Stephens Produce Co., Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 18, 1974

214 N.L.R.B. 131 (N.L.R.B. 1974)

STEPHENS
Stephens Produce Co ., Inc. and Temple Stephens
Company and Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen of North America , AFL-CIO,
Local Union 576. Case 17-CA-5601
October 18, 1974
DECISION AND ORDER
BY MEMBERS FANNING, KENNEDY, AND PENELLO
On May 10, 1974, Administrative Law Judge Leo-
nard M. Wagman issued the attached Decision in
this proceeding. Thereafter, Respondent filed excep-
tions 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 brief
and has decided to affirm the rulings, findings,' and
conclusions 2 of the Administrative Law Judge and
to adopt his recommended Order,' as modified here-
in.
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, as modified,
and hereby orders that Respondent, Stephens Pro-
duce Co., Inc. and Temple Stephens Company, Mob-
erly, Missouri, its officers, agents, successors, and as-
signs, shall take the action set forth in the said rec-
ommended Order, as modified below:
Delete paragraph 1(h) and reletter the remaining
paragraphs accordingly.
1 The Respondent has excepted to certain credibility findings made by the
Administrative Law Judge. It is the Board's established policy not to over-
rule an Administrative Law Judge's resolutions with respect to credibility
unless the clear preponderance of all of the relevant evidence convinces us
that the resolutions are incorrect. Standard Dry Wall Products, Inc.. 91
NLRB 544 (1950), enfd. 188 F.2d 362 (C.A. 3, 1951). We have carefully
examined the record and find no basis for reversing his findings.
2 Contrary to the Administrative Law Judge, we find that Supervisor
Johnson did not violate Sec. 8(a)(I) by questioning employee Black if em-
ployees Minks and Kendall were going to stay (not strike). Johnson rather
than interrogating Black in violation of Sec. 8(a)(I) was merely responding
to Black's comments to Johnson made earlier the same day that Minks and
Kendall would like to stay and work and would the two be fired. which
Johnson answered that in his opinion they would not suffer discharge.
In adopting the Administrative Law Judge's finding that the Union repre-
sents a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit. Members Kennedy
and Penello do not rely on the authorization card signed by employee
Crain.
3 Members Kennedy and Penello agree that a bargaining order is appro-
priate herein as a part of the remedy. However, in accordance with the
views they expressed in Steel-Fab, Inc., 212 NLRB No. 25 (1974). they do
not adopt the Administrative Law Judge's finding of an 8(a)(5) violation
PRODUCE CO. 131
upon which to predicate the order. They would instead rely solely on the
serious and extensive 8(a)(l) and (3) violations committed by the Respon-
dent as the basis for such a bargaining order.
Member Fanning dissents to the dismissal of the 8(a)(5) finding of the
Administrative Law Judge, for the reasons stated in his dissent in Steel-Fab,
Inc., supra.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
LEONARD M. WAGMAN, Administrative Law Judge: Upon
a charge filed by Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen of North America, AFL-CIO, Local Union 576,
referred to herein as the Union, on April 19, 1973, a first
amended charge filed by the Union on June 7, 1973, and a
second amended charge filed by the Union on June 25,
1973, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations
Board, by the Regional Director for Region 17, issued the
complaint herein on July 10, 1973, against Stephens Pro-
duce Co., Inc., and Temple Stephens Company (herein
called Stephens and Temple Stephens Company re-
spectively) alleging that Respondents had engaged in un-
fair labor practices within the meaning of Section
8(a)(1),(3), and (5) of the National Labor Relations Act, as
amended, herein called the Act. Respondents filed an an-
swer denying the allegations of unlawful conduct alleged in
the complaint.
Pursuant to notice, a hearing was held before me at
Moberly, Missouri, on August 29 and 30 and October I. 2,
3, 4, and 15, 1973, at which the complaint was amended to
allege additional violations of Section 8(a)(1) and (3) of the
Act.' Briefs were received from the General Counsel, the
Charging Party, and the Respondents.
Upon the entire record in this case, my consideration of
the briefs filed by the parties, and from my observation of
the witnesses, I make the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENTS
Stephens is a Missouri corporation engaged in the pro-
cessing and storage of meat, baked goods, and dairy prod-
ucts at its Moberly, Missouri, warehouse. In the course and
conduct of its business operations, Stephens annually pur-
chases goods valued in excess of $50,000 directly from
sources located outside the State of Missouri. In addition,
Stephens, in the course and conduct of its business, annual-
ly purchases goods valued in excess of $50,000 from Mis-
1 In the proceeding, I granted counsel for the General Counsel's motion
to quash a subpoena ad testijicanduwt which the Respondents served upon
the Board attorney who investigated this case. The Respondents' stated
purpose in seeking the Board's attorney as a witness was to attack the credi-
bility of the General Counsel's witnesses. The General Counsel refused to
authorize the Board attorney to testify. Such authorization is required as a
precondition to such testimony by Section 102.118(a) of the Board's Rules
and Regulations. Series 8. as amended. In its brief, the Company argues that
my ruling denied it due process. However. I see no ground for my reconsid-
eration of that ruling at this point. Campbell Soup C'ontpamt 152 NLRB
1645. 1646, In. 1 (1965).
132 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
souri firms which in turn purchases said goods directly
from suppliers located outside the State of Missouri.
Temple Stephens Company is a Missouri corporation
principally engaged in the warehousing and distribution of
meat, bakery, and dairy products and other merchandise
from the same warehouse used by Stephens and in the op-
eration of retail food stores at various localities in Missou-
ri. In the course and conduct of its business operations,
Temple Stephens Company annually derives gross reve-
nues in excess of $500,000 from its retail sales and perfor-
mance of services.
Stephens and Temple Stephens Company are, and have
been at all times material to this proceeding, a single inte-
grated enterprise engaged at the Moberly, Missouri, ware-
house and elsewhere in business operations described
above. Temple Stephens Company is Stephens' sole cus-
tomer.
Stephens and Temple Stephens Company concede, and I
find, that they constitute a single employer within the
meaning of Section 2(2) of the Act. The two firms are re-
ferred to collectively herein as the Company. I also find
from the foregoing that the Company is engaged in com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the
Act, and that it will effectuate the policies of the Act to
assert jurisdiction over the Company.
11. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
promise of job security, threats, interrogation, the impres-
sion of surveillance of union activity, a refusal to discuss
employee grievances with an employee spokesman, and the
issuance of warning notices. The amended complaint fur-
ther alleges that the Company violated Section 8(a)(3) and
(1) of the Act by laying off Robert L. Mattice on February
16 and March 9, and by discriminating against the re-
turned strikers between July 26 and August 3.
It is also alleged that as the Union achieved majority
status on February 26, in an appropriate unit of the
Company's employees, the Company's refusal to recognize
and bargain on and after March 1, together with its viola-
tions of Section 8(a)(1) and (3), constituted a violation of
Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act. To remedy the alleged
unlawful refusal to bargain, the General Counsel seeks a
bargaining order under the principles set forth in N.L.R.B.
v. Gissel Packing Company, 395 U.S. 575, 612-615 (1969).
The Charging Party urges the award of costs to the General
Counsel and itself as part of the remedy.
Finally, the complaint, as amended, alleges that the two
meat department stoppages constituted a single unfair la-
bor practice strike.
B. Alleged Interference, Restraint, and Coercion
1. Incidents involving head meatcutter George Robert
Hudson
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of
North America , AFL-CIO, Local Union 576, is a labor
organization within the meaning of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
111. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Background and Issues
It is undisputed that in late December 1972, and thereaf-
ter in January and February 1973,2 company employee
Robert L. Mattice solicited the support of fellow meat de-
partment employees in an effort to obtain union represen-
tation. Following a meeting between Mattice and a Union
representative on February 13, the Union began an orga-
nizing campaign among the Company's 17 or 18 meat de-
partment employees. By February 26, the Union had ob-
tained 13 signed authorization cards from the meat depart-
ment employees. On February 27 the Union sent a letter to
the Company demanding recognition as the collective-bar-
gaining representative of the Company's meat department
employees. On March I the Company refused the Union's
demand. Thereafter, on March 21, a majority of the meat
department employees engaged in a strike which ended
with their return to work on July 26. On August 3, the meat
department employees again went out on a strike which
persisted at the time of the hearing in this case.
The complaint, as amended at the hearing, alleges that in
response to the Union's campaign and the employees'
strikes, the Company committed unfair labor practices in
violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act, which included a
2 Unless otherwise stated all dates refer to 1973.
General Counsel contends that company head meatcut-
ter George Robert Johnson (referred to in the transcript as
"Bob Johnson") was a supervisor within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Act, and that he engaged in conduct
violative of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act in February and
March. The Company urges that Johnson was not a super-
visor during those months and therefore none of his alleged
conduct violated the Act.
As defined in Section 2(11) of the Act, the term supervi-
sor denotes:
[A]ny individual having authority, in the interest of
the employer , to hire , transfer, suspend , lay off, recall,
promote, discharge , assign , reward, or discipline other
employees , or responsibly to direct them , or to adjust
their grievances , or effectively to recommend such ac-
tion if in connection with the foregoing the exercise of
such authority is not of a merely routine or clerical
nature , but requires the use of independent judgment.
It is settled that this section is to be read in the disjunctive
and that possession of any one of the enumerated powers
establishes supervisory status. Ohio Power Co. v. N.L.R.B.,
176 F.2d 385 , 387 (C. A. 6), cert . denied 338 U.S. 899
(1949); Great Central Insurance Company, 176 NLRB 474,
475 (1969).
The Company concedes that Johnson , who has been in
its employ for about 22 years , supervised the approximate-
ly. 17 meat department employees from 1967 or 1968 until
mid-November 1972. However , the Company claims that
in mid-November 1972, the current meat department man-
ager, Jesse Dou Brava , assumed complete charge of the
meat department, and that since that event Johnson has
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO. 133
been a rank -and-file employee . But the evidence as to
Johnson's status since November 1972 is otherwise . Thus, a
composite of the credited testimony of meat department
employees Robert L. Mattice, Elizabeth White, Dorothy
Kendall , Katherine Minks , Doris Freeman , and George
Morgan Hudson shows that Dou Brava is usually present
in the meat department less than 1 hour each workday, and
that since November 1972, Johnson has continued respon-
sibly to direct meat department employees in their work,
grant their requests for time off from work , and assign ov-
ertime work to them. Corroboration is provided by
Johnson's credited testimony that in Dou Brava 's absence
he transfers employees from job to job, and that in March
he granted time off to employees Kendall and Minks. Fi-
nally, on direct examination by company counsel, Johnson
admitted that in January he instructed Mattice not to "go
home again without checking with me first ." Other factors
which weigh against the Company ' s contention are
Johnson's $5 hourly wage which is the highest rate in the
department and is 57 cents higher than the hourly wage of
the next highest paid meatcutter , the absence of evidence
that the Company ever announced to the employees that
Johnson was no longer a supervisor , and the fact that as-
suming Johnson is not a supervisor , the 18 employees of
the department would be without supervision for most of
each workday . In sum, I find that Johnson has been a su-
pervisor within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Act
since November 1972. J. W. Mays, Inc., 147 NLRB 942,
963-964 (1964), enfd. 356 F.2d 693 (C.A. 2, 1966).
The first alleged Section 8 (a)(l) violation involving
Johnson occurred on February 5 when he warned employ-
ee Hudson "that if anyone around [here] was trying to
form a union , or even mentioned a union, the Company
would let him go." During the week of February 5, John-
son also told Hudson that "he [Johnson ] knew that Bob
Mattice was trying to form a union , and that he hoped that
[Hudson ] did not try to follow Bob Mattice ' s footsteps." 3
Beyond question , Johnson ' s warning of company repri-
sals against employee efforts to organize the meat depart-
ment was a threat violative of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act,
Gerbes Super Markets, Inc., 176 NLRB 11, 21 (1969 ), enfd.
436 F.2d 19, 21 (C.A. 8, 1971). Against the background of
this threat, I also find that Johnson 's further remarks were
designed as a warning that the Company was keeping track
of Mattice 's union campaign which had not gone beyond
conversation and had not yet been openly revealed to the
Company , and that management was also keeping its eye
on Hudson for the first sign of prounion sentiment on his
part . Thus , I find that these remarks which were designed
to persuade Hudson that the Company was keeping em-
ployee union activity under surveillance were also violative
of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act. See N. L. R. B. v. Medley Dis-
tilling Co., Inc., 187 NLRB 84, 89 (1970), enfd. 453 F.2d
374 (C.A. 6, 1971).
On February 14, Johnson asked meat department em-
ployee Elizabeth White if Mattice "had ever mentioned
union to [her]." When White answered that Mattice had
done so, Johnson responded, "Well, I don't think Temple
3 My findings of fact regarding these two incidents are based upon
Hudson's credited and undisputed testimony.
J.° will ever go union , I think he will close down first." 5 By
thus interrogating White about Mattice ' s union activity
and then responding to her affirmative answer with a
threat of plant closure if a union succeeded in organizing
White and her fellow employees , Johnson violated Section
8(a)(1) of the Act. Crispo Cake Cone Co., Inc., 190 NLRB
352, 362-363 (1971), enfd. 464 F.2d 233, 236 (C.A. 8, 1972).
It is undenied that on March 18, Johnson asked meat
department employee Dorothy Kendall, who had signed a
union authorization card on February 26, "Why don't you
come back over to the good guys' side. . .. I'm surprised
that you're following Bob Mattice . . . . I wouldn't be sur-
prised if it wasn't George Hudson, because you've known
him longer and you trust him more." By these remarks
Johnson implied that the Company was particularly inter-
ested in Kendall ' s union activity and sentiment and was
maintaining a watch on her. I find that Johnson's remarks
violated Section 8(a)(I) of the Act. See N.L.R.B. v. Ralph
Printing and Lithographing Company, 379 F.2d 687, 691
(C.A. 8, 1967).
Kendall also testified that in- further conversation that
same day, 3 days before the meat department employees
first went out on strike, Johnson told her "if you walk out
into the street you'll never work for Temple Stephens an-
other day ." However , on cross-examination , she conceded
that Johnson actually said: "If you go out you might never
get to work another day," and that she understood from
her exchange with Johnson that the Company might re-
place her if she went out on strike. On this record , I cannot
find a violation of Section 8 (a)(1) of the Act. The final
version of Johnson's advice, which I have accepted, shows
only that Johnson apprised Kendall that she ran the risk of
being permanently replaced if she engaged in a strike. As it
is well settled that an employer may lawfully replace eco-
nomic strikers permanently , Johnson's advice was not an
unlawful threat of discrimination but rather a statement of
the Company's legal option. See N.L.R.B. v. Fleetwood
Trailer Co., 389 U.S: 375, 378-379 (1967). Accordingly, I
shall recommend dismissal of this portion of the complaint.
However, Kendall's - credited and uncontradicted testi-
mony shows that in the same conversation , Johnson violat-
ed Section 8(a)(1) when he assured her that if she did not
join the strike , her job would be "guaranteed ." For by this
assurance , Johnson held out preferred status as a reward
for her refusal to join a strike against the Company and
thus unlawfully interfered with her Section 7 rights.
This is a reference to Temple Jay Stephens, who is president of Temple
Stephens Company and a vice president and director of Stephens Produce
Co.. Inc . His testimony and the record in general show that he controls and
directs the operations of both enterprises.
Johnson admitted questioning White about Mattice's union activity on
February 14, but denied making any further remarks to her . However, of
the two: White impressed me as the more candid witness. Johnson 's testinw-
ny on cross-examination is marked by much reluctance and evasiveness.
For example . when questioned about conversations between himself and
Jesse Dou Brava regarding the union campaign he first admitted having
such a conversation and began relating a word for word account . However.
he suddenly stopped and said - 1 don't remember any of the conversation.
That was just all there was to it." Finally, he changed his testimony. admit-
ting only that their discussion was limited to the strike then in progress.
Moreover, in view of Johnson 's resort to an unlawful threat in his antiunion
remarks to Hudson in February. it is not unlikely that he would make the
threat reported by employee White.
134 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
N.L.R.B. v. Erie Resistor Corp., 373 U.S. 221, 233 (1963).
On the morning of March 12, 9 days before the meat
department strike, employee Keenar Black told Supervisor
Johnson that meat department employees "Kittie" Minks
and Dorothy Kendall "would like to stay and work," and
then asked if they would get' fired. Johnson answered that
in his opinion they would not suffer discharge. Later that
same day, Johnson approached employee Black in the
meat department and asked if "they were going to stay."
Black replied that she didn't know, adding that "Kittie
talked to George; and after that she didn't say anything to
me." By thus questioning Black, Johnson violated Section
8(a)(I) of the Act. J.C. Penney Co., Inc., 209 NLRB 313
(1974), National Can Corporation, 159 NLRB 647, 661-662
(1966).6
2. An incident involving Temple Jay Stephens
During the week of February 19, Temple Jay Stephens in
conversation with George Hudson declared that he knew
that the employees in the meat department "were trying to
form a union." I find that this declaration reinforced the
impression of surveillance created by Supervisor Johnson's
remarks to Hudson on February 5. For there is no showing
that by February 19 the surreptitiousness of employee
Mattice's union activity had been compromised by any
open notice to the Company. Accordingly, I find that Ste-
phens' statement violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
C. Robert L. Mattice's Layoffs
1. The facts
The Company hired Robert L. Mattice as a meatcutter
in November 1972. In a prehire interview late in October
1972 Jesse Dou Brava, the meat department manager,
complained to Mattice about the.quality of the meat de-
partment employees' performance. In his testimony Dou
Brava conceded, and I find, that Mattice suggested a union
might remedy the situation. However, Dou Brava denies
Mattice's testimony, which was corroborated by the latter's
wife, Rozelma, that. Dou Brava replied that the Company
would never have a union. Instead, Dou Brave insists that
he made no comment.
In resolving this credibility issue, I have noted that
Mattice's testimony regarding his union activity, though
not fully confirmed by fellow employees testifying for the
General Counsel, was substantially corroborated by them
and that there were some collateral inconsistencies in his
testimony on cross-examination. However, I have also not-
ed that Dou Brava was reluctant to 'testify about the
Company's attitude toward the union campaign. More im-
portant, while testifying that he had no recollection of the
substance of even one discussion with Temple-Stephens
about the union campaign, he conceded there were "hun-
dreds." Accordingly, of the two, I find Mattice the more
reliable witness.
As previously found, in December, January, and Febru-
6 My findings as to this incident are based upon Keenar Black's undisput-
ed testimony.
ary Mattice sought support for a union among fellow meat
department employees. I have also found that during the
week of February 5, head meatcutter Johnson revealed his
knowledge of Mattice's union activity, in a conversation
with employee Hudson.
On February 13, at a cafe in Moberly, Mattice and
Union Business Representative Eugene Reece discussed
the prospects of a successful union organizing campaign.
Reece gave Mattice a number of union authorization cards
and a copy of a current union contract covering a unit of
meat department employees in the area of Sedalia, Missou-
ri. On February 14 Supervisor Johnson learned from meat
department employee White that Mattice had discussed
the Union with her. Mattice did not report for work on
February 14 because he was sick. On the following day,
Mattice reported for work and during the workday report-
ed the results of his conversation with Union Representa-
tive Reece to George Hudson and other meat department
employees. He also gave Hudson some authorization cards
to obtain signatures from meat department employees.
On the afternoon of February 16, Dou Brava ushered
Mattice into General Manager Kruse's office and told
him: "Bob, I have some bad news for you. We're going to
have o let you go."'Mattice responded in substance that he
knew that he would be fired because of his union activity,
referring particularly to his contact with Union Represen-
tative Reece 3 days earlier. At this, Dou Brava said, "Oh,
this is the first I've heard about it." He then added: "We're
going to try to cut down on expenses and cut down the ads,
and the warehouse is losing money." When Mattice disput-
ed Dou Brava's claim of losing money, Dou Brava said he
could.show him the loss "on paper." Dou Brava showed
Mattice inventory sheets which, according to the latter's
credited testimony, reflected a loss in the Company's ware-
house operations and a profit "of about 22 percent in the
retail end of the business." Mattice argued that the inven-
tory sheets did not present "a true picture." Dou Brava
conceded that he didn't know "how they figure their profit
and loss." He then went on, "Bob, Temple Jay. told me to
do this. I told you they'd never have a union." ' At this,
Mattice said, "Good-bye," and left the warehouse.'
On February 26, Mattice attended a'union meeting at a
motel in Moberly. The following day, the Union, sent. its
Dou Brava's testimony corroborates portions of Mattice's version of the
exchange. However . Dou Brava denies telling Mattice that he. Dou Brava,
did not know how the Company determined profit and loss, and that Tem-
ple Stephens told him to separate Mattice from employment. Dou Brava
also denies saying "I told you they'd never have a union." However, for the
reasons previously stated. I have credited Mattice's testimony in this regard.
I am also troubled by Dou Brava's testimony that he told Mattice "I did not
know anything about your union activities." For if head meatcutter Johnson
was well aware of Mattice's union activity as early as February 5. I find it
hard to accept Dou Brava's profession of ignorance. N.L.R.B. v: Transport
Clearings, Inc.. 311 F.2d.519, 523 (C.A. 5,1962).
8
Employee Lucille Haggard testified that on February 18, when she
asked Supervisor Johnson where Mattice was, Johnson said, "He was talk-
ing union : he was a troublemaker ; and that didn't go on around there. so
they got rid of him." However, under cross-examination she conceded that
she could not remember Johnson's exact words. Johnson denied making the
statement to her. Haggard 's inconsistent testimony on this issue of fact. the
conflicts between her testimony at the hearing and her affidavit, and her
generally careless attitude toward her testimony impressed me that she was
not a reliable witness . Accordingly, in this instance. I have credited
Johnson's denial.
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO.
recognition demand to the Company together with copies
of signed authorization cards obtained from a majority of
the meat department employees, including that of Robert
Mattice. The union letter called particular attention to
Mattice's card, ventured the opinion that Mattice was ter-
minated on February 16 "because of his union activities in
behalf of Local No. 576," and demanded his reinstatement
with backpay.
The Company contacted Mattice on February 28 and
recalled him. He reported for work the following day,
March 1. In its March 1 letter rejecting the Union's de-
mand for recognition, the Company denied that Mattice
was discharged for union activity and asserted that he was
laid off "because we believed we did not need his services
for the time involved."
Mattice's credited testimony is that early on the af-
ternoon of March 8, in the meat department, he overheard
Anna Forrest remark to Supervisor Johnson, "The son-of-
a-bitch is going to continue until he gets us all fired."
Mattice's credited testimony also shows that Johnson re-
plied, "They're going to fire him for good tomorrow." 9
At the end of the following workday, Dou Brava ap-
proached Mattice and said, "Bob, I want to talk to you."
Mattice followed Dou . Brava into General Manager
Kruse's office. Before Dou Brava could speak, Mattice
said, "I know, I overheard Bob Johnson tell Annie Forrest
that I was going to be fired." At this Dou Brava said,
"Well, Bob business is down and we have to let you go."
Mattice said that he was "sorry that things have to be this
way." As Mattice was leaving Dou Brava added, "Bob, we
might call you back later if business picks up." 10 In April
the Company notified Mattice by letter that he had not
been discharged on March 9, but merely laid off, and of-
fered him immediate reinstatement. However, Mattice par=
ticipated in the meat department strike then in progress
and did not return to work until the conclusion of the
strike on July 26.
2. Analysis and conclusions
There is ample factual support for the contention that
Mattice's February 16 and March 9 layoffs were reprisals
for his leading role in the Union's organizing campaign.
The first suggestion of Mattice's sentiment surfaced in late
October 1972 when he told Dou Brava that a union would
solve management's problems in the meat department.
9 Forrest testified that she did not remember calling Mattice a son-of-a-
bitch or having a conversation with Johnson on March 8 . She also denied
that anyone told her on that date that Mattice was going to be fired. John-
son denied telling Forrest that Mattice was about to be fired. However, his
denial followed a carefully drawn leading question and he was not given an
opportunity to testify as to whether he had any conversation with Forrest on
that date about Mattice. In view of Forrest's inability to remember whether
she had a conversation with Johnson on March 8, 1 do not accept her flat
denial that anyone told her that day of Mattice's imminent discharge. I have
also considered Johnson's demonstrated union animus , the previously dis-
cussed infirmities in his testimony, his narrowly drawn testimony on this
point , the slight shifting of Mattice's demeanor of the three witnesses. From
this assessment , I have concluded that Mattice 's testimony is essentially
accurate.
10 My findings regarding Mattice's and Dou Brava ' s remarks during their
March 9 encounter are based upon Mattice 's credited and undisputed testi-
mony.
135
Dou Brava's response was a prediction that the Company
would not be organized. Though not violative of Section
8(a)(I) of the Act,tt this response set the stage for future
events. For, when Mattice's union activity became known
to the Company in early February, it responded with hos-
tility in the form of unlawful conduct including threats of
discharge and plant closure, all designed to chill such activ-
ity. The Company's references to Mattice in the course of
its unfair labor practices leaves little doubt that he was the
focal point of its hostility. Strong evidence of the
Company's desire to eradicate Mattice's union activity was
provided by Dou Brava's statement at the very moment of
Mattice's first layoff, "I told you they'd never have a
union," and by Supervisor Johnson's revelation on March
8 that Mattice's union activity would be halted the follow-
ing day when the Company intended to get rid of him.
Finally, when confronted with Johnson's remark on March
9, Dou Brava did not repudiate it, but rather proceeded to
carry out the prediction.
The Company's unlawful design was also evidenced by
the timing of Mattice's layoffs. The February 16 layoff oc-
curred 3 days after Mattice's conference with Union Busi-
ness Representative Reece at a Moberly cafe and 2 days
after his report of the conference to the employees and his
initial distribution of authorization cards in the meat de-
partment. The second layoff came one week after 'the Com-
pany received the Union's February 27 letter containing a
recognition to Mattice and his signed authorization cards.
Thus, "it stretches credulity too far to believe that there
was only a coincidental connection between" Mattice's
leading part in the union campaign and his layoffs. Angwell
Curtain Company, Inc. v. N. L. R. B., 192 F.2d 899, 903 (C.A.
7, 1951).
In sum , Dou Brava's and Johnson's incriminating re-
marks, the timing of the layoffs close upon significant
events in the union campaign, and the Company's open
and unlawfully manifested union animus convince me of
the Company's unlawful motive. N.L.R.B. v. Superior
Sales, Inc., 366 F.2d 229, 233 (C.A. 8, 1966). N. L. R. B. v.
Council Manufacturing Corp., 334 F.2d 161, 164 (C.A. 8,
1964).
The Company urges that Mattice was selected for layoff
because of declines in business and because he was the
least senior employee in the meat department. However, in
face of the foregoing array, the Company's defense is un-
convincing. Thus, while the Company asserts that both of
Mattice's layoffs were motivated by adverse business con-
ditions it has failed to flesh out its claim with adequate
evidence. With respect to the February 16 layoff, the in-
ventory sheets referred to by Dou Brava on that occasion
were not available to show the claimed loss being suffered
in the meat department. Instead, the Company offered the
appraisals of Temple Jay Stephens and Dou Brava, a table
extracted from the Company's records showing fluctua-
tions of hours worked in the meat department between the
week ending January 6 and the week ending March 24, the
dollar volume of meat processed in the department during
that period, and a table of prices per pound of eight-900-
11 I shall recommend dismissal of so much of the complaint as alleges
Dou Brava's response to be violative of Section 8(a)(I).
136 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
pound choice steers from November 1972 until March 13,
1973. However, there was no financial record presented to
show the claimed business reversals in dollars and cents.
Similarly, aside from testimony about declining sales, the
Lenten season, an expected consumer boycott of beef, and
rising wholesale beef prices, there was no showing of a
dollars-and-cents reason for laying Mattice off on March
8. In short, I find the evidence offered by the Company
inadequate to sustain its defense against the strong evi-
dence of unlawful motive. I therefore find its proffered
economic defense to be a pretext. .
Nor does the layoff of part-time meat department em-
ployee Steven Crain on March 9 assist the Company's de-
fense. For in light of the Union's February 27 letter charg-
ing that Mattice's February 16 layoff was because of his
union activity, the Company may well have used Crain's
layoff to mask its discriminatory motive 12 in laying Mat-
tice off in the second occasion.l3
In view of the foregoing, I find that the Company violat-
ed Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act when it laid off em-
ployee Robert L. Mattice on February 16 and March 9.
I also find that in the context of Mattice's unlawful lay-
off on February 16, Dou Brava's remark, "I told you
they'd never have a union" amounted to a warning that the
Company would resort to other unfair labor practices to
prevent its employees from obtaining union representation.
Accordingly, I find Dou Brava's remark was violative of
Section 8(a)(l) of the Act.
D The Warning Notices
1. The facts
On March 11, meat department employee George Hud-
son received the following letter from the Company:
Yesterday you did not appear for work and you did
not tell anyone that you were not coming. Please con-
sider this a warning notice that you are on probation
and the next time you do not appear for work without
calling in as soon as you know that you cannot come,
suitable action will be taken. You have previously
been given verbal notice of this situation.
Thereafter on or about July 27, Lucille Haggard received a
written warning from Jesse Dou Brava for failing to com-
ply with his request that she work "a few minutes over-
time" on July 27. Finally, Robert Mattice received a writ-
ten warning from Dou Brava on July 30 for leaving his
work station and'engaging in conversation with other em-
ployees during worktime.
Prior to the hearing none of the three employees com-
plained to management about his or her warning notice. At
the hearing Hudson did not challenge the contents of his
notice. In her testimony, Haggard admitted that on or
about July 27, Dou Brava assigned her to "scrub some of
the tables even if [she had] to stay over a little while."
12 Indeed, Temple Jay Stephens admitted in his testimony that Mattice's
layoff was "a sensitive issue" because of the Union's accusation.
3
There is no allegation before me that Crain's layoff was unlawful.
Haggard's testimony also shows that upon completion of
that assignment she went home without checking with Dou
Brava after another employee told her she could leave.
Mattice's testimony shows that he did in fact engage in
conversation with employees Kathy Chism, Shirley Wilson,
Bill Cloyd, and one other employee.14
It is indisputed that for the 5 to 6 years prior to this
proceeding the Company issued such warning to its em-
ployees for various infractions in all of its departments.15
Copies of six other warnings issued to employees in 1972
were offered and received in evidence at the hearing. There
is no evidence that the Company expressed any intention
to tighten up on discipline in the meat department or to use
written warnings in its antiunion campaign.
2. Analysis and conclusions
From the foregoing, I find no basis for the General
Counsel's contention that the three warning notices were
part of the Company's antiunion campaign. There was
nothing unusual about the issuance of such warnings. The
three employees apparently deserved the warnings. And
finally, there is no showing that the Company threatened
to use such warnings to punish union adherents. Accord-
ingly, I find that the warnings did not violate the Act and
shall recommend dismissal of the allegation.
E. The Alleged Discrimination Against the Strikers
I. The facts
On March 21, 12 of the meat department's approximate-
ly 16 employees went out on strike in response to the
Company's refusal to recognize and bargain with the
Union. In.April laid-off meat department employee Robert
L. Mattice refused the Company's offer of reinstatement
and became a striker. Thereafter, on July 21, the striking
employees made an unconditional offer to return to work,
which the Company accepted on July 23. Ten of the strik-
ers returned to work in the meat department on July 26,
but went out on strike again on August 3. During the first
strike the Company hired six or seven replacements for the
meat department of whom four remained after July 26.
a. The lack of white aprons and jackets
According to Robert Mattice's credited testimony, prior
to the first strike the Company provided white jackets to
the meat department as follows: "On the days that the
laundry was delivered, it was brought back to the break
room . . . and I picked out jackets that would fit me. I'd
take two, wear one and put one in my locker." He also
testified that the meat-department employees "had clean
white aprons every day." However, on cross-examination
Mattice also credibly testified that prior to the first strike,
the Company's laundry "was delivered twice a week," that
on the day of each delivery he "took enough to last a cou-
14 The Company issued similarly worded warnings to employees Veronica
Martin and Katherine Minks in October and July 1972. respectively.
is On August 30. 1973, the Company suspended all warning notices pend-
ing the outcome of this proceeding.
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO.
ple or 3 days and put them in my locker." Employee Hag-
gard conceded that prior to the March strike, the Company
occasionally had "problems" obtaining enought white gar-
ments for its employees. Turning to the period between the
strikes, Mattice's credited testimony reveals that while non-
strikers Cloyd, King, and Jacoby appeared to have had
clean aprons daily the Company provided Mattice with
one jacket and one apron on Thursday July 26, a clean
apron on Friday July 27, two aprons on August 1 and one
jacket during the week of July 30. 1 also find from
Mattice's testimony that on Tuesday, July 31, when he
asked Department Head Dou Brava if there were any clean
jackets, the latter replied: "I don't know where the laundry
is at. You'll just have to do with what we have." There is no
evidence that the Company made any special distributions
of white garments to the three nonstrikers during the peri-
od from July 26 to and including August 3.
b.• Entry to the warehouse and reporting to work.
As a matter of practice prior to the March strike, Robert
Mattice and the other meat department employees came to
work through the front door of the Company's warehouse.
During the period from July 26 to August 3, while Mattice
and the other strikers continued to use the front door, the
nonstrikers reported for work through the warehouse's
back door. The Company opened the front door 5 to 10
minutes before 6:00 a.m. There is no evidence as to when
the door was opened. Mattice also credibly testified that
after the front door was opened, as he and employee Hud-
son walked to the meat room , "Bob Johnson or Jesse Dou
Brava, whoever had unlocked the door, would go right
back . . . and unlock the division door between the bakery
and the dairy area and the main warehouse and allow the
people who were already inside the building to . . . come
on in and punch in." Finally , on cross-examination, Mat-
tice conceded that both groups were arriving in the meat
department "at about the same time." 16
It is also undisputed that since late in 1972, Dou Brava
has required meat department employees to be attired in
their white aprons and jackets before punching in on the
time clock. Dou Brava also posted a notice to the employ-
ees announcing this requirement at that time . On direct
examination , Mattice testified that during the July 26-Au-
gust 3 period, the meat department employees who had
worked during the first strike punched in first and "then
dressed." Later , on cross-examination, Mattice testified as
follows:
Q. Who did you see punch in before he put on a
white apron and coat?
A. I've seen Bob Johnson, I've seen Bill Cloyd, Roy
King I've seen Keenar Black stand there and punch
five or six cards, the girls were standing around and
she would punch five or six cards.
Q. What date do you have reference to? Let's do it
16 Mattice's testimony in this regard confirms the Company' s summary
entitled "Check In Time Produce Employees " which shows the punch-in
time for all meat department employees for the weeks of July 28 and August
4 (Resp . Exh. 19).
137
this way. What day did you see somebody punch in
before they had their whites on, before you punched
in?
A. Before I punched in?
Q. Yes.
A. I don't believe anybody did.
c. Overtime work
At the hearing, I received in evidence an extract of the
Company's records (G.C. Exhibit 14) showing the total
hours worked by each meat department employee during
the weeks ending July 28 and August 4, respectively. The
extract together with Temple Stephens credited testimony
shows that from July 26 up to and including August 2. the
last full day before the second strike, the only employees
who worked 9 hours or more on two or more normal work
days were Anna Forrest (2), William Jacoby (3), Mark
Wille (2), Kathryn Thompson (3), Wanda Ridgeway (3),
and Keenar Black (3), none of whom participated in the
first strike. The Company's summary also shows that the
only employees who worked on Saturday July 28 were
nonstrikers Forrest, Wille, Thompson, and Black. Of the
strikers , only Kendall worked 9 hours or more on any of
the 6 workdays covered by the period, and she achieved
that distinction only once.
2. Analysis and conclusions
I find that the General Counsel has not established by
substantial evidence that the lack of white aprons and jack-
ets for distribution to the strikers and the segregation of
strikers from nonstrikers, between July 26 and August 3
were violative of Section 8(a) (3) and (1) of the Act. There
is no showing that the Company made any surreptitious
distribution of white garments to the nonstrikers or as-
signed separate entrances to the strikers and nonstrikers.
Nor is there any showing that management voiced any in-
tent to discriminate against the strikers in these respects.
Also, the credited testimony suggests a number of nondis-
criminatory explanations for the apparent disparity in
whites such as the sudden end of the 4-month-old strike in
the latter half of a workweek, faulty laundry service, and
the possibility that the three nonstrikers had accumulated
whites in their lockers. As for the apparent segregation of
strikers from nonstrikers at reporting time, there is no
showing that the strikers suffered any pecuniary loss. In-
deed, Mattice conceded that the two groups were arriving
in the meat department at about the same time. In sum, I
am not persuaded that either the problem with the white
aprons and coats or the use of the two warehouse entrances
between July 26 and August 3 provides any ground for
findings that the'Company violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1)
of the Act.
However, I find sufficient evidence to support the Gen-
eral Counsel's contention that between July 26 and August
3, the Company discriminated against the strikers with re-
gard to hours of work. The Company's records show that
of the 10 returned strikers, only one was assigned overtime
of I hour or more during the period July 26 through and
including August 2. Further, the Company assigned none
138 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
of the strikers to Saturday work on July 28. In contrast, 6
of the 10 nonstrikers received a total of 16 overtime assign-
ments of I hour or more during the same period, and 4 of
the 10 received a Saturday assignment on July 28. In light
of the Company's demonstrated hostility toward employee
adherence to the Union, such a contrast in treatment can-
not be viewed as a mere coincidence. Cf. N.L.R.B. v. Cam-
co, Incorporated, 340 F.2d 803, 809-811 (C.A. 5, 1965), cert.
denied 382 U.S. 926 (1965).
To avoid a finding of unlawful conduct, the Company
asserts that during the period in question, the strikers were
leaving work daily at 3:00 p.m. without permission from
the meat department head, Dou Brava. However, the only
such instance shown by the record involved employee Lu-
cille Haggard, who received a written warning on or about
July 27 for failing to comply with Dou Brava's July 27
request to "remain and work a few minutes overtime."
There is no evidence to support the Company's suggestion
that all 10 of the returned strikers were leaving the ware-
house daily at 3:00 p.m. Nor is there any showing that
company intentions to assign the strikers to overtime or
Saturday work were in any way thwarted by the strikers. In
short, I find the Company's explanation to be wanting in
evidentiary support. Accordingly, in view of the strong evi-
dence of disparate treatment and the attendant union ani-
mus, I find the Company violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1)
by discriminating against the the 10 strikers. in the assign-
ment of overtime and Saturday work because they had
supported the Union's strike which began on March 21.
F. Jesse Dou Brava's Refusal To Recognize Mattice as the
Meat Department Employees' Spokesman
1. Facts
On August 2, Robert Mattice arranged for a meeting
with Jesse Dou Brava on the following morning at the
company warehouse.' On August 3, Mattice and nine
other meat department employees met Dou Brava during
their morning coffeebreak. Mattice said: "Jesse, we would
like to talk to you." Dou Brava replied:
Bob, I'm not going to talk to you. You are not a
spokesman for this group, you never have been and
never will be. If they have complaint: or gripes, they
can come to me individually and privately and I'll at-
tempt to resolve these.
At this, Mattice asked Dou Brava if that meant "You're
not going to talk to us then?" Dou Brava replied, "No!"
With the discussion thus ended, the 10 employees removed
their white jackets and aprons and walked out of the ware-
house. Thus began the second strike which was in progress
at the time of the hearing in this matter.
2. Analysis and conclusions
The General Counsel urges that Dou Brava's refusal to
17 The purpose of the meeting was to discuss conditions of employment.
treat with Mattice as a spokesman for a group of meat
department employees on August 3 constitutes a failure
and refusal "to permit employees to concertedly request
the [Company] to take corrective action in regard to certain
terms and conditions of employment." I agree for the fol-
lowing reason, Section 9(a) of the Act provides as follows:
Representatives designated or selected for the purpos-
es of collective bargaining by the majority of the em-
ployees in a unit appropriate for such purposes, shall
be the exclusive representatives of all the employees in
such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining in
respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment,
or other conditions of employment: Provided, That
any individual employee or a group of employees shall
have the right at any time to present grievances to
their employer and to have such grievances adjusted,
without the intervention of the bargaining representa-
tive, as long as the adjustment is not inconsistent with
the terms of a collective-bargaining contract or agree-
ment then in effect: Provided further, That the bargain-
ing representative has been given opportunity to be
present at such adjustment.
Absent a recognized bargaining representative through
whom the 10 employees could have processed their griev-
ances, their attempt to act through a spokesman such as
Mattice came within the foregoing Section and was pro-
tected by Section 7 of the Act. N.L.R.B. v. Lundy Manufac-
turing Corp., 316 F.2d 921, 925-927 (C.A. 2, 1963), enfg.
136 NLRB 1230 (1962), cert. denied 375 U.S. 895 (1963). In
Lundy Manufacturing, Corp., supra,'the Board also recog-
nized that absent a functioning union grievance machinery,
employees are entitled to establish a committee to repre-
sent them in the presentation of grievances to their employ-
er, and that such a committee is entitled to recognition by
the employer. In that case, the Board found the employer's
refusal to "accept and meet with and discuss grievances"
with such a committee violative of Section 8(a)(1) of the
Act. 136 NLRB at 1244-45. Here, faced with the
Company's rejection of the Union's demand for recogni-
tion, the 10 employees had attempted to press their griev-
ances collectively, through Mattice. In such circumstances,
Dou Brava's refusal to recognize Mattice as the group's
spokesman for the presentation of grievances brought
home to the frustrated employees the Company's complete
rejection of their right to engage in any form of collective
bargaining a right fostered by Sections 9(a) and 7 of the
Act. I find, therefore, that by such refusal, the Company
violated Section 8(a) (1) of the Act. Lundy Manufacturing
Corp., supra, 136 NLRB at 1244-45.18
I further find that Dou Brava's unlawful refusal to rec-
ognize Mattice as the spokesman for the meat department
strikers groups was the immediate cause of the strike which
is The record does not support the Company's claim in its brief that
"there is absolutely no evidence in the record to establish the purpose ...
of why the group wished to speak to Dou Brava ." For, in his response to
Mattice's request for a conference. Dou Brava recognized the probability
that the employees had "gripes" and "complaints." Thus. Dou Brava's re-
sponse showed that he recognized that the employees were approaching him
about their conditions of employment including the denial of overtime.
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO. 139
began on August 3. 1 also find that a contributing cause of
the strike was the Company's unlawful discrimination
against the strikers with respect to hours of employment
during the period from July 26 to and including August 3.
For, these reasons, the August 3 strike was an unfair labor
practice strike. N.L.R.B. v. Comfort, Inc., 365 F.2d 867,
873-874 (C.A. 8, 1966).
G. Jesse E. Kruse's Warning
Late in the afternoon of August 31, a truck belonging to
Beaver , another employer, approached the Company's
warehouse. Striking employee Doris Freeman, who was
walking the picket line approached the truck, which then
stopped, and asked the driver to honor the picket line. The
driver said he would comply with Freeman's request, but
first he had to call his employer. He asked where he could
park his truck and where he might find a phone. Another
striker, Katherine Chism, came to the truck and told the
driver where to park and Freeman directed him to a near-
by tavern where there was a phone. At about this point,
Company General Manager Kruse, who was standing in
the warehouse door, called to the driver telling him to back
his truck into the warehouse dock. The driver ignored
Kruse's direction, but parked his truck and started walk-
ing. At this, Kruse shook his finger at Freeman and Chism,
and warned them he would call the police and, "Get rid of
them one at a time." 19 1 find Kruse 's warning amounted to
interference, restraint, and coercion within the meaning of
Section 8(a)(1) of the Act. Cone Brothers Contracting Com-
pany, 135 NLRB 108, 109, 132 (1962), enfd. 317 F.2d 3
(C.A. 5, 1963), cert. denied 375 U.S. 945 (1963).
H. The Refusal To Bargain
As of February 27, when the Union wrote its letter de-
manding recognition and-bargaining, it had obtained au-
thorization cards from a majority 20 of the 17 employees in
the Company's meat department.21 On March I the Com-
pany rejected the Union's demand. In defense of its refusal
to bargain, the Company contends that the bargaining unit
sought by the Union is inappropriate, and that only an
19 My findings are based upon the testimony of Freeman and Chism, who
presented their testimony in a straightforward and convincing manner.
Kruse, who was less certain about the event testified in substance that the
"truck was being held up." However, his testimony reveals that he did not
witness the entire incident , but came upon it after the truck had stopped. He
also conceded that he said "Maybe we ought to call the police and see if
can help out on this."the
As of February 27, the Union had obtained 13 cards. However, it sent
copies of only 12 of the cards as enclosures with its letter td the Company.
One of the 12 cards was executed by Wanda L. Colmer on February 26
under circumstances which cast doubt upon her status as a meat department
employee. As the remaining I I cards were sufficient to support the Union's
demand , I find it unnecessary to determine Colmer 's status.
21 The proposed bargaining unit is more fully described as:
All regular full-time and part-time meat department employees em-
ployed by Stephens Produce Co., Inc., at its Moberly, Missouri, ware-
house, excluding all dockmen, warehousemen , truck drivers , helpers.
janitors, checkers, fork lift operators, produce order men, bakery em-
ployees, dairy employees, office clerical employees, professional em-
ployees, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.
overall unit consisting of Stephens' meat, bakery, and dairy
departments would be appropriate. There is no bargaining
history for any of Stephens' employees.
In support of its unit position, the Company stresses in-
stances of transfer and interchange between the three de-
partments dating from 1958, occasions when meat depart-
ment employees hae sacked donuts and when bakery em-
ployees have done some meat department work. The
Company also calls attention to a coordinated layoff policy
between the three departments, their common seniority list,
common fringe benefits and working hours, and Temple
Stephens' overall control of their operations. On the other
hand, the General Counsel has shown that the meat de-
partment is in a room separate from the other departments,
has its own separate immediate supervisor, and performs
work distinct from that of the other two departments. The
General Counsel also points out that unlike the dairy and
bakery work areas, the meat department's temperature is
kept at about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.22 The record also
shows that except for baking chickens in the bakery once
or twice weekly and occasionally washing meat trays there,
the meat department employees do not go into other de-
partments to pi:rform their department's work. The meat
department employees punch a separate timeclock and
have two separ, to locker rooms, one for men and the other
for women. Taking into account the factors urged by the
Company, I find that the record as a whole reveals that the
meat department employees enjoy a separate and distinct
community of interest similar to that of retail store meat
departments which the Board has traditionally found to be
appropriate units. Owego Street Supermarkets, 159 NLRB
1735, 1741 (1966): The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Compa-
ny, Inc., 130 NLRB 226 (1961).
In sum , I find a separate unit of Stephens' meat depart-
ment employees, as sought by the Union, to be an appro-
priate unit for purposes of collective bargaining. -
The Company complains that misstatements made by
union. representatives and employee Mattice impaired the
validity of the Union's card majority. Specifically, the
Company relies upon the testimony of employees Keenar
Black and Bill Cloyd that misrepresentations and threats
were made to them individually, a showing that a proposed
contract was read to the meat department employees by
the Union on February 26, and Mattice's testimony, that in
his effort to gain support for the Union he showed meat
department employees a contract designated as the Sedalia
area contract. However, the evidence does not warrant re-
jection of the Union's authorization cards. Neither Black
nor Cloyd signed union cards and there is no showing that
the misstatements allegedly made to them were made to
any of the employees who did sign cards. Further, neither
the reading of the proposed contract on February 26 nor
the circulation of the Sedalia area contract constituted
promises that specific wages or other 'benefits would be
obtained from the Company. Accordingly, I find that at
the time of its demand for recognition on February 27, the
Union had a clear majority evidenced by valid authoriza-
tion cards.
22 The dairy storage room is kept at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the
dairy pasteurizing area's temperature range is between 80 and 90 degrees.
140 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL
Finally, I am persuaded that the Company's many and
persuasive unfair labor practices found above were of such
a nature as to make impossible the holding of an election
in an atmosphere free from fear and coercion. Consequent-
ly, a bargaining order is warranted in these circumstances,
as established by Board and circuit precedent. Gissel Pack-
ing Co., Inc., 395 U.S. 575 (1969), Best Industrial Uniform,
203 NLRB 1166 (1973). 1 conclude accordingly, that the
Company violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act by
refusing to recognize and bargain with the Union, on and
after March 1,23 as the exclusive bargaining representative
of the meat department employees. As the meat depart-
ment strike which began on March 21 was caused by the
Company's March I refusal to recognize the Union, I find
that strike was an unfair labor practice strike.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. By unlawfully interfering with, restraining, and coerc-
ing the employees, as found herein, the Company has en-
gaged in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Sec-
tion 8(a)(1) of the Act.
2. By discriminating against Robert L. Mattice, George
Hudson, Lillian Canaday, Dorothy Kendall, Katherine
Minks, Kathryn Chism, Elizabeth White, Lucille Haggard,
Doris Freeman, and Shirley Wilson because of their activi-
ty in support of the Union, the Company has engaged in
unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3)
and (1) of the Act.
3. By refusing to bargain with the Union, on and after
March I, 1973, when the Union represented a majority of
the Company's employees in the appropriate unit de-
scribed above, the Company has engaged in unfair labor
practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of
the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices affect commerce
within the meaning of Section 2(6), and (7) of the Act.
THE REMEDY
Having found that the Company has engaged in certain
unfair labor practices, I shall recommend that it cease and
desist therefrom, and that it take certain affirmative action
necessary to remedy the unfair labor practices and to effec-
tuate the policies of the Act. Included in this affirmative
action will be a recommendation that the Company make
Robert L. Mattice whole for the loss of wages he suffered
as a result of his layoffs on February 16 and March 9,
1973, and the further recommendation that Robert L. Mat-
tice, George Hudson, Lillian Canaday, Dorothy Kendall,
Katherine Minks, Kathryn Chism, Elizabeth White, Lucille
Haggard, Doris Freeman, and Shirley Wilson, be made
whole for the loss of overtime wages they suffered as a
result of the Company's withholding of overtime from
them. Mattice's backpay arising out of the two layoffs shall
be computed on a quarterly basis plus interest at 6 percent
23 The Union 's motion to strike the testimony of Earl J . Engle on the
ground that he appeared as Company counsel is denied . Vanderbih Prod-
ucts, Inc. v . N.L.R.B ., 297 F. 2d 833 (C.A. 2, 1961).
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
per annum as prescribed in F. W. Woolworth, Company, 90
NLRB 289 (1950), and Isis Plumbing & Heating Co., 138
NLRB 716 (1962). 1 shall also provide for interest at the
rate of 6 percent per annum with respect to the overtime
wages due the above-listed employees.
Having found that the Company on and after March 1,
1973, and at all times thereafter, failed and refused, in vio-
lation of Section 8(a)(5) of the Act, to recognize and bar-
gain with the Union as the duly designated exclusive col-
lective-bargaining representative of its employees in the
unit herein found appropriate, and that, independent of
such violation, a bargaining order is necessary to remedy
the Company's other unfair labor practices, it will be rec-
ommended that the Company, upon request, bargain with
the Union concerning the wages, hours, and terms and
conditions of employment of the employees in the said unit
and if an understanding is reached, embody the same in a
written contract. However, I see no ground for burdening
the Company with the General Counsel's and the Charging
Party's litigation expenses in this proceeding.
Having found that the strikes by the Company's employ-
ees which began on March 21 and August 3, respectively,
were caused by the Company's unfair labor practices, and,
therefore, were unfair labor practice strikes, I shall, in ac-
cordance with Board policy, recommend that upon the un-
conditional offer of the strikers, including those who did
not return to work on July 26, 1973, to abandon their strike
and return to work, the Company shall offer each of them
reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent
employment, dismissing, if need be, any person hired on or
after March 21, and make each such striker whole for any
loss of pay suffered by reason-of the Company's failure to
reinstate an employee, within 5 days after application, to
the date of the Company's offer of reinstatement, by pay-
ing to such striker a sum of money equal to the wages he
would have earned during said period, less his net earnings
in that period, in accordance with the formula set forth in
F. W. Woolworth Company, supra, with interest at the rate
of 6 percent per annum as provided in Isis Plumbing &
Heating Co., supra.
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:
ORDER 24
Respondents Stephens Produce Co., Inc., and Temple
Stephens Company, their officers, agents, successors, and
assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Interrogating employees concerning the union activi-
ties or union sentiments of other employees.
(b) Creating the impression that the union activities of
their employees are under surveillance.
(c) Threatening discharge, plant closure, or other repri-
24 In the event no exceptions are filed as provided by Section 102.46 of the
Rules and Regulations of the National Labor Relations Board, the findings.
conclusions, and recommended Order shall, as provided in Section 102.48
of the Rules and Regulations, be adopted by the Board and become its
findings, conclusions, and Order, and all.objections thereto shall he deemed
waived for all purposes.
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO.
sals because its employees engage in union activities or
express prounion sentiment.
(d) Promising employees job security or other benefits
to induce them to withdraw their support from a protected
strike or other concerted activity protected by the Act.
(e) Interfering with the right of employees to present
grievances through an employee whom they have selected
as their spokesman.
(f) Threatening employees with arrest or other reprisals
in retaliation for their participation in a strike or other
concerted activity protected by the Act.
(g) Encouraging or discouraging membership in, or sup-
port for, Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Work-
men of North America , AFL-CIO, Local Union 576 or
any other labor organization , of its employees by discrimi-
natorily laying off employees or withholding overtime
work assignments from employees because of their union
or other concerted activities.
(h) Refusing to recognize Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butcher Workmen of North America , AFL-CIO, Lo-
cal Union 576 , as the exclusive collective -bargaining repre-
sentative of its employees in the following appropriate
unit:
All regular full-time and part-time meat department
employees employed by Stephens Produce Co., Inc.,
at its Morberly, Missouri, warehouse, excluding all
dockmen, warehousemen, truck drivers, helpers, jani-
tors, checkers, fork lift operators, produce order men,
bakery employees, dairy employees, office clerical em-
ployees, professional employees, guards, and supervi-
sors as defined in the Act.
(i) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or
coercing its employees in the exercise of their rights guar-
anteed by the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which is neces-
sary to effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Make whole Robert L. Mattice, as set forth in the
section entitled "The Remedy," for any loss of earnings
suffered by reason of his discriminatory layoffs.
(b) Make whole Robert L. Mattice, George Hudson,
Lillian Canaday, Dorothy Kendall, Katherine Minks, Ka-
thryn Chism, Elizabeth White, Lucille Haggard, Doris
Freeman, and Shirley Wilson, in the manner set forth in
the section entitled "The Remedy," for any loss of earnings
suffered by reason of the discriminatory withholding of
overtime work from them.
(c) Upon request, recognize and bargain with Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, AFL-CIO, Local Union 576, as the exclusive col-
lective-bargaining representative of the employees in the
aforesaid appropriate unit respecting rates of pay, wages,
hours, or other terms and conditions of employment and, if
an understanding is reached, embody such understanding
in a signed agreement.
(d) Upon the unconditional application of those em-
ployees who went on strike on March 21, 1973, and did not
return to work since that date, and the unconditional appli-
cation of those employees who went on strike on August 3,
141
1973, offer each of them immediate, full, and uncondition-
al reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent
jobs without prejudice to their seniority or other rights and
privileges, dismissing, if need be, any person hired on or
after March 21, and make each such striker whole for any
loss of pay suffered by reason of Respondents' refusal, if
such there be, to reinstate such striker, beginning 5 days
after application for reinstatement, to the date Respon-
dents offer reinstatement.
(e) Post at its warehouse at Moberly, Missouri, copies of
the attached notice marked "Appendix." 25 Copies of said
notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for
Region 17, after being signed by the Respondents' author-
ized representative, shall be posted by them immediately
upon receipt thereof, and be maintained by them for 60
consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, includ-
ing all places where notices to employees are customarily
posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken by Respondents to
ensure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered
by any other material.
(f) Notify the Regional Director for Region 17, in writ-
ing, within 20 days from the date of this Order, what steps
the Respondents have taken to comply herewith.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amended complaint be.
and it hereby is, dismissed insofar as it alleges unfair labor
practices not specifically found herein.
25 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 be changed to read "Posted
Pursuant to a Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an
Order of the National Labor Relations Board."
APPENDIX
NOTICE To EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
WE WILL NOT question employees about the union
activities or union sentiments of other employees.
WE WILL NOT give the impression that the union ac-
tivities of our employees are under surveillance.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees with discharge,
plant closure , or other reprisals because they engage in
union activities or express prounion sentiment.
WE WILL NOT promise employees job security or
other benefits to induce them to withdraw their sup-
port from a protected strike.
WE WILL NOT interfere with the right of employees to
present grievances to us through an employee whom
they have selected as their spokesman.
WE WILL NOT threaten employees with arrest or other
reprisals in retaliation for their participation in a strike
or other protected concerted activity.
WE WILL NOT discriminate against any employee be-
cause of his or her activity on behalf of Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North Ameri-
142 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
ca, AFL-CIO, Local Union 576, or any other union.
WE WILL pay Robert L. Mattice for wage losses he
suffered as a result of his layoffs on February 16 and
March 9, 1973, respectively.
WE WILL pay Robert L. Mattice, George Hudson,
Lillian Canaday, Dorothy Kendall, Katherine Minks,
Kathryn Chism, Elizabeth White, Lucille Haggard,
Doris Freeman, and Shirley Wilson for losses they suf-
fered as a result of our withholding of overtime work
assignments from them between and including July 26
and August 2, 1973.
WE WILL bargain collectively, upon request, with
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of
North America, AFL-CIO, Local Union 576, re-
specting rates of pay, wages, hours, and other terms
and conditions of employment, as the representative
of our employees in the following bargaining unit:
All regular full-time and part-time meat department
employees employed by Stephens Produce Co., Inc.,
at its Moberly, Missouri, warehouse, excluding all
dockmen, warehousemen, truck drivers, helpers,
janitors, checkers, fork lift operators, produce order
men, bakery employees, dairy employees, office
clerical employees, professional employees, guards,
and supervisors as defined in the Act.
WE WILL, upon the unconditional application of
those employees who went on strike on March 21,
1973, and did not return to work since that date, and
the unconditional application of those employees who
went on strike on August 3, 1973, offer each of them
immediate, full, and unconditional reinstatement, to
their former or substantially equivalent jobs without
prejudice to their seniority or other rights and privi-
leges, dismissing, if need be, any person we hired on or
after March 21, and make each such striker whole for
any loss of pay suffered by reason of our refusal, if
such there be, to reinstate such striker, beginning 5
days after application for reinstatement, to the date we
offer reinstatement.
WE WILL NOT in any other manner interfere with,
restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of
their right to join or assist Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butcher Workmen of North America, AFL-CIO,
Local Union 576, or any other union.
STEPHENS PRODUCE CO., INC.
AND TEMPLE STEPHENS
COMPANY