Archie's Motor Freight, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jan 16, 1962

135 N.L.R.B. 321 (N.L.R.B. 1962)

ARCHIE'S MOTOR FREIGHT, INC. 321
to recognize or bargain with the Union under the circumstances herein related did:
not engage in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) of the
Act. It is further found that the strike was not caused by any unfair labor practices.
of the Respondent ; and that during the strike the Respondent replaced Dudik,
Kowalik , Rakowski , and Szymanski with permanent employees . Therefore , by failing
and refusing to reinstate said employees the Respondent did not engage in unfair
labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (3) of the Act.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
Archie's Motor Freight , Inc. and Truck Drivers and Helpers.
Local Union No. 592 , affiliated with the International Brother-
hood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Warehousemen of America,.
Petitioner . Case No. 5-RC-3277. January 16, 1962
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION, ORDER, AND DIRECTION
OF SECOND ELECTION
Pursuant to a Decision and Direction of Election issued by the
Board on March 29, 1961,' an election by secret ballot was conducted
by the Regional Director on April 22, 1961, among the employees in
the unit found appropriate. After the election the parties were fur-
nished with a tally of ballots which showed that of approximately 26.
eligible voters, 10 voted for, and 11 voted against, the Petitioner and 1
ballot was challenged. The Petitioner filed timely objections to con-
duct allegedly affecting the results of the election.
After investigation the Regional Director, on May 31, 1961, issued
and served upon the parties his report on objections, in which he rec-
ommended that the objections be sustained and the election set aside,
and that the Board remand the case to the Region for the purpose of
determining the unit placement of six "city drivers," a matter not
considered in the original decision for reasons stated below.
The Board, after having duly considered the matters raised in the,
Regional Director's report concerning the "city drivers" and the
exceptions thereto, was of the opinion that the record should be
reopened for the purpose of receiving additional evidence, and ac-
cordingly, on August 3, 1961, it issued an order remanding the pro-
ceeding to the Regional Director for further hearing. This second
hearing was held on August 30, 1961, and the matter came on to the.
Board for determination.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the Act, the Board
has delegated its powers in connection with this case to, a three-
member panel [Members Rodgers, Leedom, and Fanning],.
The Petitioner originally petitioned for "all road drivers at the
Employer's Richmond, Virginia, terminal, excluding `local pick-up,
1130 NLRB 1627.
135 NLRB No. 37.
634449-62-vol. 135-22
322 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
drivers and helpers' and all other employees." At the first hearing,
the Employer stated that it had (1) no "local" drivers, (2) no hourly
paid drivers, and (3) no drivers who "never go outside the city of
Richmond." In light of this testimony, the Board concluded that
the Employer had neither "local" nor "city" drivers, and therefore
noted that it was deleting all reference to them from the unit descrip-
tion. At the second hearing, the Employer stated that it had thought
of "local" drivers as those who go outside the city on short, local runs,
never staying overnight, and that it "has no local drivers, as such."
It then stated that it does, however, have "city" drivers, but these are
not hourly paid, and do go outside the city of Richmond at least once
a week on "local" runs.
The city drivers spend the majority of their time making pickups
and deliveries within the city of Richmond, and loading and unloading
their own trucks when necessary. They work a set schedule of hours,
are paid a guaranteed weekly salary, do not wear uniforms, and are
granted paid holidays and vacations. On an average, each of the
city drivers takes the short "turn-around" run per week, and one long
"turn-around" run per month. When making over-the-road trips
during their regular working day, the city drivers still receive a
guaranteed weekly salary, but receive the same fee as the over-the-
road drivers when making such a run during "off" hours. City drivers
have no duties other than driving and loading.
Over-the-road drivers spend the majority of their time driving
over the road to points outside of Richmond. They do not work a set
schedule of hours, but are called to take trips as they come up on the
basis of seniority. They are paid by the mile for long runs, and a flat
fee for short runs. They wear uniforms and are granted paid vaca-
tions, but are not given paid holidays. Over-the-road drivers, some-
times, although very rarely, do make city deliveries.
The over-the-road drivers are subject to ICC regulations, whereas
the city drivers are not . Drivers do not move from one classification
to the other; however, all drivers are subject to the same supervision,
and have the same fringe benefits, except as regards holidays. In
making city deliveries, the trailers used are usually smaller than
those used over the road, but the tractors are all interchangeable and
are not assigned to any particular driver.
In view of these facts, and especially in view of the fact that the
operation here involved is a trucking terminal operation, that there
is an overlapping of driving duties, that over-the-road and city drivers
are under common supervision, and that no labor organization seeks
to represent the city drivers separately, we find that the only appro-
priate unit is one which includes both over-the-road and city drivers.2
2 See, e g ., Overnight Transportation Company, 128 NLRB 723; Mead-A tlanta Paper
Company, 123 NLRB 306 , 309; Sidney Blumenthal & Co. (Caromount and Wilson Divi-
sions ), 113 NLRB 791.
BRICKLAYERS, MASONS & PLASTERERS, ETC., LOCAL 2 323
Since the Board, if it had had all these facts before it when it made
its original decision , would have included the city drivers with the
over-the-road drivers, a new election must be ordered on the basis of
these newly discovered and previously undisclosed facts.'
Accordingly, we find that the following employees at the Employer's
terminals at Richmond and Franklin, Virginia, constitute an appro-
priate unit for the purposes of collective bargaining within Section
9(b) of the Act:
All over-the-road and city drivers, including the lease drivers, but
excluding service mechanics, the bookkeeper, office clerical employees,
guards, professional employees, and supervisors as defined in the Act.
[The Board set aside the election conducted on April 22, 1961, among
the employees at the Richmond and Franklin, Virginia, terminals of
Archie's Motor Freight, Inc.]
[Text of Direction of Second Election omitted from publication.]
' The decision herein amounts to a finding that the second of Petitioner ' s two objections
to conduct surrounding the election is valid . In view of this finding we find it unnecessary
to pass upon the validity of Petitioner 's first objection.
Employer contends that the Petitioner should not be allowed to seize upon the in-
advertent misstatements of the Employer as to its city drivers as a means to obtaining a
new election , since Petitioner 's petition excluded "local pick -up drivers," and it is there-
fore not prejudiced by the misstatements . It is not clear to what extent Employer's
statements misled Petitioner into thinking it had no local or city drivers , and we make
no finding in this regard . Petitioner did object , immediately prior to the election, to the
exclusion of the names of the city drivers from the eligibility list. However, it is im-
material whether Petitioner originally sought city drivers or not, since , as stated above,
the Board would have found that only a unit including over -the-road and city drivers was
appropriate , had it had all the facts before it at the time of its decision . Petitioner at
this time expresses a willingness to represent the overall unit herein found appropriate,
and, since its showing of interest is sufficient to go to an election in this larger group,
we shall set aside the first election and direct that a second election be held in the unit
herein found appropriate.
Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers' International Union of
America, Local No. 2, AFL-CIO [Wilputte Coke Oven Division,
Allied Chemical Corporation] and Leon Keene. Case No. 6-CB-
829. January 18, 1962
DECISION AND ORDER
On October 30, 1961, Trial Examiner Lloyd Buchanan issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that
the Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair
labor practices and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom
and take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the Intermediate
Report attached hereto. Thereafter the Respondent filed exceptions
135 NLRB No. 43.