Charles Cushman Shoe Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jun 23, 1937

2 N.L.R.B. 1015 (N.L.R.B. 1937)

In the Matters Of CHARLES CUSHMAN SHOE COMPANY, VENUS SHOE
COMPANY, SOMERSET SHOE COMPANY, LOWN SHOE COMPANY, MAINE
SHOES, INC., LUMBARD SHOE COMPANY, Koss SHOE COMPANY, INC.,
B. A. CORBIN & SONS, C. V. WATSON COMPANY, AULT-WILLIAMSON
SHOE COMPANY, MASCOTT SHOE COMPANY, INC., and HOLMES-BOMB
COMPANY and UNITED SHOE WORKERS OF AMERICA
Cases Nos. R-161 to R-172, inclusive
Shoe Manufacturing Industry-Election Ordered : controversy concerning rep-
resentation of employees ; rival organizations ; current strike caused by em-
ployer 's refusal to bargain collectively with petitioning union ; substantial
doubt as to majority status-Strike-Unit Appropi vate for Collective Bargain-
ing: production employees ; eligibility for membership in both rival organiza-
tions-Election : boycott of by one of rival organizations-Majority Rule:
meaning of , Section 9 ( a) interpreted-Certrfication of Representatives.
Mr. Malcolm F. Halliday and Mr. Edward Schneider for the Board.
Mr. George C. Webber and Mr. Donald W. Webber, of Auburn,
Maine, and Mr. John J. Mahan and Mr. David V. Berman, of Lewis-
ton, Maine , for the Companies.
Mr. A. Raymond Rogers, of Waterville, Maine, for United Shoe
Workers of America.
Mr. Frank W. Linnell, of Auburn, Maine, for the Lewiston and
Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Association and the Independent
Shoeworkers Union.
Mr. Julius Schlezinger, of counsel to the Board.
DIRECTION FOR ELECTIONS
June 293, 1&37
The National Labor Relations Board having found that questions
affecting commerce have arisen concerning the representation of the
shoe workers employed in the production departments, respectively,
of Charles Cushman Company (named Charles Cushman Shoe
Company in caption), Venus Shoe Company, Somerset Shoe Com-
pany, Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co.,
Koss Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company,
and Ault-Williamson Shoe Co., all of Auburn, Maine, and Mascott
Shoe Co., Inc., and Holmes-Bohr Company, both of Lewiston, Maine,
and that said shoe workers employed in each of said production de-
partments of said Companies, respectively, constitute units appro-
1015
1016 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
priate for the purposes of collective bargaining , within the meaning
of Section 9 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act, and acting
pursuant to the power vested in the National Labor Relations Board
by Section 9 (c) of said Act and pursuant to Article III, Section 8
of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1,
as amended , hereby
DIRECTS that , as part of the investigations authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with the Charles Cushman Company (named Charles Cushman Shoe
Company in caption ), Venus Shoe Company, Somerset Shoe Com-
pany, Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes , Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co.,
Koss Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company,
Ault-Williamson Shoe Co., Mascott Shoe Co., Inc. and Holmes-Bohr
Company, elections by secret ballot shall be conducted within a
period of 20 days from the date of this Direction , under the direction
and supervision of the Regional Director for the First Region, acting
in these matters as the agent of the National Labor Relations Board
and subject to Article III, Section 9 of said Rules and Regulations,
among those shoe workers who were employed in each of the produc-
tion departments of Charles Cushman Company , Venus Shoe Com-
pany, Somerset Shoe Company , Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes,
Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co., Koss Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons,
C. V. Watson Company, Ault -Williamson Shoe Co., and Mascott
Shoe Co., Inc., as of March 24, 1937, excepting clerical and super-
visory employees , to determine whether or not they desire to be
represented by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Lewiston
and Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Association , and among the
shoe workers who were employed in the production department of
the Holmes -Bohr as of March 24, 1937 , excepting clerical and super-
visory employees , to determine whether or not they desire to be rep-
resented by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Independent
Shoe Workers Union.
[ SAME TITLES ]
AMENDED DIRECTION FOR ELECTIONS
July 12, 1937
The Board having found on June 23 , 1937 that a question affect-
ing commerce had arisen concerning the representation of the shoe
workers ' employed in the production departments , respectively, of
-Charles Cushman Company ( named Charles Cushman Shoe Com-
pany in caption ), Venus Shoe Company . Somerset Shoe Company,
Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co., Koss
Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company and
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1017
Ault-Williamson Shoe Co., all of Auburn, Maine, and Mascott Shoe
Co., Inc. and Holmes-Bohr Company, both of Lewiston, Maine,
within the meaning of Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations
Act, and that an election by secret ballot should be conducted, hereby
DIRECTS that, as part of the investigations authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with the Charles Cushman Company (named Charles Cushman Shoe
Company in caption), Venus Shoe Company, Somerset Shoe Com-
pany, Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co.,
Koss Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company,
Ault-Williamson Shoe Co., Mascott Shoe Co., Inc., and Holmes-
Bohr Company, elections by secret ballot shall be conducted on or
before July 23, 1937, under the direction and supervision of the
Regional Director for the First Region, acting in these matters as
the agent of the National Labor Relations Board and subject to
Article III, Section 9 of said Rules and Regulations, among those
shoe- workers who were employed in each of the production depart-
ments of Charles Cushman Company, Venus Shoe Company, Som-
erset Shoe Company, Lown Shoe Company, Maine Shoes, Inc.,
Lumbard Shoe Co., Koss'Shoe Co., Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V.
Watson Company, Ault-Williamson Shoe Co., and Mascott Shoe
Co., Inc., as of March 24, 1937, excepting clerical and supervisory
employees, to determine whether or not they desire to be represented
by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Lewiston and Au-
burn Shoe Workers Protective Association,' and among the shoe
workers who were employed in the production department of the
Holmes-Bohr Company as of March 24, 1937. excepting clerical and
supervisory employees, to determine whether or not they desire to be
represented by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Inde-
pendent Shoe Workers Union.
[SAME TITLES]
DECISION
AND
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 30, 1937
STATEMENT OF CASE
In April 1937, the United Shoe Workers of America, herein called
the Union, filed petitions with the Regional Director for the First
Region (Boston, Massachusetts) alleging that questions affecting
commerce had arisen concerning the representation of the produc-
tion employees in the Auburn, Maine, plants of the Charles Cushman
1018 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Company,' Somerset Shoe Company, Lown Shoe Company, Maine
Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Company, Koss Shoe Company, Inc., B. A.
Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company, Venus Shoe Company, and
Ault-Williamson Shoe Company and in the Lewiston, Maine, plants,
of the Mascott Shoe Company, Inc., and the Holmes-Bohr Company,
herein referred to collectively as the Companies, and requesting in-
vestigations and certifications of representatives pursuant to Section
9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called
the Act. On May 17, 1937, the National Labor Relations Board,
herein called the Board, issued an order authorizing the Regional Di-
rector for the First Region to conduct investigations and provide
hearings in connection therewith. By order of the Board all of the
above named cases were consolidated for the purpose of hearing.2
Notices of hearing were duly served on each of the Companies.
Pursuant to the notices, a hearing was conducted by John A. Lapp,
the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board, from May 24 to,
June 15, 1937, in Auburn, Maine, and testimony was taken. At the,
hearing the Lewiston and Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Associa-
tion, herein called the Association, and the Independent Shoeworkers
Union, herein referred to as the Independent Union, requested per-
mission to intervene under Article II, Section 19 of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended. Per-
mission to intervene was granted by the Trial Examiner. Full op-
portunity to be heard, to examine, and to cross-examine witnesses,
and to introduce evidence bearing upon the issues was afforded all
parties. At the commencement of the hearing the Companies ob-
jected to the proceedings on the ground of lack of jurisdiction on
the part of the Board. The Companies also made numerous other
objections to the hearing, among them being objections to the con-
solidation of the cases and to the form of the petitions.3 All of
these objections were overruled by the Trial Examiner. The Board
has reviewed the conduct of the hearing and the rulings of the Trial
Examiner and finds that no prejudicial errors were committed.
After examining the record in the case, the Board concluded that
a question affecting commerce had arisen concerning the representa-
tion of the shoe workers, excepting clerical and supervisory em-
ployees, employed in the production departments of the plants of
I Referred to in the petition as the Charles Cushman Shoe Co.
2 Also consolidated with these cases for the purpose of heaung were petitions concerning
representation at the Clark Shoe Company and Augusta Shoe Corporation and complaints
charging the Clark Shoe Company, Augusta Shoe Corporation, Charles Cushman Company,
Somerset Shoe Company, C V. Watson Company, and Auburn Shoe Manufacturers Asso-
ciation with violations of the Act The petitions and charges concerning the Clark Shoe
Company and the Augusta Shoe Corporation were withdrawn at the commencement of
the hearing The charges against the Charles Cushman Company, Somerset Shoe Com-
pany , C V Watson Company , and Auburn Shoe Manufacturers Association were dismissed
by the Trial Examiner or withdiawn by the Union subsequent to the hearing.
'.The petitions filed by the Union did not bear the seal of a notary public.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1019
each of the Companies, and on the basis of such conclusion, and act-
ing pursuant to Article III, Section 8 of said Rules and Regula-
tions, issued a Direction for Elections on June 23, 1937, in which it
was found that said employees in the case of each of the Companies,
respectively, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of col-
lective bargaining, and in which the Regional Director for the First
Region was directed to conduct elections by secret ballot to determine
whether they wish to be represented, in the case of the Holmes-Bohr
,Company, by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Inde-
pendent Shoeworkers Union and, in the case of each of the other
Companies, by the United Shoe Workers of America or the Lewiston
and Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Association, for the purposes
of collective bargaining.4 For the purpose of expediting the elec-
tions, the Board issued the Direction for llections without at the
same time issuing a decision embodying findings of fact and con-
clusions of law.
The elections were conducted from July 13 to July 17, 1937. Pur-
suant to Article III, Section 9 of said Rules and Regulations, the Re-
gional Director subsequently filed an Intermediate Report with re-
spect thereto. The Intermediate Report found the results of the
elections to be as follows :
CHARLES CUSHMAN COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast---- ------------------------------ 175
2. Total number of void ballots _________________________________ 0
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union _______________________ 175
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association___________________ 0
SOMERSET SHOE COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 147
2. Total number of void ballots__________________________________ 0
S Total number of ballots cast for Union------------------------ 146
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association___________________ 1
LOWN SHOE COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast_ _________________________________ 237
2. Total number of void ballots ________________________________ 2
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union________________________ 234
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association __________________ 1
MAINE SHOES, INC.
1 Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 149
2. Total number of void ballots --------------------------------- 1
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union------------------------ 148
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association__________________ 0
4 The Direction for Elections was amended on July 12 , 1937 , in a particular not here
important
C
1020 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
LUMBARD SHOE COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 41
2. Total number of void ballots________________________________ 0
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union______________________ 39
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association________________ 2
KOSS SHOE COMPANY, INC.
1. Total number of ballots cast________________________________ 136
2. Total number of void ballots ________________________________ 2
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union______________________ 130
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association__________________ 4
B. A. CORBIN & SONS
1. Total number of ballots cast________________________________ 51
2. Total number of void ballots________________________________ 0
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union________________________ 47
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association____________________ 4
C. V. WATSON COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast________________________________ 120
2. Total number of void ballots_________________________________ 1
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union______________________ 116
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association__________________ 3
VENUS SHOE COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 214
2. Total number of void ballots_________________________________ 1
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union________________________ 212
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association__________________ 1
AULT-WILLIAMSON SHOE COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 142
2. Total number of void ballots________________________________ 0
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union______________________ 142
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association__________________ 0
MASCOTT SHOE COMPANY, INC.
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 69
2. Total number of void ballots_________________________________ 1
3 Total number of ballots cast for Union________________________ 66
4. Total number of ballots cast for Association________________ 2
HOLMES -BOAR COMPANY
1. Total number of ballots cast__________________________________ 90
2 Total number of void ballots__________________________________ 0
3. Total number of ballots cast for Union________________________ 87
4. Total number of ballots cast for Independent Union____________ 3
Objections to the conduct of the ballot and to the Intermediate
Report were thereafter filed by the Association, the Independent
Union, and the Companies. Pursuant to notices duly served on
each of the parties, a hearing on the objections was conducted by
0
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1021
John T. Lindsay, the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board,
on August 5 and 6, 1937, in Auburn, Maine, and testimony was taken.
Full opportunity to be heard, to examine and to cross-examine wit-
nesses, and to introduce evidence bearing upon the issues was afforded
all parties. Exceptions were taken by the parties to various rulings
made by the Trial Examiner during the course of the hearing. The
Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner and finds
that no prejudicial errors were committed.
Upon the entire record in the case the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE COMPANIES AND THEIR BUSINESSES
A. Charles Cushman Company
The Charles Cushman Company, a Maine corporation, is engaged
in the business of manufacturing shoes at Auburn, Maine. In addi-
tion to its factory and principal office in Auburn, the Company main-
tains sales offices and display rooms in Boston, Massachusetts, and
New York, New York. It employs full time salesmen in Boston, New
York; and Oakland, California, and part time salesmen who work
out of Selma, Alabama, and St. Louis, Missouri. The Company is
represented at various style shows throughout the country.'
The Company produced approximately 1,500,000 pairs of shoes in
1936 and had sales of over $1,750,000. There were about 730 produc-
tion employees in its Auburn plant on March 24, 1937.6
A very high percentage of the raw materials used by the Company
in the manufacture of its shoes are received by it from States other
than Maine.7 More than 95 per cent of its finished products are
shipped to points outside the State of Maine. All of its goods are
made directly on order and are shipped immediately upon their
completion. The products of the Company are sold throughout the
United States and in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Canada.
6 Style shows are held- annually in Boston , Mass , Chicago, Ill , and New York, N. Y,_
and biennially in St Louis, Mo. At these shows orders are taken and sales made
a March 24 was the last day before the strike in the plants of the Companies The
strike will be discussed in Section IV, infra
s E. Farrington Abbott, president of the Company, estimated that leather constituted
at least 60 per cent of the cost of the raw materials used in the manufacture of shoes
by his Company and about 85 per cent of such materials in volume The Company
obtains its leather from Massachusetts. It also purchases ornaments , cloth lining , shanks,
eyelets, and kid skins outside of Maine Shoe laces, rubber heels and soles, eyelets thread,
counters , heels, box toes, and cartons are purchased in Maine. All of these latter items,
however, with the exception of counters , are composed very largely of materials originally
obtained from points outside the State of Maine.
The raw materials used by the other Companies are generally the same as those used
by the Charles Cushman Company and the places in which such materials are purchased
are also generally the some.
1022 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
B. Somerset Shoe Company
The Somerset Shoe Company is a Massachusetts corporation engaged
in the business of manufacturing shoes at Auburn, Maine. It has, in
addition to its factory and principal office in Auburn, three plants
in Skowhegan, Maine, a plant in Richmond, Maine,8 and a branch
office and display room in Boston, Massachusetts. 'The Company
controls the Dingley-Foss Company and the Stetson-Abbott Com-
pany, sales companies assisting it in distributing its shoes throughout
the United States. The Levi-Weiss Sales Company, a Chicago con-
cern, handles its shoes in Ohio, Indiana, and the territory adjacent to
Chicago. The Somerset Shoe Company is represented at different
style shows throughout the country. It has a registered trade mark
for use in commerce among the several States.9
About 675 persons were employed in the Auburn factory of the
Company on March 24, 1937. In the year 1936, the Company pro-
duced approximately 1,330,000 pairs of shoes in this plant. The
great majority of the raw materials used by the Company in the
manufacture of its shoes are purchased by it outside of the State
of Maine.- Practically all of its finished products are shipped to
points without Maine. These products are manufactured directly
upon the orders of the customers.
C. Lown Shoe Company
The Lown Shoe Company operates at Auburn, Maine, a plant for
the manufacture of shoes.- It does not maintain any sales offices
outside of Auburn but employs one salesman who travels throughout
the United States. It is represented at various style shows.
The Company employed about 600 workers in its Auburn plant on
March 24, 1937. In 1936 it produced approximately 500,000 pairs
of shoes. From 85 to 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the
Company are purchased by it in States other than Maine. Its shoes
are sold entirely outside of Maine. These shoes are manufactured
only on order.
8 The plant at Richmond, Maine, has only recently been purchased by the Company. It
was not operating at the time of the hearing.
'Board Exhibit No. 37.
w Thomas F. O'Byrne, the president of the Company, estimates that about 80 per cent
of the cost of the raw materials going into the Company's shoes is expended for leather.
'The leather is obtained from Massachusetts
n The Lown Shoe Company apparently is only a name under which the Philco Shoe
Company, a corporation, operates its Auburn plant The Philco Shoe Company owns at
least one other plant, a shoe factory in Bangor , Maine.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1023
D. Maine Shoes, Inc.
Maine Shoes, Inc., is a Maine corporation owning and operating a
shoe factory at Auburn, Maine. Ben Weiner, its president, acts as
its only salesman and represents the Company at the style shows in
Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, New York.
The Company employed about 525 persons on March 24, 1937. In
1936, it produced approximately 730,000 pairs of shoes.
About 85 per cent of the raw materials used by the Company are
received by it from points outside of Maine and about 90 per cent of
its finished products are delivered without the State. Its shoes are
manufactured on order and are shipped chiefly to the Middle West.
E. Lumbard Shoe Company
The Lumbard Shoe Company is a Maine corporation engaged in the
business of manufacturing shoes at Auburn, Maine. It has branch
offices and display rooms in Boston , Massachusetts, and New York,.
New York, and employs eleven salesmen who cover the entire country 12
It had 109 production employees on March 24, 1937. During the
year 1936 it produced 96,689 pairs of shoes.
Ninety per cent of the raw materials used by the Company are
received from points outside of Maine. All of its finished products
are shipped to points without Maine. Some shipments are made to
Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Company has a registered trade mark
for use in commerce among the several States.13
F. Koss Shoe Company, Inc.
The Koss Shoe Company is a Maine corporation owning and operat-
ing a shoe factory at Auburn, Maine. It maintains a branch office and
display room at Boston, Massachusetts. The Company is represented
at various style shows. About 150 persons were in its employ on
March 24, 1937. During the year 1936 the Company manufactured
592,683 pairs of shoes.
Approximately 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the Com-
pany are received by it from points outside of Maine. About 95 per
cent of its finished products are shipped without the State, chiefly to
the larger cities of the East and Midwest. It manufactures entirely
upon order.
12 On May 6 , 1937 , the Company closed down its plant and discontinued business Mr.
Babb , the treasurer of the Company , stated that it had no intention of reopening until it
believed it could operate without a loss.
v Board Exhibit No. 39.
1024 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
G. B. A. Corbin cf Sons
B. A. Corbin & Sons is a Maine corporation with its principal office
and place of business in Auburn, Maine. It also has a branch office
and display room in Boston, Massachusetts. The Company employs
two salesmen who work out of the Boston office. At times it is repre-
sented at style shows. °
The Company produced approximately 170,000 pairs of shoes in
1936 and had total sales of about $400,000. On March 24, 1937, 147
persons were employed in its-Auburn factory.
Ninety-eight per cent of the raw materials used by the Company in
the production of shoes are received by it from outside the State of
Maine. It ships 100 per cent of its finished products to points without
the State. These shoes are delivered chiefly to the larger cities of the
East. Some, however, are shipped to the Panama Canal Zone and to
the Philippines. Shoes are manufactured only on order.
H. C. V. Watson Company
The C. V. Watson Company is a Maine corporation engaged in
the business of manufacturing shoes at Auburn, Maine. In addi-
tion to its factory in Auburn it maintains a branch office and display
room in Boston; Massachusetts. Two salesmen are employed by the
Company, and the Company is represented at the major style shows.
The Company produced 435,471 pairs of shoes in the year ending
June 30, 1936. On March 24, 1937, it had 403 production workers in
its employ.
The Company purchases from 85 to 95 per cent of its raw materials
outside of Maine. It ships 99 per cent of its finished products with-
out the State. Shipments are made to points throughout the United
States. The Company manufactures shoes only on order.
I. Venus Shoe Company
The Venus Shoe Company is a Maine corporation owning and op-
erating a shoe factory at Auburn, Maine. It employs two salesmen
who cover the entire country, and the Company is represented at
various style shows. There is a trade mark for use in commerce
among the several States registered in the United States Patent Office
to George Laganas, doing business as the Venus Shoe Company.14
In the year 1936 the Company produced approximately 400,000
pairs of shoes and had total sales of about $600,000. Approximately
300 persons were employed in its factory on March 24, 1937.
"Board Exhibit No 40 George Laganas is president of the Venus Shoe Company which
was incorporated in 1933. The trade mark was registered in 1931.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1025
About 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the Company in the
manufacture of shoes are received by it from without Maine. All
of its finished products are shipped outside the State. The Company
manufactures shoes directly upon order.
J. Ault-Willamson Shoe Company
The Ault-Williamson Shoe Company, a Maine corporation, is en-
gaged in the manufacture of shoes at Auburn, Maine. It employs 12
salesmen who cover the entire country. On March 24, 1937, 426 pro-
duction workers were employed in its Auburn plant. The Company
produces between 1,800 and 2,000 pairs of shoes in an average day.
It is represented at various style shows throughout the United States.
It has a registered trade mark for use in commerce among the sev-
eral States.15
No official of the Company testified at the hearing who was able
to estimate what percentage of the raw materials used by the Com-
pany are received from outside of Maine. Its leather, however, which
is by far the most important material used, and numerous other
items, are purchased without the State. The evidence indicates that
the proportion of raw materials received by the Company from States
other than Maine is about the same as that of the other Companies.
Approximately 95 per cent of the shoes produced by the Company
are delivered to points outside Maine. Shipments are made to every
State in the Union and to Cuba and Canada.
K. Mascott Shoe Company, Inc.
The Mascott Shoe Company, Inc., is a Maine corporation with its
office and principal place of business in Lewiston, Maine. It em-
ploys one part time salesman in New York, New York. On March
24, 1937, it had 150 employees in its Lewiston plant. In 1936 the
sales of the Company amounted to about $350,000. The Company is
represented at the style shows in Boston, Massachusetts, and New
York, New York.
Approximately 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the Com-
pany are purchased outside of Maine. It ships all of its finished prod-
ucts to points without the State. The Company manufactures shoes
only upon order.
L. Holmes-Bohr Company
The Holmes-Bohr Company is a Maine corporation engaged in the
business of manufacturing shoes at Lewiston, Maine. It has four
salesmen who cover the Northeastern Part of the United States and
15 Board Exhibit No. 38.
1026 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the Pacific Coast. Two hundred and eighty-eight production workers
were employed in its plant on March 24, 1937. The Company is rep-
resented at various style shows. In 1936 it produced approximately
250,000 pairs of shoes.
About 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the Company are
received by it from without Maine. The Company manufactures only
pursuant to order. Ninety-eight per cent of its finished products are
shipped to points outside of Maine.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
A. The United Shoe Workers of America
The United Shoe Workers of America is a labor organization affil-
iated with the Committee for Industrial Organization. It was
formed in March 1937 through the amalgamation of the Shoe Workers
Protective Union and the United Shoe and Leather Workers Union.
B. Lewiston and Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Association
The Lewiston and Auburn Shoe Workers Protective Association is
an incorporated labor organization not affiliated with any national
union. It was organized in October 1932 but became inactive in 1933.
In April 1937, during the strike called by the Union, it was revived
among the workers in the plants of all of the Companies with the
exception of the Holmes-Bohr Company.
C. Independent Shoe Workers Union
The Independent Shoe Workers Union is also an incorporated labor
organization not affiliated with any national union. It was organized
in April 1937 among the workers in the plant of the Holmes-Bohr
Company. Membership in the Independent Union is limited to,
employees of that Company.
III. THE APPROPRIATE UNITS
The constitution of the Union 16 and the by-laws of the Association 17
and of the Independent Union 18 all restrict membership in their
organizations to "shoe workers." The term "shoe workers" was not
defined at the hearing but the record indicates that the only workers
these organizations are interested in are production workers and that
neither clerical workers nor supervisory employees are intended to be
included within the term.
^e Board Exhibit No 68
" L. A. S. P A. Exhibit No 6.
18I. S. W. U. Exhibit No. 7.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1027
We find that, in order to insure to the employees in the Auburn or
Lewiston plants of each of the Companies , respectively , the full
benefit of their right to self-organization and collective bargaining,
and otherwise to effectuate the policies of the Act , all of the employees
in the production departments , excepting clerical and supervisory em-
ployees, of the Auburn or Lewiston plants of each of the Companies,
respectively , constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collec-
tive bargaining in respect to rates of pay, wages , hours of employment,
and other conditions of employment.
IV. QUESTIONS CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
Early in 1937, various shoe workers in the plants of the Companies
and the other shoe manufacturers in Lewiston and Auburn, conscious
of the organization drives then being staged in different industries
throughout the country and discontented with the wages and work-
ing conditions in the factories in which they were employed, com-
menced meeting together for the purpose of discussing the formation
of a union in Lewiston and Auburn . Some of these persons had
formerly been members of the Shoe Workers Protective Union and
the United Shoe and Leather Workers Union and they believed that
only a strong national union could satisfy the needs of the shoe
workers in the two cities. The group decided to request the United
Shoe Workers of America , just then being created under the sponsor-
ship of the Committee for Industrial Organization, to conduct an
organization drive in Lewiston and Auburn. On or about February
20, they contacted the Union, which complied with their request by
sending two organizers to the Maine cities.
Between February 27, 1937, and March 24, 1937 , an intensive
organization drive was staged by the Union in Lewiston and Auburn.
A local organizing committee, composed of employees of each of the
shoe factories , was formed and additional organizers were sent into
the district from Boston and other shoe centers. A mass meeting,
attended by about 500 persons, was held on March 3. This meeting
was followed by mass meetings at the Lewiston City Hall on March
10, 17, and 24. At the last two meetings the City Hall, which holds
about 3,000 persons, was jammed to capacity.
.In the meantime the local organizing committee had voted to con-
tact the manufacturers in regard to a union contract and had author-
ized Powers Hapgood, director of the Shoe Workers Organizing
Committee ,19 to seek a conference with the Auburn Shoe Manufac-
1° The Shoe Workers Organizing Committee is the governing body of the Union until its
first convention is held in November 1937.
5727-37-vol. 11-66
1028 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
turers Association, a trade association composed of all the shoe
manufacturers in Lewiston and Auburn except the Venus Shoe
Company. Hapgood wrote to the Manufacturers Association on
March 18, stating that the Union had received applications for mem-
bership from a majority of the shoe workers employed by the com-
panies belonging to the Manufacturers Association, and requesting
a conference for the purpose of discussing a union agreement cover-
ing recognition of the Union, hours, wages; and other working condi-
tions. No answer was received to this letter but the Lewiston Daily
Sun of March 23 published a statement by the "shoe manufacturers
of Lewiston and Auburn"' to the effect that problems arising between
the shoe manufacturers and their employees were purely local prob-
lems to be settled locally "without the dictatorship of outside
agitators." 20
At the mass meeting of March 24 the members of the Union, voted
to strike on the following morning. Although not many workers
left their jobs on the first day of the strike it soon became effective.
Seven of the shoe factories were forced to close down entirely and the
other five were forced to drastically curtail their operations.
Since March 25, 1937, Lewiston and Auburn have been the center
of continuous industrial strife and unrest. Acts committed by public
officials, employers, strikers, and non-strikers have engendered bit-
terness and harsh feelings in the community. However, there is only
one event which occurred during the strike to which this Board feels
it should devote particular attention. On April 20, Judge Harry
Manser of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine delivered an
opinion 21 declaring the strike illegal and granted an injunction
prohibiting the strike leaders or their agents from picketing or
from assisting the strike in any manner.22 In its opinion the Court
appears to have interpreted the National Labor Relations Act to
declare strikes by a minority of employees in a plant illegal. That
such a declaration did not represent the intention of Congress is
clearly evident from even a cursory examination of the Act. Section
13 of the Act states in unequivocal language that "Nothing in this
Act- shall be construed so as to interfere with or impede or diminish
in any way the right to strike." 23
On April 20, 1937, the same day that the injunction against the
Union was granted, the Lewiston and Auburn Shoe Workers Pro-
2" Board Exhibit No 44
2i Respondent 's Exhibit No 3.
22 Respondent 's Exhibit No 4
23 In Christian A. Lund, doing business as C. A. Lund Company, v Woodenware Workers
Union , et al, decided May 19 , 1937 , the United States District Court for the District
of Minnesota , Third Division , refused to enjoin a stiike by a mino•ity of employees in
the plaintiff 's factory, holding that such it strike is not outlawed by the National Labor
Relations Act even though the employer has entered into an agreement with an organization
representing the majority of his employees
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1029
tective Association was revived among the shoe workers at the
Charles Cushman Company. Organization work was carried on by
the Association and within a short time members had been obtained
from among the employees of each of the other Companies except
the Holmes-Bohr Company. A large mass meeting was held by the
Association on May 14.
In the meantime another movement for a local union had been
started among employees of the Holmes-Bohr Company. This move-
ment culminated in the formation of the Independent Shoe Workers
Union on May 4, 1937.
At the hearing both the Union and the Independent Union claimed
to represent a majority of employees of the Holmes-Bohr Company.
The Union also claimed it represented a majority of the shoe workers
in the plants of each of the other Companies. This latter claim was
contested by the Association. The evidence indicates that in the
Holmes-Bohr Company and in many of the other plants, a great
many workers have designated both rival organizations to represent
them.
The Board concludes that questions have arisen concerning the
representation of the production employees, excepting clerical and
supervisory employees, in the Auburn, Maine, plants of the Charles
Cushman Company, Somerset Shoe Company, Lown Shoe Company,
Maine Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Co., Koss Shoe Co., Inc., B. A.
Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company, Venus Shoe Company, and
Ault-Williamson Shoe Company and in the Lewiston, Maine, plants
of the Mascott Shoe Co., Inc., and the Holmes-Bohr Company.
V. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTIONS OF REPRESENTATION UPON COMMERCE
The strike of March 25, 1937, resulted in a complete stoppage of
production at the plants of seven of the Companies,24 and a drastic
curtailment in production at the plants of the other five Companies.25
Since on practically every day prior to that date each of the Com-
panies had received raw materials from outside the State and shipped
finished products to points without the State, it is evident that the
"Ault-Williamson Shoe Company , Somerset Shoe Company , B A. Corbin & Sons, Lum-
bard Shoe Company , C V Watson Company, Mascott Shoe Company , Inc, and Koss Shoe
Company. Inc. The plants of the Lumbard Shoe Company , C V Watson Company,
Mascott Shoe Company , and Koss Shoe Company were still closed down at the time of
the original hearing.
2s Production at the Charles Cushman Company dropped approximately 50 per cent in
April from an average of 9,000 pairs of shoes per day in March . Shipments by the
Venus Shoe Company had dropped to 40 cases of shoes a day at the time of the original
healing from 70 cases just before the strike . During the strike production at the Holmes-
Bohr Company gradually declined from the March average of 1,500 pairs a day to it
low of between 300 and 500 pairs , and at Maine Shoes , Inc., from a daily average of
5,000 pairs to one of 3,000 pairs . The Lown Shoe Company produced only 22 , 205 pairs
of shoes in April in comparison to its production of 69 , 136 pairs in January, 77,992
pairs in February , and 68,265 pairs in March.
1
1030 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
labor dispute here involved sharply impeded the flow of interstate
commerce to and from Auburn and Lewiston, Maine.21
We find that the questions of representation which have arisen, in
connection with the operations of the Companies described in Sec-
tion I above, have a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade,
traffic, and commerce among the several States and with foreign
countries, and have led and tend to lead to labor disputes burdening
and obstructing commerce and the free flow of commerce.
VI. OBJECTIONS TO ELECTIONS
The Association, the Independent Union, and the Companies have
raised seven major objections to the elections conducted by the Board
to determine the exclusive bargaining agency. These objections will
be considered separately.
1. Persons were permitted to vote in an election by signing affi-
davits to the effect that they were employed by the particular com-
pany involved in such election on March 24, 1937. The objection is
made that voting lists against which to check the voters should have
been provided by the Board and that the carrying out of the elec-
tions by means of affidavits violated the Direction for Elections is-
sued by the Board and was injurious to the parties involved. The
Direction for Elections authorized the Regional Director to conduct
elections by secret ballot in accordance with Article III, Section 9
of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series
1, as amended. There is nothing in either the Direction or the Rules
and Regulations which would prevent him from conducting such
elections by means of affidavits. Furthermore, the elections were
conducted by this method only after the Companies had refused to
furnish the Regional Director with copies of their payrolls of March
24, 1937. In view of this refusal, it is with little grace that the
Companies complain against the use of affidavits.
The contention that the Association and the Independent Union
were injured by the use of affidavits is without merit. All parties to
this proceeding were given an equal opportunity to have watchers at
the polls for the purpose of preventing persons not eligible to vote
from voting. Such watchers had the privilege of challenging any
person making out a false affidavit. Furthermore, at the second
hearing in these cases, the Association and the Independent Union
failed to show that any person voted who was not eligible to do so.
The objection is overruled.
2. The Direction for Elections stated that the elections should be
conducted among those shoe workers who were employed in the pro-
2e The treasurer of the Beaver Transportation Company. an interstate freight carrier
operating between Boston , Massachusetts , and Auburn , Maine, estimated that the gross
business of the firm declined from 25 to 40 per cent as a result of the strike at the plants
of the Companies It was forced to lay oft' 7 of its 16 or 17 employees as a consequence.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1031
duction departments of the Companies on March 24, 1937. During
the elections the Regional Director ruled that "employees who were
temporarily laid off or on temporary leave of absence on March 24,
1937, were eligible to vote." The evidence reveals that the only per-
sons not actually at work on March 24, 1937, who voted at the elec-
tions were 11 cutters employed by the Holmes-Bohr Company. These
11 men had worked until a few days before March 24, and had then
been temporarily laid off because of lack of work. However, they
had been expected to begin working again the following week.
Their own foreman testified that he considered a workman to be an
employee until he draws his last pay. These 11 men did not draw
their last pay until March 26, 1937. It is clear, therefore, that on
March 24, 1937, they were employees of the Holmes-Bohr Company.
The ruling of the Regional Director is affirmed.
Even if the contention of the objectors is accepted, however, the
results of these elections would not be affected. The Union received
87 votes at the Holmes-Bohr election to 3 for the Independent Union.
If the 11 votes cast by these employees are not counted the result
would still be 76 to 3 in favor of the Union. The objection is over-
ruled.
3. The objection is made that the eligibility date of March 24, 1937,
was arbitrarily chosen and that there was no evidence produced at
the first hearing to justify the selection of that date. This objection
is not borne out by the record of that hearing, however. The record
of the first hearing clearly indicates that March 24, 1937, was the last
day of normal operations at any of the plants involved. At the date
of that hearing four of the Companies were shut down completely
and the operations of the other eight Companies had been drastically
curtailed. Subsequent to March 24, 1937, thousands of men employed
by these Companies went on strike and an abnormal situation pre-
vailed in Lewiston and Auburn. An election among employees of
the abnormal period between March 24, 1937, and the date of the first
hearing would not have truly revealed the wishes of the workers
normally employed by the Companies. We believe that such wishes
have been best determined by an election among the employees of
March 24, 1937. The objection is overruled.
4. The objection that large numbers of people were permitted to
vote more than once is conclusively disproved by the evidence. The
second hearing failed to reveal a single instance of a person voting
more than once. The objection is overruled.
5. The Regional Director is charged with having improperly per-
mitted electioneering by the Union in the immediate vicinity of the
voting place. This charge is not sustained by the evidence. The two
police officers present at the polls during the elections testified that
everything had been peaceful and orderly in the vicinity and that
1032 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
no instances of coercion or intimidation of voters had occurred.
The objection is overruled.
6. The Association and the Independent Union had written con-
tracts with several of the Companies at the time of the hearing and
they contend that the elections tend toward the abrogation of the
right of contract guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the
United States. These contracts were all entered into after the calling
of the strike, however, and the first hearing indicated that there was
considerable doubt as to whether these unions represented a majority
of the workers in the plants involved at the time of the contracts.
The objection is overruled.
7. The objection is made that many persons who were no longer
employed by the Companies at the date of the elections and who had
obtained "regular and substantially equivalent employment" to their
employment of March 24, 1937, were permitted to vote. It is con-
tended that such persons had ceased to be employees of the Companies
by virtue of the provisions of Section 2, subdivision (3) of the Act
and were, therefore, ineligible to vote. Where elections involving
thousands of men are being conducted it is obviously impossible for
the Board to insist on a showing by every voter that he has not
obtained "regular and substantially equivalent employment" else-
where. In part for this very reason the Board arranges for all
parties to have watchers at the polls with the privilege of challeng-
ing ineligible voters. Although the opportunity was afforded them,
the objectors failed to take advantage of that privilege. Further-
more, at the second hearing, they failed to show that any persons
who had obtained "regular and substantially equivalent employment"
did vote at the elections. The objection is overruled.
In addition to these seven major objections, numerous minor
objections were raised by the parties. The Board has carefully
considered all of these objections and finds them without merit.
The objections are overruled.
VII. THE EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING AGENCY
In Section I above, we found the number of production workers
employed by each of the Companies on March 24, 1937, and in the
Statement of Case we set forth the election results. By way of a
summary we, will now list together the number of persons eligible
to vote in each plant and the number of votes received by each of
the contending unions in such plant.
CHARLES CUSHMAN COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote_____________________________________ 730
Total number of ballots cast for -Union --------------------------- 175
Total number of ballots cast for Association ______________________ 0
DECISIONS AND ORDERS
SOMERSET SHOE COMPANY
1033
Total number eligible to vote_____________________________________ 675
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 146
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 1
LOWN SHOE COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote_____________________________________ 600
Total number of ballots cast for Union ___________________________ 234
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 1
MAINE SHOES, INC.
Total number eligible to vote_____________________________________ 525
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 148
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 0
LUMBARD SHOE COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 109
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 39
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 2
KOSS SHOE COMPANY, INC.
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 150
Total number of ballots cast for Union__________________________ 130
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 4
B. A. CORBIN & SONS
Total number eligible to vote -------- ---------------------------- 147
Total number of ballots cast for Union__________________________ 47
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 4
C. V. WATSON COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 403
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 116
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 3
VENUS SHOE COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 300
Total number of ballots cast for Union__________________________ 212
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 1
AULT-WILLIAMSON SHOE COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 426
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 142
Total number of ballots cast for Association______________________ 0
MASCOTF SHOE COMPANY, INC.
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 150
Total number of ballots cast for Union__________________________ 66
Total number of ballots cast for Association ---------------------- 2
HOLMES-BOHR COMPANY
Total number eligible to vote____________________________________ 288
Total number of ballots cast for Union___________________________ 87
Total number of ballots cast for Independent Union_______________ 3
1034 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Only in elections involving Koss Shoe Company, Inc., and Venus
Shoe Company did the Union obtain a majority of all persons
eligible to vote as well as a majority of those who actually voted.
However, in prior decisions we have established the principle that
the majority of the employees referred to in the Act is a majority
of those participating in the election.21 The reason behind this prin-
ciple is clearly vindicated by the present cases. The Association and
the Independent Union boycotted the elections and thus impaired the
secrecy of the ballot. With only the members of one union partici-
pating in the elections employees by voting in effect signified their
intention to vote for such union. In view of the bitter opposition
to the Union which had been expressed by the Companies, this fact
must certainly have caused many supporters of the Union to refrain
from voting. Where a labor organization claiming to represent a
majority of the employees in a particular plant has refused to par-
ticipate in a fair and impartial election conducted by this Board for
the purpose of determining the accuracy of its claim, it cannot there-
after contest the right of a rival labor organization which has made
the same claim and has received a majority of the votes cast in such
election to be certified as exclusive bargaining agency, on the ground
that such rival labor organization has' not obtained the votes of a
majority of all persons eligible to vote. We will certify the Union
as the exclusive representative of all the employees in the appropri-
ate unit of each of the Companies.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAw
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact, the Board makes the
following conclusions of law:
1. The shoe workers employed in the production departments,
excepting clerical and supervisory employees, of the Auburn or
Lewiston plants of each of the Companies, respectively, constitute a
unit, appropriate for the purposes of collecive bargaining, within the
meaning of Section 9 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act.
2. Questions affecting commerce have arisen concerning the rep-
resentation of the employees in the aforesaid units, within the mean-
ing of Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act.
3. The United Shoe Workers of America, having been selected for
the purposes of collective bargaining by the majority of the employees
in each of the aforesaid units, is, by virtue of Section 9 (a) of the
National Labor Relations Act, the exclusive representative of all the
27Matter of R. C. A. Manufacturing Company , Inc and United Electrical d Radio
Worke,s of America , Case No R-39, Certification of Representatives issued November 7,
1936 ( supra, p 168 ). See Virginian Railway Company v System Federation No 1,0, Rail-
way Employees Department of the American Federation of Labor, et al, 300 U S. 515
(March 29, 1937).
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 1035
employees in each of such units for the purposes of collective bar-
gaining in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and
other conditions of employment.
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8
of the National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-
Series 1, as amended,
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that United Shoe Workers of America has
been selected by a majority of the shoe workers, excepting clerical
and supervisory employees, employed in the production departments
of the Auburn or Lewiston plants, respectively, of the Charles Cush-
man Company, Somerset Shoe Company, Lown Shoe Company,
Maine Shoes, Inc., Lumbard Shoe Company, Koss Shoe Company,
Inc., B. A. Corbin & Sons, C. V. Watson Company, Venus Shoe Com-
pany, Ault-Williamson Shoe Company, Mascott Shoe Company, Inc.,
and Holmes-Bohr Company, as their representative for the purposes
of collective bargaining, and that pursuant to Section 9 (a) of the
National Labor Relations Act, United Shoe Workers of America is
the exclusive representative of all such employees of each of such
Companies, respectively, for the purposes of collective bargaining in
respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other
conditions of employment.
MR. EDWIN S. SMITH took no part in the consideration of the above
Decision and Certification of Representatives.