The Texas Pipeline Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Mar 2, 1944

55 N.L.R.B. 239 (N.L.R.B. 1944)

1
In the Matter of THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY and OIL WORKERS
INTERNATIONAL UNION, CIO
Case No. 16-B-777.-Decided March 29,194.4
Messrs. John C. Jackson and K. B. McLaughlin, of Houston, Tex.,
and Mr. Y. A. Land, of Tulsa, Okla., for.the Company.
Mr. Lindsay P. Walden, of Fort Worth, Tex., and Mr. A. L. Har-
desty, of Tulsa, Okla., for the Union.
Mr. Charles W. Schneider, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon petition duly filed by Oil Workers International Union, CIO,
herein called the Union, alleging that a question affecting commerce
had arisen concerning the representation of employees of The Texas
Pipeline Company, Oklahoma Division, Tulsa, Oklahoma, herein
called the Company, the National Labor Relations Board provided for
an appropriate hearing upon due notice before Elmer Davis, Trial
Examiner. Said hearing was held at Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January
11 and 12,1944. The Company and the Union appeared, participated,
and were afforded full opportunity to be heard, to examine and cross-
examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on the issues.
The Trial Examiner's rulings made at the hearing are free from
prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed. Both parties were afforded
opportunity to file briefs with the Board.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
The Texas Pipeline Company is a Texas corporation doing business
as a common carrier in the States of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana,
Illinois, Indiana, and Montana. The Company operates approxi-
mately 6,474 miles of trunk'and gathering pipe lines within said States
for the gathering and transportation of crude oil.
55 N. L. R. B., No. 41.
239
240 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
During 1943 the Company transported at least 55,000,000 barrels of
crude oil and petroleum products, approximately 20,000 barrels of
which were transported through the Company's. Oklahoma lines. A
major portion of the oil originating within the State of Oklahoma is
transported through the Company's lines to points in States other
than Oklahoma. A portion of the oil originating in the State of
Texas is transported through the Company's lines to points within
the State of Oklahoma. The present proceedings involve only the
Oklahoma Division of the Company.
We find that the Company is engaged in commerce within the
meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
II. THE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
Oil Workers International Union is a labor organization affiliated
with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, admitting to mem-
bership employees of the Company.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
On October 30, 1943, the Union requested recognition as the collec-
tive bargaining representative of employees in the Oklahoma Divi-
sion. On November 10, 1943, the Company declined to recognize the
Union until it had been certified by the Board.
A statement of a Field Examiner of the Board, introduced into
evidence at the hearing, indicates that the Union represents a sub-
stantial number of employees in the unit hereinafter found to be
appropriate.'
We find that a question affecting, commerce has arisen concerning
the representation of employees of the Company, within the meaning
of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
The Union contends that all production and maintenance employees
in the Oklahoma Division of the Company, excluding clerical and
supervisory employees, constitute, an appropriate unit. The Com-
pany contends that the appropriate unit should be system-wide. In
addition, there is dispute between the parties as to the supervisory
or managerial status of a number of classifications of employees.
The main office of the Company, is at Houston,. Texas, at which point
its operations and basic policies are determined and directed. How-
ever, for administrative purposes, the system is divided into six
divisions, of which Oklahoma is one, each under a superintendent
1 The statement discloses that the Union submitted applications for membership bearing
the apparently genuine signatures of 75 persons whose names appeared on the Company's
November 15, 1943, pay roll. The said pay roll listed approximately 171 employees in the
appropriate unit.
THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY 241
.responsible for its operation. Working conditions' are generally uni-
form throughout the system. There is some interdivisional inter-
change of employees. However, the organizational activities of the
Union have not as yet extended beyond the Oklahoma and the South
Texas : divisions. In a previous case involving the latter division
we held that the- extent of organizational, activity and the admin-
istrative set-up of the Company indicated the feasibility of divisional
bargaining, and found such a unit appropriate.2 'We deem the same
considerations applicable here.
The parties are in dispute as to the following groups of employees,
the Union contending that they should be included, the Company
that they should be excluded as supervisors or representatives of
management :
Chief tour engineers: Chief tour engineers, of whom there are 3,
are in charge of important pumping stations. They are responsible
for the proper operation of the station and the maintenance of effi-
cient .,work standards. The operating crews at these, stations con-
sist of from 7 to 10 men, spread over 3 shifts. The chief tour engi-
neer supervises these employees and keeps their time records. He also
makes daily and monthly reports of ' oil runs. Generally, the chief
works the daylight shift, and while on duty actually operates the
pumping equipment. He is responsible to the chief dispatcher for
efficient operation of the station and is subject to call 24 hours a day.
Although there is dispute as to the extent of his supervisory author-
ity, we find that the chief has authority to make effective recom-
mendations with respect to the tenure of employees at his station.
We shall therefore ekclude chief tour engineers from the appropriate
unit.
• Tour engineers: The Company employs approximately 10 tour en-
gineers. These men operate the pumping station equipment, make
minor repairs, gauge tanks, and in general, see that the pumping equip-
ment is properly maintained. Ordinarily, a gauger or combination
gauger-fireman works the same shift with the tour engineer. At some
stations, however, there is no one to assist the engineer. While there
is dispute as to the supervisory status of these employees, we find that
they are essentially skilled workmen whose function is to operate the
pumping equipment, and that they are not supervisory employees.
They will therefore be included in the unit.
Gang foremen: Gang foremen work directly under connection fore-
men. The latter are admittedly supervisors. The connection foremen
lay out, or plan, the work of gangs a week in advance. It is then the
function of the gang foremen to carry out this plan. There are 3 such
foremen, each in charge of a gang of from 8 to 17 men. They perform
2 Matter of The Texas Pape Lane Company, 53 N L R B. 431.,
5 i 8129-44-vol 55-17
242 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
'no manual labor. While they have no power to hire or discharge, their
recommendations with respect thereto are accorded weight. Gang
foremen will therefore be excluded from the unit, as supervisory
employees.
Assistant gang' foremen: The assistant gang foreman exercises all
the functions of the gang foreman when the latter. is absent. While he
may perform manual labor at times, he is not required to do so.
Although he has no power to hire or discharge, his recommendations,
with respect thereto are accorded weight. Assistant gang foremen
will be excluded from the unit as supervisors.
District gaugers: District gaugers, of whom there are 15 in the divi-
sion , arrange for the transfer of oil from the tanks of producing, com-
panies into the Company's pipe lines. When a producer desires the
0--pang to transport his oil, the district gauger reports that fact to
the district foreman, who directs the connection foreman to make the
proper connections, and.the district gauger is instructed to run the oil.
The district gauger then meets the pumper for the customer. Together
they gauge the customer's tank, and make tests for basic sediment,
water, gravity, and temperature, following -which the gauger fills out
a "run sheet," containing the appropriate data, which he and the
pumper sign. The oil is then turned into the Company's line. After
the oil has been run, the gauger and the pumper make an additional
report, copies of which are forwarded to the customer and the Com-
pany. If the oil is not up to specifications, or if he and the pumper
disagree as to the specifications, the gauger, is without authority to
accept it, and must report the facts to the division superintendent. He
also makes daily and monthly reports on oil runs, and is responsible
generally for ascertaining damage to equipment and for gathering in-
formation on activities of producing companies in his area. He- is
instructed, however, not to solicit business. There are no employees
under his supervision.
The Company contends that the district gauger is a representative of
management and should therefore be excluded from the unit. We are .
of the opinion, however, that the duties of the district gauger are
purely ministerial. He reports definitely ascertainable facts, and ex-
ercises no such discretion or independent judgment as to classify him
as a managerial representative. , The district gaugers will therefore
be included in the unit'
tiVelcl'er foremen: There are three welder foremen in the, Oklahoma
Division. As a rule they work under 'the direct supervision of the
In Matter of Empire Pipeline Company, 46 N L R B 1341, we excluded district
gaugers fioni a production and maintenance unit as inana aerial representatives In that
case, ho sever, the Company was a purchaser of oil, all of which was bought by the district
gauicrs, dealing in an open and competitive market In the instant case, t',e Company
is a common care lei There is no e% idence that the district gauges s here ai e charged with
a similar responsibility, or that they exercise any such managerial judgment is accepting
oil for shipment as is involved in its purchase foi profitable resale.
THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY 243
connection foreman. When manual labor is required in connection
with welding, the welder foreman supervises a gang of from two to
eight laborers and welders. In addition he does welding. In the
absence of the connection foreman,'tbe welder foreman is in complete
charge of the gang. While he. has no power to hire or'discharge, the
welder foreman has authority to send men off the job for misconduct,
and they have been instructed to follow his orders. Under such cir-
cumstances we will exclude the' welder foremen as supervisory
employees.
Assistant master ^n,ec;ha1iies: 'T'here are two of these employees in
the division. They work under the supervision of the master me-
chamc. Their function is to repair -and--maintain mechanical equip-
ment. They work with hand tools and are usually assisted by' a
first class mechanic. Occasionally they may be assigned extra help.
They have no authority to hire or discharge. While the mechanics
and helpers receive' instructions from the assistant master mechanic,
we deem the relationship to be that of craftsman and helper, ra her
Thaii of supervisor and subordinate. We shall therefore include the
assistant master mechanics in the unit.
Chief stock and delivery gauger: There is one such employee in the
division. He is charged with the operation of a tafik farm and pump
house. When the station is pumping, he supervises four gaugers and,
one or more tour engineers. He ]s directly responsible to the chief oil
dispatcher, reports infractions of rules, and keeps the records of em-
ployees under his supervision. While he spends approkimately 7,5
percent of his time performing some kind of work, the chief stocx
and delivery gauger recommends disciplinary action with respect to
his employees, and his recommendations are accorded weight. He
will therefore be excluded as a supervisory employee.'
In accordance with the foregoing, we find that all production and
maintenance employees of the Oklahoma Division of the Company,
including carpenters, local engineers, stock and delivery gaugers,
laborers, district line-walkers-main line-walkers, first-class inechan-
ics, second-class mechaunics, mechanics' helpers, stock gaugers, stock
gauger-oilers, stock gauger-firemen. stock gauger-watchmen, electric
station operators, painters, pipe liners, truck drivers, station utility
nlen, welders, tour engineers, district gaugers, and assistant master
mechanics, but excluding clerks, division chief clerks; junior field
clerks, senior field clerks, chief main 'line engineers,'telephone and
telegraph foremen, assistant telephone and telegraph foremen, district
foremen, roving linemen, paint foremen, tankage foremen, ]vaster
'The Union submitted in evidence copies of contracts with various oil and pipe-line
companies in the area for the purpose of showing an historical practice of bargaining in
the industry on behalf of the disputed categories of employees We do not find that the
contracts disclose such a practice
244 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
mechanics, telegraphers, chief telegraphers, troublemen, superintend-
ents, assistant superintendents, chief clerk, cost record clerk, right-of-
way agents, stenographers, tank inspectors, connection foremen, dis-
patchers, chief tour engineers, gang foremen, assistant gang foremen,
welder foremen, and chief stock and delivery gauger,5 and also ex-
cluding all other clerical employees, and other supervisory employees
with authority to hire, promote, discharge, discipline, or otherwise
effect changes in the status of employees, or effectively recommend
such action, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collec-
tive bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
V. THE DETERMINATION' OF REPRESENTATIVES
We shall direct that the question concerning representation which
has arisen be resolved by means of an election by secret ballot among
the employees in the appropriate unit who were employed during the
pay-roll period, immediately preceding the date of the Direction. of
Election herein, subject to the limitations and additions set forth in
the Direction.
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 Relations
Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 9, of National Labor Rela-
tions Board Rules and Regulations-Series 3, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation to ascertain representa-
tives for the purposes of collective bargaining with The Texas Pipe-
line Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma, an election by secret ballot shall be
conducted as early as possible, but not later than thirty (30) days
from the date of this Direction, under the direction and supervision of
the Regional Director for the Sixteenth Region, acting in this matter
as agent for the National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article
III, Sections 10 and 11, of said Rules and Regulations, among the
employees in the unit found appropriate in Section IV, above, who
were employed during the pay-roll period immediately preceding the
date of this Direction, including employees who did not work during
said pay-roll period because they were ill or on vacation or temporar-
ily laid off, and including employees in the armed forces'of the
United States who present themselves in person at the polls, but
excluding any who have since quit or been discharged for cause, and
have not'been rehired or-reinstated prior to the date of the election,
to determine whether or not they desire to be represented by Oil
Workers International Union, affiliated with the Congress of In-
dustrial Organizations, for the purposes of collective bargaining.
5 Except for the employment categories about which they were in dispute , the parties
stipulated that the above inclusions and exclusions were appropriate.,