U.S. Extrusions & Steel Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board DecisionsMay 13, 2002

337 N.L.R.B. 75 (N.L.R.B. 2002)

1 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the bound volumes of NLRB decisions. Readers are requested to notify the Ex ecutive Secretary, National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D.C. 20570, of any typographical or other formal errors so that corrections can be included in the bound volumes. U.S. Extrusions & Steel Corp. and United Steelwork ers of America, AFL–CIO, CLC, Local Union 4564-06. Cases 8–CA–32684 and 8–CA–32833 May 13, 2002 DECISION AND ORDER BY CHAIRMAN HURTGEN AND MEMBERS LIEBMAN AND BARTLETT The General Counsel in this case seeks summary judgment on the ground that the Respondent has failed to file an answer to the complaint. United Steelworkers of America, AFL–CIO, CLC, Local Union 4564-06, the Union, filed the charge in Case 8–CA–32684 on August 20, 2001. The Union filed the charge and amended charge in Case 8–CA–32833 on October 10 and Decem ber 18, 2001, respectively. Upon these charges, the Ge n eral Counsel issued the Order consolidating cases, con solidated complaint and notice of hearing on January 31, 2002, against U.S. Extrusions & Steel Corp., the Re spondent, alleging that it has violated Section 8(a)(1) and (5) of the Act. The Respondent failed to file an answer. On March 7, 2002, the General Counsel filed a Motion for Summary Judgment with the Board. On March 11, 2002, the Board issued an order transferring the proceed ing 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. 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, unless 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. Further, the undisputed allegations in the Mo tion for Summary Judgment disclose that the Region, by letter dated February 20, 2002, notified the Respondent that, unless an answer was received by February 27, 2002, a Motion for Summary Judgment would be filed. In the absence of good cause being shown for the fail ure to file a timely answer, we grant the General Coun sel’s Motion for Summary Judgment. On the entire record, the Board makes the following FINDINGS OF FACT I. JURISDICTION At all material times, the Respondent, an Ohio corpo ration, with an office and place of business in Girard, Ohio, has been engaged in the manufacture of tools and dies. Annually, the Respondent, in conducting its busi ness operations described above, sells and ships from its Girard, Ohio facility goods valued in excess of $50,000 directly to points outside the State of Ohio. We find that the Respondent 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 meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act. II. ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES The following employees of the Respondent (the unit), constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collec tive bargaining within the meaning of Section 9(b) of the Act: All full-time and regular part-time production, mainte nance and non-confidential clerical employees em ployed by the Employer at its 1110 Trumbull Avenue, Girard, Ohio facility, including lay-out men, lathe op erators, mill operators/solid, hollow die men, hollow die grinders, mill solid and hollow die, flox (EDM), heat treat, 3rd class machinists, 3rd class lathe opera- tors, CNC lathe operators, wiremen, programmers, util ity employees, and laborers, but excluding confidential employees, and all professional employees, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act. Since about August 15, 1998, and at all material times, the Union has been the designated exclusive collective- bargaining representative of the unit, and has been rec ognized as the representative by the Respondent. This recognition has been embodied in successive collective- bargaining agreements between the Union and the Re spondent, the most recent of which was effective from August 15, 1998, to August 15, 2001. At all times since August 15, 1998, based on Section 9(a) of the Act, the Union has been the exclusive collective-bargaining rep resentative of the unit. On about August 14 and 15, 2001, the Respondent and the Union met for the purposes of collective bargaining with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and condi tions of employment of the unit. Since August 15, 2001, the Respondent has failed and refused to meet and bar- gain with the Union as the exclusive collective- bargaining representative of the unit. During the period August 14, 2001, to January 31, 2002, the Respondent engaged in the following conduct: i. regressive bargaining during negotiations on August 14 and 15, 2001; ii. demanded significant concessions in a “take it or leave it” manner; 337 NLRB No. 75 2 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD iii. refused to respond to additional requests for bargaining; and iv. through it[s] agent, Papiernik, stated that, “it saw no need for a union at the plant” and “its em ployees did not want a union.” Since about May 3, 2001, the Union, by letter, has re- quested that the Respondent furnish it with the following information: i. The premium cost of pension benefits for Unit employees; ii. The amount paid into the pension program an nually since the previous negotiations; and iii. The total amount of money presently held in the pension fund. This information is necessary for, and relevant to, the Union’s performance of its duties as the exclusive collec tive-bargaining representative of the unit. Since about May 3, 2001, the Respondent has failed and refused to furnish the Union with the information. Since about August 20, 2001, the Union, by letter, has requested that the Respondent furnish it with the infor mation described in exhibit A to the complaint. This information is necessary for, and relevant to, the Union’s performance of its duties as the exclusive collective- bargaining representative of the unit. Since August 20, 2001, the Respondent has failed and refused to furnish the Union with the information. Sometime around September 21, 2001, the exact date being unknown, the Respondent unilaterally and unlaw fully changed the unit employees’ health insurance bene fits. Sometime around September 21, 2001, the exact date being unknown, the Respondent unilaterally and unlawfully eliminated the unit employees’ sickness and accident benefits. These subjects relate to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment of the unit, and are mandatory subjects for the purposes of col lective bargaining. The Respondent engaged in this con- duct without prior notice to the Union and without af fording the Union an opportunity to bargain with the Respondent with respect to this conduct and its effects on the unit. By its overall conduct, the Respondent has failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the Union as the exclusive collective-bargaining representative of the unit. By the conduct described above, the Respondent has been failing and refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith with the exclusive collective-bargaining repre sentative of its employees within the meaning of Section 8(d) of the Act, in violation of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) of the Act. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. By failing and refusing since about August 15, 2001, to meet and bargain with the Union as the exclu sive collective-bargaining representative of the unit, the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices affect ing commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. 2. By its overall conduct, including the conduct listed below during the period August 14, 2001, to January 31, 2002, the Respondent has failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the Union and thereby engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act: i. regressive bargaining during negotiations on August 14 and 15, 2001; ii. demanding significant concessions in a “take it or leave it” manner; iii. refusing to respond to additional requests for bargaining; and iv. through it[s] agent, Papiernik, stating that, “it saw no need for a union at the plant” and “its em ployees did not want a union.” 3. By failing and refusing to furnish the Union with re- quested information that is necessary for, and relevant to, its duties as the exclusive collective-bargaining represen tative of the unit, the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. 4. By unilaterally changing the unit employees’ health insurance benefits, and unilaterally eliminating the unit employees’ sickness and accident benefits, without giv ing the Union notice and an opportunity to bargain, the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices affect ing commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. 5. By failing and refusing by its overall conduct to bar- gain collectively and in good faith with the Union, the Respondent has been engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. REMEDY Having found that the Respondent has engaged in cer tain unfair labor practices, we shall order it to cease and desist and to take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies of the Act. Specifically, having found that the Respondent unlawfully failed and refused to meet and bargain collectively and in good faith with the Union as the exclusive collective bargaining repre sentative of the unit, we shall order the Respondent on request to do so. Having found that the Respondent unlawfully failed and refused to furnish the Union with the information it requested on May 3 and August 20, 2001, we shall order the Respondent to provide the Un ion with this information. Further, having found that the Respondent unlawfully changed the unit employees’ health benefits and unlawfully eliminated their sickness and accident benefits, we shall order the Respondent to rescind these actions and make whole the unit employees U.S. EXTRUSIONS & STEEL CORP. 3 for any expenses resulting from the Respondent’s ac tions, with interest as prescribed in New Horizons for the Retarded, 283 NLRB 1173 (1987). ORDER The National Labor Relations Board orders that the Respondent, U.S. Extrusions & Steel Corp., Girard, Ohio, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall 1. Cease and desist from (a) Failing and refusing to meet and bargain with United Steelworkers of America, AFL–CIO, CLC, Local Union 4564-06 on terms and conditions of employment of employees in the following bargaining unit: All full-time and regular part-time production, mainte nance and non-confidential clerical employees em ployed by the Employer at its 1110 Trumbull Avenue, Girard, Ohio facility, including lay-out men, lathe op erators, mill operators/solid, hollow die men, hollow die grinders, mill solid and hollow die, flox (EDM), heat treat, 3rd class machinists, 3rd class lathe opera- tors, CNC lathe operators, wiremen, programmers, util ity employees, and laborers, but excluding confidential employees, and all professional employees, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act. (b) Failing and refusing to bargain in good faith with the Union by engaging in regressive bargaining during negotiations, demanding significant concessions in a “take it or leave it” manner, refusing to respond to the Union’s additional requests for bargaining; and stating, that it sees no need for a union at the plant and its em ployees do not want a union. (c) Failing and refusing to provide the Union with re- quested information that is necessary and relevant to the performance of its duties as the exclusive collective- bargaining representative of the employees in the bar- gaining unit. (d) Unilaterally changing the bargaining unit employ ees’ health insurance benefits, and unilaterally eliminat ing the unit employees’ sickness and accident benefits, without giving the Union notice and an opportunity to bargain. (e) 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) On request, meet and bargain with the Union as the exclusive representative of the employees in the bargain ing unit on terms and conditions of employment and, if an understanding is reached, embody the understanding in a signed agreement. (b) Furnish the Union in a timely manner with the in- formation it requested on May 3 and August 20, 2001. (c) Rescind the unilateral changes to the bargaining unit employees’ health benefits and the unilateral elimi nation of their sickness and accident benefits, and make whole the employees for any expenses resulting from these unilateral actions, with interest as described in the remedy section of this Decision and Order. (d) Within 14 days after service by the Region, post at its facility in Girard, Ohio, copies of the attached notice marked “Appendix.”1 Copies of the notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for Region 8, after being signed by the Respondent’s authorized representa tive, shall be posted by the Respondent and maintained for 60 consecutive days in conspicuous places including all places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken by the Respon dent to ensure that the notices are not altered, defaced or covered by any other material. In the event that, during the pendency of these proceedings, the Respondent has gone out of business or closed the facility involved in these proceedings, the Respondent shall duplicate and mail, at its own expense, a copy of the notice to all cur- rent employees and former employees employed by the Respondent at any time since May 3, 2001. (e) Within 21 days after service by the Region, file with the Regional Director a sworn certification of a re sponsible official on a form provided by the Region at- testing to the steps that the Respondent has taken to comply. Dated, Washington, D.C. May 13, 2002 Peter J. Hurtgen, Chairman Wilma B. Liebman, Member Michael J. Bartlett, Member (SEAL) NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 1 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 Na tional Labor Relations Board” shall read “Posted Pursuant to a Judg ment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the National Labor Relations Board.” 4 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD APPENDIX NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES POSTED BY ORDER OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD An Agency of the United States Government The National Labor Relations Board has found that we vio lated the Federal labor law and has ordered us to post and obey by this notice. FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO Form, join, or assist any union Chose representatives to bargain with us on your behalf Act together with other employees for your bene fit and protection Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities. WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to meet and bargain in good faith with United Steelworkers of America, AFL– CIO, CLC, Local Union 4564-06 on terms and condi tions of employment of employees in the following bar- gaining unit: All full-time and regular part-time production, mainte nance and non-confidential clerical employees em ployed by us at our 1110 Trumbull Avenue, Girard, Ohio facility, including lay-out men, lathe operators, mill operators/solid, hollow die men, hollow die grind ers, mill solid and hollow die, flox (EDM), heat treat, 3rd class machinists, 3rd class lathe operators, CNC lathe operators, wiremen, programmers, utility employ ees, and laborers, but excluding confidential employ ees, and all professional employees, guards and super- visors as defined in the Act. WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to bargain in good faith with the Union by engaging in regressive bargaining, demanding significant concessions in a “take it or leave it” manner, refusing to respond to the Union’s additional requests for bargaining, or stating that we do not need a union or that you do not want a union at the plant. WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to provide the Union with information that is necessary and relevant to its role as the exclusive collective-bargaining representative of the employees in the bargaining unit. WE WILL NOT unilaterally change your health benefits or eliminate your sickness and accident benefits without giving the Union notice and an opportunity to bargain. 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, on request, meet and bargain in good faith with the Union as the exclusive representative of the em ployees in the bargaining unit on terms and conditions of employment and, if an understanding is reached, embody the understanding in a signed agreement. WE WILL furnish the Union with the information it re- quested on May 3 and August 20, 2001. WE WILL rescind the unilateral changes we made to your health benefits and our unilateral elimination of your sickness and accident benefits, and make you whole for any expenses resulting from these unilateral actions, with interest. U.S. EXTRUSIONS & STEEL CORP.