair labor practices on the part of
Respondent was presented at the hearing, and there was
no evidence presented to establish that the relationship
between Respondent and the Union was anything less
than amicable.
Respondent's general manager, William C. Young-
blood, testified that he himself was a lifetime member of
the Teamsters Union. According to Youngblood, his phi-
losophy with respect to union organization was that if
t All dates are in 1981 unless otherwise specified
375
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the employees had a union he supported the union 100
percent. Moreover, Youngblood related that if the cleri-
cal employees also wanted representation he would sup-
port that also. While Youngblood's assertions in the fore-
going respect must be considered as completely self-serv-
ing, his assertions along with the history of Respondent's
relationship with the Union provide the background
against which the allegations of the complaint must be
considered.
B. The Alleged Unlawful Interrogation
The alleged discriminatee in this case, Gloria Jean
Hernandez, was originally employed by Respondent as
an inventory clerk in October 1979. Her duties consisted
primarily of recording inventory information on a cardex
recording system. However, her duties began to change
in late 1980 and early 1981 because of Respondent's
phaseout of the cardex system and adoption of a comput-
er system. Hernandez subsequently became the purchas-
ing clerk and continued to work in the purchasing de-
partment under the supervision of Larry Metzger, then
chief purchasing agent and later materials manager.
While she was not represented by the Union because
of her classification as an office clerical Hernandez main-
tained a close association with unit employees and union
officers. Thus, Hernandez testified that for about 3 or 4
months prior to her discharge on June 25 she had been
dating an employee of Respondent, Carlos Gutierez, who
was a union trustee. Hernandez further related in her tes-
timony that she was a friend of Romeo Bononcini, an-
other employee of Respondent and the president of the
Union. In fact, on June 22, Hernandez had a birthday
cake prepared for Bononcini which she delivered to
Bononcini's office at Respondent's plant with the knowl-
edge of Metzger.
Hernandez, who testified that she regarded Metzger as
a friend as well as a supervisor, testified generally that
Metzger was aware that she was dating Gutierez and as-
sociating with Bononcini and other unit members in the
warehouse with whom she had contact because of her
work. Hernandez related that, on several occasions be-
tween January and June "whenever there was a union
meeting," Metzger asked her the next day "what went
on at the union meeting yesterday?" Hernandez testified
she would customarily reply that she did not know, that
she did not go to the meetings-to which Metzger
would generally respond, "Well, don't you talk about it,"
and, "You associate with Romeo and Carlos and them."
To this Hernandez stated that she would reply that they
did not talk about the Union. Hernandez testified that
these questions would take place after union meetings
but she could not recall the specific dates. Moreover, the
record does not affirmatively establish when union meet-
ings were held during the period specified by Hernandez.
Metzger, as a witness of Respondent, specifically
denied ever asking Hernandez what had taken place at
any union meetings. He added that he had never initiated
any conversation with Hernandez about the Union or
what was going on with the Union but testified that Her-
nandez brought the subject up to him approximately two
times. Metzger, who confirmed the generally friendly re-
lationship with Hernandez, explained on cross-examina-
tion that Hernandez had only remarked to him regarding
union meetings that nobody was going to the meetings
because there was a lot of drinking and arguing.
The complaint alleges, and the General Counsel
argues, that Metzger's questions of Hernandez constitut-
ed interrogation in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the
Act. Respondent argues in its brief that no inquiry was
made by Metzger but that even if such an inquiry was
made of Hernandez it could not be considered as coer-
cive or intimidating and in violation of the Act because
it could not be viewed as calculated to "ferret out infor-
mation concerning the bargaining unit employees' union
activities." In this regard, Respondent points out that
there was no organizational activity underway at the
time, since the bargaining unit employees were already
covered by a collective-bargaining agreement, and Her-
nandez was admittedly not engaged in organizational ac-
tivities at the time. Finally, because of the relationship
between Metzger and Hernandez which was described as
friendly and because there was no threat of reprisal or
promise of benefit contained in the remarks attributed to
Metzger they must be considered as innocuous and non-
violative.2
While it is clear from Metzger's admissions that union
meetings were discussed between him and Hernandez, I
find Hernandez' testimony on the point too vague to be
sufficiently reliable to establish a violation of Section
8(a)(1) by Respondent. It is not even clear that the al-
leged questioning took place within the 6-month period
prior to the filing of the charge on which the complaint
is based. It is also unlikely that Metzger would repeat his
questions after each meeting once Hernandez told him,
as she claimed, that she did not attend the meetings and
did not talk to Bononcini and Gutierez about the Union.
Finally, there is nothing in the record which would ex-
plain why Metzger's curiosity would be piqued by any-
thing that transpired at union meetings. In this regard, it
must be recalled, as Respondent's brief points out, that
the production employees were already represented by
the Union and already had a collective-bargaining agree-
ment. No special dispute or concern was revealed by the
record which would spark an inquiry about events at
union meetings. Accordingly, under the circumstances, I
credit Metzger's version of how the subject of the Union
arose between himself and Hernandez and I find and
conclude that the record does not establish the complaint
allegation of unlawful interrogation by Metzger in viola-
tion of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
Another incident of interrogation was attributed to
Janet Paskovich, Respondent's purchasing agent, who
began her employment with Respondent around June 1.
Hernandez testified that on June 17 Paskovich, prompted
by the frequent paging of one Jaime Juarez over the
plant intercom system, inquired of Hernandez who
Juarez was. Hernandez responded that Juarez had some-
thing to do with the Union and they were having a
2 Respondent further argues that even if Metzger's remarks could be
construed as technically violative they were too insubstantial and remote
to warrant a finding of a violation of Sec. 8(a)(1) citing Skyline Mobile
Homes, 200 NLRB 109 (1972); Wagoner Water Heater Co. Inc, 203
NLRB 518 (1973).
376
SITCO (Si AINL.ESS ICE-TAINER CORPORATION)
meeting up front and that was why he was being paged.
Discussion then turned to the Union and Hernandez
vaguely testified that Paskovich asked her "something
about only the employees in the warehouse being union."
Hernandez related that she told Paskovich that Bonon-
cini had told her that the purchasing department could
be included in the bargaining unit even though they did
not have a union membership card. To this Paskovich al-
legedly asked, "You don't have to carry a card and they
still can represent you?" Hernandez responded affirma-
tively and explained that originally when the Union was
trying to form she did not like it but after she had seen
what the Union could do for the people she appreciated
it more and was more interested in it.
Paskovich, called as a witness by Respondent, did not
deny the conversation with Hernandez as related by
Hernandez. However, she placed it as occurring on the
date of Hernandez' discharge, June 25. I believe Pasko-
vich is more correct with respect to the date than Her-
nandez. From Hernandez' own testimony which is relat-
ed in more detail below it is clear that Bononcini had
made no clear representation to Hernandez about the
Union's ability to represent clerical employees until June
20 or 21.
It is alleged that Paskovich's questioning of Hernandez
constituted unlawful interrogation in violation of Section
8(a)(l) of the Act. While Respondent admits Paskovich's
supervisory status, it urges that the simple inquiry of
Hernandez who Juarez was was purely innocuous and
did not amount to interrogation in violation of the Act. I
agree.
I find no unlawful interrogation in the inquiries of
Hernandez by Paskovich. The question by Paskovich
about who Juarez was could not have been expected to
elicit any relevations regarding the union activities of
any employee. Since Paskovich was a relatively new em-
ployee her curiosity was reasonable as well as under-
standable. The ensuing remarks of Paskovich were like-
wise understandable and reveal no coercive interrogation
of Hernandez. Hernandez was unable to specify exactly
how the subject turned to the Union's ability to represent
clerical employees. And Paskovich's restatement in a
question form of a remark already made by Hernandez
does not establish unlawful interrogation. The General
Counsel has not explained how Paskovich's remarks in
any way tended to interfere with, restrain, or coerce em-
ployees in their union activities. Accordingly, I find no
violation of the Act in Paskovich's remarks or question
to Hernandez on June 25.
C. The Discharge of Hernandez
1. Hernandez' union activity
As already related, the collective-bargaining unit did
not include the approximately 20 office clerical employ-
ees employed by Respondent. Hernandez testified that on
the morning of June 17 another office clerical employee,
Diane Heinder, asked Hernandez if she had heard any
rumors about forming a clerical union. Hernandez re-
ported that she had not. Subsequently on the same day
during lunchtime Hernandez inquired of another office
clerical employee, Robin Williams, if she had heard any
rumors regarding the starting of a clerical union. Wil-
liams replied that she had heard two drafting department
employees expressing an interest in starting a union. Her-
nandez asked Williams if she were interested in a union
and upon Williams' affirmative response Hernandez
stated she was also interested. That same afternoon Her-
nandez approached Union President Bononcini around 3
p.m., and asked him if it were possible for clerical em-
ployees to have their own union. Bononcini said he be-
lieved that it was. He suggested that Hernandez talk to
the people and see how many were interested in it and
he would get back to her later on what could be done.
On June 19 Hernandez met with clerical employees
Robin Williams, Cindy Carpenter, and Erma Gondra in
the plant lunchroom where they discussed union repre-
sentation. The other employees indicated that when Her-
nandez found out more detail about the Union they
would be willing to talk to her more about it. It was not
until June 20 that Bononcini again met with Hernandez
and told her to see how many people were interested in
the Union and he would then supply her with cards to
sign people up for the Union.
2. Criticism of Hernandez' work
On June 19 Paskovich met with Hernandez in the
office of Personnel Manager Judy Parker.3 According to
Hernandez, Paskovich told her there were going to be
changes in the purchasing department and that Hernan-
dez' duties were going to change a bit more, that she
wanted Hernandez to stay in her office more than she
had in the past, and that she wanted her personal calls to
slow down. Paskovich further stated that she did not
want Cindy Carpenter or Robin Williams coming into
Hernandez' office and visiting with her because when
they came in sometimes they would stay a couple of
minutes to talk and Paskovich wanted that stopped. Pas-
kovich asked Hernandez if she had enrolled in a typing
course. Hernandez replied that she could not because
they were not signing up classes until July 10, but Her-
nandez added that she had previously told Metzger that
the classes would not be signed up until July 10 and he
had told her that would be satisfactory. Hernandez in-
quired of Paskovich why she was talking to Hernandez
in this manner instead of Metzger. Paskovich replied that
she was Hernandez' supervisor. Hernandez complained
that she had not been told Paskovich was her supervisor
and stated that she would take the matter up with
Metzger because as far as she was concerned Metzger
was her supervisor. The discussion ended and, the fol-
lowing Monday morning in meeting with Metzger, Her-
nandez was told by Metzger that both he and Paskovich
were her supervisors.
Hernandez testified that shortly before 5 p.m., on June
25, she was called into Larry Metzger's office where he
told her that she was going to be terminated. She asked
him why and he replied that it was because of her lack
of typing skill. Hernandez protested that she had lined
I Hernandez originally testified that the meeting with Paskovich took
place on the 17th but on cross-examination indicated that it was possible
that it was June 19. Paskovich testified it was June 19. 1 conclude June
19 was the actual date.
377
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
up a class to learn to type and had previously informed
him of it including the dates of the course and he had
indicated that that would be alright. Metzger's reply was
that they needed somebody to type a thousand words a
minute "right now."
3. Argument and conclusions
The General Counsel contends that the asserted reason
for Hernandez' discharge was pretextual and that the
real reason for her discharge was Respondent's concern
over her organizing the clerical employees. In support of
this conclusion the General Counsel relies upon the
timing of the discharge within a week after Hernandez
initiated the inquiry of Bononcini about representation of
the clericals, the failure of Respondent to give any warn-
ing to Hernandez regarding the discharge, and Respond-
ent's toleration for several months of Hernandez' work
deficiencies with regard to her typing of purchase
orders, deficiencies which Respondent asserts were the
main basis for the discharge. In further response to Her-
nandez' typing deficiencies the General Counsel observes
that Hernandez, upon urging by Metzger, had arranged
to enroll in a typing course on July 10 at the San Anto-
nio Community College. Hernandez' testimony that
Metzger had indicated his approval of that course of
action was not contradicted. Moreover, in her testimony
herein Paskovich had also related that Hernandez' enroll-
ment in the typing course on July 10 would have been
acceptable to her as a commitment by Hernandez to
remedy her typing problems and meet Respondent's
needs.
The General Counsel in further support of his conten-
tion regarding discrimination of Hernandez points to the
testimony of Hernandez, uncontradicted in this regard,
that she had asked Metzger in June for a raise and his
response had been an expression of appreciation of the
work she had been doing during a period between the
resignation of the prior purchasing agent, Gilbert Ra-
mirez, and the hiring of Paskovich and a commitment to
see what he could do about getting her a raise. Hernan-
dez' testimony that she had not been previously warned
regarding any work deficiency other than her typing is
also argued by the General Counsel to be supportive of
the conclusion that Hernandez' discharge was unlawful.
Finally, the General Counsel argues that Respondent's
failure to consider a replacement for Hernandez prior to
the time of the discharge decision is also indicative of an
ulterior motive in Hernandez' discharge. Respondent in
this regard admits that Hernandez was replaced by a
temporary employee who had no prior purchasing expe-
rience. And, while, as Respondent contends, the tempo-
rary employee had typing skills and passed a typing test,
the General Counsel points out that by Metzger's own
estimation typing constituted only about 20 percent of
the purchasing clerk's work.
In Wright Line, a Division of Wright Line, Inc., 251
NLRB 1083 (1980), enfd. 662 F.2d 899 (Ist Cir. 1981),
the Board held that the General Counsel in alleged un-
lawful discharge cases must first "make a prima facie
showing sufficient to support the inference that protected
conduct was a 'motivating factor' in the employer's [dis-
charge] decision." Once the prima facie case is estab-
lished the burden then shifts to the employer "to demon-
strate the same action would have taken place even in
the absence of protected conduct." Id. at 1089. Respond-
ent contends that the General Counsel has failed in his
burden of proof because he failed to prove employer
knowledge of the union activity and union animus as a
motive for the discharge. It is quite clear as Respondent
points out that the General Counsel in unlawful dis-
charge cases has the burden of proving employer knowl-
edge of the union activity of the dischargee and union
animus as a motive for the discharge. Siltec Corporation,
217 NLRB 282 (1975). On the other hand, there is Board
and court precedent that knowledge and motive may be
inferred from the record as a whole. Patrick Plaza Dodge,
Inc., 210 NLRB 870 (1974), enforcement denied in perti-
nent part 522 F.2d 804 (4th Cir. 1975); Lapeer Metal
Products Co., 134 NLRB 1518 (1961); Wiese Plow Welding
Co., Inc., 123 NLRB 616 (1959). And as said by the
Ninth Circuit in Shattuck Denn Mining Corporation (Iron
King Branch) v. N.L.R.B., 362 F.2d 466, 470 (1966):
Actual motive, a state of mind, being the ques-
tion, it is seldom that direct evidence will be availa-
ble that is not also self-serving. .... If [the trier of
fact] finds that the stated motive for a discharge is
false, he certainly can infer that there is another
motive. More than that, he can infer that the motive
is one that the employer desires to conceal ...
Considering the record as a whole and the evidence
argued by the General Counsel in light of the principles
cited above, I am persuaded that the General Counsel
has established a prima facie violation of the Act with re-
spect to the discharge of Hernandez. While it is true that
there was no evidence of direct knowledge of any union
activity on the part of Hernandez prior to her discharge
Paskovich failed to specifically deny Hernandez' testimo-
ny that Hernandez had ascertained the possibility of
union representation of the clerical employees and ex-
pressed her interest in the Union. Paskovich viewed this
information as sufficiently important to relate it both to
Metzger and Personnel Administrator Parker on the
same day of Hernandez' discharge and prior to the actual
discharge decision by General Manager Youngblood.
While Youngblood personally may not have been aware
of the information related by Paskovich to Metzger it is
clear that he acted upon the recommendations of Pasko-
vich and Metzger and to this extent any motive they
may have had in making the recommendation must be
imputed to Youngblood. The timing of the discharge in
relation to Hernandez' expression of interest in the Union
when coupled with the other elements of the case related
above warrant an inference that the discharge was re-
sponsive to Hernandez union interest and provides the
necessary union animus to establish the General Coun-
sel's prima facie case. Accordingly, under Wright Line,
supra. Respondent must show that its same actions would
have taken place even in the absence of Hernandez'
union interest.
In addition to its argument regarding the absence of
evidence of knowledge of Hernandez' union activity and
the absence of evidence of union animus Respondent
378
SITCO (STAINLESS ICE-TAINER CORPORATION)
contends that it had ample reason to discharge Hernan-
dez because of her failure to meet her job requirements
including the necessity for fast and accurate typing. In
this connection Youngblood testified that he learned in
mid-April that the accounts payable clerk, Bobbie Byers,
was typing the purchase orders. Youngblood found this
unprofessional from an accounting standpoint because of
the possibility of some impropriety flowing from the
same clerk issuing purchase orders and also paying for
the orders. Youngblood instructed Metzger to qualify the
purchasing department employees in their work. It was
at this point that Metzger testified that he told Hernan-
dez she would have to learn to type so she could type
the purchase orders.4 In addition, Metzger testified with-
out specific contradiction that it was necessary to hire a
temporary employee beginning around April for a few
weeks to perform the typing Byers had been doing.
Metzger testified he warned Hernandez at least four
times about her typing and the necessity of improving it.
He acknowledged that he had been told of the San An-
tonio Community College typing course either by Her-
nandez or Paskovich. He further acknowledged that he
had not taken disciplinary action against Hernandez re-
garding her typing prior to her discharge. The record
shows no other disciplinary action against Hernandez for
work performance deficiencies. After Paskovich was
hired Paskovich complained to him about Hernandez'
work including her typing problems. Metzger related
that he ultimately agreed with Paskovich that they had
given Hernandez an adequate opportunity to improve
her skills and since she had not done so they should ter-
minate her. He failed to specify exactly when he agreed
with Paskovich on Hernandez' termination.
Contrary to Hernandez' testimony that she had not
been chastised about her work Paskovich testified that
she had talked to Hernandez several times about her
typing prior to June 19. Paskovich acknowledged Her-
nandez' revelation in the June 19 meeting about the com-
munity college typing course beginning July 10. More-
over, Paskovich admitted that she told Hernandez that
the enrollment in July would be all right. On the other
hand, Paskovich testified that her meeting with Hernan-
dez concluded with Paskovich giving Hernandez until
Monday to tell Paskovich how Hernandez was going to
"rectify the situation." Upon Hernandez' failure to report
back to her the following Monday, June 22, Paskovich
concluded that Hernandez should be discharged and
communicated that decision to Metzger by noon of that
day. She admittedly did not take the matter up with Her-
nandez again prior to Hernandez' discharge.
4 Metzger testified that he first started talking to Hernandez regarding
taking typing lessons in February. That testimony appears to conflict
with Youngblood's since Youngblood specified mid-April as the time he
told Metzger to qualify his people. Youngblood appeared to be more
positive in his testimony and it also coincides with that of Hernandez.
Accordingly, I credit Youngblood and Hernandez over Metzger on this
point.
' Paskovich testified the decision regarding Hernandez' termination
was reached with Metzger on Monday morning, June 22. This would put
it before Paskovich claims Hernandez had related to Paskovich her inter-
est in union representation. I do not credit Paskovich's testimony in this
regard. It was not specifically corroborated by Metzger or by Parker to
whom the decision was allegedly communicated on June 24.
On rebuttal Hernandez denied that Paskovich had ever
talked to her about her job prior to June 19. Moreover,
she contradicted Paskovich's testimony regarding any re-
quest by Paskovich on June 19 to report back to her on
the following Monday. She reported that Paskovich only
asked if she had any comments or anything to say in her
behalf with regards to what Paskovich had stated. Her-
nandez' response was that she did not have anything to
say until she talked to Metzger. I find Hernandez' testi-
mony with respect to the June 19 meeting with Pasko-
vich more persuasive. I likewise credit Hernandez' asser-
tion that Paskovich had not previously criticized her
work. Had Paskovich made prior critical comments
about Hernandez' work it is more probable that Hernan-
dez would have questioned Paskovich's supervisor au-
thority before June 19. In addition, Paskovich's testimo-
ny that she expected a response from Hernandez regard-
ing the June 19 meeting is also suspect. If as Paskovich
contends she had laid out her criticism of Hernandez' job
on June 19 and had made suggestions with respect to
Hernandez' job improvement, there would have been no
further need for Hernandez to check back with Pasko-
vich the following Monday. It is difficult to perceive
how Hernandez could have satisfied Paskovich any fur-
ther in reporting back. She had already indicated she
would be enrolling in a typing course on July 10, and
that course of action was directly responsive to what ap-
parently was Respondent's biggest concern regarding
Hernandez' work.
As previously noted the General Counsel's case is
weak due to the absence of direct knowledge of any
union activity by Hernandez. Additional weakness is
found in Hernandez' general association with union offi-
cers and unit employees which had long been known to
Respondent and clearly tolerated by it. However, it is
abundantly clear that at the time of the discharge Her-
nandez had admittedly revealed to Paskovich, and
through Paskovich to Metzger and Personnel Adminis-
trator Judy Parker, that clerical employees were subject
to representation by the Union and that Hernandez was
specifically interested in such representation. An immedi-
ate threat of further union organization was presented.
Of course, this alone would not have been sufficient to
preclude the effectuation of a legitimate discharge, for an
employee cannot avoid warranted disciplinary action by
simply advising an employer that the employee is in-
volved in union activity. But what is most damaging to
Respondent's case is the fact that nothing significant re-
garding Hernandez' work had occurred since June 19
when Paskovich critiqued Hernandez' job performance
other than Hernandez' revelation of her interest in union
representation. Certainly there was no further criticism
of Hernandez' work between June 19 and her discharge.
Hernandez had indicated on June 19 her intention to sign
up for the typing course and that intention had met with
Respondent's approval. And, as the General Counsel
points out, the discharge decision was rather precipitous
with no discussions of a replacement for Hernandez.
Considering all the foregoing, and the record as a
whole, including the timing of the discharge on the same
day of Hernandez' expression of interest through Pasko-
379
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
vich of the Union's representation of the clerical employ-
ees, Hernandez' commitment to remedy Respondent's
primary objection to her job performance by agreeing to
enroll in a typing course, the unexplained failure of Re-
spondent to consider a replacement for Hernandez prior
to the effectuation of the discharge, the ultimate replace-
ment of Hernandez with a typist not having purchasing
clerk experience even though typing constituted only
about 20 percent of the total worktime of the purchasing
clerk, the absence of any clear-cut warning of discharge
prior to effectuation of the discharge, and the absence of
any additional criticism of Hernandez' job performance
between June 19 and her discharge, lead me to the con-
clusion that Respondent has not rebutted the General
Counsel's prima facie case. Accordingly, I conclude that
the General Counsel has established by a preponderance
of the evidence that Hernandez' discharge was respon-
sive to Hernandez' expression of interest in representa-
tion of clerical employees by the Union, and that the dis-
charge was, therefore, violative of Section 8(aX3) and (1)
of the Act.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Respondent is an employer engaged in commerce
within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the
Act.
2. The Union is a labor organization within the mean-
ing of Section 2(5) of the Act.
3. Respondent did not unlawfully interrogate employ-
ees in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
4. By discharging its employee Gloria Jean Hernandez
for union considerations, thereby discouraging member-
ship in the Union, Respondent has engaged in, and is en-
gaging in, unfair labor practices within the meaning of
Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act.
5. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
THE REMEDY
Having found that Respondent has committed viola-
tions of Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act, I shall recom-
mend that it be required to cease and desist therefrom
and to take certain affirmative action designed to effectu-
ate the policies of the Act. Since I found that Respond-
ent discriminatorily discharged Gloria Jean Hernandez it
will be recommended that Respondent be ordered to
offer her immediate and full reinstatement to her former
job or, if that job no longer exists, to a substantially
equivalent position, without prejudice to seniority or
other rights and privileges, and make her whole for any
loss of earnings she may have suffered from the time of
her discharge to the date of Respondent's offer of rein-
statement. The backpay for Hernandez is to be computed
in accordance with the formula approved in F W. Wool-
worth Company, 90 NLRB 289 (1950), with interest com-
puted in the manner prescribed in Florida Steel Corpora-
tion, 231 NLRB 651 (1977).e Moreover, consistent with
e See, generally, Isis Plumbing & Heating Ca, 138 NLRB 716, 717-721
(1962).
the Board's decision in Sterling Sugars, Inc., 261 NLRB
472 (1982), I shall also recommend that Respondent be
required to expunge from its records any reference to the
unlawful discharge of Hernandez and to provide written
notice of such expunction to Hernandez and inform her
that Respondent's unlawful conduct will not be used as a
basis for further personnel actions concerning her.
Upon the foregoing findings of fact, conclusions of
law, and the entire record, and pursuant to Section 10(c)
of the Act, I hereby issue the following recommended:
ORDER7
The Respondent, Sitco (Stainless Ice-Tainer Corpora-
tion), San Antonio, Texas, its officers, agents, successors,
and assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Discouraging membership in International Union of
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers Union, Local
1127, AFL-CIO-CLC, or any other labor organization,
by discriminatorily discharging employees, or in any
manner discriminating against them with regard to their
hire and tenure of employment or terms or conditions of
employment.
(b) In any like or related manner interfering with, re-
straining, or coercing employees in the exercise of their
rights guaranteed by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action deemed neces-
sary to effectuate the policies of the Act:
(a) Offer Gloria Jean Hernandez immediate and full re-
instatement to her former job or, if such job no longer
exists, to a substantially equivalent position, without prej-
udice to her seniority or other rights or privileges, and
make her whole for any loss of earnings in the manner
set forth in "The Remedy."
(b) Expunge from its files any reference to the dis-
charge of Gloria Jean Hernandez on June 25, 1981, and
notify her in writing that this has been done and that evi-
dence of this unlawful discharge will not be used as a
basis for future personnel actions against her.
(c) Preserve and, upon request, make available to the
Board or its agents, for examination and copying, all
payroll records, social security payment records, time-
cards, personnel records and reports, and all other
records necessary to analyze the amount of backpay due
under the terms of this Order.
(d) Post at its San Antonio, Texas, place of business
copies of the attached notice marked "Appendix." 8
Copies of said notice, on forms provided by the Regional
Director for Region 23, after being duly signed by Re-
spondent's authorized representative, shall be posted by
Respondent immediately upon receipt thereof, and be
In the event no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102.46 of the
Rules and Regulations of the National Labor Relations Board, the find-
ings, conclusions, and recommended Order herein shall, as provided in
Sec. 102.48 of the Rules and Regulations, be adopted by the Board and
become its findings, conclusions, and Order, and all objections thereto
shall be deemed waived for all purposes.
a In the event that 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 Pursu-
ant to a Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an
Order of the National Labor Relations Board."
380
SITCO (STAINLESS ICE-TAINER CORPORATION)
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 ensure that said notices are
not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
(e) Notify the Regional Director for Region 23, in
writing, within 20 days from the date of this Order, what
steps Respondent has taken to comply herewith.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the complaint be dismissed
insofar as it alleges violations of the Act not specifically
found.
APPENDIX
NOTICE To EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
After a hearing at which all parties had an opportunity
to present their evidence, the National Labor Relations
Board has found that we violated the National Labor
Relations Act and has ordered us to post this notice and
to carry out its provisions.
WE WILL NOT discourage membership in Interna-
tional Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers Union, Local 1127, AFL-CIO-CLC, or
any other labor organization, by discriminatorily
discharging, or in any other manner discriminating
against, employees with regard to their hire or
tenure of employment or any term or condition of
employment.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner in-
terfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the
exercise of the rights guaranteed them by Section 7
of the National Labor Relations Act.
WE WILL offer Gloria Jean Hernandez immediate
and full reinstatement to her former job or, if her
former job no longer exists, to a substantially equiv-
alent position of employment, without prejudice to
her seniority or other rights and privileges, and WE
WILL make her whole for any loss of pay that she
may have suffered by reason of our discrimination
against her, with interest.
WE WILL expunge from our files any references
to the discharge of Gloria Jean Hernandez on June
25, 1981, and WE WILL notify her that this has been
done and that evidence of this unlawful discharge
will not be used a basis for future personnel actions
against her.
SITCO (STAINLESS IcE-TAINER CORPORA-
TION)
381