Todd Shipyards Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Feb 1, 1938

5 N.L.R.B. 20 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of TODD SHIPYARDS CORPORATION, ROBINS DRY DOCK
AND REPAIR CO., AND TIETJEN AND LANG DRY DOCK Co.' and INDUS-
TRIAL UNION OF MARINE AND SHIPBUILDING WORKERS OF AMERICA
Case No. C-039.-Decided February 1, 1938
Shipbuilding and Repairing Industry-Interference , Restraint , or Coercion:
anti-union statements ; expressed opposition to labor organization ; shut-down
of plant ; dominating and interfering with a company -dominated labor organiza-
tion for the purpose of defeating self-organization by employees-Company-
Dominated Union: sponsorship , domination , and interference with formation and
administration of ; support of ; solicitation of membership during working hours ;
meetings on company property during working hours; disestablished as agency
for collective bargaining-Discrimination : discharge ; allegations in complaint
dismissed-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining : production and mainte-
nance employees of three plants ; organization of business ; history of collective
bargaining relations with the respondents ; history of organization of employees
in one unit ; similarity of wage scales and working conditions ; community of
interest ; interchangeability of employees ; formation of Joint Council to deal
jointly for employees of the three plants with the respondents-Collective Bar-
gaining: charges of refusal to bargain collectively dismissed-Strike: provoked
by employers ' unfair labor practices-Employee Status: strikers-Reinstatement
Ordered: strikers , upon application-Discharge Ordered: employees hired after
strike, if necessary to make room for employees reinstated-Back Pay: awarded ;
strikers from date of denial of application for reinstatement.
Mr. Will Maslow, Mr. Lester Levin, Mr. Martin Selman, and Mr.
David Schatzow, for the Board.
Cullen cC Dykman, by Mr. Arthur E. Goddard, Mr. Robert B. Lisle
and Mr. Harry G. Hill, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Mr. Harry E. Bur-
roughs, of Boston, Mass., for the respondents.
Mr. M. H. Goldstein, of Philadelphia, Pa., for the Industrial Union.
Mr. H. N. Glickstein, of New York City, for Locals No. 13 and
No. 15.
Mr. John J. Fallon, of Hoboken, N. J., for the Association.
Mr. Joseph M. Conroy, and Mr. Dwyer Shugrue, of New York
City, for the Yard Union.
' Todd Shipyards Corporation , Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co, Tietien and Lang Dry
Dock Co, and American Marine Workers Association , Inc, were incorrectly designated in
the complaint , the petitions , and in the order directing investigation and hearing as Todd
Shipyards Company, Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company, Tietien and Lang Dry Dock
Company, and American Marine Workers Union The complaint subsequently was amended
at the hearing on motion of counsel for the Board and with the consent of counsel for
the respondents so as to change Todd Shipyards Company and American Marine Workers
Union to Todd Shipyards Corporation and American Marine Workers Association, Inc,
respectively The Boa,d of its own action hereby amends the designation of the other
respondents in the pleadings of this case to correspond to the correct names.
20
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 21
Mr. Charlton Ogburn and Mr. William Gallagher, of New York
City, for the Metal Trades Council.
Mr. Hyman A. Schulson, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon charges duly filed by the Industrial Union of Marine and
Shipbuilding Workers of America, herein called the Industrial
Union, the National Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board,
by Elinore Morehouse Herrick, Regional Director for the Second
Region (New York City), issued its complaint dated July 8, 1937,
against the respondents, Todd Shipyards Corporation, herein called
Todd, Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., herein called Robins, and
Tietjen and Lang Dry Dock Co., herein called Tietjen, alleging that
the respondents had engaged in and were engaging in unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8 (1),
(2), (3) and (5) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the National Labor
Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the Act. The complaint
alleged in substance that the respondents had initiated, formed,
sponsored, dominated, and interfered with the administration of and
contributed support to the Yard Union for Collective Bargaining of
the men of Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., herein called the Yard
Unioi, and American Marine Workers Association, Inc., herein called
the Association; that the respondents had urged, persuaded, and
warned their employees at the Robins and Tietjen plants to refrain
from becoming or remaining members in the Industrial Union ; that
on June 7, 1937, the respondents had discharged William Haas and
others from the Robins plant because they had applied for member-
ship in the Industrial Union and had been active therein; that on
about March 23, 1937, the Industrial Union was designated by a ma-
jority of the production and maintenance employees of the respond-
ents as their representative for collective bargaining; that on March
23, 1937, and thereafter, the respondents had refused to bargain
with the Industrial Union.
Copies of the complaint and of notice of hearing to be held upon
the complaint and the petitioias, hereinafter discussed, on July 19,
1937, in New York City, were dolly served upon the respondents, the
Industrial Union, the Yard Union, the Association, and the Marine
Workers Metal Trades District Council, herein called the Metal
Trades Council.
22 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
On July 14, 1937, Todd filed an answer to the complaint admitting
that it owned all the voting capital stock of Robins and Tietjen, but
denying that it participated with them, or either of them, as a joint
business enterprise. It further denied all the other material allega-
tions of the complaint and asserted that it did not bargain with the
Industrial Union because it is not an employer within the meaning
of the Act, nor is it engaged in interstate commerce, and that it was,
therefore unnecessary to reply to the Industrial Union's letter of
March 23, requesting it to bargain.
On July 14, 1937, Robins filed an answer to the complaint achnit-
ting that Todd owned all its voting capital stock, denying that the
respondents conduct their operations as a joint business venture, and
asserting that it is a separate business; Robins admitted that it re-
fused to bargain with the Industrial Union, but asserted that the
reason therefor was that the Yard Union represented a majority of
the production employees in its plant and that the appropriate unit
for purposes of collective bargaining is one consisting of the employ-
ees of Robins alone. It also denied that it had laid off or discharged
William Haas and others because of union activities, and that it had
initiated, formed, sponsored, dominated, or interfered with the ad-
nministration of the Yard Union, or contributed support to it.
On July 14, 1937, Tietjen filed an answer to the complaint admit-
ting that Todd owned all its voting capital stock, denying that the
respondents conduct their operations as a joint business venture, and
asserting that it is a separate business. Tietjen admitted that it re-
fused to bargain with the Industrial Union, but asserted that the
reason therefor was that the Industrial Union did not represent a
majority of the employees. It also denied the other alleged unfair
labor practices.
Pursuant to notice, a joint hearing on the complaint and petitions
was held in New York City, commencing on July 19, 1937, before
Frank Bloom, the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board.
The Board, the respondents, the Industrial Union, the Yard Union,
and the Association were represented by counsel and participated in
the hearing.
Prior to the hearing, petitions for intervention in the proceeding
upon the complaint were filed by the Yard Union and the Association.
The Trial Examiner granted the petitions, limiting intervention,
however, to the presentation of proof ac the conclusion of the respond-
ents' case, if not adequately presentecJz by the respondents. Also prior
to the hearing, Todd filed a motion, to dismiss the complaint for lack
of jurisdiction on the grounds that it was not an employer nor en-
gaged in interstate commerce within the meaning of the Act. The
Trial Examiner denied the, motion at the conclusion of the hearing.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 23
Counsel for the Board moved to dismiss the complaint in so far as it re-
lated to the discharge of others than William Haas. The motion was
granted. During the hearing the respondents moved to dismiss the
complaint as to the discharge of William Haas; counsel for the Board
joined in this motion, which was granted. This disposed of all the
allegations in the complaint relating to unfair labor practices within
the meaning of Section 8 (3) of the Act.
At the hearing, John J. Fallon, counsel fdr the Association, testified
that the intervenor was a New Jersey corporation, read the purpose
clause from the Certificate of Incorporation, and under oath stated
that the Association was not a labor organization within the meaning
of Section 2 (5) of the Act. Consequently, counsel for the Board
moved to dismiss the allegations in the complaint that the respondents
had initiated, formed, sponsored, dominated, and interfered with the
administration of and contributed support to the American Marine
Workers' Association, Inc. The motion was granted.
At the close of the hearing counsel for the Board moved that the
complaint be conformed to the proof that had been adduced. The
motion was granted. Counsel for the respondents renewed his motion
to dismiss the complaint as to Todd for lack of jurisdiction. The mo-
tion was denied. Counsel for the respondents made several motions to
dismiss the complaint on other than jurisdictional grounds; the Trial
Examiner denied some of these motions and reserved ruling as to the
others, some of which he later denied in his Intermediate Report.
The respondents' motion to dismiss the allegations of the complaint
relating to their refusal to bargain with the Industrial Union was
granted by the Trial Examiner in his Intermediate Report. The
ruling is hereby affirmed, but it will be discussed in detail in the body
of the decision.
The parties did not avail themselves of the opportunity afforded
for oral argument at the close of the hearing, but thereafter the re-
spondents and the Yard Union filed briefs to which we have given
due consideration.
Full opportunity to be heard, to examine and cross-examine wit-
nesses, and to produce evidence bearing upon the issues was afforded to
all parties.
On August 30, 1937, the Trial Examiner filed his Intermediate Re-
port to the complaint, in which he found that the respondents had
engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the
meaning of Section 8 (1) and (2) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the
Act in that they had formed, sponsored, dominated, interfered with
the administration of and contributed financial and other support to
the Yard Union, and thereby had interfered with, restrained, and
coerced their employees in the exercise of their right to self-organiza-
tion.
80535-38-3
24 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
- The respondents, the Industrial Union, and the Yard Union filed
exceptions to the Intermediate Report and requested an opportunity
to argue the exceptions before the Board. On October -1, 1937, coun-
sel for the respondents, the Industrial Union, and the Yard Union
orally argued the exceptions to the Trial Examiner 's Intermediate
Report before the Board in Washington . Briefs in support of their
exceptions to the Intermediate Report were subsequently filed with
the Board by counsel for the parties.
The Board has reviewed the rulings made by the Trial Examiner
on motions and objections to the admission of evidence and finds that
no prejudicial errors were committed. The rulings are hereby af-
firmed.
We have fully considered the exceptions to the Intermediate Report
and find them without merit.
On June 4, 1937 , the Yard Union filed with the Regional Director a
petition alleging that a question affecting commerce had arisen con-
cerning the representation of employees of Robins , and requesting
an investigation and certification of representatives pursuant to Sec-
tion 9 ( c) of the Act. The Industrial Union filed with the Regional
Director a petition on June 23 , 1937, and an amended petition on July
8, 1937, alleging that a question affecting commerce had arisen con- o
cerning the representation of production and maintenance employees
of Todd, Robins, and Tietjen, and requesting an investigation and
certification of representatives pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
On July 9,1937 , 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. -
On September 10, the Board issued a Direction of Election.2 The
election was later postponed .3 On September 16, the Metal Trades
Council, by its secretary, William Gallagher, and its council, Charlton
Ogburn, filed with the Board a motion for leavebto intervene in order
to have its name placed on the ballot in the election directed by the
Board. On September 21, 1937, the secretary of the Metal Trades
Council, counsel for the respondents , the Industrial Union, and the
Yard Union orally argued the motion, before the 'Board in Wash-
ington. -
On October 1, 1937, the Board received a petition of the Association
for leave to intervene alleging that it is now a labor organization,
affiliated with the International Longshoremen 's Association as Local
No. 1508. The Association , claiming to represent about 350 employees
2 3 N L R B 619.
8 3 N L R B. 620
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 25
of Tietjen contends that it is now entitled to a place on the ballot in
the event that the Board orders an election.
We shall not at this time pass upon the petitions of the Yard Union
and the Industrial Union, and the petitions for leave to intervene
of the Metal Trades Council and the Association. We shall issue
our decision in the representation case 4 and set the date for holding
an election at such time as the Board is satisfied that there has been
sufficient compliance with its order to dissipate the effects of the
unfair labor practices of Todd and Robins and to permit an election
uninfluenced by the conduct of Todd and Robins.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENTS
Todd Shipyards Corporation is a New York corporation having
its principal office at 1 Broadway, New York City. It is a holding
company which owns all the stock of both Robins and Tietjen and
various other subsidiaries.' The chief officers are John D. Reilly,
president; George Dawe, J. Herbert Todd, George G. Raymond, and
William A. Maloney, vice presidents; Sanford S. Cox, treasurer; and
Joseph Haag, Jr., secretary s
Todd's counsel have contended both in the pleadings and by re-
peated motions in the course of the hearing that Todd is not an
employer within the meaning of Section 2 (2) of the Act, and that
the complaint should be dismissed as to Todd. This contention is
untenable. The record plainly shows that Todd is not merely a hold-
ing company, but has been and is acting in behalf of its subsidiaries,
Robins and Tietjen. Todd, through its officers, actively participates
in, helps to formulate, and directs the labor policies of Robins and
Tietjen. During the strike, Todd hired guards for the Robins plant
and bills were rendered directly to Todd.7 Letters to the William
J. Flynn Detective Agency, Inc. with reference to the guards hired
during the strike were written by a representative of Todd who
signed the name of George Dawe; who is also president of Robins,
without even consulting him or obtaining his permission.e Dave
regularly apprised Reilly about Robins' labor problems. Todd con-
tinually kept Robins informed both by letters and telephone as to
Board 's Case No. R-237.
8 Other subsidiaries of Todd engaged in the business of repairing ships are the follow-
ing : Todd Seattle Drydocks, Inc, Seattle, Washington, Todd Mobile Drydocks, Inc, Mobile,
Alabama, Todd New Orleans Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, Todd Gal eston
Dry Docks, Inc., Galveston, Texas.
6 For the names of other officers and directors see Board Exhibit No. 2 B.
7 Board Exhibit No 12
8 Board Exhibit No. 13.
26 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
how it was handling correspondence relating to labor policies and
advised Robins about such matters. Thus, when the Robins plant
committee of the Employees Representation Plan asked Dawe for
an increase in wages in March 1937, Dawe consulted Reilly who gave
him advice as to how the reply should be drafted.°
Apart from the control which Todd exercises as the sole stockholder
of Robins and Tietjen, Todd also employs salesmen to procure business
for Robins and Tietjen. The salaries of Todd officers are paid directly
by the subsidiaries. The employees of Robins are given badges bear-
ing the name "Todd ;" the roof of the main office of the Robins plant
has on it the words: "Todd Shipbuilding Company;" the fence sur-
rounding the plant has inscribed on it "Todd Shipbuilding Company,"
° Todd 's contention that Reilly , its president , neither advised nor offered any suggestions,
to Dawe with respect to Robins' labor policies is not borne out by the record . During
direct examination Dawe stated that he did not consult any officer of Todd concerning
his reply of April 13 ( Board Exhibit No. 7-B ) to the Industrial Union's letter requesting
Robins to confer with the Industrial Union concerning labor conditions at Robins (Board
Exhibit No . 6). Bendel, president of Tietjen , however , subsequently testified that at a
meeting held at Todd's office in the early part of April , at which Reilly , Dawe, Haag,
Bendel. and the respondents ' counsel were present , a discussion took place concerning the
reply to be made by Dawe to the Industrial Union's letter, which reply was thereafter
made on April 13 pursuant to such discussion . Dawe was later recalled at the direction
of the Trial Examiner and the Board ' s attorney to explain inconsistencies between his
testimony and Bendel 's On redirect examination IYawe squarely contradicted his previous
testimony and admitted that he had consulted with officers of Todd in drafting his reply
of April 13:
Q Where did you first see that letter ? ( Board Exhibit No. 7-B
A. In No. 1 Broadway.
Q. What is that?
A. Our New York office.
Q. Whose New York office?
A. Todd Shipyards.
Q. With whom did you consult before you sent that letter out , did you consult
with any officer of the Todd Shipyards Corporation?
A. There was-
Q. Did you or didn't you?
A. Yes.
Q No ; just answer the question. Do you care to change the testimony that yolk
gave when you said you did not consult with any officer of the Todd Shipyards
'Corporation.
A. I do.
Q. You wish to change that testimony?
A I do.
Q. Who was present from the Todd Shipyards Corporation, or with whom did you
consult of the Todd Shipyards Corporation , before you sent out the letter dated
April 13th, being Board 's Exhibit No. 7?
A. Mr. Reilly was present.
Q Not present-you consulted with him, where did you consult with him?
A. No. 1 Broadway.
Q What was the nature of the conference had with him?
A In refer ence to answering the telegram sent by Mr . Green.
Q. What did you say to him and what did he say to you?
A. Well, counsel blocked out this letter.
Q Was any one else present?
A. Mr. Haag , Mr Goddard , Mr Hill and Mr Reilly, Mr . Bendel and myself
Q Are any one of those other persons officers of Todd Shipyards Corporation?
A. Mr. Haag, the secretary.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 27
and underneath it "Robins Dry Dock and Repair Company Plant." io
In short, Todd's subsidiaries are wholly subject to the same owner-
ship and control; and the labor policies of Robins and Tietjen are
directed by the parent company, Todd. The holding company ar-
rangement need not obscure the true picture of the respondents and
their business, namely, that of a single enterprise with unitary control,
Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., a New York corporation, is
engaged in the business of repairing, reconditioning and reconstruct-
ing ships, principally large steel ocean-going vessels. Robins has two
plants, the Erie Basin plant located at the foot of Dwight Street in
Brooklyn, New York, and the Tebo plant, a smaller plant chiefly
engaged in yacht, harbor craft, and steamship repairing, located on
Third Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. The chief officers of Robins
are George Dawe, president; Francis J. Gilbride and Joseph Haag,
Jr., vice presidents; Joseph A. Seits, secretary; and Sanford S. Cox,
treasurer. John D. Reilly is chairman of its board of directors.
The Erie Basin plant consists of a yard, various shops, executive
offices, chemical laboratory, garage, warehouse, furnace, drydocks
(floating and graving), piers, etc."' It is equipped to do all kinds of
repairs on all types and sizes of vessels. Most of the repairs are made
on vessels in drydock or on vessels tied up along its wharves.
Q So you consulted with him as well as with Mr. Reilly, is that correct?
A At the conference there amongst us.
Q. At the conference?
A. Yes.
Q. What was said at the conference?
A. Each gave our different views. I gave my views in reference to this, Mr. Haag
gave his views.
Q. I see.
A. And I believe Mr. Bendel gave his views.
Q As the result of these composite views, this letter was prepared?
A. This letter was prepared by counsel.
Q But you never told us you consulted with Reilly 'at No. 1 Broadway on April
13th, did you?
A. I said Mr. Reilly was present.
Q. Oh, no, you did not, sir.
A. Now I say Mr Reilly was present.
Q. *(By Trial Examiner BLOOM) : Why didn't" you tell the truth the other day?
A. I have been under such a strain this last eight weeks it is a hard thing for me
to remember everything.
Q. This reply of April 13th , who drafted it for you , Board's Exhibit No 7?
A. Counsel.
Q. Who , Mr Goddard.
A. Mr. Goddard.
Q. You just signed your name to it?
A. That is right.
Q. Whose idea was the sending of this reply?
A. The ideas of the parties present
Q Was it your idea?
A. Mr. Reilly 's and mine.
Respondent Exhibit No. 6.
Same as footnote 10.
28 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Robins, through its sales agents, solicits orders for the repair of
vessels from numerous steamship companies both inside and outside
the State of New York and from the United States Government.
Robins has business agents in the States of New York and New
Jersey, and foreign business agents in Denmark, England, Germany,
Holland, Ireland, and Norway. About 98 per cent of the vessels re-
paired at the Erie Basin plant are engaged in coastal and ocean-going
transportation.12 The value of repair work done at the Erie Basin
plant on coastal and ocean-going vessels from January 1 to May 31,
1937, amounted to $3,511,982.00; other repairs for the same period
amounted to $49,594.00. In the Tebo plant from January 1 to May
31, 1937, 46 per cent of the repair work was done on harbor craft,
amounting to $195,160.88, 13 per cent on ocean-going vessels amount-
ing to $56,473.99, 21 per cent on coastal ships amounting to $88,798.98,
and 20 per cent on others amounting to $84,771.34. From January 1
to May 31, 1937, both the Erie Basin and Tebo plants did work aggre-
gating $3,987,006.19.13
In its operations Robins uses a considerable amount of steel, bolts,
nuts, lumber, castings, pipe, valves, brass, electrical equipment, ma-
chinery and parts. Approximately 70 per cent of this material, valued
at about $20,000,000.00 is obtained from sources outside the State of
New York and is shipped to the Robins plants by rail and motor truck.
The number and identity of employees employed at the Erie Basin
plant fluctuate from day to day and from week to week, ranging from
600 to about 2,360 employees. Robins employed during the week of
June 12, 1937, the week prior to the strike, about 2,363 employees.
Robins' pay roll for the first six months of 1937 amounted to $1,787,-
960.62.
Tietjen and Lang Dry Dock Co., a New Jersey corporation, is en-
gaged in the business of repairing, reconditioning, and reconstructing
smaller ocean-going vessels, wooden ships, yachts, tugs, and harbor
and river craft. Its plant is located in Hoboken, New Jersey, and is
relatively much smaller than the Robins plant. The chief officers
of Tietjen are Ernest H. Bendel,. president and general manager; J.
William Jamin, Jr., vice president; Sanford S. Cox, treasurer; and
Henry Frielinghaus, secretary and assistant treasurer. George G.
Raymond is chairman of its board of directors.
Tietjen's shipyard consists of a yard, various shops, floating dry-
docks, executive offices, storerooms, piers, etc.14 It is equipped to do
all kinds of repairs on all types of vessels, but does chiefly wood and
iron work.
12 Board Exhibit No 65.
13 Respondent Exhibit No. 65.
14 Respondent Exhibit No. 7.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 29
Tietjen, through its sales agents, solicits orders for the repair of
vessels from numerous steamship, freight, and railroad companies
both inside and outside the State of New Jersey and with the United
States Government. Its average contract jobs range from $15,000.00
to $20,000.00. During 1936, about 33 per cent of the vessels repaired
by Tietjen were engaged in ocean-going transportation, 10 per cent in
coastal, one per cent in intercoastal, 55 per cent in harbor, and one per
cent in other transportation. The value of all this work during 1936
amounted to $2,773,391.38.
In its operations Tietjen uses steel, lumber, brass, pipe, mechanical
rubber goods, etc. Approximately 60 per cent of this material is
obtained from sources outside the State of New Jersey and is shipped
to the Tietjen plant by rail, motortruck, and`'boat.
The number and identity of employees employed by Tietjen vary
with the work available. During the week of June 12, 1937, the week
prior to the strike, Tietjen employed 731 employees.15 Its pay roll
for the first six months of 1937 amounted to $684,646.68.
The respondents' operations are performed upon instrumentalities
of interstate and foreign commerce. Such operations have a close, in-
timate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic, commerce, and trans-
portation among the several States and with foreign countries.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
The Industrial Union is a labor organization affiliated with the
Committee for Industrial Organization, admitting to membership
"all workers employed in the shipbuilding, ship-repairing industry,
and industries producing marine equipment." 16 Industrial Union of
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America, Local No. 13, herein
called Local No. 13, is a labor organization affiliated with the Com-
mittee for Industrial Organization, admitting to membership all
production and maintenance employees working in the marine and
shipbuilding industry in Brooklyn, New York, excluding office work-
ers, clerical, and supervisory employees. Industrial Union of Marine
and Shipbuilding Workers of America, Local No. 15, herein called
Local No. 15, is a labor organization affiliated with the Committee
for Industrial Organization, admitting to membership all production
and maintenance employees working in the marine and shipbuilding
industry in Hoboken, New Jersey, and vicinity, excluding office work-
ers, clerical and supervisory employees.
The Yard Union is a labor organization admitting to membership
all workers employed at the Erie Basin Robins plant, exclusive of su-
pervisory and clerical employees.
15 Board Exhibit No. 51.
113 Board Exhibit No. 52.
30 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Domination of and interference with the Yard Union
Prior to the decisions of the United States Supreme Court on
April 12, 1937, holding the Act constitutional, there existed in the
Robins and Tietjen plants a joint plan of employee representation
initiated and sponsored by Todd in December 1933. The respond-
ents, during the course of the hearing, admitted that this was a
company-dominated union. The executive committee consisted of
six representatives, two from Robins, two from Tietjen, and two
from Todd Dry Dock Engineering and Repair Corporation, subse-
quently known as the Teo plant. After the United States Supreme
Court declared the Act constitutional, the joint plan of employee
representation ceased to function and was generally considered aban-
doned and dead by both the respondents and employees. There was,
however, no formal disestablishment of the plan.
Since December 1936, the Industrial Union had been making active
efforts to organize the employees of the Robins and Tietjen plants.
On about March 24, 1937, each of the respondents received a letter
from John Green, president of the Industrial Union, requesting, on
behalf of its members employed in their shipyards in the New York
harbor, a joint conference of the representatives of all the large
repair yards in the port of New York with representatives of its
three Locals Nos. 12, 13, and 15, covering that area.17 The respond-
ents made no reply to this communication. On about April 9, 1937,
each of the respondents received another letter from John Green
again requesting a joint conference with employers in the ship-repair
industry in the port of New York for the purposes of collective bar-
gaining.18 Todd made no reply to this letter. On April 13, 1937,
however, the presidents of Robins and Tietjen replied to the fore-
going letters, refused to participate in a joint conference, and re-
jected the idea that a joint conference involving all the shipyard
employers in the port of New York would serve any useful purpose.19
Meanwhile, the Industrial Union had been conducting a vigorous
membership campaign among the employees of the Robins and
Tietjen plants.
On May 28, 1937, at 3 p. m., during working hours, a meeting
attended by approximately 1,000 Robins employees was held in the
garage of the Robins Erie Basin plant. There is considerable credible
testimony that the employees were instructed either by their foremen
d
" Board Exhibit No. 8.
"Board Exhibit No. 6.
"Board Exhibits Nos. 7-A and 7-B.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 31
or snappers 20 to stop working shortly before 3 o'clock and to attend
the meeting at the garage. John Kirk, an acetylene welder and
burner at Robins, testified that Charles Thompson, his foreman, told
him and other employees working on the same ship to put their rigs
in their lockers a little before three singe there was to be a meeting
in the garage at that time. Harry Murray, a pipe fitter and proofer
at Robins, testified that Joseph Walker, a minor boss at the iron
works, told him to "get over to the garage . . . they are having
.a meeting over there." The uncontradicted testimony of Ernest
Fishwick, a burner at Robins, was that Frank Woods, head time-
keeper, told all men then standing around the No. 1 gate to go to
the garage. Although the foremen denied that they directed their
men to attend the meeting, we cannot give credence to their denials
when considered in the light of the other circumstances of the case.
Despite conflicting testimony we believe that this meeting was planned
in advance with the knowledge of the respondents' agents. When
the men entered the garage, they found that improvised benches made
of rough station planks laid across kegs had been set up. Further-
more, a platform had been erected in one corner of the garage.
The leading spirits of this meeting were Thomas McMahon, a
burner, Robert Fleming, a machinist, Joseph Weldon, a machine
riveter, Harry Cabre and Conrad Brandle, burners. The testimony
of McMahon and Weldon with respect to the meeting is significant.
There was great unrest at the yard at this time, according to their
story. The Industrial Union, had held meetings across from the
yard daily during May 1937. McMahon and Weldon resented the
activities of the Industrial Union and decided to organize an inde-
pendent union within the Robins yard, to offset the influence of the
Industrial Union. On May 27, McMahon decided that the time was
ripe, and the next day told Weldon that there would be a meeting that
afternoon, the time and place of which had not yet been decided. At
2 p. m. the meeting place was still uncertain, although McMahon
knew that the meeting was to be held at 3 p. m. At about 2: 30 p. m.
he definitely decided to hold the meeting in the Robins garage, and
shortly thereafter notified Fleming, Weldon, Brandle, and Cabre about
the meeting place. Despite the fact that not until a half hour before
the meeting was it decided to hold the meeting, nevertheless, even on
such short notice, a meeting instigated by only a half-dozen employees
and the aid of several supervisory employees was attended by 1,000
employees who found the garage already prepared upon their arrival
at 3 o'clock.
20 A snapper is a term used in the Robins and Tietjen yards to describe a straw-boss
or "leading man" or "hurry-up" man ; he might be classified as slightly lower than an
assistant foreman.
32 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
When the meeting got under way, Weldon got up on the platform
and selected McMahon as chairman. McMahon then announced that
the purpose of the meeting was to find out whether the employees
desired an independent union. Thereafter he stated that machinists,
pipe fitters, and riggers would not be permitted to vote at this
meeting. No reason was given for this action. During the meeting
Kirk asked McMahon if it was not illegal under the Act to hold a
meeting of this kind on company premises. McMahon abruptly dis-
missed this question. The meeting lasted approximately one hour,
at the end of which time ballots'21 which McMahon on May 27, the
previous day, had ordered printed, were distributed among the men
to determine whether or not they wished to form an independent
yard union. Tony Carmody and James O'Brien, timekeepers present
at the meeting, were ordered by McMahon to get the ballot boxes.
There were about 330 votes for the yard union and 150 against it;
the remainder did not vote. This poll was not very reliable as there
is credible testimony that many men voted more than once and some
voted as many as six times. After the voting the meeting was
adjourned until the next day.
Dawe, president of Robins, testified that he did not know that the
meeting was to be held in the garage, but learned about it ten minutes
after it was over. This testimony is not credible. Joseph Weldon
testified that the men would necessarily have to pass the Robins main
office building, where Dawe's office is located, in order to get to the
garage.22 It is incredible that such a mass movement of employees
could occur shortly before 3 p. m. during working hours without it
being known as Dawe, the president of Robins, who testified that
he was in his office at that time.
When the timekeepers asked William Sammon, assistant treasurer
of Robins, whether the men should be paid for the time lost in
attending the meeting during regular working hours, Sammon con-
sulted Dawe, who ordered that the men should be paid because it
would be impossible to determine which men did not attend the
meeting and if some men were not paid, it would cause trouble. This
reason advanced by Dawe for paying the employees who attended
the meeting is not in accord with the testimony of the timekeepers.
Several timekeepers testified that they could have told who attended
the meeting, for they checked the time of the men in the various
departments. Thus, if a man was absent, such fact would be noted,
and he, accordingly, would not be paid for the time lost. Sammon,
however, neither asked him for the names of those who had attended
nor made it his business to find out.
n Board Exhibit No. 14.
22 See Respondent Exhibit No . 6, photograph of the Robins yard.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 33
It might be expected that after such an occurrence, the respondents,
in order to foreclose the drawing of any inference of domination, in-
terference, or favoritism toward the independent yard union, would
have immediately taken some direct action to prevent a recurrence of
such a meeting on their property during regular working hours, par-
ticularly when it was generally known that the meeting had adjourned
to resume the next day.23 The respondents, however, took no pre-
cautions to stop this.
The following day, pursuant to the adjournment, another meeting
was held in the garage at 10 a. in., during regular working hours.
It was also attended by about 1,000 employees and lasted approxi-
mately an hour. There is much testimony that the men went to this
meeting also at the direction of their foremen and snappers. Otto
Hansen, a rigger, testified that Hans Hansen, his snapper, came to
the boat on which he was working to tell him and his fellow em-
ployees to go to the meeting. John Kirk testified that Charles Thomp-
son, his foreman, told him to go to the meeting. Harry Murray testi-
fied that Ted Thomas, the pipe-fitter snapper, told him and other
pipe fitters to "put tools away and get over to the garage to the
meeting." Ove Larsen, a rigger, testified that his timekeeper called
off both him and another rigger from their jobs and told them to go
to the meeting. George Anderson, a ship's carpenter, testified that
Selby King, his foreman, just before 10 a. in., told him "to take the
tools together and go over to the meeting."
Hans Hansen, an assistant rigger foreman, testified that he attended
the meeting. Despite the fact that all foremen and snappers were
asked to leave, Hansen remained. Thomas Stoker, ship riggers' fore-
man, testified that his assistant foreman also attended the meeting.
The following officers were elected at this meeting : Joseph Weldon,
president; Thomas McMahon, vice president; Robert Fleming, treas-
urer; Harry Cabre, secretary. These men had been most active in
the promotion of the Yard Union. All the employees were paid for
the time spent in attendance at this meeting and no attempt whatso-
ever was made by the management to prevent or stop such a meeting
during working hours.
After the meeting on May 29 many of the employees were told by
their foremen and snappers to join the Yard Union. Marcus Brand-
fon, a tool maker, testified that Ralph Vitalowy, his snapper, during
working hours suggested that he join the Yard Union in order to
"entrench himself better in the company". Brandfon also testified
that Walter Loranzo, a snapper in the machine shop, handed him
Yard Union application cards.24 He tore them up and threw them
23 See Yard Union Exhibit No 1 (minutes of meeting)
24 Board Exhibit No. 15.
34 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
on the floor in the presence of Dan MacDonald, the general foreman
of the machine shop. Thereupon, MacDonald said, "What are you
trying to do-you hold your job by so much" (indicating with his
fingers a distance of an inch and a half). The uncontradicted testi-
mony of Thomas O'Connor, a burner and driller, was that on about
June 1, during working hours, Charles Colberg, his snapper, urged
him to join the Yard Union. The uncontroverted testimony of John
Kirk, a welder, was that the week following the meeting, Johnson,
assistant timekeeper for outside machinists, during regular working
hours, distributed application cards to the machinists "as he walked
around." The unrefuted testimony of Ove Larsen, a ship's rigger,
was that Johnson, during regular working hours, also asked him to
sign up with the Yard Union. Harry Murray, a pipe fitter, testified
that Albert Farrier, head boss of pipe fitters, came over to him and
inquired whether he had joined up with the Yard Union. When
Murray told him that he belonged to the C. I. 0., Farrier said,
"Better join up with the Yard Workers Union * * you can
suit yourself." Fearing the loss of his job, Murray joined the Yard
Union. There is also testimony that other employees actively solic-
ited membership in the Yard Union during working hours in the
presence of foremen and snappers who took no action to stop this
practice.
On June 16, two days after the strike had commenced, the Yard
Union held another meeting in the Robins garage during regular
working hours, permission for which was clearly given by Dawe.
The employees were also paid for the time spent in attendance at
this meeting. The question to be considered was the closing of the
Robins plant. Numerous acts of violence had been committed around
the Erie Basin plant against strikers, nonstrikers, and pickets.
Therefore a committee of the Yard Union, consisting of McMahon,
Weldon, Cabre, and Fleming, was selected to request the manage-
ment to close the plant. When the committee approached Dave,
he immediately acceded to their request. When they told him that
they represented a majority of the employees, he inquired no further
for proof thereof, but told them that he would close the plant.
Further evidence of support of the Yard Union by Robins is
Dawe's turning over to the officers of the Yard Uriion copies of all
correspondence the respondents had with the Board's Regional Di-
rector relative to the calling of an election. Furthermore, when
communications with respect to the closing of the Erie Basin plant
were to be sent to Robins' employees by the Yard Union committee,
Dawe mimeographed 1,500 copies of a letter 25 which he thereupon
turned over to the Yard Union committee for distribution to em-
25 Board Exhibit No 8.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 35
ployees. In addition, a mailing list of Robins' employees was for-
warded to Cabre by Frank Woods, a timekeeper of Robins.
We find that Todd and Robins have dominated and interfered with
the formation and administration of the Yard Union and have con-
tributed support to it.
We find that Todd and Robins, by the acts above set forth, have
interfered with, restrained, and coerced their employees in the exer-
cise of the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor
organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their
own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities for the purposes
of collective bargaining and other mutual aid and protection as.
guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
B. The alleged refusal to bargain collectively
1. The appropriate unit
The Industrial Union contends that the production and mainte.
nance employees working in the two Robins' plants and in the Tiet-
jen plant, exclusive of supervisors, office, and clerical employees,
draftsmen, timekeepers, watchmen, and guards, constitute a single
unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining. The re-
spondents contend that the production and maintenance employees
of each yard, exclusive of supervisory and clerical employees, con-
stitute separate and distinct units appropriate for the purposes of
collective bargaining. The factors urged by the respondents against
including the production and maintenance workers of the Robins
and Tietjen plants in one unit are: (1) their plants are located in
different States; (2) their employees reside in different States; (3)
the members of the Industrial. Union are divided into two locals,
No. 13 in Brooklyn, New York, and No. 15 in Hoboken, New Jersey ;
(4) the greater bulk of repair work done by Robins is on large
ocean-going vessels, whereas at Tietjen the greater proportion of
work done is on wooden vessels, harbor, and river craft; (5) at the
Robins plant there are customarily three shifts, whereas there are
only two at Tietjen; (6) Robins has only a small amount of car-
penter work, whereas a greater portion of the work at Tietjen con-
sists of skilled carpenter work; and (7) the type of customer at
Robins is different from that of Tietjen in that speed in repairing
is of utmost importance at Robins.
The respondents' first objection is disposed of by the paramount
fact that both the Robins and Tietjen plants are owned and operated
by the respondents more or less as a unit, and were so regarded by
the respondents themselves in initiating and carrying on the joint
plan of employee representation from 1933 up to the time of the
36 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
formation of the Yard Union on May 28.26 The second objection is
not of serious weight since the three plants are so close to each other
that intercommunication and 'common action by the employees of
the three is feasible. The State line, of course, presents no obstacle.
The third objection disappears when it is considered that the two
locals, being organized on a geographical basis for the convenience
of the members, have formed a Joint Council for the purposes of
dealing jointly for employees at both the Robins and Tietjen plants
with the respondents. The fourth and sixth objections are not sig-
nificant since the record discloses that the craft training and skills
involved on the part of the artisans in the Robins and Tietjen yards
are the same whether it be wooden, steel ocean-going, or harbor ves-
sels that are being repaired. The record discloses that many of the
employees engaged in the ship repairing industry in and about the
port of New York shift constantly from one yard to another. This
holds true for workmen employed by the respondents. The Indus-
trial Union's membership cards show that many former Robins' em-
ployees are now employed in the Tietjen yard and vice versa. The
men do not work steadily in either of the plants where the "shape
up" is in practice. The "shape up" is a method by which employees
of the respondents are hired on a day-to-day basis. They must as-
semble in the "shape up" line at the yard gate every day and are
selected by one or more representatives of the respondents, called
"shapers", to work on that particular day. The fifth and seventh
objections are of no consequence in determining the appropriate
unit in this case since the only difference in working conditions that
would be brought about by the requirement of greater speed in one
yard than in the other would be the maintenance of a larger staff
and the use of more than the usual two shifts.
The record discloses that the wage scales, the beginning and end-
ing hours of the shifts, and other conditions of employment are the
same in both plants. Despite the repeated protest that each of the
respondents determines its own labor policy, the record shows that
the policy concerning the labor relations of the two yards have a
common source, Todd, the parent company.
The following classes of employees are to be excluded from the unit
because it is clear that they constitute groups with functions sharply
distinguished from that of the production and maintenance em-
ployees : Office and clerical employees, those classified as executives,
supervisors, snappers (or assistant foremen), watchmen, doormen,
2' See Board Exhibit No 2, page 2 : "Owing to the close interrelationship of the em-
ployees in the operation of the three companies, a single election will be held by and for
the three companies."
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 37
chauffeurs, traffic department dispatchers, timekeepers, janitresses (or
cleaners), engineers, and draftsmen.27
We find that the- production and maintenance employees of the re-
spondents working in the two Robins plants and the Tietjen plant,
exclusive of office and clerical employees, executives, supervisors,
snappers (or assistant foremen), watchmen, doormen, chauffeurs,
traffic department dispatchers, timekeepers, janitresses (or cleaners),
engineers, and draftsmen, constitute a unit appropriate for the pur-
poses of collective bargaining and that said unit will insure to them
the full benefit of their right to self-organization and collective bar-
gaining and otherwise effectuate the policies of the Act.
2. Representation by the Industrial Union of a majority in the
appropriate unit
At the hearing pay rolls of Robins and Tietjen for the week ending
June 12, 1937, were introduced.211 On the Robins pay roll there are
listed about 2,128 employees who could properly be classified as pro-
duction and maintenance employees. Similarly on the Tietjen pay
roll there are listed 674 production and maintenance employees. The
membership records of the Industrial Union disclosed that at best the
Industrial Union represented 1,000 employees in the Robins plants,
and 400 in the Tietjen plant. Some 230 of the 1,000 are in doubt.
Thus, many of the application cards were signed by others than those
whose names appeared on the cards.
It is not clear from the record that the Industrial Union represented
a majority of the employees in the appropriate unit on March 23,
April 8, June 10 and 12, or July 26 and 31, 1937, the dates of the re-
spondents' alleged refusal to bargain. Consequently there has been
no violation of Section 8 (5). The allegations of the complaint under
Section 8 (5) of the Act, in so far as they are based.on the respond-
ents' refusal to bargain with the Industrial Union, will therefore be
dismissed. ' '
IV. THE STRIKE
On June 14, the members of the Industrial Union employed at the
Robins and Tietjen plants went out on strike. Hugh McQuillen,
president of Local No. 13, testified that at a special meeting called on
June 13, about 97 per cent of the members present voted to strike.
Edward McHugh, recording secretary of Local No. 15, testified that
at a regular meeting held on June 11, the members unanimously voted
'2' The names of employees thus excluded , appear in Board Exhibits Nos 68 , 69 (pages
2. and 3), 70 (excepting powerhouse engineers and chauffeurs ), 72, 73 ( excepting chauf-
feurs, doormen and -traffic.department dispatchers ), 74 A-F.
21 Board Exhibits Nos 50 and 51.
38 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
to strike. Philip Van Gelder, secretary and treasurer of the Indus-
trial Union, testified that officers of Locals Nos. 13 and 15 reported to
him that the strike was declared because of the activities of Todd and
Robins in organizing, dominating, and supporting the Yard Union
and because of the respondents' failure to respond satisfactorily to the
Industrial Union's letters of March 23 and April 8, requesting them to
participate in a joint conference with employers in the ship repair
industry in the port of New York for the purposes of collective
bargaining.
We have already seen that the employees at all three plants are
governed by a common labor policy and have common interests, that
together they constitute a single appropriate unit for collective bar-
gaining, and that the two locals of the Industrial Union dealt with
the respondents through a Joint Council. Under these circumstances
it is plain that the unfair labor practices of Todd and Robins, al-
though confined at the time of the strike to employees at the Robins
plant, directly affected all the employees, including those at the
Tietjen plant. For this reason, as the record makes clear, the strike
at the Tietjen plant, as well as at the Robins plants, must be ascribed
in large part to the unfair labor practices set forth above.
The strike was still going on at the time of the hearing. At the
oral argument before the Board on October 1, 1937, counsel for the
parties stated that the strike terminated on August 18.
The strike constituted a labor dispute.
Many of the strikers were employees who, prior to the strike, were
hired from day to day by the "shape up" system. It is apparent that
either because employees who "shape up" cannot be used or because
they do not wish to work every day, these employees do not have
continuous and regular employment in the same sense that an em-
ployee has in the ordinary industrial plant. The record discloses,
however, that prior to the strike there was in the main a regular and
continuous employment of the same employees who "shaped up" regu-
larly. We think that such employees are employees of the respondents
even though, because of the nature of the work, they are not "shaped
up" daily.
V. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
We find that the activities of Todd and Robins set forth in Section
III, above, occurring in connection with the operations of the re-
spondents, described in Section I, above, have a close, intimate, and
substantial relation to trade. traffic, transportation, and commerce
among the several States and with foreign countries and on the high
seas, and tends to lead and has led to labor disputes burdening and
obstructing commerce and the free flow of commerce.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS
VI. THE REMEDY
39
The Board has found that Todd and Robins dominated and inter-
fered with the formation and administration of the Yard Union
and contributed support thereto. In order to remedy the unlawful
conduct in this case, Todd and Robins must withdraw all recognition
from the Yard Union as an organization representative of their
employees for the purposes of dealing with Todd and Robins con-
cerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of
employment, and conditions of employment. We will therefore order
the immediate disestablishment of the Yard Union as such represent-
ative.
Since Todd, through its officers, actively participates in, helps to
formulate, and directs the labor policies of Robins and Tietjen, it is
clear that Todd is the employer of the employees at the Robins and
Tietjeii yards within the meaning of Section 2 (2) of the Act.
Since Todd and its subsidiaries, Robins and Tietjen, function as an
integrated system and since Todd is a principal and Robins and
Tietjen are its agents in carrying out its policies and activities, the
order of the Board in order to be effective must of necessity run
against all the respondents. Since the strike was caused iii sub-
stantial part by the unfair labor practices of Todd and Robins, the
respondents are under a duty to restore the status quo which existed
prior to the commission of the unlawful acts. The respondents must,
therefore, upon application offer to their employees who went on
strike on June 14, 1937, and thereafter, reinstatement to their former
positions, without prejudice to their seniority and other rights and
privileges, discharging, if necessary, any employees hired since that
time.
Employees of the respondents who went on strike on June 14, 1937,
and thereafter, whose application for reinstatement is refused by the
respondents in violation of this order herein shall be entitled to back
pay accruing from the date of the refusal of the application to the
date of reinstatement, less any amount earned during that period.
CONcLcsloNs of LAW
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and upon the
entire record in the proceeding, the Board makes the following con-
clusions of law :
1. Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of
America, Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of
America, Local No. 13, and Industrial Union of Marine and Ship-
building Workers of America, Local No. 15, are labor organizations
within the meaning of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
80535-38-4
40 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
2. Yard Union for Collective Bargaining of the Men of Robins
Dry Dock and Repair Co. is a labor organization, within the mean-
ing of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
3. Todd Shipyards Corporation and Robins Dry Dock and Repair
Co., by dominating and interfering with the formation and adminis-
tration of the Yard Union for Collective Bargaining of the Men of
Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., and contributing support thereto,
have engaged in and are engaging in unfair labor practices within
the meaning of Section 8 (2) of the Act.
4. Todd Shipyards Corporation and Robins Dry Dock and Repair
Co., by interfering with, restraining, and coercing their employees in
the exercise of their rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, have
engaged in and are engaging in unfair labor practices within the
meaning of Section 8 (1) of the Act.
5. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices
affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of
the Act.
6. All production and maintenance employees of the respondents
working in the Erie Basin plant and the Tebo plant of the Robins
Dry Dock and Repair Co. and in the plant of Tietjen and Lang Dry
Dock Co., exclusive of office and clerical employees, executives, super-
visors, snappers (or assistant foremen), watchmen, doormen, chauf-
feurs, traffic department dispatchers, timekeepers, janitresses (or
cleaners), engineers, and draftsmen, constitute a unit appropriate
,for the purposes of collective bargaining, within the meaning of
Section 9 (b) of the Act.
ORDER
Upon the basis of the 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 respondents,
Todd Shipyards Corporation, and Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co.,
and their officers, agents, successors, and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In any manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing their
employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization, to
form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively
through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in con-
certed activities, for the purposes of collective bargaining or other
mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7. of the National
Labor Relations Act;
(b) In any manner dominating or interfering with the administra-
tion of the Yard Union for Collective Bargaining of the Men of
Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., or with the formation and admin-
istration of any other labor organization of their employees, or con-
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 41
tributing support to said organization or any other labor organiza-
tion of the employees;
(c) In any manner recognizing or dealing with the Yard Union
for Collective Bargaining of the Men of Robins Dry Dock and
Repair Co., or any group or committee purporting to represent the
said organization concerning grievances, labor disputes, rates of pay,
wages, hours of employment, or other conditions of employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Withdraw all recognition from the Yard Union for Collective
Bargaining of the Men of Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., as the
representative of any of their employees for the purpose of dealing
with the respondents concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages,
rates of pay, hours of employment, or other conditions of employ-
ment, and completely disestablish the Yard Union for Collective
Bargaining of the Men of Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co. as such
representative.
It is further ordered that the respondents, Todd Shipyards Corpo-
ration, Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., and Tietjen and Lang Dry
Dock Co., and their officers, agents, successors, and assigns shall:
1. Upon application, offer to those employees who went on strike on
June 14, 1937, and thereafter, immediate and full reinstatement to
their former positions, without prejudice to their seniority or other
rights or privileges, dismissing, if necessary, all persons hired since
June 14, 1937;
2. Make whole all employees who went on strike on June 14, 1937,
and thereafter, for any losses they may suffer by reason of any refusal
of their application for reinstatement in accordance with the preced-
ing paragraph, by payment to each of them, respectively, of a sum
equal to that which each of them would normally have earned as
wages during the period from the date of any such refusal of their
application to the date of offer of reinstatement, less the amount, if
any, which each, respectively, earned during said period ;
3. Post immediately, and maintain for a period of at least thirty
(30) days from the date of posting, notices to all their employees in
conspicuous places throughout the Todd Shipyards Corporation office,
the Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co. plants, and the Tietjen and
Lang Dry Dock Co. plant, stating (1) that Todd Shipyards Corpora-
tion and Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co. will cease and desist as
aforesaid; (2) that the Yard Union for Collective Bargaining of the
Men of Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co., is disestablished as the
representative of any of their employees for the purposes of dealing
with it with respect to grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,
hours of employment, or other conditions of employment, and that
42 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the Todd Shipyards Corporation and Robins Dry Dock and Repair
Co. will refrain from any such recognition thereof;
4. Notify the Regional Director for the Second Region in writing
within ten (10) days from the date of this Order what steps the
respondents have taken to comply therewith.
It is further ordered that the complaint be, and it is hereby, dis-
missed in so far as it alleges that the respondents have engaged in
unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8 (5) of the
National Labor Relations Act.