Flat Creek Coal Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 13, 1939

17 N.L.R.B. 546 (N.L.R.B. 1939)

In the Matter of FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY and UNITED MINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH THE C. 1. O.
and PROGRESSIVE MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT # 5, AFFILI-
ATED WITH THE A. F. OF L., PARTY TO THE CONTRACT
In the Matter of FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY and UNITED MINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH THE C. I. O.
Cases Nos. C-1403 and R-1603, 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 amount as to one employee-Order: entered
on stipulation-Investigation 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 employed in
the mining operations of the respondent as production employees , excluding
superintendents , mine foremen , section foremen , room bosses , face bosses, top
bosses, entry bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory
employees , and "guards" or "watchmen"-Representatives : eligibility to partici-
pate in choice : person reinstated pursuant to Board's Order ; stipulation as to-
Election Ordered: pursuant to stipulation.
Mr. Arthur R. Donovan, Mr. Colonel C. Sawyer, and Mr. Robert D.
Malarney, for the Board.
Mr. J. C. Trader, of Providence, 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
Industrial Organizations, herein called the United, the National
17 N. L. R. B., No. 45.
546
FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY 547
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 Flat Creek Coal Com-
pany, Providence, 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 Rela-
tions Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the Act. A copy of the com-
plaint accompanied by notice of hearing was duly served upon the
respondent, the United, and Progressive 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 rep-
resentatives 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 the 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
appropriate hearing upon due notice and further ordered that the
two cases be consolidated. 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 :
Flat Creek Coal Company hereinafter called the Respondent;
United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with
the Congress of Industrial Organizations, hereinafter sometimes
called the United; the Progressive Mine Workers of America,
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
consolidation were revoked by the Board 's order dated October 20, 1939.
548.. DECISIONS OF .NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
I
Upon amended charges filed by the United on October 11,
1939, the National Labor Relations Board, by its Regional Direc-
tor 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 Regula-
tions, Series 2, Article II, 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 Direc-
tor 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 desig-
nated as' collective bargaining representative by employees in
the. unit alleged in said petition to be appropriate, and the
United and the Progressive are each a party to said proceeding
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 hereinbef ore mentioned in Articles I
and II.
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 charge filed on October 11,
1939, the complaint issued on October 20, 1939, and notice of
hearing, the petition filed by the United on October 18, 1939, the
Order of the National Labor Relations Board directing an
investigation and the notice of hearing pursuant to this Order
for investigation, and this stipulation, may' be introduced in the
record in-the proceedings herein, by filing with the Chief Trial
Examiner of the National Labor Relations Board at Washington,
D. C.
FLAT CREEK COAL- COMPANY
V
549
The Respondent, the r United, and the Progressive, hereby
acknowledge service of the complaint and notice of_he*a.r1Dg -upon
the complaint and of the petition and notice of hearing pursuant
to the Board's Order directing investigation and hearing and
expressly waive any right or privilege which they may have for
ten (10) days notice of hearing and to the holding bf 'a hearing
or hearings in these cases and also waive any right, or p'r'ivilege
which they may have to the making of findings of fact and con-
clusions 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 stipu-
lates 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, subdivision (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
(not established, maintained or assisted by any action defined
in the National Labor Relations Act as an unfair labor practice)
-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 certified by the Board as
such exclusive representative_ih the manner hereinafter provided.
.IX
It is hereby stipulated and agreed that all persons employed
in 'the, mining operations of the Respondent as production- em-
ployees, excluding superintendents, mine foremen, section fore-
550 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
men, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, electri-
cians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory 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, in the manner hereinafter
more particularly set forth.
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 pur-
pose 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 appro-
priate unit set forth in Article IX, above, on the payroll of
Respondent one week preceding issuance of a Direction of Elec-
tion 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 constitute
competent evidence upon which the Board may make a certifica-
tion pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
XII
Upon the basis of the amended charge filed by the United on
October 11, 1939, the complaint herein and this stipulation, the
Respondent expressly consents to the issuance by the National
Labor Relations Board of an Order to the following effect:
FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY
ORDER
551
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 Flat Creek Coal Corpora-
tion, Madisonville, Hopkins County, Kentucky, its officers, agents,
successors, 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 em-
ployees, by discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its em-
ployees 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;
2. Take the following affirmative action to effectuate the poli-
cies of the National Labor Relations Act:
(a) Offer to Cobey Woodward full reinstatement to his former
position, or if such position is unavailable, to a position substan-
tially equivalent thereto, without prejudice to any rights and
privileges previously enjoyed by him.
(b) Make whole Cobey Woodward for wages lost in conse-
quence of his discharge by Respondent by payment to Cobey
Woodward of the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100).
247334-40-vol. 17-30
55552 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
(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- employ-
ment, and other terms or conditions of employment, and com-
pletely disestablish the Independent Miners Union as such
representative.
(d) Immediately post notices 'in conspicuous places through-
out 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-241, 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
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.
XIII
The Respondent.hereby consents to the entry by an appropri-
ate United States Circuit Court of Appeals, upon application 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 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 the : proceedings herein 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
approval 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.
FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY ' 553
XVI'
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 stipulation
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
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT 2
.The respondent, a Kentucky corporation with its principal office
and place of business at :Providence, . Webster.: County, Kentucky,
is engaged at a place 'of 'business called the Flat Creek Mine near
Madisonville, Hopkins County, Kentucky, in the mining, sale, and,
distribution of coal.
The respondent, in the course and conduct -of its business , causes
and has continuously caused a substantial quantity of machinery,
equipment, and other materials, used in its business at the Flat Creek
Mine, to be purchased and transported in interstate commerce from
and through States of the United States other than the State of '
Kentucky to the said Flat Creek Mine and causes and has continu-
ously caused a substantial quantity of coal mined by it to be sold,
delivered, and transported in interstate commerce from its said Flat
Creek 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 continuous
flow of trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States.
H. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED _
United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the
Congress of Industrial Organizations; the Progressive Mine Work-
ers 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.
2 The facts set forth in this section are based upon allegations in the complaint admitted
by the respondent.
554 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
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
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States,
and tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing com-
merce. 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 pro-
Auction employees, excluding superintendents, mine foremen, 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 appropriate for the pur-
poses of collective bargaining, and that such unit will insure to 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 one week preceding the issuance of our
Direction of Election, including the employee ordered reinstated as a
result of the Board's Order, infra.
FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY 555
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 the Flat Creek Coal Company, Providence,
Webster 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 appropriate for col-
lective. 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 National
Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations Board hereby
orders that the Flat Creek Coal Corporation, Madisonville, Hopkins
County, Kentucky, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In aiy 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 United Mine Workers of America,
District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations,
or any other labor organization of its employees, or encouraging
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 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;
556 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIO'N'S BOARD
'(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 Representa-
tive 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.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a). Offer to Cobey Woodward 'full reinstatement to his former
..position, or if such position is unavailable, to a position substantially
equivalent thereto, without prejudice to any rights and privileges
previously enjoyed by him;
(b) Make whole Cobey Woodward for wages lost in consequence
of his discharge by Respondent by payment to Cobey Woodward of
the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($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 Independ-
ent 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) consecutive
days or for the period until the Board issues its certification in Case
No. R-1603, 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 os 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
-Relations Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National
• Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 2, it is hereby
DIxECT i that, as part of the investigation ordered by the Board
'to .ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining
with Flat Creek Coal Corporation, Madisonville; Hopkins County,
FLAT CREEK COAL COMPANY 557
Kentucky, an election by secret ballot shall be conducted within
thirty (30) days from the date of this Direction under the direc-
tion and supervision of the Regional Director for the Eleventh
Region, acting in this matter as agent for the National Labor Rela-
tions Board and subject to Article III, Section 9, of, said Rules and
.Regulations, among all persons employed in the mining operations of
-Flat Creek Coal Corporation, Madisonville, Hopkins County, Ken-
tucky, as production employees on the pay roll of the respondent
one week preceding the issuance of this- Direction of Election, includ-
ing the employee ordered reinstated as a result of the Board's order
but'excludirig 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.