Southport Petroleum Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Aug 4, 1938

8 N.L.R.B. 792 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter Of SOUTHPORT PETROLEUM COMPANY and OIL WORKERS
INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL No. 227
Cases Nos. C-477 and B-600.-Decided August 4, 1938
Oil Refining Industry-Interference, Restraint, and Coercion: expressed op-
position to labor organization ; discrediting union leadership ; refusal to meet
with outside representatives for purposes of collective bargaining-Discrimina-
tion: discharges : for union activity ; charges of, not sustained as to one
employee-Collective Bargaining: charges of refusal to bargain collectively,
not sustained-Reinstatement OrderedBack Pay: awarded-Investigation of
Representatives: controversy concerning representation of employees-Unit
Appropriate for Collective Bargaining: production and maintenance employees,
excluding special watchmen, truck drivers- who drive their own trucks, office
workers, salesmen, chemists, and supervisory employees ; petition for separate
unit for employees engaged in boilermaking trades : denied, interests of em-
ployees so engaged indistinguishable from interests of other production and
maintenance employees-Election Ordered
Mr. Warren Woods, for the Board.
Mr. F. W. Fischer, of Tyler, Tex., and Mr. Harry Dow, of Hous-
ton, Tex., for the respondent.
Mandell d Combs, by Mr. Arthur J. Mandell, of Houston, Tex.,
for the Oil Workers.
Mr. J. N. Davis, of Kansas City, Kans., for the Brotherhood.
Mr. Warren L. Sharfman, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
ORDER
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon charges and amended charges duly filed by Oil Workers
International Union, Local No. 227, herein called the Oil Workers,
the National Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, by
Edwin A. Elliott, Regional Director for the Sixteenth Region (Fort
Worth, Texas), issued its complaint dated December 1, 1937, against
Southport Petroleum Company," Texas City, Texas, herein called
1 Erroneously referred to in the complaint before it was amended as Southport Refinery
Company.
8 N. L. R. B., No. 93.
792
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 793
the respondent, alleging that the respondent had engaged in and was
engaging in -unfair labor practices affecting commerce, within the
meaning of Section 8 (1), (3), and (5) and Section 2 (6) and (7)
of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the
Act.
On August 17, 1937, the Oil Workers also filed with the Regional
Director for the Sixteenth Region a petition alleging that a question
affecting commerce had arisen concerning the representation of em-
ployees of the respondent and requesting an investigation and certifi-
cation of representatives pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act. On
November 20, 1937, the Board, acting pursuant to Section 9 (c) of
the Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor Relations
Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, ordered an
investigation and authorized the Regional Director to conduct it and
to provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice. At the same
time the Board issued an order pursuant to Article II, Section 10 (c)
(2), and Article II, Section 37 (b), of said Rules and Regulations,
consolidating the cases for purposes of hearing.
With respect to the unfair labor practices, the complaint alleged
in substance that the respondent, on or after June 11, 1937, refused
to bargain collectively with the Oil Workers, which represented a
majority of the respondent's employees in an appropriate unit; that
the respondent discharged four named employees between August 4
and October 15, 1937, because of their affiliation with and support
of the Oil Workers; and that by these acts the respondent had inter-
fered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise of
the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act. The complaint and
accompanying notice of hearing were duly served upon the respond-
ent and the Oil Workers.
The respondent's answer denied that it was engaged in that com-
merce which was within the contemplation of the Act, and also
denied the other material allegations of the complaint.
Pursuant to the notice, a hearing on both the petition and the com-
plaint was held at Houston, Texas, from December 13 through De-
cember 17, 1937, and on January 13, 1938, before Joseph F. Kiernan,
the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board. At the hearing
the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders,
Welders & Helpers of America, herein called the Brotherhood, moved
to intervene in the representation case.2 ' This motion was granted.
The Board, the respondent, and the Oil Workers were represented
by counsel and the Brotherhood by the assistant vice president, and
all participated in the hearing. - Full opportunity to be heard, to
O
2 Case No. R-600.
794 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bear-
ing on the issues was afforded all parties. During the course of the
hearing the Trial Examiner made several rulings on motions and on
objections to the admission of evidence. The Board has reviewed
the rulings of the Trial Examiner and finds that no prejudicial errors
were committed. The rulings are hereby affirmed.
On March 7, 1938, the Trial Examiner filed his Intermediate
Report, and on March 18, 1938, a supplement thereto, in which he
found that the respondent had discharged three of the four em-
ployees named in the complaint because they joined and assisted the
Oil Workers. He recommended that they be reinstated with back
pay. The Trial Examiner also found that the fourth employee
named in the complaint was not discharged for union activity, and
that the respondent had not refused to bargain collectively with rep-
resentatives of its employees in an appropriate unit. On' March 24,
1938, the respondent filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report.
On July 28, 1938, pursuant to permission granted by the Board;
the respondent presented oral argument before the Board in support
of its exceptions to the Intermediate Report. The Board has consid-
ered the exceptions to the Intermediate Report, but save for those
which are consistent with the findings, conclusions, and order set
forth below, finds them to be without merit.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
Southport Petroleum Company, a Texas corporation organized in
1932, is engaged in the business of refining crude oil and distributing
gasoline, fuel oil, and gas oil. The main office and one of the re-
spondent's refineries is located at Kilgore, Texas. The respondent
also operates a refinery at Texas City, Texas, a terminal and docks
at Avondale, Louisiana, some oil wells located in Texas, and some
pipe lines which are used to gather oil for its refineries.
The refinery operated by the respondent at Texas City, with which
we are here concerned, has a capacity of 20,000 barrels of crude oil a
day. The average daily consumption is approximately 9,000 to 10,000
barrels. The respondent has a 150-acre tank farm at this refinery
which has a storage capacity of 500,000 barrels. Ordinarily 300,000
to 400,000 barrels of crude oil are stored there. The refining of
crude oil at Texas City is a continuous process and requires both
day and night shifts of workers.
a
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 795
Approximately 75 per cent or more of the crude oil used by the
respondent at Texas City is shipped to it in tankers coming through
the Gulf of Mexico from Corpus Christi, Texas. This oil originates
in the oil fields adjacent to Corpus Christi. Another portion of the
crude oil used at the Texas City refinery, at times running as high
as 30 per cent of the total, comes from Louisiana in the barges of
the Southport Transit Company, a corporation controlled by the
officers and stockholders of the respondent. The respondent also
purchases a small amount of refined oil which is brought from
Louisiana to Texas City, where it is canned and resold.
About 33 per cent of the total production at Texas City consists
of gasoline; The remaining 66 per cent is made up of fuel oils and
gas oils. The respondent sells these products through local sales-
men operating in Houston, Texas, and through brokers in New York
City and elsewhere. During the year 1936 the gross receipts from
sales from the Texas City refinery amounted to approximately
$9,000,000. About 10 per cent of the product is shipped to Avondale,
Louisiana, in barges owned by the Southport Transit Company, and
sold there by the respondent. Approximately 30 per cent of the
product is sold to purchasers who take delivery in trucks at Texas
City. The remaining 60 per cent of the product is loaded in tankers
at Texas City, the great bulk thereof being destined for States other
than Texas or for foreign countries. About 50 per cent of the
tankers carrying the respondent's products purchase -bunker oil from
the respondent which they use for their own propulsion.
The respondent has a trade-mark covering one of its brands of
gasoline, which is registered with the United States Patent Office for
use in commerce between the several States.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Oil Workers International Union, Local No. 227, is a labor organiza-
tion affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organization, admit-
ting to its membership all production and maintenance employees
regularly employed by the respondent at its refinery at Texas City,
Texas, exclusive of office workers and supervisory employees.
.International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders,
Welders & Helpers of America is a labor organization. It is affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor and with its Building Trades,
Metal Trades, and Railway Employees departments, and with the
Chief Executives Association of the 21 Standard Railroad Unions.
The local lodge at Houston, Texas, admits to membership boiler-
makers, welders, riveters, caulkers, burners, layers-out, flangers,
erecters, helpers, apprentices, etc.
796 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
III. TIIE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The refusal to bargain collectively
1. The appropriate unit
The Oil Workers urged as an appropriate unit all of the production
and maintenance employees regularly employed by the respondent at
its Texas City, Texas, refinery, exclusive of office workers and super-
visory employees. The Brotherhood contends that the employees in
the ,classifications of the boilermaking trade working for the respond-
ent constitute an appropriate unit-that is, boilermakers, welders,
caulkers, their helpers, and apprentices. The respondent maintained
that the appropriate unit should consist of all of its employees at
Texas City except the manager, superintendent, and assistant super-
intendent.
In accordance with our usual practice, where no labor organization
desires to represent the office workers, salesmen, chemists, and super-
visory employees, we shall exclude them from the appropriate
bargaining unit because of the dissimilarity between their interests
and those of the production employees.
Neither the Oil Workers nor the Brotherhood admits to its mem-
bership the special watchman or the truck drivers who are hired with
their own trucks by the respondent. The Oil Workers exclude the
special watchmen from membership because they are temporary em-
ployees hired for special purposes. The Oil Workers exclude truck
drivers who are hired with their own trucks from membership be-
cause they are looked upon as independent contractors. We find that
there is a diversity in the interests of the regular production and
maintenance employees and the interests of the special watchmen and
the truck drivers who are hired with their own trucks. We shall
exclude the two latter classes from the appropriate unit.
The Brotherhood contended that the boilermakers, welders, caulk-
ers, their helpers, and the apprentices to these crafts, constitute an
appropriate unit. It based its contention on the Board's decision -in
Matter of Gulf Oil Corporation and International Brotherhood of
Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Welders 1 Helpers of America.'
In that case, in determining that the unit advocated by the Brother-
hood was an appropriate one, we said, -
Wherever possible, it is obviously desirable that, in the deter-
mination of the appropriate unit, we render collective bargain-
ing of the Company's employees an immediate possibility. In
the instant proceeding the record clearly indicates that a ma-
jority of the boilermaking employees at the Port Arthur refin-
3 4 N. L. R. B. 133.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 797
ery have authorized the Boilermakers to act as their bargaining
agent and that that labor organization has for the past four or
five years been recognized by the Company as the representative
of its members. On the other hand, there is no evidence that
the. majority of the other employees at the refinery belong to
any union whatsoever; nor has any labor organization peti-
tioned the Board for certification as representative of the refin-
ery employees on a plant-wide basis. Consequently, even if the
boilermaking employees do not constitute the most effective bar-
gaining unit, as the Oil Workers contend, nevertheless, in the
existing circumstances, unless they are recognized as a separate
unit, there will be no collective bargaining agent whatsoever for
these workers, who for years have actually engaged in collective
bargaining with the Company.
The reasons motivating our determination of an appropriate unit
consisting of the boilermaking and welding department in the Gulf
Oil case, as urged by the Brotherhood, are not present here. While
there is evidence in the record indicating that the boilermakers,
welders, caulkers, and their helpers, employed by the respondent
at Texas City, desire to be represented by the Brotherhood, the
Brotherhood, has never bargained with the respondent for them, as
was true in the Gulf Oil case. In fact the Brotherhood had never
approached the respondent for any purpose up to the time of the
hearing. Moreover, in the present case there is evidence that a
majority of the employees at the refinery desire to be represented
by the Oil Workers, and the Oil Workers have, since Jude 1937,
attempted to deal with the respondent, and have petitioned the
Board for certification as representative of the employees on a plant-
wide basis. It is apparent that the rejection of the unit contended
for by the Brotherhood will not act as a deterrent to collective bar-
gaining, as would have been true in the Gulf Oil case.
Specifically, the Brotherhood's claim is that there are 18 persons
employed by the respondent at the boilermaking trade, and thttc
persons so employed constitute an appropriate unit. In support of
its claim to represent the employees in such unit the Brotherhood
introduced a petition signed by 17 of the 18 persons alleged to be
working at ' the boilermaking trade. The pay-roll records of the
respondent-list 10 of the 17 employees who signed the Brotherhood's
petition as laborers, and there is no showing that the employees
which the Brotherhood claims are engaged in the boilermaking trades
are actually working at boilermaking or any other operation iden-
tified' with the boilermaking trade. The Brotherhood has in effect
requested' that certain individuals be designated as an appropriate
bargaining unit. These individuals, however, are not so engaged in
798 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the boilermaking.trade as to give them an identity of interests clearly
distinguishable from the interests of the other employees, which we
generally associate with and find in a craft unit. The Brotherhood
has not requested a unit which can be termed appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining. We will therefore include the
employees signing the Brotherhood's petition within the larger unit.
We find that the production and maintenance employees regularly
employed by the respondent at Texas City, Texas, excluding special
watchmen, truck drivers who drive their own trucks, office workers,
salesmen, chemists, and supervisory employees, constitute a unit
appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining and that said
unit will insure to employees of the respondent the full benefit of
their right to self-organization and to collective bargaining and
otherwise effectuate the policies of the Act.
S
2. Representation by the Oil Workers of the majority in the
appropriate unit
The respondent employed between 220 and 230 persons in the ap-
propriate unit during the period from July 1 to December 1, 1937,
and 223 persons during the pay-roll period ending November 30,
1937. On June 4, 1937, the Oil Workers informed the respondent that
it represented a majority of the employees in such unit and at all
times thereafter continued to assert this claim.
The secretary of the Oil Workers brought to the hearing 144 mem-
bership cards in the Oil Workers, which were signed, he testified, by
(employees of the respondent. The Oil Workers refused to introduce
the cards in evidence and thereby divulge the names of its members
to the respondent. As a result it is impossible to ascertain when the
cards were signed, or whether or not the signatures are genuine. Nor
is it possible to determine whether or not the employees signing them
are within the unit which we have found to be appropriate. More-
over, 34 employees advised La Ferney, the manager of the Texas City
refinery, during the months preceding the hearing that they no longer
desired to. be represented by the Oil Workers, and that they had
discontinued their membership in the Oil Workers.
On the record before us, we cannot find that on June 4, 1937, or
at any time thereafter the Oil Workers represented a majority of the
persons employed by the respondent in the unit which we have found
to be appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining. We find that
the respondent has not refused to bargain collectively with the rep-
resentative of its employees in an appropriate- unit. '
We will order that the complaint be dismissed in so far as it alleges
that the respondent has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor
practices within the meaning of Section 8 (5) of the Act.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 799
B. The discriminatory discharges
The complaint alleged that the respondent discharged William
Cornish, Earl Gooch, Edward A. Patricio, and E. D. Richey because
they joined and assisted the Oil Workers. The respondent's answer
admitted the discharges, but alleged that they were made for incom-
petency, insubordination, and because of a lack of work.
The alleged discriminatory discharges must be viewed in the light
of certain circumstances which reflect the attitude of the respondent
toward the organization of its employees. In the spring of 1937,
just after the respondent had given its employees an increase in wages,
Lee La Ferney, the manager of the Texas City refinery; addressed all
of the employees at a meeting at noon, and told them, among other
things, that there were outside interests at work in the plant and that
the employees should be careful as they only wanted the employees'
money. This occurred at a time when the Oil Workers had organ-
ized a substantial number of the respondent's employees. In June
La Ferney expressed his position to William Cornish more clearly.
According to Cornish's testimony, La Ferney said that he was not
against labor organization, "but if we knew what he knows about the
executives of the organization we were in, we would get out guns and
go after them." La Ferney went on to explain that he would like
to see a union of the men in the plant, without any outside executives.
La Ferney maintained this position when the Oil Workers attempted
to negotiate with the respondent during the succeeding months. These
statements were calculated to have an added effect upon the men
because, as La Ferney pointed out in his spring speech, he had once
been organizer for the International Association of Oil Field, Gas
Well, and Refinery Workers, the predecessor to the Oil Workers.
On October 8, 1937, Earl Gooch, who had been discharged from
the Texas City refinery in August, talked to M. M. Travis, the secre-
tary of the respondent, at Kilgore, Texas. Travis told Gooch, "Don't
let outside activities interfere with your work and your efficiency,
because Mr. Lewis will look after himself, and it is up to you to look
after yourself."
Early in the fall G. Tate, the chief chemist, handed Foy Hopkins,
one of his subordinates and a member of the Oil Workers, a copy
of an Oil Workers' publication entitled Things . . . Every Oil
Worker Should Know. Tate had crossed out the word "Things" in
the title, and had written underneath the remainder of the title,
"Enough to take care of his job and let the other fellow do likewise."
Keeping in mind the attitude of the respondent toward the Oil
Workers, as expressed by the actions of some of its supervisory em-
ployees noted above, we turn to a consideration of the circumstances
surrounding the discharge of each of the employees involved.
• 800 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
E. D. Richey. E. D. Richey was employed by the respondent as
a boiler repairman from December 1935 until he was discharged on
October 15, 1937. During the course of his employment he received
three raises in pay, the last one, fixing his pay at 85 cents an hour,
about 4 or 5 months before his discharge. No complaints were ever
registered against his work, and it was always passed by the State
Boiler Inspector.
Richey joined the Oil Workers in June 1937. He was active on
its behalf, and frequently wore his button at the plant. On Septem-
ber 20, 1937, he was elected steward of the Oil Workers. Prior to
his discharge.he was a member of the Organizing Committee of the
Oil Workers.
V. Q. Davis, Richey's brother-in-law and foreman, discharged him
on October 15, for coming on the job intoxicated. Davis explained
that Richey came to the refinery intoxicated on a Wednesday night
and failed to do his work. Thursday Davis secured authority from
Hinds, the superintendent, to 'discharge Richey. However, Davis
did not discharge Richey on Thursday, and his work was satisfac-
tory. Davis testified that Friday night Richey was intoxicated again
and failed to perform his duties, and that on Saturday he discharged
him. Richey admitted that Davis had spoken to him at home and
told him that if he did not stop running around to the saloons he
would be discharged, but testified that he never drank on the job
and never came to work intoxicated. J. C. Greathouse, who worked
alongside of Richey on certain shifts, testified that he had never seen
Richey drinking at the refinery and had never seen him drunk during
working hours. H. B. Hilliard, another employee, -testified that he
saw and talked to Richey the last night that he was employed, and
that Richey was working that Friday night and was not intoxicated.
After his discharge Richey spoke to both Hinds and Davis, each
of whom indicated that the other had been responsible for his dis-
charge. Upon request Davis gave Richey a recommendation on the
respondent's letterhead which read as follows :
OCT. 18, 1937.
To whom it may concern:
Mr. E. D. Richey was employed at our plant as a boiler
maker since December 26, 1935. His work was satisfactory.
We or I, the undersigned, unhesitately recommend him for
such work.
V. Q. DAVIS, Forman Engineer.
We find from all of the evidence that Richey was not intoxicated
while working for the respondent on the three nights prior to his
discharge. We also find that he was discharged because he joined
and assisted the Oil Workers, and that by such discharge the re-
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 801
spondent has discriminated in regard to his hire and tenure of
employment, and has thereby discouraged membership in the Oil
Workers. We further find that by such action the respondent has
interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise
of the rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
Prior to his discharge Richey earned 85 cents an hour, and worked
8 hours a day, 5 days a week. He earned $3.36 from the time of
his discharge up to the time of the hearing. He desires to be
reinstated.
William, Cornish. William Cornish was hired by the respondent
at the Texas City refinery as an electrician on June 24, 1935, and
remained in that capacity until he was discharged on August 4, 1937.
Even after his discharge J. C. Hinds, the superintendent, charac-
terized him as a good electrician.
Cornish joined the Oil Workers about June 1936. As a member
of the Organizing Committee he was one of its most active members.
In March 1937 he was made a member of the Workmen's Committee
which was formed to bargain with the respondent for the Oil Work-
ers. In this capacity Cornish had several conferences with La
Ferney. In July Cornish was elected vice president of the Oil Work-
ers. Less than a month later he was discharged.
Superintendent Hinds stated that he discharged Cornish `-for con-
tinually leaving the job without informing anyone where he was going
or why." Cornish was paid a monthly salary, and worked 6 days
a week. He was free to choose the day of the week he was to take
off. Hinds testified that Cornish was required to notify him what
day he would not report for work. Cornish testified that he had
been told to notify his fellow workers rather than Hinds, and that
he always told Meadows, his helper. Meadows testified that he had
always received such notification from Cornish. Hinds and Smith,
the assistant superintendent, testified, however, that on several occa-
sions they had warned Cornish about going off the job without in-
forming his superiors. Cornish denied having received such
warnings. In any event no disciplinary action was ever taken.
During the month of July Cornish was having an extensive amount
of dental work done. On Friday, July 30, he had an appointment
to visit his dentist. On Thursday, July 29, the dentist called the
refinery and left word with La Ferney that he could not see Cornish
on Friday, but that he would see him on Tuesday, August 3.
La Ferney delivered the message to Cornish. Cornish worked on
Friday, but went to the dentist on Tuesday. On Monday Cornish
told Meadows he would not report for work on Tuesday. The dentist
did not finish with Cornish on Tuesday, and Cornish went back
to see him on Wednesday. As a result he came to work between
802 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
9: 30 and 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning although he should have
been there at 7 o'clock. Cornish telephoned Meadows on Wednesday
morning and reported that he would be in late. Shortly after he
came to work Hinds discharged him.
A. R. Quinn replaced Cornish. Quinn had applied to La Ferney
for a job on Monday, August 2, at which time La Ferney told him
there was going to be a change and that he would keep him in mind.
On August 4, after Cornish had been discharged, La Ferney called
Quinn, who started to work for the respondent on August 5.
We find that William Cornish was discharged because of his ac-
tivity on behalf of the Oil Workers, and that by such discharge the
respondent has discriminated in regard to his hire and tenure of
employment, and has thereby discouraged membership in the Oil
Workers. We also find that by such action the respondent has inter-
fered with, restrained and coerced its employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
Prior to his discharge Cornish earned $185 a month, working 8
hours a day, 6 days a week. After his discharge, Cornish was un-
able to get a job until September 7, when he was hired as a Frigidaire
serviceman. Cornish earned $369 on that job up to December 1. He
desires reinstatement.
Earl Gooch. Earl Gooch was employed by the respondent for
41/2 years, at the Texas City refinery for the past 21/2 years. Prior
to the termination of his employment on August 4 he was working
as a welder. Gooch received several wage increases while working
for the respondent, the last increase, which came about a month
before his discharge, fixing his pay at 90 cents an hour. No com-
plaints were ever made about his work.
Gooch joined the Oil Workers in February 1937. About May 1 he
was elected acting secretary and as a member of the Organizing Com-
mittee was one of the most active members of the Oil Workers.
On August 4, the same day that William Cornish was discharged,
Hinds told Gooch he was being permanently transferred to the re-
spondent's refinery at Kilgore. Gooch obtained an advance for travel
expenses and proceeded to Kilgore, where he was put to work for
an independent contractor named Ulmer, who was doing some con-
struction work for the respondent at the Kilgore refinery. Early in
October when Gooch's work with Ulmer was completed he talked
with M. M. Travis, the secretary of the respondent in regard to
further work. Travis, after indicating to Gooch that union activity
was impairing his efficiency, told him that the respondent had no
more work for him at Texas City, and that he had only been called to
Kilgore because there was work available for him with Ulmer.
Gooch, although ostensibly transferred to the respondent's Kilgore
refinery on August 4, was, in fact, discharged on August 4.
DECISIONS •ANI) ORDERS, 803
Just before Gooch was sent to Kilgore, the respondent transferred
another welder, Grady Suttles, from Kilgore to Texas City. Gooch
was discharged because, with Suttles working at Texas City, there
was not enough work for him to do. Travis, the secretary of the
respondent, was the only witness to testify as to the reasons for the
transfer of Suttles, and he admitted that his knowledge was obtained
from other officers of the respondent after the transfer. He first
stated that Suttles was transferred to Texas City because he was
desirous of making the change due to illness in his family. Subse-
quently, he indicated that the respondent transferred Suttles because
Gooch was not capable of working on pressure units and because
Suttles was senior in service to Gooch. The recognition by the re-
spondent of the difference in capabilities of the two men was ex-
pressed by the payment of $1.05 per hour to Suttles and 90 cents per
hour to Gooch. However, Gooch had welded both flat work and
pressure units for the respondent, and when Travis called the Texas
City refinery for "expert welders" to work for Ulmer at Kilgore,
Hinds sent him Gooch. Moreover, after his discharge Gooch obtained
a temporary job as a welder with the Sinclair Refining Company.
A. Mochel, the welding foreman at the Sinclair Refining Company,
testified that to get the job Gooch took a competitive examination,
and was 1 of 5 out of 15 who were hired. He also testified that
Gooch's work was satisfactory even on pressure units. Sinclair Re-
fining Company paid Gooch $1.15 an hour. While the respondent
has differentiated in the hourly rates of Suttles and Gooch it has
not differentiated in the type of welding that they were assigned to
do, and Gooch was in fact able to weld pressure units. Although
the respondent's classification of Gooch and its opinion of his capa-
bilities are entitled to great weight, the evidence impels us to the
conclusion that the respondent's actions cannot be ascribed to the
reasons it here offers. We cannot accept the respondent's contention
that Suttles' transfer which resulted in Gooch's discharge was made
because Gooch was not a good welder capable of welding pressure
units.
The respondent also contends that Suttles was properly allowed to
replace Gooch because he was senior in service to him. In this con-
nection it should be noted that Suttles' seniority was determined on
an employer basis; that there was no evidence to show that the
respondent had customarily adopted an employer seniority rule, in
its two refineries which were over 200 miles apart; and that Gooch
was senior in service at the Texas City refinery. In any event there
is no affirmative showing that the respondent was aware of or con-
sidered the fact that Suttles was senior to Gooch on an employer
basis at the time the transfer was made. We are constrained to
117213-39-vol. 8-52
804 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
reject the respondent's contention that Suttles' transfer to Texas City
and the resultant displacement of Gooch was proper because of
Suttles' seniority.
On August 4, at the time Gooch was discharged because Suttles'
presence in Texas City created an excess of welders, Jack Wilson,
another welder, was retained in the respondent's employ at Texas
City. Gooch was senior in service to Wilson. Wilson, like Suttles,
received $1.05 an hour, but his work was similar to that performed
by Gooch. If the respondent properly followed seniority in allow-
ing Suttles to transfer to Texas City, thus necessitating the dismissal
of a Texas City welder, then it obviously discriminated against Gooch
thereafter by dismissing him while retaining Wilson, who was junior
in service to him, in its employ.
We find that Earl Gooch was discharged because he joined and
assisted the Oil Workers, and that by such discharge the respondent
has discriminated in regard to his hire and tenure of employment,
and has thereby discouraged membership in the Oil Workers. We
also find that by such action the respondent has interfered with,
restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise of the rights
guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
Prior to his discharge Gooch earned 90 cents an hour, working 40
hours a week. From August 5 to October 8 he earned $369 working
for the Ulmer Pipe Line Co. Thereafter, he also earned $141.20 work-
ing for the Sinclair Refining Company prior to the hearing. He
desires to be reinstated.
E. A. Patricio. Patricio was employed by the respondent for 18
months prior to his discharge on "August 13, 1937. He worked as a
truck loader 4 days a week and as a manifest clerk 1 day a week. The
record shows that his work was satisfactory.
Patricio was a member of the Oil Workers and wore his button at
the plant occasionally. He talked to some of the other employees
about joining the Oil Workers, but was not an officer of the Oil
Workers or a member of any of its committees.
Patricio was discharged after having been accused of writing
derogatory remarks about La Ferney on the walls of the lavatory.
Before discharging Patricio the respondent attempted to prove that
he had been responsible for the writing in question. After the inves-
tigation La Ferney said to Patricio, "I am not quite convinced it is
your writing, but I have heard you have said things about me, and
that you were not satisfied out here, so therefore I am going to have
to let you go."
The Trial Examiner found that Patricio was not discharged be-
cause of his membership in and activity on behalf of the Oil Workers.
The Oil Workers did not except to the finding of the Trial Examiner.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 805
Upon the evidence before us we find that Patricio was not discharged
-because of his membership in the Oil Workers. We will order that the
complaint be dismissed with respect to him.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES _ UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the respondent set forth in Section III above,
occurring in connection with the operations of the respondent de-
scribed in Section I above, have a close, intimate, and substantial rela-
tion to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States, and tend
to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the
free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
We shall order the respondent to make the discharged employees
whole for any loss of pay they have suffered by reason of their
respective discharges by payment to each of them of a sum equal
to the amount which he normally would have earned as wages from
the date of his discharge to the date of the offer of reinstatement,
less his net earnings 4 during said period.
VI. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
On June 4, 1937, the Oil Workers wrote to the respondent stating
that it represented a majority of the respondent's employees and
asking that a date be set for collective bargaining. Similar requests
were made by the Oil Workers on a number of different occasions
during the succeeding months. The respondent refused to meet and
negotiate with the Oil Workers because it claimed that it was not
subject to the Act, and that the Oil Workers did not represent a
majority of its employees.
We find that a question has arisen concerning representation of
employees of the respondent.
VII. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON
COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which has
arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the respondent
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States, and
' By "net earnings" Is meant earnings less expenses , such as for transportation, room,
and board , incurred by an employee in connection with obtaining work and working else-
where than for the respondent , which would not have been incurrred but for his unlawful
discharge and the consequent necessity of his seeking employment elsewhere . See Matter
^,t Crossett Lumber Company and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America,
Lumber and Sawmill Workers, Local No 2590, 8 N L. R. B. 440.
806 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce
and the free flow of commerce.
VIII. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
In Section III-A-2 above, we examined the evidence introduced
by the Oil Workers to show that it represented a majority of the
employees in the unit which we have found to be appropriate in
Section III-A-1, above, and concluded that it was insufficient to
establish, the fact that the Oil Workers represented a majority of the
employees in such unit. We find that the question concerning repre-
sentation which has arisen can best be resolved by means of an
election by secret ballot.
As the petition requesting an investigation and certification of
representatives was filed almost a year ago, we will not follow our
usual practice of limiting eligibility to vote to persons in the employ
of the respondent at the time such petition was filed, but will provide
that those persons employed by the respondent in the appropriate
unit during the pay-roll period next preceding the date of the issu-
ance of this Decision and Direction of Election, and those ordered
reinstated by this Decision, shall be eligible to vote, excluding those
who have since quit or been discharged for cause.
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and upon the entire
iecord in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Oil Workers International Union, Local No. 227, is a labor or-
ganization, within the meaning of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
2. The respondent, by discriminating in regard to the hire and
tenure of employment of William Cornish, E. D. Richey, and Earl
Gooch, and thereby discouraging membership in Oil Workers Inter-
national Union, Local No. 227, has engaged in unfair labor practices,
within the meaning of Section 8 (3) of the Act.
3. The respondent, by interfering with, restraining, and coercing
its employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of
the Act, has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices,
within the meaning of Section 8 (1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices
affecting commerce, within-the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of
the Act.
5. The respondent has not engaged in unfair labor practices within
the meaning of Section 8 (5) of the Act.
6. The respondent has not engaged in unfair labor practices within
the meaning of Section 8 (1)'and (3) of the Act, with respect to the
discharge of E. A. Patricio.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 807
7. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the rep-
resentation of employees of Southport Petroleum Company, Texas
City, Texas, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6)
and (7) of the National Labor Relations Act.
8. The regular production and maintenance employees of the re-
spondent, excluding special watchmen, truck drivers who drive their
own trucks, office workers, salesmen, chemists, and supervisory em-
ployees, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective
bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the National
Labor Relations Act.
ORDER
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and conclusions of
law, and pursuant to Section 10 (c) of the National Labor Relations
Act, the National Labor Relations Board hereby orders that the re-
spondent, Southport Petroleum Company, Texas City, Texas, its
officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Discouraging membership in Oil Workers International
Union, Local No. 227, or in any other labor organization of its em-
ployees, by discharging its employees or by otherwise discriminating
in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition
of employment;
(b) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing
its employees in the exercise of the right to self-organization, to form,
join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing, or to engage in concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds
will effectuate the policies of the Act:
(a) Offer to William Cornish, E. D. Richey, and Earl Gooch im-
mediate and full reinstatement to their former positions, without
prejudice to their seniority and other rights and privileges;
(b) Make whole William Cornish, E. D. Richey, and Earl Gooch
for any loss of pay they have suffered by reason of their discharge
by payment to each of them, respectively, of a sum of money equal
to that which he would normally have earned as wages from the date
of his discharge to the date of the respondent's offer of reinstatement,
less the net earnings of each, respectively, during said period;
(c) Post immediately notices in conspicuous places at its Texas
City, Texas, refinery, stating that the respondent will cease and desist
in the manner aforesaid, and maintain said notices for a period of
thirty (30) consecutive days from the date of posting;
808 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
(d) Notify the Regional Director for the Sixteenth Region within
ten (10) days from the date of this order what steps the respondent
has taken to comply herewith.
And it is further ordered that the complaint -be, and it hereby is,
dismissed in so far as it alleges that the respondent has engaged in
unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8 (5) of the
Act, and in so far as the allegations of the complaint relate to E. A.
Patricio.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, it is
hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for collective bargaining with Southport
Petroleum Company, Texas City, Texas, an election by secret ballot
shall be conducted within fifteen (15) days from the date of this
Direction, under the direction and supervision of the Regional Direc-
tor for the Sixteenth Region, acting in the matter as agent for the
National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article III, Section
9, of said Rules and Regulations, among the regular production and
maintenance employees who were employed by Southport Petroleum
Company at its Texas City, Texas, refinery, at any time during the
pay-roll period next preceding the date of the issuance of this Direc-
tion of Election, excluding special watchmen, truck drivers who drive
their own trucks, office workers, salesmen, chemists, and supervisory
employees, and those employees who quit the employ of the respond-
ent or were discharged for cause between such date and the date of
election, but including those employees whose reinstatement was
ordered by the above'order, to determine whether or not they desire
to be represented by Oil Workers International Union, Local No. 227,
,for purposes of collective bargaining.
[SAME TITLE ]
AMENDMENT TO DIRECTION OF ELECTION
August 10, 1938
On August 4, 1938, the National Labor Relations Board, herein
called the Board, issued a Direction of Election in the above-entitled
proceeding, the election to be held within fifteen (15) days from the
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 809
date of Direction, under the direction and supervision of the Regional
Director for the Sixteenth Region. The Board, having been advised
that an election at this time would not settle the question concerning
representation which has arisen, hereby amends the Direction of
Election issued on August 4, 1938, by striking therefrom the words,
"within fifteen (15) days from the date of this Direction," and sub-
stituting therefor the words, "within a period to be determined here-
after by the Board."
8 N L. R. B., No. 93a.