U-Bee, Ltd.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 29, 1994

315 N.L.R.B. 667 (N.L.R.B. 1994)

667
315 NLRB No. 92
U-BEE, LTD.
U-Bee, Ltd. and Local 76, International Ladies’
Garment Workers’ Union, AFL–CIO. Case 13–
CA–31153
November 29, 1994
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN GOULD AND MEMBERS STEPHENS
AND BROWNING
Upon a charge filed by the Union on August 20,
1992, the General Counsel of the National Labor Rela-
tions Board issued a complaint on October 30, 1992,
against U-Bee, Ltd., the Respondent, alleging that it
violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the National Labor
Relations Act. On December 1, 1992, the Respondent
filed an answer denying the complaint’s unfair labor
practice allegations.
Thereafter, on June 11, 1993, the Respondent en-
tered into a settlement agreement which was approved
by the Regional Director for Region 13 on June 22,
1993. The settlement agreement stated that:
The Charged Party agrees that in case of non-
compliance with any of the terms of this Settle-
ment Agreement by the Charged Party, including
but not limited to, failure to make timely install-
ment payment of monies as set forth above, and
after 15 days notice from the Regional Director of
the National Labor Relations Board, on motion
for summary judgment by the General Counsel,
the Answer of the Charged Party shall be consid-
ered withdrawn. Thereupon, the Board shall issue
an Order requiring the Charged Party to Show
Cause why said Motion of General Counsel
should not be granted. The Board may then, with-
out necessity of trial, find all allegations of the
Complaint to be true and make findings of fact
and conclusions of law consistent with those alle-
gations, adverse to the Charged Party, on all
issues raised by the pleadings. The Board may
then issue an Order providing full remedy for the
violations so found as is customary to remedy
such violations, including but not limited to the
provisions of this Settlement Agreement. The par-
ties further agree that a Board Order and a U.S.
Court of Appeals Judgment may be entered here-
on ex parte.
By letter dated November 19, 1993, the Respondent
was requested by the Compliance Officer to comply
with the terms of the settlement agreement by remit-
ting payment to the discriminatee that had been due on
November 1, 1993. The letter further stated that if the
Region did not receive the payment by November 26,
1993, a collection action would commence against the
Respondent with the filing of a Motion for Summary
Judgment.
By letter dated December 8, 1993, the Respondent
was again requested by the Compliance Officer to
comply with the terms of the settlement agreement by
remitting payment to the discriminatee that had been
due on November 1 and December 1, 1993. The letter
further stated that if the Region did not receive the
payment by December 15, 1993, a collection action
would commence against the Respondent with the fil-
ing of a Motion for Summary Judgment.
No payment being received from the Respondent by
February 22, 1994, counsel for the General Counsel
filed its original motion to transfer proceedings to the
Board and Motion for Summary Judgment. The Board
issued an order transferring the proceeding to the
Board and Notice to Show Cause on March 3, 1994.
On March 7, 1994, counsel for the General Counsel
filed a motion to withdraw the motions advising the
Board that the Respondent had brought up to date its
monthly obligations according to the terms of the set-
tlement agreement. On March 9, 1994, the Board
granted counsel for the General Counsel’s motion
without prejudice and the proceeding was remanded to
the Regional Director for further action.
By certified letter dated June 8, 1994, the Respond-
ent was requested by the Compliance Officer to com-
ply with the terms of the settlement agreement by re-
mitting payment to the discriminatee that was due on
June 1, 1994. The letter further stated that if the Re-
gion did not receive payment by June 17, 1994, the
Region would refile its Motion for Summary Judg-
ment.
By certified letter dated July 8, 1994, the Respond-
ent was again requested to comply with the terms of
the settlement agreement by remitting payments to the
discriminatees due on June 1 and July 1, 1994. The
letter also stated that the Region would refile it Motion
for Summary Judgment if the Respondent’s payment
was not received by July 15, 1994. Thereafter, the Re-
spondent remitted the June 1, 1994 payment.
By certified letter dated August 11, 1994, the Re-
spondent was again requested by the Compliance Offi-
cer to comply with the terms of the settlement agree-
ment by remitting payments due to the discriminatee
on July 1 and August 1, 1994, by August 19, 1994,
or the Region would refile its Motion for Summary
Judgment.
No such payment having been received from the Re-
spondent, on October 31, 1994, the General Counsel
filed the instant motion to transfer the proceedings to
the Board and for summary judgment. On November
2, 1994, the Board issued an order transferring the pro-
ceeding to the Board and a Notice to Show Cause why
the motion should not be granted. The Respondent
filed no response. The allegations in the motion are
therefore undisputed.
668 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
1 See F L Trucking Corp., 313 NLRB 1172 (1994).
The National Labor Relations Board has delegated
its authority in this proceeding to a three-member
panel.
Ruling on Motion for Summary Judgment
Sections 102.20 and 102.21 of the Board’s Rules
and Regulations provide that the allegations in the
complaint shall be deemed admitted if an answer is not
filed within 14 days from service of the complaint, un-
less good cause is shown. In addition, the complaint
affirmatively notes that unless an answer is filed within
14 days of service, all the allegations in the complaint
will be considered admitted.
Here, according to the uncontroverted allegations in
the Motion for Summary Judgment, although the Re-
spondent initially filed an answer to the complaint, it
subsequently entered into a settlement agreement
which provided for the withdrawal of the answer in the
event of noncompliance with the settlement agreement,
and such noncompliance has occurred. Accordingly,
we find that the Respondent’s answer has been with-
drawn by the terms of the settlement stipulation, and
that, as further provided in the settlement stipulation,
all the allegations of the complaint are true.1
Accordingly, we grant the General Counsel’s Motion
for Summary Judgment.
On the entire record, the Board makes the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
The Respondent, a corporation, with an office and
place of business in Chicago, Illinois, has been en-
gaged in the manufacture of women’s garments. Dur-
ing the calendar year ending December 31, 1991, the
year preceding issuance of the complaint, the Respond-
ent purchased and received at its Chicago, Illinois fa-
cility goods valued in excess of $50,000 from enter-
prises located within the State of Illinois, each of
which had received these goods directly from points
outside the State of Illinois. We find that the Respond-
ent is an employer engaged in commerce within the
meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act and
that the Union is a labor organization within the mean-
ing of Section 2(5) of the Act.
II. ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
About August 10, 1992, the Respondent interrogated
its employees about their union membership, activities,
and sympathies, and threatened its employees with the
Respondent’s closure because they had engaged in pro-
tected concerted activities.
About August 12, 1992, the Respondent interrogated
its employees about their union membership, activities,
and sympathies, and solicited employees to give it
union authorization cards signed by the employees.
About August 19, 1992, the Respondent interrogated
its employees about their union membership, activities,
and sympathies, and created an impression among its
employees that their union activities were under sur-
veillance by the Respondent.
About August 12 and 19, 1992, respectively, the Re-
spondent discharged and has since failed to reinstate
Margarite Olvera and Yolanda Cazares, because they
assisted the Union and engaged in concerted activities,
and to discourage employees from engaging in these
activities.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
By the acts and conduct described above, the Re-
spondent has been interfering with, restraining, and co-
ercing employees, and has been discriminating in re-
gard to the hire, tenure, terms, and conditions of em-
ployment of its employees, thereby discouraging mem-
bership in a labor organization, and has thereby en-
gaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce
within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (3) and Sec-
tion 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in
certain unfair labor practices, we shall order it to cease
and desist and to take certain affirmative action de-
signed to effectuate the policies of the Act.
Specifically, having found that the Respondent has
violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) by discharging Mar-
garite Olvera and Yolanda Cazares, we shall order the
Respondent to offer the discriminatees immediate and
full reinstatement to their former jobs, or if those jobs
no longer exist, to substantially equivalent positions,
without prejudice to their seniority or any other rights
and privileges previously enjoyed, and to make them
whole for any loss of earnings and other benefits suf-
fered as a result of the discrimination against them.
Backpay shall be computed as prescribed in F. W.
Woolworth Co., 90 NLRB 289 (1950), with interest
thereon to be computed in the manner prescribed in
New Horizons for the Retarded, 283 NLRB 1173
(1987). The Respondent shall also be required to ex-
punge from its files any and all references to the un-
lawful discharges, and to notify the discriminatees in
writing that this has been done. Finally, consistent with
the terms of the settlement agreement, we shall require
the Respondent to post the notice to employees in
Spanish as well as English.
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board orders that the
Respondent, U-Bee, Ltd., Chicago, Illinois, its officers,
agents, successors, and assigns, shall
669
2 If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court
of appeals, the words in the notice reading ‘‘Posted by Order of the
National Labor Relations Board’’ shall read ‘‘Posted Pursuant to a
Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order
of the National Labor Relations Board.’’
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Interrogating its employees about their union
membership, activities, and sympathies; threatening
employees with closure of its facility because they had
engaged in protected concerted activities; creating an
impression among its employees that their union ac-
tivities were under surveillance by the Respondent; and
soliciting its employees to give it union authorization
cards that were signed by the employees.
(b) Discharging or otherwise discriminating against
any employee for supporting Local 76, International
Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, AFL–CIO, or any
other labor organization.
(c) In any like or related manner interfering with, re-
straining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to
effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Offer Margarite Olvera and Yolanda Cazares im-
mediate and full reinstatement to their former jobs or,
if those jobs no longer exist, to substantially equivalent
positions, without prejudice to their seniority or any
other rights or privileges previously enjoyed, and make
them whole for any loss of earnings and other benefits
suffered as a result of the Respondent’s discrimination
against them, with interest, in the manner set forth in
the remedy section of this decision.
(b) Remove from its records any reference to the
discharge of Margarite Olvera and Yolanda Cazares
and notify them in writing that this has been done.
(c) Preserve and, on request, make available to the
Board or its agents for examination and copying, all
payroll records, social security payment records, time-
cards, personnel records and reports, and all other
records necessary to analyze the amount of backpay
due under the terms of this Order.
(d) Post at its facility in Chicago, Illinois, copies of
the attached notice marked ‘‘Appendix.’’2 Copies of
the notice, in English and Spanish, on forms provided
by the Regional Director for Region 13, after being
signed by the Respondent’s authorized representative,
shall be posted by the Respondent immediately upon
receipt and maintained for 60 consecutive days in con-
spicuous places including all places where notices to
employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps
shall be taken by the Respondent to ensure that the no-
tices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other
material.
(e) Notify the Regional Director in writing within 20
days from the date of this Order what steps the Re-
spondent has taken to comply.
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we
violated the National Labor Relations Act and has or-
dered us to post and abide by this notice.
WE WILL NOT interrogate our employees about their
union membership, activities, and sympathies; threaten
employees with closure of our facility because they
had engaged in protected concerted activities; create an
impression among our employees that their union ac-
tivities were under surveillance by us; and solicit our
employees to give to us their union authorization cards
that were signed by the employees.
WE WILL NOT discharge or otherwise discriminate
against any employee for supporting Local 76, Inter-
national Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, AFL–CIO,
or any other labor organization.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere
with, restrain, or coerce you in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed you by Section 7 of the Act.
WE WILL offer Margarite Olvera and Yolanda
Cazares immediate and full reinstatement to their
former jobs or, if those jobs no longer exist, to sub-
stantially equivalent positions, without prejudice to
their seniority or any other rights or privileges pre-
viously enjoyed, and WE WILL make them whole for
any loss of earnings and other benefits suffered as a
result of our discrimination against them, with interest.
WE WILL remove from our records any reference to
the discharge of Margarite Olvera and Yolanda
Cazares and notify them in writing that this has been
done.
U-BEE, LTD.