Dawson Daylight Coal Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 13, 1939

17 N.L.R.B. 581 (N.L.R.B. 1939)

In the Matter of DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY and UNITED
MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH THE
C. I. O. and PROGRESSIVE MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #5,
AFFILIATED WITH THE A. F. OF L., PARTY TO THE CONTRACT
In the Matter of DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY and UNITED
M1NE WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH THE
C. I. O.
Cases Nos . C-1407 and R-1600, respectively .-Decided November 13,
1939
Coal Mining Industry-Settlement: stipulation providing for compliance with
the Act, including disestablishment of company-dominated union and reinstate-
ment with back pay in specified amounts as to certain employees-Order:
entered on stipulationInvestigation of Representatives: stipulated: respondent
refuses to recognize either of rival labor organizations unless certified by the
Board-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining: stipulated ; all persons em-
ployed in the mining operations of the respondent as production employees,
excluding superintendents, mine foremen, section foremen, room bosses, top
bosses, entry bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity, all other super-
visory employees, and "guards" or "watchmen"-Representatives: eligibility to
participate in choice: employees reinstated pursuant to Board's Order; stipula-
tion as to-Election Ordered: pursuant to stipulation.
Mr. Arthur R. Donovan, Mr. Colonel C. Sawyer, and Mr. Robert
D. Malarney, for the Board.
Mr. A. C. Van Winkle, of Louisville, Ky., for the respondent.
Mr. Ed. J. Morgan, of Madisonville, Ky., and Mr. Earl E. Houck,
of Washington, D. C., for the United.
Mr. John R. Kane, of Springfield, Ill., for the Progressive.
Mr. Langdon West and Miss Margaret Holmes, of counsel to the
Board.
DECISION
ORDER
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon charges and amended charges duly filed by United Mine
Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of
17 N. L. R. B., No. 48.
581
582 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Industrial Organizations, herein called the United, the National
Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, by the Regional
Director for the Eleventh Region (Indianapolis, Indiana) issued its
complaint 1 dated October 20, 1939, against Dawson Daylight Coal
Company, Dawson Springs, Hopkins County, Kentucky, herein
called the respondent, alleging that the respondent 'had engaged in
and was engaging in unfair labor practices affecting commerce,
within the meaning of Section 8 (1), (2), and (3) and Section 2 (6)
and (7) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein
called the Act. A copy of the complaint accompanied by notice of
hearing was duly served upon the respondent, the United, and Pro-
gressive Mine Workers of America, District #5, affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, herein called the Progressive. The
respondent did not file an answer to the complaint.
On or about October 18, 1939, the United filed with the Regional
Director a petition alleging that a question affecting commerce had
arisen concerning the representation of employees of the respondent
and requesting an investigation and certification of representatives
pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act. On October 20, 1939, the Board,
acting pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III, Section
3, Article III, Section 10 (c) (2), and Article II, Section 36 (b),
of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series
2, ordered an investigation upon the petition and authorized
the Regional Director to conduct it and to provide for an appro-
priate hearing upon due notice and further ordered that the two
cases be consolidated.2 On October 23, 1939, the respondent, the
United, the Progressive, and counsel for the Board entered into a
stipulation in settlement of the case subject to the approval of the
Board. This stipulation provides as follows :
Dawson Daylight Coal Company, hereinafter called the Re-
spondent; United Mine Workers of America, District #23,
affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, herein-
after called the United; the Progressive Mine Workers of Amer-
ica, District #5, affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor, hereinafter sometimes called the Progressive; and Arthur
R. Donovan, Regional Attorney for the Eleventh Region of the
National Labor Relations Board, Colonel C. Sawyer and Robert
D. Malarney, Attorneys, National Labor Relations Board, here-
inafter sometimes called the Board, hereby stipulate and agree
that :
1 Although this case had been consolidated with several others by orders of the Board
dated August 9, 1937, May 3, 1939, and July 17, 1939, respectively , these orders of con-
solidation were revoked by the Board' s order dated October 20, 1939.
The name of Robert M. Nance was incorrectly inserted in the caption of the complaint
case in the order of consolidation.
DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY
I
583:
Upon amended charges duly filed by the United on December-
23, 1938, the National Labor Relations Board, by its Regional.
Director for the Eleventh Region , acting pursuant to authority
granted in Section 10 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act
(49 Stat. 449 ), hereinafter sometimes called the Act, and pur-
suant to authority granted by the Board 's Rules and Regulations,.
Series 2, Article 2 , Section 5 , issued its Complaint on the 20th,
day of October 1939 , against the Respondent.
II
Upon a Petition duly filed by the United on October 18, 1939,_
the Board , on October 20, 1939, directed that an investigation
of bargaining representatives be made pursuant to Section 9 (c)
of the Act. Upon authorization by the Board, the Regional.
Director for the Eleventh Region, issued notice of hearing on
October 20, 1939. In the petition filed by the United, it was-
stated that both the United and the Progressive claim to have-
been designated as collective bargaining representative by em-
ployees in the unit alleged in said petition to be appropriate, and.
the United and the Progressive are each a party to said pro-
ceeding instituted by said petition by virtue of the Board's Rules
and Regulations, Series 2, Article 3, Section 3.
III
The Respondent, the United, and the Progressive withdraw
all motions and other pleadings filed by them . in the proceedings-
herein, except that the United does not withdraw the amended
charges and the petition hereinbefore mentioned in Articles I_
and II of this stipulation.
IV
The Respondent, the United and the Progressive, hereby waive
their right to a hearing or hearings in these cases and all parties-
expressly agree that the amended charges filed on December 23,-
1938, the complaint and notice of hearing issued on October 30,.
1939, the petition filed by the United on October 18', 1939, the-
Order of the National Labor Relations Board directing an in-
vestigation and the notice of hearing pursuant to this Order for-
investigation, and this stipulation, may be introclucecl in the
record in the proceedings herein, by filing with the Chief Trial'
Examiner of the National Labor Relations Board at Wash.--
ington, D. C.
247384-40-vol. 17-38
584 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
V
The Respondent, the United, and the Progressive, hereby
acknowledge due service of the complaint and notice of hearing
upon the complaint and of the petition and notice of hearing
pursuant to the Board's Order directing investigation and hear-
ing and expressly waive any right or privilege which they may
have for ten (10) days notice of hearing and to the holding of
a hearing or hearings in these cases and also waive any right
or privilege which they may have to the making of findings of
fact and conclusions of law by the Board.
VI
The Respondent specifically admits each and every allegation in
paragraphs I and II of the Board's complaint herein and stip-
ulates and agrees that it is engaged in interstate commerce within
the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
VII
The United, the Progressive and the Independent Miners'
Union, are, each and all of them, labor organizations within the
meaning of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
VIII
It is agreed by and between the Respondent and the Progres-
sive that the contract now in force and effect between the Re-
spondent and the Progressive is hereby cancelled and is void
and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this stipu-
lation shall preclude the Respondent from hereafter making an
agreement with the Progressive or any other labor organization
(k-'established, maintained or assisted by any action defined
in the National Labor Relations Act as an unfair labor prac-
tice) requiring, as a condition of employment, membership
therein, if such labor organization is the representative of the
employees as provided in Section 9 (a) of the Act; and' it is
agreed that the Respondent will not recognize the Progressive
or any other labor organization as the exclusive representative
of its employees until and unless such labor organization is cer-
tified by the Board as such exclusive representative in the,man-
ner hereinafter provided.
DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY
IX
585
It is hereby stipulated and agreed that all persons employed
.as production employees, excluding superintendents, mine fore-
men, section foremen, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry
bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervi-
sory employees, and "guards" or "watchmen," constitute a unit
appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining within. the
meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
X
It is hereby stipulated and agreed by the Respondent, the
United, and the Progressive, that a question has arisen concern-
ing the representation of the employees in the bargaining unit
set forth in Article IX of this stipulation in that the United
and the Progressive each claim to have been designated by em-
ployees in the unit set forth above as representative for purposes
of collective bargaining, within the meaning of the Act, and
that Respondent refuses to recognize either the United or the
Progressive as the exclusive representative of all the employees
in said unit until and unless the Board has made a certification
pursuant. to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
XI
The Respondent , the United, and the Progressive , stipulate
and agree that the Board shall forthwith issue a Direction of
Election. The election shall be conducted within thirty (30)
days from the issuance of the Direction of Election by the Board
.and shall be conducted in accordance with and pursuant to the
.Act, the Board's Rules and Regulations , and decisions of the
Board in representation cases. The election shall be for the
purpose of determining whether the eligible employees desire
to be represented for the purposes of collective bargaining by
the United , the Progressive , or by neither . The employees
eligible to vote in this election shall be all the employees in the
:appropriate unit set forth in Article IX, above, on the pay-
roll of Respondent one week preceding issuance of a Direction of
Election pursuant to this Article and all those employees ordered
reinstated as a result of this stipulation . This stipulation and
the Election. Report , filed on the results of the election shall con-
'stitute competent evidence • upon ' .Bich the Board ' may make a
certification pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
586 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
XII .
Upon the basis of the amended charges filed by the United
on December 23, 1938, the complaint herein and this stipulation,
the Respondent expressly consents to the issuance by the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board of an Order to the following
effect :
ORDER
Upon the basis of this stipulation and pursuant to Section
10 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Dawson Daylight Coal
Company, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, its officers, agents; suc-
cessors, and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In any manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing
its employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization,
to form; join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively
through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage
in concerted activity for the purposes of collective bargaining
or other mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of
the National Labor Relations Act;
(b) Discouraging membership in the United Mine Workers
of America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Indus-
trial Organizations, or any other labor organization of its em-
ployees, or encouraging membership in the Progressive Mine
Workers of America, District #5, affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, or any other labor organization of its
employees, by discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its
employees or in any other manner discriminating in regard to
their hire and tenure of employment or any term or condition
of their employment;
(c) Dominating or interfering with the administration of the
Independent Miners Union, or dominating or interfering with
the formation or administration of any other labor organization
of its employees, or contributing support to any such labor
organization ;
(d) Recognizing the Independent Miners Union as the repre-
sentative of any of its employees for. the purposes of dealing
with the Respondent concerning grievances, labor disputes,
wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or other conditions
of employment;
DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY 587
'2. Take the following affirmative action to effectuate the poli-
cies of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a) Offer to the employees listed below immediate and full
reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent posi-
tions without prejudice to any rights and privileges which they
might have previously enjoyed:
1. C. E. Alexander 2. Boyd R. Moore
'(b) Make whole the employees listed below by payment to
them of the sums set opposite their names which constitute wages
lost in consequence of layoffs by the Respondent of the said
employees
1. C. E. Alexander------------------------- $100
2. Boyd R. Moore___________________ ______ $100
(c) Withdraw and continue to withhold all recognition of
'the Independent Miners Union as a representative of any of its
employees for the purpose of collective bargaining with the
Respondent in respect to rates of pay, wages , hours of employment,
and other terms or conditions of employment , and completely
disestablish the Independent Miners Union as such representative ;
,(d) Immediately post notices in conspicuous places through-
rout its plant and maintain such notices for a period of sixty
(60) (consecutive days or for the period until the Board issues
-its certification in Case No . XI-R-234 whichever period proves
to be of shortest duration , stating ( 1) that the Respondent will
-cease and desist as aforesaid, (2) and that the Respondent will
take the affirmative action as aforesaid; which notice shall con-
tain the substance of the Order , but need not be in the exact lan-
guage thereof;
(e) Notify the Regional Director for the Eleventh Region of
the National Labor Relations Board within a period of ten (10)
-days after the entry of this Order what steps have been taken
to comply with said Order.
XIII
'The Respondent hereby consents to the entry by an appro-
priate' United States Circuit Court of Appeals, upon applica-
tion by the Board, of a decree enforcing an Order of the Board
as herein set forth in Article XII, above, and hereby waives
further notice of the application for such decree. The United
588 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD'
and the Progressive expressly waive any right or privilege to
contest the entry of this decree by an appropriate Circuit Court
of Appeals and hereby waive further notice of application for
entry thereof.
XIV
Wherever the facts, spelling of names, titles, or other material
and documents in the record of these proceedings shall appear
inconsistent with the names, titles or other material set out and
made part of this stipulation, the spelling of names, titles and
other material in this stipulation shall be considered correct.
XV
This stipulation shall be subject in all respects to the approval
of the Board and shall become effective immediately upon ap-
proval by the Board. If this stipulation is not approved by
the Board, it shall be of no force and effect and shall not be
used as evidence against the parties hereto in any subsequent
proceeding herein.
The entire agreement between all parties hereto is contained
within the terms of this stipulation, and there is no verbal agree-
ment of any kind which varies, alters, or adds to said stipula-
tion in any respect.
On November 10, 1939, the Board issued its order approving the
above stipulation, making it part of the record, and transferring the
proceeding to the Board for the purpose of entry of a decision and
order by the Board.
Upon the basis of the above stipulation and the entire record in
the case, the Board makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE, RESPONDENT 3
The respondent, a Delaware corporation with its principal office
and place of business in or near Dawson Springs, Hopkins County,
Kentucky, is engaged at a place of business called the Hopkins County
Mine in Hopkins County, Kentucky, in the mining, sale, and distri-
bution of coal.
The respondent, in the course and conduct of its business, causes
and has continuously caused a substantial quantity of coal, consisting
of more than 50 per cent of the products mined, sold, and distributed
8 The facts set forth in this section are based upon allegations in the complaint admitted:
by the respondent.
DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY 589
by it, to be supplied, delivered, and transported in interstate com-
merce from its Hopkins County Mine in the State of Kentucky. The
respondent agreed that it is engaged in interstate commerce, within.
the meaning of the Act.
We find that the above-described operations constitute a continu-
ous flow of trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the-
Congress of Industrial Organizations; the Progressive Mine Workers
of America, District #5, affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor; and Independent Miners Union, are labor organizations as-
defined in Section 2 (5) of the Act.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
In accordance with the terms of the stipulation, we find that the-
United and the Progressive each claimed to have been designated by
employees in the unit hereinafter found to be appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining as their bargaining agent and that.
the respondent refuses to recognize either the United or the Progres-
sive as the exclusive representative of all the employees in said unit
until and unless the Board has made a certification pursuant to Section
9 (c) of the Act, and that therefore a question has arisen concerning
representation'of the employees of the respondent.
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 respondent
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial re-
lation 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
We find, in accordance with the terms of the stipulation, that all
persons employed in the mining operations of the respondent as,
production employees, excluding superintendents, mine foremen, sec-
tion foremen, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, elec--
tricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory employees,,
and "guards" or "watchmen," constitute a unit appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining, and that such unit will insure to
-590 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
the said employees the full benefit of their right to self-organization
and collective bargaining and will otherwise effectuate the policies
of the Act.
VI. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
We find that the question which has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of the employees of the respondent can best be resolved by
the holding of an election by secret ballot. In accordance with the
terms of the stipulation, we find that the employees eligible to vote
in the election shall be all employees in the appropriate unit on the
pay roll of the respondent 1 week preceding the issuance of our
Direction of Election, including the employees ordered reinstated as
:a result of the Board's order, infra.
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and the stipulation,
and upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with
the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Progressive Mine
Workers of America, District #5, affiliated with the American Fed-
eration of Labor, are labor organizations, within the meaning of
Section 2 (5) of the Act.
2. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
-sentation of employees of Dawson Daylight Coal Company, Dawson
Sp.>rings, Hopkins County, Kentucky, within the meaning of Section
-9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the National Labor Relations Act.
3. All persons employed in the mining operations of the respond-
ent as production employees, excluding superintendents, mine fore-
men, section foremen, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry
bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory
employees, and "guards" or "watchmen," constitute a unit appropri-
ate for collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of
the Act.
ORDER
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact, stipulation, and the
entire record in the case, and pursuant to Section 10 (c) of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations Board here-
by orders that the Dawson Daylight Cokl Company, Dawson Springs,
Hopkins County, Kentucky, its officers, agents, successors, and as-
signs shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In any manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing its
.employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization, to form,
DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY 591_
join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through,
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted
activity for the purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of the National Labor-
Relations Act;
(b) Discouraging membership in United Mine Workers . of
America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Or-
ganizations, or any other labor organization of its employees, or en-
couraging membership in Progressive 'Mine Workers of America,.
District #5, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, or-
any other labor organization of its employees, by discharging or re-
fusing to reinstate any of its employees or in any other manner dis-
criminating in regard to their hire and tenure of employment or
any term or condition of their employment;
(c) Dominating or interfering with the administration of the In-
dependent Miners Union, or dominating or interfering with the•
formation or administration of any other labor organization,of its
employees, or contributing support to any such labor organization;
(d) Recognizing the Independent Miners Union as the repre-
sentative of any of its employees for the purpose of dealing with the
respondent concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,.
hours of employment, or other conditions of employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will'
effectuate the policies of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a) Offer to the employees listed below immediate and full rein-
statement to their former or substantially equivalent positions with-
out prejudice to any rights and privileges which they might have-
previously enjoyed :
1. C. E. Alexander 2. Boyd R. Moore
(b) Make whole the employees listed below by payment to them•
of the sums set opposite their names which constitute wages lost in
consequence of lay-offs by the respondent of the said employees :
1. C. E. Alexander_____________________________ $100
2. Boyd R. Moore______________________________ $100
(c) Withdraw and continue to withhold all recognition of the
Independent Miners Union as a representative of any of its em-
ployees for the purpose of collective bargaining with the respondent
in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other
terms or conditions of employment, and completely disestablish the
Independent Miners Union as such representative;
(d) Immediately post notices in conspicuous places throughout
its plant and maintain such notices for a period of sixty (60) con-
secutive days or for the period until the Board issues its certification
.592 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
in Case No. R-1600 whichever period proves to be of shortest dura-
tion, stating (1) that the respondent will cease and desist as afore-
said, (2) and that the respondent will take the affirmative action as
.aforesaid; which notice shall contain the substance of the Order,
but need not be in the exact language thereof ;
(e) Notify the Regional Director for the Eleventh Region of the
National Labor Relations Board within a period of -ten (10) days
:after the entry of this Order what steps have been taken to comply
with said Order.
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 Rela-
tions Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 2, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation ordered by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with the Dawson Daylight Coal Company, Dawson Springs, Hop-
-kins County, Kentucky, an election by secret ballot shall be con-
,ducted within thirty (30) days from the date of this Direction under
the direction and supervision of the Regional Director for the
Eleventh 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 all persons employed in the mining
-operations of the Dawson Daylight Coal Company, Dawson Springs,
Hopkins County, Kentucky, on the pay roll of the respondent 1 week
-preceding the issuance of this Direction of Election, including the
.employees ordered reinstated as a result of the Board's order, but
excluding superintendents, mine foremen, section foremen, room
-bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, electricians in a super-
visory capacity, all other supervisory employees, and "guards" or
"watchmen," to determine whether they desire to be represented by
-United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the
-Congress of Industrial Organizations, or Progressive Mine Workers
of America, District *5, affiliated with the American Federation of
-Labor, for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.