Des Moines Steel Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 8, 1938

6 N.L.R.B. 532 (N.L.R.B. 1938)

In the Matter of DES MOINES STEEL COMPANY and LODGE 2071, AMAL-
GAMATED ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL & TIN WORKERS OF NORTH
AMERICA, THROUGH STEEL WORKFRS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, AFFllI-
ATED WITH C. I. O.
Case No. R-637.-Decided April 8, 1938
Steel Products Manufacturing Industry-Investigation of Representatives:
employees , members of one union , join second union ; each union claims exclu-
sive representation ; third union claims jurisdiction of two truck drivers-Unit
Appropriate for Collective Bargaining: hourly paid production and maintenance
employees, including truck drivers, of one employer; no desire of majority of
truck drivers to bargain apart from other hourly paid production and mainte-
nance employees ; history of collective bargaining relations with employer-
Representatives : proof of choice : membership application cards-Certification
of Representatives: upon proof of majority representation.
Mr. Lee Loevinger, for the Board.
Mr. John L. Brownlee, of Chicago, Ill., for the Amalgamated.
Mr. John Connolly, Jr., Mr. Ralph D. Moore, and Mr. Clyde B.
Judkins, of Des Moines, Iowa, for the International.
Mr. John Connolly, Jr., of Des Moines, Iowa, for the I. B. T.
Mr. Abraham J. Harris, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On January 29, 1938, Lodge 2071, Amalgamated Association of
Iron , Steel & Tin Workers of North America, through Steel Workers
Organizing Committee, affiliated with C. I. 0., herein called the Amal-
gamated, filed with the Regional Director of the Thirteenth Region
(Chicago, Illinois) a petition alleging that a question affecting com-
merce had arisen concerning the representation of employees of Des
Moines Steel Company, Des Moines, Iowa, herein called the Company,
and requesting 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 25, 1938, the National
Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, acting pursuant to
Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor
532
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 533
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, ordered
an investigation and authorized the Regional Director to conduct 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
the Amalgamated, and upon the International Association of Bridge,
Structural, and Ornamental Iron Workers, Local No. 493, herein
called the International, a labor organization claiming to represent
employees directly affected by the investigation. On March 1, 1938,
the Amalgamated filed an amended petition. On the same day, the
Regional Director issued an amended notice of hearing, copies of
which were duly served upon those upon whom the original notice
of hearing had been served. Pursuant to the amended notice, a hear-
ing was held on March 8 and 9, 1938, at Des Moines, Iowa, before
Conn Cohalan, the Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board.
At the hearing, the International was granted leave to intervene with-
out objection. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauf-
feurs, Stablemen and Helpers, Local No. 90, herein called the I. B. T.,
a labor organization claiming to represent employees directly affected
by the investigation, was granted leave to intervene over the objection
of the Amalgamated. The Board, the International, and the I. B. T.
were represented by counsel. The Amalgamated was represented by a
duly authorized representative. The International was represented
by a duly authorized representative as well as by counsel. All par-
ticipated in the hearing. Full opportunity to be heard, to examine
and 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 objec-
tions to the admission 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
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
Des Moines Steel Company is a corporation engaged, for the most
part, in the fabrication and sale of structural steel shapes , rods, bolts,
rivets, and similar products used in connection with the construction
of buildings , bridges, and other structures . - The Company also sells
other products , used in connection with the construction business.
All operations are carried on at one plant , at Des Moines, Iowa. The
principal raw material used by the Company is rolled steel, all of
which is obtained outside the State of Iowa, but a small portion' of
all the raw materials used being obtained within the State of Iowa.
534 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Approximately 30 per cent of the Company 's products are shipped
to States other than Iowa.
The Company 's sales in 1937 aggregated approximately $1,500,000.
The gross tonnage of steel fabricated by it in the same period was
approximately 8,000.
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Lodge No. 2071, Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel & Tin
Workers of North America, affiliated with the Committee for Indus-
trial Organization, is a labor organization admitting to its member-
ship all hourly paid production and maintenance employees of the
Company, excluding clerical and office workers.
International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental
Iron Workers, Local No. 493, is a labor organization affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor, admitting to its membership those
employees of the Company who are eligible to membership in the
Amalgamated as well as similar employees of two other steel fabricat-
ing plants, in Des Moines.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen,
and Helpers, Local No. 90, is a labor organization affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, admitting to its membership the
truck drivers employed by the Company.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
On April 30, 1937, the International entered into a contract with
the Company covering the wages, hours, and working conditions of
the Company's employees eligible to membership. By the terms of
the contract, it was to remain effective "unless notice is given in writ-
ing by either party 90 days prior to April 1st of any year." All the
Company's eligible employees either were at the time of the execution
of the contract or shortly thereafter became members of the Interna-
tional. Some of these paid dues up to December 20, 1937. None of
them paid dues thereafter. On December 28, 1937, a number of the
Company's employees asked representatives of the Committee for
Industrial Organization whether they could get a charter. Upon
receiving an affirmative answer, a meeting was held which resulted
in the signing of application cards for membership in the Steel Work-
ers Organizing Committee by 60 employees. On December 29, 1937,
a charter was applied for. Those who signed such cards thereupon
notified the Company that they intended to ask for a contract, as
members of the new union with which they were affiliated, upon the
expiration of the existing contract. Accordingly, the Company, 90
days prior to April 1, 1938, gave written notice to the International
relative to the termination of their contract on that date. On March
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 535
7-9 1938, 50 of those who had signed Steel Workers Organizing Com-
mittee' membership application cards, signed cards requesting and
accepting membership in the Amalgamated. In, addition, such' cards
were signed' by-'seven employees who had not previously signed cards.
The International claims as members all 89 of the hourly paid pro-
duction 'and 'maintenance employees, excluding clerical and office'
workers, carried on the Company's pay roll.
The I. B. T! claims jurisdiction of the two truck drivers employed'
by 'the . Company.
We find that a question has arisen concerning represelitition of
employees of the Company.
IV. TIIE EFFECT OF TIIE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON '
COMMERCE :' A `A'
We ,find that the question concerning representation; which 'has
arisen occurring in connection with the operations of the Com-
pany, described in Section, I above, has' a close, intimate ; . and sub-
stantialrelation 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 Amalgamated claims that the hourly paid production and
maintenance employees of the Company, excluding clerical and office
workers, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective
bargaining. There is no dispute as to the appropriateness of such
a 'unit, except that the International claims that the appropriate
unit consists not only of these employees but also of similar em-
ployees' of two other steel fabricating plants located in Des Moines
and except that the I. B. T. claims that the two truck drivers em-
ployed by the Company belong in a unit by themselves.
The history of the collective bargaining activities of the Company's
employees shows that prior to the time they joined the International
they had bargained collectively as a unit with the Company as
members of an unaffiliated union admitting to its membership only
employees of the Company. When the International was formed,
it took in as members of one local not only all the Company's em-
ployees but also similar employees of two other steel fabricating
plants in Des Moines. Separate contracts, however, were entered
into by the International with the three steel plants. There is no
common ownership or management of the three steel plants and
there is no relationship among them whatsoever, except that each
is a competitor of the others. The International contends that com-
petitive conditions in the business require that the same union bargain
80618-38-vor. vi-35
536 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS,BOARD
with all three employers, and that for this reason a three-employer
unit is necessary. We find that a unit composed exclusively of the,
Company's employees will best guarantee to them the full benefit of
their right to self-organization and to collective bargaining.
As to the claim of the I. B. T. that the truck drivers belong in
a unit of their own, the history of collective bargaining activities,
of the Company's employees shows that the truck drivers were,
eligible to membership in the union which had bargained =with the
Company as a unit prior to the organization of the International
and that they later became members of the International and were
specifically included by the International in its contract with the,
Company. One of them, on December 29, 1937, signed a Steel Work-
ers Organizing Committee membership application card and, on
March 7, 1938, reaffirmed his choice of a new collective bargaining
representative by signing an Amalgamated membership application
card. The other truck driver signed a Steel Workers Organizing
Committee application card on December 28, 1937, and an I. B. T.
membership application on February 2, 1938. Only the latter truck
driver is claimed by the I. B. T. as a 'member ; the former's mem-
bership in the Amalgamated is conceded. We find, therefore, that a
majority of the truck drivers do not desire to bargain apart from,
the other hourly paid production and maintenance employees of
the Company. Accordingly, we find that the truck drivers em-
ployed by the Company should be included in the bargaining unit
with the other production and maintenance employees.'
We find that the hourly paid production and maintenance em-
ployees of the Company, including the truck drivers and excluding,
clerical and office workers, constitute a unit appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining and that said unit will insure
to such employees 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
At the hearing there was put into evidence the pay-roll list of
the Company, covering all the employees in the appropriate unit
who had worked for the Company since April 30, 1937. The list
contains the names of 91 employees. Of these, it was agreed at the
hearing that two were improperly included in the list for the reason
that they had quit their employment and are no longer considered
employees of the Company. Of the remaining 89 employees listed,
' See Matter of The Globe Machine and Stamping Co and Metal Polishers Union, Local
No. 3, International Association of Machinists , District No 54, Federal Labor Union 18788,
and United Automobile Workers of America, 3 N. L R B 294
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 537
21 had been laid off at various dates between May 7, 1937, and Janu-
ary 27, 1938, but are still considered employees of the Company.
The Amalgamated introduced membership application cards of a
majority 2 of those appearing on the Company's pay roll. The card&
were all dated December 28, 1937, or subsequent thereto. All but two
of them were the cards of employees of the Company working at the
time of the hearing. The authenticity and genuineness of the cards
were not questioned. Evidence was also introduced showing that at
least 55 of the Amalgamated members had paid their dues in the
Amalgamated to date. The International introduced no such proof
of membership. An International representative merely testified
that all those listed on the Company's pay roll had joined the Inter-
national in the spring of 1937, and were still members thereof. It does
not appear that any formal steps were taken by those employees
joining the Amalgamated to renounce their membership in the Inter-
national. However, the cessation of dues payment in the Interna-
tional on December 20, 1937, and the applications for membership in
the Amalgamated made on December 28 and subsequently clearly
indicate that the majority of the employees in the appropriate unit
desire the Amalgamated as their representative for the purposes of
collective bargaining.
We find that the Amalgamated has been designated and selected
by a majority of the employees in the appropriate unit as their-
representative for the purposes of collective bargaining, and we
will so certify.
On 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 rep-
resentation of employees of Des Moines Steel Company, Des Moines,
Iowa, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and
(7) of the National Labor Relations Act.
2. The hourly paid production and maintenance employees of the
Company, including truck drivers and excluding clerical and office
workers, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective
bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the National
Labor Relations Act.
3 Lodge No. 2071, Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel & Tin
Workers of North America through Steel Workers Organizing Com-
mittee, affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organization, is
the exclusive representative of all the employees in such unit for
the purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning of Sec-
tion 9 (a) of the National Labor Relations Act.
2 See Section III, supra.
538 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
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 Re-
lations Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National La-
bor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended,
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that Lodge No. 2071, Amalgamated Associa-
tion of Iron, Steel & Tin Workers of North America through Steel
Workers Organizing Committee, affiliated with the Committee for
Industrial Organization, has been designated and selected by a ma-
jority of the hourly paid production and maintenance employees
of Des Moines Steel Company, Des Moines, Iowa, including truck
drivers and excluding clerical and office workers, as their repre-
sentative for the purposes of collective bargaining and that, pursuant
to the provisions of Section 9 (a) of the Act, Lodge No. 2071, Amal-
gamated Association of Iron, Steel & Tin Workers of North America
through Steel Workers Organizing Committee, affiliated with the
Committee for Industrial Organization, is the exclusive representa-
tive of all such employees for the purposes of collective bargaining
in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other
conditions of employment.