Charles R. McCormick Lumber Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

May 5, 1938

7 N.L.R.B. 38 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of CHARLES R. MCCORMICK LUMBER Co. and INTER-
NATIONAL WOODWORKERS or AMERICA , LOCAL 112
Case No. R-645-Decided May 5, 1938
Lumber Industry-Investigation of Representatives : controversy concerning
representation of employees : employer 's refusal to grant recognition of union ;
rival organizations-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining : employees of
the Company at Port Gamble , excluding certain categories ; no controversy
as to , except as to certain employees who exercise supervisory powers ; stipula-
tion as to-Election Ordered: pay roll furnished for purpose of-Certification of
Representatives.
Mr. Thomas P. Graham, for the Board.
Poe, Falknor, Emory ct Howe, by Mr. A. J. Falknor, and Mr. Wil-
liam Y. Powell, of Seattle, Wash., for the Company.
Mr. Paul Coughlin, of Seattle, Wash., for Local 112.
Mr. L. Presley, of Seattle , Wash., for Local 2536.
Miss Margaret M. Farmer, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On December 23, 1937, International Woodworkers of America,
Local 112, herein called Local 112, filed with the Regional Director
for the Nineteenth Region (Seattle, Washington) a petition alleging
that a question affecting commerce had aristin concerning the repre-
sentation of employees of Charles R. McCormick Lumber Company,
Port Gamble, Washington, herein called the Company, and request-
ing an investigation and certification of representatives pursuant to
Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449,
herein called the Act. On February 26, 1938, the National Labor
Relations Board, herein called the Board, acting pursuant to Sec-
tion 9 (c) of the Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, or-
dered an investigation and authorized the Regional Director to con-
duct it and to provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice.
On February 28, 1938, the Regional Director issued a notice of
hearing, copies of which were duly served upon the Company, upon
38
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 39
Local 112, and upon Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local
2536, herein called Local 2536, a labor organization claiming to rep-
resent employees directly affected by the investigation. Pursuant
to the notice, a hearing was held on March 18 and 19, 1938, at Port
Orchard, Washington, before Thomas S. Wilson, the Trial Examiner
duly designated by the Board. The Board, the Company, Local 112,
and Local 2536 were represented by counsel and participated in the
hearing. Full opportunity to be heard, to examine and to cross-
examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on the issues
was afforded all parties. During the course of the hearing the Trial
Examiner made several rulings on motions and on objections to the
exclusion of evidence. The Board has reviewed the rulings of the
Trial Examiner and finds that no prejudicial errors were committed.
The rulings are hereby affirmed.
Upon the entire record in the case the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
The Charles R. McCormick Lumber Company, a Delaware corpo-
ration, has its principal office in San Francisco, California. It owns
large tracts of timber in the States of Oregon and Washington and
is engaged in the logging and manufacture of lumber at St. Helens,
Oregon, and at Port Gamble, Washington. The Company owns, at
Port Gamble, all the land, all but a few of the dwellings, and con-
trols or leases, in addition to a sawmill, a store, a public hotel, a
working man's hotel, and a garage. The Company also operates a
creosoting plant at St. Helens, Oregon. A wholly owned subsidiary
corporation, the McCormick Steamship Company, incorporated under
the laws of California, transports both freight and passengers in
intercoastal trade between the ports of the United States, Honolulu,
Puerto Rico, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Panama Canal Zone.
The present proceedings are confined to the Port Gamble opera-
tions of the Company. During 1937, the sales of the Company from
its Port Gamble plant amounted to $1,800,000. Ninety-three per cent
of the finished products thus sold were shipped outside the State of
Washington.
The Company employed at its sawmill in Port Gamble approxi-
mately 500 workers, exclusive of office force.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
International Woodworkers of, America, Local 112, is a labor
organization, affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organiza-
tion,' apparently admitting to its membership all production and
106791-38-vol. Nii-4
40 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
maintenance employees of the Company working at its sawmill in
Port Gamble, excluding office, clerical, and supervisory employees.
Sawmill and Timber Workers, Local 2536, is a labor organization
affiliated with the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, in turn
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. It apparently ad-
mits to membership all production and maintenance employees of the
Company working at its sawmill in Port Gamble, excluding office,
clerical, and supervisory employees.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
Local 2536 was organized as a federal union and was chartered
by the American Federation of Labor on August 29, 1934. On April
1, 1935, it became a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, an American Federation of Labor affiliate. From May
1935 until March 1938 Local 2536 was recognized by the Company as
the sole collective bargaining agency at Port Gamble. During this
period agreements were negotiated with the Company covering
wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. The third and
last of these agreements expired March 1, 1938.
A movement among the employees toward affiliation with the
Committee for Industrial Organization gained momentum during
the summer of 1937. By September 12, 1937, it had grown to such
an extent that a meeting was called by Local 2536 at which the ques-
tion of a change of affiliation from the American Federation of Labor
to the Committee for Industrial Organization was put to a vote.
The count' showed 197 votes for the C. I. O. and 188 votes for the
A., F. of L. One hundred fifty-four members did not vote. The
evidence discloses a difference of opinion as to whether the motion
voted upon was one to change the affiliation of Local 2536 as a group,
or whether it was merely one to record the individual preferences of
its members. Whatever the exact motion, it is conceded that Local
2536 did not at any time lose its identity. It increased its activity
and immediately launched an intensive campaign to regain the sup-
port of both hostile and neutral members. It now claims to represent
a majority of the sawmill employees.
The dissenting group, the present petitioner, became affiliated
with the Committee for Industrial Organization in September 1937,
and was chartered as Local 112, International Woodworkers of
America, at that time. Local 112 has requested the Company to
recognize it "as the sole collective bargaining agent in the sawmill."
The Company has refused to deal with this group; prior to March 1,
1938, on the ground that it had a binding agreement with Local 2536,
and since then on the ground that Local 112 had not been certi-
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 41
fled by the Board as bargaining representative of the employees
within said group.
We find that a question has arisen concerning representation of,
employees of the Company.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON
COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which has
arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the Company
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate and substantial
relation to trade, traffic and commerce among the several States, and
tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce
and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
The Company, Local 112, and Local 2536 agreed by stipulation at
the hearing that an appropriate unit for collective bargaining should
include all the employees of the Company employed at Port Gamble,
excluding longshoremen, dockboat workers, office, store, hotel, and
garage employees, and excluding also the following supervisory em-
ployees : Mr. Luedemann, manager of the Northwest section, Wil-
liams Hammerschmith, Leonard Clark, Nels Johnson, C. H. Carlson,
H. S. McPherson, William Anderson, Roy Amos, Walter Finn, Sr.,
W. K. McNeil, J. Clifford Murdock, Thomas Forsyth, and Oscar
Johnson.
Local 112 also contends that foremen, strawbosses, and leadermen
who at times exercise supervisory powers over fellow workmen should
be excluded from the bargaining unit. Local 2536 maintains that
these employees do manual labor side by side with the other workmen
and that the supervisory powers accorded them are too slight to
justify their exclusion on that ground.
It appears from the record that it is the duty of these men to
see that the gangs of which they are members are fully manned and
that the material or machines upon which they are working are
properly handled. Although they rarely have independent power to
hire and fire, they often have the power to recommend dismissals.
They may supervise as few as 3 or as many as 40 men. We are of
the opinion that foremen, strawbosses, and leadermen, who exercise
supervisory powers, should be classed with the supervisory, employees
and as such should be excluded from the bargaining unit.
Local 112 also requests that William Miller, the town-site boss,
be excluded as a supervisory employee. It appears from the record
that Miller's duties consist of keeping the town dwellings in repair
42 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
and occasionally doing light construction work. There is no showing
that he is at any time actually employed in the sawmill or that his
work is necessarily connected with it. Under the circumstances, we
conclude that no sufficient showing has been made to relate his inter-
ests to those of the employees within the unit. We shall therefore
exclude Miller from the bargaining unit.
We find that the employees of the Company employed at Port
Gamble, excluding longshoremen, dockboat workers, the town-site
boss, store, hotel, and garage employees and also excluding office and
supervisory employees, constitute a unit appropriate for the purpose
of collective bargaining and that said unit will insure to employees
of the Company the full benefit of their right to self-organization
and to collective bargaining and otherwise effectuate the policies of
the Act.
VI. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
There was introduced in evidence at the hearing the Company's
pay roll of February 28, 1938, showing the names of approximately
469 employees within the unit which we have found appropriate.
Local 112 introduced in evidence approximately 238 application
cards, a list containing approximately 238 names of employees within
the desired unit, a list containing the names of 16 persons whom
Local 112 declares desire representation by it, and a list of em-
ployees whom it claims to be supervisory employees.
Local 2536 introduced in evidence approximately 257 application
cards, a petition, circulated among the employees about February 20,
1938, containing 262 names, membership lists containing approxi-
mately 257 names of employees within the desired unit, a list of
persons whom Local 2536 claimed had rejoined their union, and
several dues books.
Upon examination of the various documents introduced in evi-
dence, by the two unions, we find many duplications in their respec-
tive claims. In view of this, we find that the question which has
arisen concerning the representation of employees can best be resolved
by means of an election by secret ballot. It was agreed by the parties
that if an election is ordered by the Board, the pay-roll date of Feb-
ruary 28, 1938, shall be used to determine eligibility to vote.
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and upon the entire
record in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of employees of Charles R. McCormick Lumber Company,
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 43
at Port Gamble, Washington , within the meaning of Section 9 (c)
and Section 2 (6) and (7 ) of the National Labor Relations Act.
2. The employees of the Company , employed at Port Gamble, ex-
cluding longshoremen, dockboat workers, the town-site boss, store,
hotel and garage employees , and also excluding office and super-
visory employees , constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of
collective bargaining , within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the
National Labor Relations Act.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
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 National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1,
as amended, it is
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with Charles R. McCormick Lumber Company , an election by secret
ballot shall be conducted within twenty (20) days from the date of
this Direction, under the direction and supervision of the Regional
Director for the Nineteenth Region, acting in this matter as agent
for the National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article III,
Section 9 , of said Rules and Regulations , among the employees of
the Company who were employed at Port Gamble during the pay-
roll period ending February 28, 1938, exclusive of longshoremen,
dockboat workers , the town-site boss, store , hotel and garage em-
ployees, office and supervisory employees, and those employees who
have quit or been discharged for cause since February 28, 1938, to
determine whether they desire to be represented by International
Woodworkers of America, or by the United Brotherhood of Car-
penters and Joiners, for purposes of collective bargaining, or by
neither.
SAME TITLE
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 0, 1938
On May 5, 1938, the National Labor Relations Board, herein called
the Board, issued a Decision and Direction of Election in the
44 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
above-entitled case. The Direction of Election directed that an
election by secret ballot be held within twenty (20) days from the
date of the Direction, among the employees of the Charles R. McCor-
mick Lumber Company, Port Gamble, Washington, who were em-
ployed during the pay-roll period ending February 28, 1938, exclu-
sive of longshoremen, dockboat workers, the town-site boss, store,
hotel and garage employees, office and supervisory employees, and
those employees who had quit or been discharged for cause since
February 28, 1938, to determine whether they desired to be repre-
sented by the International Woodworkers of America, Local 112,
or by Lumber and Sawmill Workers Local Union No. 2536, for the
purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.
Pursuant to the Decision and Direction of Election, an election
by secret ballot has been conducted under the direction and super-
vision of the Acting Regional Director for the Nineteenth Region
(Seattle, Washington) among the eligible employees of the Charles
R. McCormick Lumber Company. Full opportunity was accorded
all parties to this investigation to participate in the conduct of the
secret ballot and to make challenges. On May 18, 1938, the said Re-
gional Director, acting pursuant to Article III, Section 9, of the
Board's Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, issued and
duly served upon the parties an Intermediate Report on the election.
No objections or exceptions to the Intermediate Report have been
filed by any of the parties.
As to the balloting and its results, the Acting Regional Director
reported as follows :
Total number eligible to vote________________________________ 447
Total number of ballots cast________________________________ 443
Total number of blank ballots______________________________ 0
Total number of void ballots__ ______________________________
Total number of ballots cast for International Woodworkers of
0
America, Local 112, affiliated with the C. I. 0________________ 207
Total number of ballots cast for Lumber and Sawmill Workers,
Local Union No. 2536, affiliated with the A. F. of L---------- 235
Total number of ballots cast for neither organization ---_______ 0
Total number of challenged votes__________ __________________ 1
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, Sections 8 and 9, of National
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 45
Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended,
IT IS HERESY CERTIFIED that the Lumber and Sawmill Workers, Local
Union No. 2536, affiliated with the A. F. of L., is the exclusive repre-
sentative of all such employees for the purpose of collective bargaining
in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other
conditions of employment.