Heat Transfer Products, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Aug 28, 1943

52 N.L.R.B. 241 (N.L.R.B. 1943)

In the Matter of HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, INO. and INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL & ORNAMENTAL IRONWORKERS,
A. F. of L.
Case No. C-2672.-Decided August 28, 194,3
DECISION
AND
ORDER
On July 12,1943, the Trial Examiner issued his Intermediate Report
in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the respondent had en-
gaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor practices, and
recommending that it cease and desist from the unfair labor practices
found and take certain affirmative action, as set out in the copy of the
Intermediate Report attached hereto, and that the complaint be dis-
missed as to the remaining allegations. Thereafter the respondent
filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report and a supporting brief.
Oral argument was held before the Board in Washington, D. C., on
August 12, 1943. The Board has considered the rulings of the Trial
Examiner at the hearing and finds that no prejudicial errors were com-
mitted. The rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered
the Intermediate Report, the respondent's brief and exceptions, and
the 'entire record in the case, and hereby adopts the findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations of the Trial Examiner, with the addi-
tions noted below :
1. In its oral argument before the Board, the respondent stressed
its contention, advanced at the hearing herein, that the employees
named in the complaint were discharged because they were inefficient.
After a careful consideration of the record, we, like the Trial Exam-
iner, are convinced and find that the asserted grounds of inefficiency
were mere pretexts for the discharge of these employees and that
the real reason was their union membership and activities. In mak-
ing this finding we are particularly persuaded by the testimony of
employees Gentile, Nepa, Pavelchak, and Symonies that their im-
mediate superior, Night Foreman Robinson, told them on the evening
of March 30 that the seven employees listed in the discharge notice
were among the best of his workers. We also regard as significant
52 N. L. R. B., No. 36.
241
242 D'E1CDSQ,ONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS B04RD
the respondent's conduct at the time of the discharges. Thus, while
Robinson and General Foreman Scull pleaded ignorance of the
reasons for the discharges when first approached by the employees
that evening, Plant Manager Mathews gave as the reason for their
discharge alleged reports from Robinson to the effect that they had
not been "producing," an accusation which the employees vigorously
disputed. Upon the employees' departure from Mathews' office, he
summoned Robinson in order, according to Mathews' testimony, "to
substantiate the fact that these men were not working." Immediately
thereafter the employees were recalled to the office, where Robinson
presented each one with specific instances of his alleged deficiencies.
2. The Trial Examiner found that there is not sufficient evidence
to support the allegation in the complaint that the respondent
discriminatorily discharged Raymond J. Thomas. Although the case
is not entirely free from doubt, the failure of the Union to except to
this finding prompts us to agree with the Trial Examiner. We there-
fore shall order that the complaint be dismissed insofar as it relates
to Thomas.
ORDER
Upon 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 respondent, Heat Transfer Products, Inc.,
Simpson, Pennsylvania, and its officers, agents, successors, and assigns,
shall :
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Discouraging membership in International Association of
Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, or in, any other labor organization of
its employees, by discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its
employees, or by discriminating in any other manner in regard to their
hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of their
employment;
(b) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing
its employees in the exercise of the right to self-organization, to form,
join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted
activities, for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Offer to Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso, Leo Nepa, John
Para, Theodore Pavelchak, and John Symonies immediate and full
reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent positions,
FEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, ETC. 243
without prejudice to their seniority or other rights and privileges;
(b) Make whole Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso, Leo Nepa,
John Para, Theodore Pavelchak, and John Symonies for any loss of
pay they have suffered by reason of the respondent's discrimination
against them by payment to each of them of a sum of money equal to
the amount which he normally would have earned as wages during
the period from March 30, 1943, to the date of the respondent's offer
of reinstatement, less his net earnings during said period;
(c) Post immediately in conspicuous places throughout its plant
at Simpson, Pennsylvania, and maintain for a period of at least sixty
(60) consecutive days from the date of posting, notices to its employees
stating: (1) that the respondent will not engage in the conduct from
which it is ordered to cease and desist in paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) of
this Order; (2) that the respondent will take the affirmative action
set forth in paragraphs 2 (a) and (b) of this Order; and (3) that the
respondent's employees are free to become and remain members of
International Association of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron
Workers, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, and that
the respondent will not discriminate against any employee because of
his membership or activity in that organization;
(d) Notify the Regional Director for the Fourth Region in writing,
within ten (10) days from the date of this Order, what steps the
respondent has taken to comply herewith.
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the complaint , insofar as it alleges
that the respondent engaged in surveillance, advised employees that it
was in possession of a list of union members, and discriminatorily
terminated the employment of Raymond J. Thomas, be, and it hereby
is, dismissed.
CHAIRMtAN M1LLIS took no part in the consideration of the above
Decision and Order.
INTERMEDIATE REPORT
Mr. Geoff? ey J. Cunni ff, for the Board
Bedford, Waller, Jones & Darling by Messrs. Charles B. Waller and B . R. Jones
of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and O'Conner & Farber of New York City, for the
respondent.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon an amended charge duly filed on May 28, 1943, by International Associa-
tion of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, affiliated with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, herein called the Union, the National Labor Relations
Board, herein called the Board, by its Regional Director for the Fourth Region
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ), issued its complaint dated June 11, 1943, against
Heat Transfer Products , Inc., New York, New York, herein called the respondent,
alleging that the respondent had engaged in and was engaging in unfair labor
549875-44-vol 52-17
244 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
practices, within the meaning of Section 8 (1) and (3) and Section 2 (6) and
(7) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the Act.
Copies of the complaint and notice of hearing thereon, were duly served on the
respondent and the Union.
With respect to the unfair labor practices, the complaint alleged in substance :
(1) that since January, 1943, the respondent has interfered with, restrained and
coerced its employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed in the Act by, (a)
threatening employees and their relatives that employees would be dismissed if
they did not cease their organizational efforts at the respondent's Simpson,
Pennsylvania, plant, (b) questioning employees with respect to their union mem-
bership and threatening them if they persisted in their efforts to organize the
Union, (c) advising certain employees that it possessed a list of union members,
all of whom would be discharged if the Union organized the respondent's plant,
(d) urging and advising its employees not to join the Union and to cease activi-
ties in its behalf under threat of loss of their jobs, (e) warning employees that
if the Union organized the respondent's plant it would move its equipment, (f)
engaging in surveillance of employees who were attending a union meeting held
in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, (g) causing to be circulated a petition among the
employees for the purpose of ascertaining which employees were opposed to the
Union, urging them to sign the petition and threatening them with loss of em-
ployment for refusal to do so, (h) making derogatory remarks about the officers
and organizers of the Union and stating that the Union would not be permitted
to, organize the respondent's employees and if it was successful that the re-
spondent would move its Simpson plant, (i) urging union members to reveal
the names of union leaders and, (j) advising certain employees with the inten-
tion of discouraging membership in the Union that the respondent was aware
of union meetings that had been held; (2) that the respondent on or about March
30, 1943, did terminate the employment of Raymond J. Thomas, Anthony S.
Mancuso, Chris J. Gentile, Leo F. Nepa, Theodore Pavelchak, John A. Symonies
and John J. Para and has since that date refused to reinstate said individuals
because of their membership and activity on behalf of the Union, thereby dis-
criminating in regard to their hire and tenure of employment, and (3) that by
these acts the respondent interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees
in the exercise of their rights as guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
The respondent filed its answer dated June 23, 1943, wherein it admitted the
jurisdictional allegations of the complaint, denied the commission of the alleged
unfair labor practices and averred that it terminated the employment of the
individuals named above "because such employees had respectively been guilty
of absenteeism, inattention to duties, interference with production and other
actions. . . ."
Pursuant to notice, a hearing was held on June 24 and 25, 1943, at Wilkes-
Barre, Pennsylvania, before Mortimer Riemer, the undersigned Trial Examiner,
duly designated by the Chief Trial Examiner. The Board and the respondent
were represented by counsel and participated 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 the parties.
At the close of the hearing the Board moved to amend all pleadings to con-,
form to the proof insofar as it related to matters of form. The motion was
granted without objection All parties were granted but waived the opportunity
to argue orally before the examiner. The respondent alone filed a brief with
the undersigned.
Upon the entire record in the case and from his observation of the witnesses,
the undersigned makes the following:
HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, INC.
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
245
The respondent herein, Heat Transfer Products, Inc., is a Pennsylvania corpora-
tion with its principal office in New York, New York. It maintains and operates
three plants located at Merchantville, New Jersey, Pottstown, and Simpson,
Pennsylvania. The present proceeding is concerned only with the Simpson plant
where the respondent is engaged in the manufacture, sale and distribution of heat
exchangers, evaporating units and condensers.
At its Simpson plant the respondent, during the first 6 months of 1943, pur-
chased raw materials valued in excess of $350,000 of which approximately 30
percent was purchased in States of the United States other than the State of
Pennsylvania and was shipped and transported into the State'of Pennsylvania
from States of the United States other than the State of Pennsylvania. During
the same period, the respondent manufactured at the Simpson plant finished prod-
ucts valued in excess of $500,000, approximately all of which were shipped and
transported from the Simpson plant to and through States of the United States
other than the State of Pennsylvania. At the time of the hearing the respondent
was exclusively engaged in war production' At the time of the commission of the
alleged unfair labor practices the respondent employed approximately 140 em-
ployees.
II. THE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
International Association of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers,
is a labor organization affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, admit-
ting to membership employees of the respondent.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Interference, restraint, and coercion
In September 1942, the respondent took over an abandoned plant in Simpson,
Pennsylvania and engaged a force of laborers to prepare it for manufacturing
operations. By December 7, 1942, the respondent was able to start production
with a group of some 12 to 15 employees and by January 1942, its personnel had
increased to about 140 employees Labor was recruited locally and only about
30 percent of the total working force had mechanical experience in the re-
spondent's manufacturing operations - -
The Union started to organize the respondent's employees in the first part of
January 1943, and rumors of the Union's presence and its efforts in that con-
nection were current in the plant. Sometime in the same month Vito Nepa, one
of the first employees hired in September 1942, had a conversation with Joseph
R. Mathews, the respondent's plant manager. Vito Nepa's testimony concerning
this conversation with Mathews is as follows :
That was the day right after the boy [Leo Nepa, his son] got laid off-No;
in January was when they got caught the first time; he [Mathews] said they
tried to make a union. He says, "Mr. Nepa, I give your boy the job; he
tried to go against me" I said, "Mr. Mathews, I don't think so; tile boy
never gone out of the house, I think somebody else turned him in."
i These findings respecting the business of the respondent are based upon a stipulation
entered into at the hearing by counsel for the Board and counsel for the respondent.
246 DR'CLSIIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Vito told his son of this conversation . with Mathews and shortly thereafter Leo
Nepa spoke to Mathews . The following is his account of the conversation :
I,says, "Mr. Mathews, my dad told me that you say I am trying to organize
a union up here."
He says, "Your name was reported "
I says, "That is not so." I says, "I am a family man." I says , "My wife
is sick ; I have five children ; I need the job ; and I don 't like to cause trouble."
He says, "As long as you stay out of trouble we will forget about it."
Mathews admitted that he had a conversation with Vito Nepa.' He was not
questioned concerning his alleged conversation with Leo Nepa and hence the
latter's testimony, as set forth above, stands uncontradicted hr the record.
Both Nepas were credible and convincing witnesses, particularly' Leo Nepa.
The undersigned credits their testimony and finds that Mathews made the
statements thus attributed to him and that the respondent is accountable
therefor.'
During the same month of January 1943, Mathews called a meeting in his
office of about 12 employees representing a cross-section of the working per-
sonnel. At the meeting the respondent was represented by Mathews and by
W. 0. Evans , plant superintendent . According to the testimony of Anthony
S. Mancuso , then employed as a painter , who attended the meeting , Mathews
stated to the assembled group that he heard that the employees were "fooling
around with a union" and they would be "wise to keep away from it." Man-
cuso testified further that Mathews said he would remove any union organ-
izers that entered the plant and if the Union succeeded in organizing the
employees, the respondent- would be required to put them on three 8-hour
shifts instead of the existing system of two 10-hour shifts and that the em-
ployees would earn "but $30 a week."
Mancuso's testimony is corroborated in its tenor by that of Fred Miller, a
welder employed by the respondent . Miller testified he was the last employee
to arrive at the meeting ; that in his presence employees were asked by
Mathews if they had attended any union meetings ; and that Miller replied for
himself that he "wasn't guilty of attending any meeting ." Mathews stated
that his information concerning attendance at meetings came from "Somebody
on the outside." Miller testified further, that although Mathews stated that
he personally was not opposed to the Union, his superiors "might object to
having a union up there" and that it was possible "that they would pack
the machinery out of there."
Evans and Mathews testified on the respondent's behalf concerning this meet-
ing. Evans testified that there were rumors of dissatisfaction among the em-
ployees ; that the men had asked for wage increases and that it was agreed
between Mathews and him that a representative group of employees from
both the day and night shifts should be selected and the matter discussed
with them . Evans acknowledged that there was discussion at the meeting
2 According to Mathews ' version Nepa asked him for a raise and in the course of
convei sation mentioned his son Leo . Thereupon Mathews told Vito that Leo was, an
unsatisfactory employee and would probably have to be laid off He denied mentioning
the Union in the conversation with Vito Nepa. The undersigned does not credit Mathews'
testimony
3 The finding above that Leo Nepa ' s testimony is not contradicted is subject to this
qualification . Mathews, as did all of the respondent 's supervisors, denied generally en-
gaging in any violations of the Act by answering in the negative all questions framed
upon the allegations of the complaint which alleged in detail that the respondent had
violated Section 8 (1) and ( 3) of the Act . These general denials are not convincing,
have little or no probative value in the undersigned 's opinion and are rejected in the
face of specific and trustworthy evidence to the contrary.
HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, ii C. 247
about unions and that it was stated that if the employees were organized into
a union, the respondent would have to place them on three 8-hour shifts which
would result in a pay reduction for the individual employee . It is impossible
to tell from Evans' testimony who made these statements because of his use
of the pronouns "we" and "they" in relating what was said. He admitted for
example that, "We didn't want to have trouble that might change any de-
cisions" that had been made by the respondent to move machinery from its
Merchantville, New Jersey, plant to the, Simpson plant.
Mathews denied asking Miller if he had attended a union meeting and stating
that the respondent would remove its machinery if the employees organized.
However, he acknowledged that he said something to the "effect" that if a
union was formed or if labor difficulties occurred it was possible that the
plant machinery would be removed from Simpson and that he did say that
if the respondent "had labor troubles that it might happen that the company
would decide to do mos£ of their work at the other plants." Although Mathews
denied telling any of the employees that they must keep away from union
meetings or stating that if the Union organized the employees that their wages
would be reduced, he admitted that he remarked that if the Union succeeded
in organizing the plant the respondent "would probably" have to work three
shifts, thereby reducing the overtime pay of the employees. He testified that
this latter statement was not made with any intention of discouraging mem-
bership in the Union.
From the testimony outlined above and the significant admissions of Mathews
and Evans , it is clear that, regardless of the respondent 's initial purpose in
calling the meeting, it could have had no other effect than to discourage the
union activity of the employees. Mathews' suggestion that the respondent
might be forced to discontinue its operations if labor trouble arose was a major
threat of the use of strong economic compulsion to stop unionization of em-
ployees. Even assuming, as Mathews testified, that he had no intention of
discouraging union activities, in the absence of specific statements by him to
that effect, his relation of labor trouble to union activities, was sufficient to
warn the employees that the respondent would not tolerate their concerted
activity. In addition, the association of the advent of the Union by Mathews with
a pay reduction, and his assertion that unionization would force the respondent to
operate three 8-hour shifts was again a warning of the severe economic conse-
quences which would follow organization of the plant. The undersigned credits
the testimony of Mancuso and Miller and finds that Mathews, the respondent's
chief executive at Simpson, made the statements substantially as attributed to
him and that the respondent is responsible therefor.
John Symonies was hired by the respondent in late November or December
1942, and worked thereafter on the night shift under the supervision of Keith
Robinson, the night foreman. Symonies testified that early in March 1943,
Robinson said to him, ". . . if there was any union in here Mr. Mathews and
the rest of the fellows would get together and they would have five or six
trailers come in and move the place away." The undersigned credits Symonies'
testimony despite the denial of Robinson and finds that Robinson made these
remarks.
On the afternoon of March 30, 1943, some of the respondent's employees were
invited to meet with union organizers, Joseph L. Downs and Eugene B. Car-
roll, at the American Hotel in Carbondale. Among the employees who ac-
cepted this invitation were Leo Nepa and Chris Gentile. These two were the
last to leave the meeting at about 4: 30 p. in. that afternoon. As they did so
248 DEE 'CZSggONS OF N.AxIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
they were seen in the lobby of the hotel by Mathews
4 That_ evening the em-
ployment of Gentile, Nepa, and Symonies , who had attended the meeting, and
four other employees was terminated.6
The net day , March 31, 1943, James A. Coggins , who had joined the Union on
March 27, and attended the American Hotel meeting on March 30, had a conver-
sation with Mathews. Mathews remarked that he had heard that Coggins was
"doing a lot of talking . .. concerning union." Coggins stated that Mathews'
informant was lying and asked who had furnished this information. Mathews
declined to reveal its source and then added that the respondent did not "want
to have any trouble with labor unions ," and if it did experience difficulty, it would
"pack up and move out." 6 The undersigned finds that Mathews thereby again
indicated the anti-union bias of the respondent.
On March 30 , 1943, Mathews told the discharged employees that he would grant
them a hearing on Friday, April 2.T On this day Gentile, Mancuso, Nepa, and
Theodore Pavelchak returned for interviews Mathews sent word to the mem-
through the watchman that he would see them individually but not in a group.
The men refused to be interviewed individually and left. On the morning of
April 3, however, the men returned singly to see Mathews to ask for reinstate-
ment to their positions or to obtain some commitment from him as to when
they might expect reinstatement . Mathews told Nepa to look for another job
and that there was no point in awaiting recall since he could not guarantee him
his job. Gentile asked if he would be reinstated after the respondent's alleged
shortage of materials had been overcome and was told that no answer could be
given to him Pavelchak was told that he might expect reinstatement in a month
or two but was given no definite assurance of recall.
On the same morning of April 3, union organizers Downs and Carroll met with
Mathews and W. D. Pethick the respondent 's works manager , at the American
Hotel in Carbondale. Based upon the credible and uncontradicted testimony
of Carroll concerning this meeting , the undersigned finds that the union represen-
tatives demanded reinstatement of the discharged employees and that Pethick told
Downs and Carroll that if the respondent had to reinstate the employees it would
move its machinery from Simpson and sub-contract its work. When asked if
the respondent would recognize the Union if it proved that it represented 51
percent of the employees , Pethick replied that the respondent would not recog-
nize any union and that, as far as he was concerned , the discharged employees
were not going back to work "and that that was finished business ." Pethick did
not testify, although present at the hearing ; the undersigned finds that these
statements were made by Pethick and are attributable to the respondent.
Early in April 1943 Mathews met John Para , who had been discharged on
March 30, in a beer garden nearby the latter's home.' During the course of the
4 The complaint alleges that the respondent engaged in surveillance of employees who
attended this meeting This issue will be separately consideied hereinafter
These seven employees are alleged in the complaint to have been discharged dis-
criminatorily . Their cases are discussed below
6 Mathews denied that he told Coggins that he was "doing a lot of talking about
unions" but admitted that he said that the respondent 's president did not want any labor
trouble . When asked if he told Coggins that the respondent would "pack up and move"
'in the event of labor trouble , Mathews replied , "Not at that time "
° Hereinafter the undersigned discusses the question whether the employees were laid
off or dischaiged and for the reasons therein expressed finds that they were discharged.
8 Mathews explained his admitted presence in the beer garden as fortuitous and that
while there he was told by Para 's brother that John Para wished to speak tq him and
that Mathews agreed to do so Para testified that Mathews sent Para 's brother for him
with the request that Para meet with Mathews A resolution of this conflict, i e,
whether the conversation was held at the instigation of Mathews of whether it was held
in response to Para's request for the meeting is unnecessary in detei'minuig the effect of
Mathews' acknowledged statements at the meeting.
HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS , INC. 249
conversation, Mathews asked Para if any "organizers had approached" him:
Para gave a negative response and was then 'told by Mathews to come down
to the plant in the morning and that he would be returned to work on the day
shift instead of the night shift. The next morning Para went to the plant
and the following is an account of his conversation with Mathews at that time :
A. I walked in his office and Mr Evans was also there ; and I says, "Before
you do any talking, Mr. Mathews," I says, "I want to tell you something :" I
says, "Yesterday when you asked me if I had any affiliation with the union
and I says, 'No'-but I want to tell you today that I do have, so I wouldn't
make a goat out of anybody, if I was to get the job," I says-"if I was to
get the job," I says-"if I was to get it back."
Q. What did he say?
A He says, "That is bad."
Q. Well, did you get your job back?
A. No.
The undersigned finds that by questioning Para concerning union organizers and
by refusing reinstatement to Para because of his membership in the Union, the
respondent through Mathews again expressed its continuing opposition to the
Union.
In the week following March 30, 1943, Dana Baer, a machinist employed on the
day shift, started the circulation of an anti-union petition in the plant. The
petition was not produced at the hearing but all witnesses agreed that its legend
asked the respondent's employees to indicate by their signatures that they were
opposed to membership in a union. Coggins testified that Robinson, the night
foreman, asked him to sign the petition and that it was available in the store-
room for signature of those who did not want a union in the plant. Coggins
told Robinson that he did not want to sign the petition. Coggins testified further
that later that evening Robinson told him that he. was foolish for not signing
because if all of the men on the night shift did not sign the petition, "the chances
were that the night shift would be laid off " Coggins testified that Fern Weed,
assistant night foreman, also told him that he was foolish not to sign the petition.
Fred Miller gave testimony on behalf of the Board substantially in accord with
that of Coggins. For example, he stated that Robinson asked him to sign the
petition and stated that all of the men on the day shift had signed it on the pre-
vious day. Miller testified that he was also asked by Weed to sign the petition
and that, finally, Robinson said that 10 p. in. was the "dead line" to sign the
petition ; that Mr. Evans would call for the petition ; that those who had not
signed it by that time would be taken off the night shift and that those who had
signed it would be placed on the day shift
With respect to the petition Evans testified that he heard about it one after-
noon and that he later saw it. He made no effort to suppress its circulation.
He testified that the next night Miller told him that he did not sign the peti-
tion because he was a member of the A F. of L., whereupon Evans abruptly
ended the conversation. Evans denied that he asked any employee to sign the
petition although neither Miller nor Coggins testified that Evans had asked
them to sign the petition. Robinson admitted that he knew the petition was
,being circulated, that Coggins told him that he did not want to sign and that
he replied that it was a matter for Coggins to decide. He denied the rest
0
9 Mathews admitted that he did ask Para if union organizers had approached him and
told Para that if he came to the plant he would check Para's case and reinstate him if
there was an opening He testified further that he may have told Para that it was too
bad that he belonged to the Union. His explanation of this remark at the hearing was
that Organizer Downs had told him that all of the employees would have to be reinstated
as a group and therefore he could not reinstate Para
250 DiEICbSILONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
e
of Coggins' testimony indicated above. Robinson testified further that he told
Miller that it' made no difference to him or to the respondent whether Miller
did nor did not sign the petition. Weed denied that he had anything to do
with the circulation of the petition or that he advised or urged any employee to
sign it. Neither Robinson nor Weed made any effort to stop the petition's circu-
lation. Mathews first learned of the petition when he found it on his desk,
evidently on the morning of the day after its first circulation. At that time
it bore the signatures of about 100 employees. Mathews showed the petition
to Evans and at a later date returned it to Baer, the employee who had originally
started its circulation.
With respect to the testimony concerning the circulation of this petition, the
undersigned concludes and finds that Coggins and Miller were asked by Robin-
son and Weed to sign a petition ; that the respondent utilized the petition to as-
certain union sympathy among its employees and regarded the failure or refusal
by an employee to sign the petition as indicative of an employee's attitude to-
ward the Union ; that none of the respondent's supervisory employees under-
took in any way to stop its circulation and thereby sanctioned and condoned, not
only its circulation, but the expression of anti-union views contained therein
and, that finally, by the respondent's failure to take any steps to dissipate the
effects of its circulation among the employees, the respondent further and un-
mistakably indicated to its employees its antipathy toward the Union.
Despite the definite rejection of the applications for reinstatement of the
various employees, Gentile, nevertheless, returned to see Mathews on'April 10,
1943. Mathews said that the matter of reinstatement was not up to him, but that
he would talk to Robinson and Evans and let Gentile know the outcome of his
discussion in a few days. During the course of the conversation Mathews also
said , "You fellows aren't fair to the company ; you are getting after this too fast ;
this company just started. We are really giving you a break ; if you work
around this territory ; you know we could just as well pick up and move down
to one of their other shops. You fellows will all be out of a job.s 10
Gentile and Leo Nepa then called upon Robinson, anticipating that if they
spoke to Robinson before Mathews did, Robinson would be more receptive
when Mathews inquired concerning the possibilities of reinstatement. Both
men testified in substance that they told Robinson that Gentile had seen Mathews
who had indicated that the question of their reinstatement was up to Robinson
and Evans. They testified further that Robinson said that he then knew that
the men had been "laid off" because they tried 'to organize a union and "went
at it in the wrong way" and that they should have been more-secretive about
their activities. They then told Robinson that they were not the ring-leaders
in the Union's efforts to organize the plant and that they had received a "raw
deal." They further testified that Robinson then suggested that if the men dis-
closed the names of the true ringleaders in union activities they would be re-
instate. They refused to disclose names of the union leaders whereupon, ac-
cording to the testimony of both men, Robinson suggested that he would name
a leader in the Union and that Nepa or Gentile should name another leader.
Nepa and Gentile declined this suggestion.
Respecting this conversation of April 10, Robinson testified that Nepa and
Gentile came to his home on the afternoon of April 10, and that he invited them
to enter. Robinson denied all other testimony of Nepa and Gentile. Since
Robinson denied that he made the statements attributed to him by Nepa and
Gentile during this conversation but did not offer any testimony of his own to
indicate what the conversation was otherwise about, the record thus indicated
10 The above findings are based upon Gentile's uncontradicted testimony. Mathews
acknowledged that he met and talked to Gentile on April 10 , 1943. -
,HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, MNC.- 251
a detailed version of a conversation presented by witnesses for the Board and a
denial without more of these statements by Robinson. There. is no, indication.
from his testimony of what the men did discuss. His testimony was neither
persuasive nor convincing and in the absence of any further detail, the under-
signed credits the testimony of Nepa and Gentile. The undersigned finds that
their testimony presents a substantially accurate account of conversations held
with Mathews and Robinson on April 10, 1943.
The undersigned finds that, by the statements and conduct of Mathews, Evans,
Robinson, Pethick and Weed, the respondent interfered with; restrained, and
coerced' its employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of
the Act.
B. Alleged intei ference, restraint, and coercion
The complaint alleged that the respondent in and about January 1943, advised
certain of its employees that it was in possession of a list of union members and
that all such members would be discharged if the Union attempted to organize
respondent's employees. This allegation is supported by the testimony of Man-
cuso who testified that at the January meeting called by Mathews, adverted to
above, Mathews "had a slip of paper with so many fellows' names on it who
already joined the union." Mancuso did not testify that he saw this alleged
list and Miller, the only other Board witness attending the meeting, did not
testify concerning it. Mathews denied Mancuso's testimony that he possessed
such a list of employees. In the absence of more explicit and compelling evi-
dence concerning a list of union members, the undersigned is not persuaded by
Mancuso's testimony and will recommend hereinafter that this allegation of the
complaint be dismissed.
- The complaint also alleged that in and about March 1943, the respondent en-
gaged in surveillance of a number of its employees who were attending a union
meeting at the American Hotel in Carbondale. This allegation is supported by
the testimony of Leo Nepa and Chris Gentile, who testified that when they left
the meeting sometime after 4 o'clock on the afternoon of March 30, they ob-
served Mathews seated in the lobby of the hotel in such a position as to observe
them. Gentile testified that the chair in which Mathews sat was dislodged from
its accustomed position and so placed as to afford Mathews an opportunity to
observe those who descended the stairs into the lobby. With respect to this
issue of surveillance and his presence in the lobby, Mathews testified that he
went to the hotel at about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of March 30, and remained
there until 4:30 waiting for a man named Bazu, an inspector of the American
Bureau of Shipping, who was in Carbondale to inspect some of the respondent's
completed products. Mathews further testified that he had called for Bazu
that morning, taken him to the plant to complete a test and that he called for Bazu
at the hotel in the afternoon to return him to the plant for the completion of
another test. Mathews admitted that he saw Nepa and Gentile in the hotel and
that he sat in the chair facing the stairs. He denied that the chair in which
he sat was intentionally placed for purposes of observation ; that he knew that
a meeting was being held ; and that he had any intention of spying upon the
activities of the employees.
The circumstances of Mathews' presence for such an extended period in the
lobby in connection with the discharge a few hours later of two of the employees,
Nepa and Gentile, that he had observed in the hotel, arouse suspicion that the
events were connected, and it might be inferred that the discharges of these
two at least, did in fact arise in part out of Mathews' observance of them. The
undersigned is not persuaded, however, that Mathews was present in the lobby
of the hotel for the purpose of engaging in surveillance of the employees who
252 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD ,
attended the meeting. Therefore, it will be recommended hereinafter that the
allegation of surveillance be dismissed.
C. Discrhnination with respect to hire and tenure of employment
The complaint alleges that the respondent, on or about March 30, 1943, ter-
minated the employment of Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso , Leo F. Nepa,
John J. Para, Theodore Pavelchak, John A. Symonies and Raymond J. Thomas,
and at all times thereafter refused to reinstate said employees, thereby dis-
criminating in regard to their hire and tenure of employment. In its answer
the respondent averred that it terminated the employment of the above in-
dividuals "for reasons both economic and personal to the individuals named,"
and that those individuals were `selected because they had been guilty of
absenteeism, inattention to duties, and interference with production.
The employees on the night shift start work at about 5:30 p. in. Around
C p. in., on the afternoon of March 30, their attention was called to a notice which
had been posted sometime between 5:30 and 6 p. in. on the bulletin board.
This notice stated, in effect, that due to a shortage of materials it was necessary
for the respondent to effect a lay-off of certain employees and thereafter were
listed only the names of the seven employees herein involved, including Leo
Nepa, Gentile and Symonies who had previously on that afternoon attended
the union meeting at the American Hotel. This public message was the first
notice given to the employees that their services were to be terminated. .
There is substantial agreement in the testimony concerning the events that.
immediately transpired after this notice was posted All of the employees
named in the notice were union members having joined at various dates be-
tween March 27 and March 30, 1943. They asked Ray Scull, • the general fore-
man, why they had been laid off when men with less seniority were retained. ss
Scull pleaded ignorance as to the cause of the lay-off and told them to con-
sult Robinson, the night foreman. Thereupon Gentile, Nepa, Para, Pavel-
chak and Symonies, went to see Robinson. According, to their testimony, which
is summarized, Robinson told them that he knew nothing about the cause of the
lay-off, that he had been given the notice to post and that he was "dumbfounded"
because the seven men named thereon were among the best of his workers. 12
Robinson told the men to return to see Scull. Para, incensed by Robinson's
inability to clarify the reasons for the lay-off stated that he could not work
under such circumstances and went home. The remaining four then returned
to see Scull who had in the interim left the plant. Robinson directed the men to
remain at work and stated that Mathews and Evans would be in the plant
later that evening to explain the reasons for the lay-off. About 8 o'clock the
four men saw Mathews in the prescence of Evans and Scull. They asked the
reasons for their lay-off and were told that their employment was terminated
due to shortage of materials and because it had been reported to Mathews
that the seven named employees were not "producing." Each of the four em-
ployees present disputed Mathew's assertions concerning his ability as a worker
and sought to prove affirmatively that he was in fact an efficient workman.
Thereafter they left Mathews' office and returned to their work.
Shortly after the men left Mathews' office, Scull was observed beckoning to
Robinson and both men then returned to Mathews' office. Immediately there-,
after, Robinson called the four men into Mathews' office and on the way into
]l Mancuso and Thomas did not work on March 30, and were not in the group which
spoke with Scull.
-' Robinson denied that he said he was "dumbfounded" or that the discharged employees
were among the best of his workers. The undersigned rejects his denial.
HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCTS, INC. 253
Mathews' office , • according to the testimony of Nepa, Gentile , Pavelchak and
Symonies , Robinson stated that this was an occasion where he was going to be
"made the goat ." Robinson 's denial that he made any such remark is not
credited and the undersigned finds that he made the remark.
In Mathews ' office the men were told that Robinson was now present to con-
front them with definite charges of their failures as workmen and that Mathews'
present contentions were based on the reports given to him by Robinson. The
men hotly contested the statements of Mathews and Robinson and insisted
they could not be criticized for their deficiencies as employees ." In this second
meeting with Mathews, each of the men were presented with specific instances
of their alleged individual deficiencies.
There is agreement among all of the witnesses that the posted notice of March
30, 1943, stated that the men would be laid off. Apparently nothing was said
thereafter in the talks with Mathews , Evans and Robinson on that night to
indicate that the men were discharged . However, it is clear from findings
heretofore made respecting the efforts of certain of the employees to secure
reinstatement and from the testimony of Evans concerning a conversation that
he had with Gentile and Leo Nepa some time after March 30, wherein he told
both men that they were "fired" for cause , that the respondent 's decision to
terminate their employment was in fact a discharge and not a lay-off. The
undersigned so finds.
Preliminarily to a consideration of each discharge , attention is again called
to the fact that -the , discharged employees , had joined the Union between March
27 and March 30, 1943.
It is to be further noted from Mathews' conversations with the Nepas, early
in January of 1943 and from the statements of Robinson to Nepa and Gentile
after the discharge of the seven employees that the respondent was well aware
of the union activity and interest of the employees selected for discharge 14
and the undersigned so finds. -
The employees selected for discharge were workers of no particular skill
who had been recruited locally by the respondent for its manufacturing opera-
tions. Each had been employed from various dates beginning in December of
1942, and remained thereafter in continuous employment down to March 30,
1943 The record is abundantly clear that none had been previously laid off
due to shortage of materials. Theretofore, when the respondent was faced with
material shortages it had always placed its employees upon makeshift work
projects such as cleaning, sweeping floors, and excavating an abandoned canal
bed adjacent to the plant The discharge of March 30, 1943, was the first time
therefore that the respondent had used a material shortage as an occasion for
laying off or discharging employees.
At the hearing the respondent urged as reasons for the discharges, the fact
that production had slowed down, that it had completed one large job and did not
have on hand sufficient material to start a second job , and it was decided to
select for discharge those individuals who were not efficient workers. Mathews
testified that the seven men named in the complaint were selected "because of
the fact that reports had been turned in consistently from their foreman." He
testified further that on the morning of March 30, 1943, selection was narrowed
down to the seven employees and that there was no antiunion motive in their
selection . It is significant to point out that in selecting these seven men Mathews
13 Symonies was so disturbed by Robinson 's accusations that he called him "a God-damn
liar."
14 As found above, Mathews, in substance told the elder Nepa that "they tried" to organize
a union and warned Leo Nepa to refrain from engaging in organizational activity and Robin-
son told Leo Nepa and Gentile that the men had been discharged for organizing "a union."
c
254 DEICLSLONS' OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
relied for his judgment on the verbal reports given to him by Robinson and Evans.
The respondent does not keep production records and no documentary evidence
was presented to corroborate the alleged production failures of the discharged
employees. The undersigned turns therefore to a consideration of the individual,
cases and the specific instances cited by the respondent's witnesses to justify the
selection of these individuals.
Leo F. Nepa
Nepa was hired by the respondent on December 17, 1942, as a laborer. He
was placed in the respondent's stockroom and was later transferred to work
in the assembly department. Nepa joined the Union on March 30, at the,
American Hotel and, as heretofore found, had been subject to Mathews' anti-
union remarks . Nepa testified that his conduct had never been the subject of.
criticism or discipline and at least insofar as lay-off or discharge is concerned,
the record substantiates his testimony.
It appears that on the second night of Nepa's employment in December 1942,
he fell asleep on the job. He was not disciplined but instead was transferred
to the assembly department. At the hearing Evans and Robinson sought to
justify Nepa's discharge by testifying to those matters which had been
previously mentioned by Mathews to Nepa on March 30 They charged Nepa,
in addition to falling asleep in December, with an instance where he inserted a
rubber gasket instead of an asbestos gasket on a distiller and' with "general
things along those lines." -Robinson 's'testimony was similar in nature; and he
testified that Nepa installed wrong gaskets and that he' had been warned about
this on several occasions. Weed admitted, however, that he did not see the
mistakes made.
Chris J. Gentile
Gentile was first employed by the respondent on January 11. 1943, and
worked continuously thereafter on the night shift until March 30. He testified
that previous to his discharge he was never criticized or disciplined because of
the calibre or quantity of his work. Gentile joined the Union on March 30, at
the American Hotel.
On the evening of March 30, Gentile was told, and at the hearing the respond-
ent's witnesses testified, that he was "a slow-motion man" and that on one
occasion Gentile incorrectly installed certain "spuds" necessitating that this
work be done over again. There is dispute in the record between the testimony
of Evans that Gentile installed "spuds" in an improper fashion on 3 or 4 nights
and Gentile's own testimony that this occurred on only one occasion, the first
night that he was employed. Robinson testified that Gentile installed "spuds"
on only one night and improperly adjusted certain coils on other occasions.
With respect to Gentile's work on the coils, Robinson testified that after he
spoke to Gentile about his work he, Robinson, "Would find one loose every once
in awhile." According to Weed, Gentile was slow but he did not experience
"too much" difficulty with his work. Gentile acknowledged that on the night
of March 30 there was a shortage of tubes in his department
John J. Para
Para was hired by the respondent on January 8, 1943, and worked continuously
thereafter until his discharge on March 30. He testified that there had never
been any criticism about his work as an assembler on the night shift. Para
joined the Union on March 29, 1943. After receiving notice of his "lay off" and
his inability to obtain a satisfactory answer from Robinson as to the reasons
HEAT TRANSII'ER PRODUCTS, C. 255
therefor, he left the plant on the night of March 30. Hence, he was- not
present during the conversation with Mathews and apparently no effort was
ever made to justify his discharge prior to the hearing. Following his dis-
charge, Para was asked by Mathews whether he had been approached by any
"organizers" and when he disclosed his union affiliation was refused rein-
statement.
,At the hearing the respondent asserted that Para was selected for discharge
because when first employed he was put to work in the tool room and taken
off this job because he did not like it and that it was thereafter reported that
Para was never satisfied with his work Robinson testified that although he-
had no fault to find with Para's work, he was selected for discharge because of
his refusal on or about March 15, 1943, to carry a door weighing about 90 pounds..
Robinson testified further that Para after first refusing to carry the door there-
after did so. Para in explanation of his refusal testified that the department
floor was crowded with material and there was a crane available for that partic-
ular purpose. He admitted that employees carried doors but "not under the
conditions that was there that night." It is clear that Para was not disciplined
or punished for his act of refusal. Weed testified that he never experienced any
difficulty with Para except that "only one night when he [Para] was supposed to
be helping his man he stayed over by a machine the biggest half of the time while
another fellow helped his man." Para acknowledged that there was a shortage
of tanks "and all different stuffs" in his particular department on March 30.
Theodore Pavelchak
Pavelchak was hired by the respondent on December 9, 1942, and worked
continuously thereafter until his discharge on March 30, 1943. He testified,
as did other Board witnesses, that he was never criticized about his work. He.
further testified that on one occasion Weed asked him to increase his produc-
tion of filters and that Pavelchak replied he would try to do so. Pavelchak
worked as a team with employee Cample, who was hired the same day as
Pavelchak but not discharged on March 30. Pavelchak joined the Union on
March 27, 1943.
On the night of March 30, Pavelchak was told and at the hearing the respond-
ent's witnesses testified that Pavelchak was selected for discharge because,
although he and his co-worker, Cample, were supposed to assemble some 8 to 10
filters in an evening, Pavelchak's work dropped approximately 50 percent a
few nights prior to March 30. Pavelchak was also criticized at the hearing by
Evans for talking too much. Weed testified that on March 28, he instructed
Pai elchak to step up his production and that on another occasion Pavelchak
was a member of a quartet that sang on company time. Robinson testified that
Pavelchak's production dropped "especially two nights before he was laid off'
and that Cample when given a new helper, increased the production of the team
to eight filters a night. It is impossible to tell whether Pavelchak or Cample
was responsible for the drop in production The respondent offered no docu-
mentary evidence to substantiate its contention that production of this 2-man,
crew dropped approximately 50 percent 2 nights before Pavelchak's discharge
and then rose to no normal figure when Cample was teamed with another
employee. ,
John A. Symonies
Symonies was hired by the respondent in late November or, early December-
1942. Some 4 or 5 weeks after he was first employed he assumed charge of a,
group of men in the assembly department. There is no contention that Symon--
256 DIEC1€IIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
les was in charge of a group of men. None the less it is clear by the reference
of the respondent's witnesses to Symonies' "group" that he assumed the limited
responsibilities of a leader of a small group of men.
On the night of March 30, Symonies was told by Mathews that he was "laying
down on the job and wasn't doing the work." He testified that when he later
asked Robinson if it was true that he was not producing, Robinson replied
that he was doing his work to the best of his ability 15 Evans testified that on
one occasion Symonies' work had to be reassembled and that he was in the
habit of spending a good deal of his working time at the coca-cola dispenser.
Robinson testified with regard to Symonies that he never saw Symonies do
anything wrong but that after Robinson "sort of asked him to keep his eye
on the other men, why he sort of lagged back I mean he wasn't producing as
he was before I told him that." Robinson testified further that as time passed
he "figured"" that Symonies should have shown greater improvement in his
work Weed's only criticism of Symonies was that he spent too much time
drinking coca-cola. Weed spoke to Robinson about this but not to Symonies.
At the hearing, the respondent's witnesses also testified that Symonies failed
to report for work on Sunday night, March 28, 1943, without informing the
respondent. It is not clear whether Symonies' failure to work on Sunday, March
28. 1943, was utilized as a reason for his subsequent discharge and so considered
by Mathews on March 30, or whether it was first advanced at the hearing as
another reason to justify the respondent's actions. Symonies did report for work
on Monday, March 29, and nothing was said to him at that time about his failure
to work the previous day. Although in its answer the respondent raises the
defense of absenteeism as a justification for its action, there is nothing in the
record to indicate that the respondent had a rule which it enforced by meting out
discipline to employees who failed to come to work without reporting their ab-
sences The undersigned is of the opinion that Symonies' absence from work
on March 28, inexcusable as it may have been in a defense plant, was not the real
reason for his discharge and that the event was cited to him at the meeting with
Mathews on March 30 and testified to at the hearing in an effort to justify his
discharge In this connection it is significant that employee Walter Jacobs, who
likewise did not work on Sunday, March 28, without reporting his proposed ab-
sence, was not discharged.
Anthonp Mancuso
Mancuso was hired by the respondent on December 10, 1942, and discharged on
March 30, 1943. When first employed, Mancuso worked as a painter and was
thereafter transferred to the assembly department Mancuso joined the Union
on March 27, 1943. Mancuso worked on Friday, March 26. At about 6 p. in.
on Saturday, March 27, he reported to Weed that -he would be absent "a couple
of (lays" because of his sister's illness. On the day of his return he was notified
by his father that he had been laid off and the following day Nepa told him of
the notice that had been posted. On April 2, 1943, Mancuso went to the plant
to pick up his check and then for the first time saw the notice.
Evans testified that Mancuso was inefficient as a painter and was transferred
to the assembly department for the reason that Robinson land Weed reported
that Mancuso was responsible for the bad painting of the paint gang. Robinson
testified that Mancuso was a fast painter but not a good painter. Both Evans
and Robinson testified that Mancuso's'work in the assembly department -was
is On the evening of March 30 , Symonies called Robinson "a God damn liar." This can-
not be considered as a justification for Symonies ' selection for discharge, since the remark
was made subsequent to the time the respondent had decided to discharge Symonies.
HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCIS, 111DTc. 257
defective, the latter testifying that Mancuso did not roll tubes tightly enough.
Weed testified that Mancuso was not a good workman and spent too much time
at the coca-cola dispenser.
The undersigned is not persuaded by the vague and indefinite testimony of
Evans that Mancuso was the one-personally responsible for any inferior work
of the paint , gang. In the absence of more accurate testimony or some system
by which the individual work of the employees is recorded, it is impossible, upon
the basis of this record, to find that Mancuso, of all the painters, was individually
responsible for inferior painting . The vague testimony concerning his work in
the assembly department is equally unconvincing.
The respondent also asserts that Mancuso absented himself from work without
reporting it. With respect to this claim as a justification for his discharge, the
undersigned is satisfied and finds despite the denial of Weed, that Mancuso did
acquaint him with the fact that he would be absent from work for "a couple of
days," and that therefore his absence from employment was properly accounted
for.
CONCLUSIONS
The undersigned has found that the respondent engaged in antiunion activity
prior to March 30 , 1943, and was aware of the Union interests and activities of
its employees as early as January 1943 . There is ample evidence in the record
to warrant the conclusion and the undersigned has found that the respondent
was vigorously opposed to the organization of its plant by the Union.
The respondent 's personnel is not a highly skilled or trained -group of em-
ployees. - Complaint about the work of the employees is not infrequent and it is
clear from the record that no methods were evolved, except as could be provided
by time and experience , to train the personnel The undersigned is satisfied
that the employees herein involved did make errors in their work. If the testi-
mony of Mathews and Evans is to be believed , Robinson made oral reports on
these individuals over a period of several months to Evans who in turn verbally
relayed these reports to Mathews but nothing was done nor was any disciplinary
action ever taken upon these reports The undersigned therefore believes it to
be clear that the individual reasons assigned for the lay off are at best extremely
vague, indefinite , and insubstantial , and of a nature that can be commonly
assigned to any worker in the course of his employment.
When in the past the respondent was faced with shortages of material every
effort was made to provide temporary work for the employees and expedients
were utilized to keep employees on the pay roll. On March 30, 1943, according to
the respondent , it was faced with a shortage of material and it thereupon elected
to sever from its pay roll those employees whom it felt were least qualified to
perform their work . This was the first time that employees were discharged
on the occasion of a shortage of materials and in view of the recognized scarcity
of manpower , the undersigned does not believe that the respondent , which is
engaged in war work, would have discharged men for this reason alone, but
rather that it would have continued its system of the past and continued the men
on the pay roll until the temporary material shortage was relieved.18
The vagueness of the assigned reasons, when considered in connection with
the respondent 's expressed hostility to the Union ; Mathews' rejection of Para's
application for reinstatement when the latter admitted he had joined the Union ;
19 The respondent explained this practice , giving as a reason for the retention of em-
ployees In the face of shortages of materials , that It was more desirable to keep men who
had acquired some training than to hire new men after the shortage ceased. However,
in the present case, the respondent gave no reason or explanation for failing to follow its
past practice in this regard
258 D'ECLSfLONS . Off' NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Pethick's outright rejection of the employees' applications and his statement that
the respondent would consider moving its plant before reinstating the men or
recognizing the Union ; and Robinson's disclosure that the men, had been dis-
charged because they tried to organize a union lead inexorably to the conclusion
that these men where selected for discharge because of their known or supposed
union interest and membership The undersigned is of the opinion, moreover,
that the material shortage and the various reasons assigned in each case for
the individual selections were not the true reasons but were rather pretexts for
the discharges of the proponents of the Union. The undersigned is of the
opinion, based upon the totality of the evidence herein, and therefore finds that
the respondent discharged Gentile, Mancuso, Leo Nepa, Para, Pavelchak, and
Symonies because of their union sympathies and membership and thereby dis-
criminated in regard to their hire and tenure of employment, discouraged mem-
bership in the Union, and interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees
in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
D. Alleged discrimination with respect to hire and tenure of employment
Raymond J. Thomas is the other individual named in the complaint. Thomas
did not appear at the hearing. He was identified as a union member by other
witnesses. There is no testimony in the record concerning his employment
history.
Thomas did not work on March 30, 1943, and was not present at any of the
conversations. held between the discharged employees and. the respondent's
supervisors on that night.
At the hearing Evans testified that ,Thomas was selected for discharge because
of defective workmanship and because he drank intoxicating liquor and appeared
for work on more than one occasion in an unfit condition. Evans testified further
that he spoke to Thomas about his drinking habits and warned him about the
matter. Evans first learned of this conduct on the part of Thomas about March
1, 1943, but took no action to discipline him. Robinson sent Thomas home on
one occasion when he was unfit to work because of an excessive consumption of
liquor and on another occasion when he discovered Thomas asleep in the plant.
Although there is a clear pattern of union hostility in this case and the under-
signed is convinced that the discharges were dictated by reason of this hostility
and opposition to the Union, nevertheless there is substantial uncontradicted
and undenied testimony that Thomas was not a proper workman. The under-
signed is of the opinion that the Board has not proved, even by the strength of
other evidence and the entire record herein, that Thomas was discharged because
of his union membership or concerted activities. It will be recommended here-
after that the allegation of the complaint that Thomas' employment was dis-
criminatorily terminated, be dismissed ,
11
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The undersigned finds that the activities of the respondent set forth in Section
III above, occurring in connection with the operations of the respondent described
in Section I above, have a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade,
traffic, and commerce among the several States and tend to lead to labor disputes
burdening and obstructing commerce and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that the respondent has engaged in certain unfair labor prac-
tices, the undersigned will recommend that it cease and desist therefrom, and
take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies of the Act and
PLEA TRANSFER PRODUCTS, ffN,C. 259
restore as nearly as possible the status quo existing prior to the commission of
the unfair labor practices.
The undersigned has found that the respondent discriminated in regard to
the hire and tenure of employment of Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S Mancuso,
Leo F. Nepa, John J. Para, Theodore Pavalchak, and John A. Symonies, because
of their union membership and activity. To effectuate the policies of the Act,
the undersigned will recommend that the respondent offer the said employees
immediate and full reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent
positions, without prejudice to their seniority and other rights and 'privileges.
The undersigned will recommend further that the respondent make payment to
the said individuals of an amount of money equal to that which each would
have earned as wages during the period from March 30, 1943, to the date of the
offer of reinstatement, less his net earnings" during said period.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in
the case, the undersigned makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. International Association of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers,
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, is a labor organization, within
the meaning of Section 2 (5) of the Act.
2. By discriminating in regard to the hire and tenure of employment of Chris
J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso, Leo Nepa, John Para, Theodore Pavelchak, and
John Symonies, thereby discouraging membership in the International Associa-
tion of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, affiliated with the
-American Federation of Labor, the respondent has engaged in and is engaging
in unfair labor practices, within the meaning of Section 8 (3) of the Act.
3. By interfering with, restraining, and coercing its employees in the exercise
of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, the respondent has engaged
in and is engaging in unfair labor practices, within the meaning of Section 8
(1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce, within the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
5. The respondent has not engaged in unfair labor practices within the mean-
ing of Section 8 (1) of the Act, by engaging in surveillance or by possession of
a list of union members, or within the meaning of Section 8 (3) of the Act, by
terminating the employment of Raymond J. Thomas.
RECOMMENDATIONS
0
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, the
undersigned recommends that the respondent, Heat Transfer Products, Inc.,
Simpson, Pennsylvania, and its officers, agents, successors, and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Discouraging membership in International Association of Bridge, Struc-
tural & Ornamental Iron Workers, affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor, or in any other labor organization of its employees, by discriminating
with regard to their hire and tenure of employment, or any term or condition
of employment ;
17 By "net earnings" is meant earnings less expenses, such as for transportation, room,
and board, incurred by an employee in connection with obtaining work elsewhere than
for the respondent, which would not have been incurred but for his unlawful discharge
and the consequent necessity of his seeking employment elsewhere. See Matter of Crossett
Lumber Company and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Lumber
and Sawmill Workers Union, Local 2590, 8 N. L. R. B. 440. Monies received for work
performed upon Federal, State, county, municipal, or other work-relief projects shall be
considered as earnings . See Republic Steel Corporation v. N. L. R. B., 311 U. S. 7.
549875-44-vol. 52-18
260 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
(b) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing its
employees in the exercise of the right to self-organization, to form, join, or
assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of
their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of
collective bargaining, or other mutual aid or protection as guaranteed in Section
7 of the Act.
2.. Take the following affirmative action which the undersigned finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Offer to Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso, Leo Nepa, John Para,
Theodore Pavelchak, and John Symonies immediate and full reinstatment to
his former or substantially equivalent position without prejudice to his seniority
or other rights and privileges ;
(b) Make whole Chris J. Gentile, Anthony S. Mancuso, Leo Nepa, John Para,
Theodore Pavelchak, and John Symonies for any loss of pay.each may have
suffered by reason of the respondent's discrimination against him in regard to
his hire and tenure of employment in the manner set forth in the Section entitled
"The remedy";
(c) Post immediately in conspicuous places throughout its plant at Simpson,
Pennsylvania, and maintain for a period of at least sixty (60) consecutive days
from the date of posting notices to its employees stating: (1) that the respondent
will not engage in the conduct from which it is recommended that it cease and
desist in paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) of these recommendations; (2) that the
respondent will take the affirmative action set forth in paragraph 2 (a) and (b)
of these recommendations; and (3) that the respondent's employees are free
to become or remain members of the International Association of Bridge,
Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor, and that the respondent will not discriminate against any employees
because of membership or activity in that or any other labor organization ;
(d) Notify the Regional, Director for the Fourth, Region in writing within ten
(10) days from the date of this Intermediate Report, what steps the respondent
has taken to comply herewith
It is further recommended that unless on or before ten (10) days from the
receipt of this Intermediate Report, the respondent notifies said Regional
Director in writing that it will comply with the foregoing recommendations, the
National Labor Relations Board issue an order requiring the respondent to
take the action aforesaid.
It is further %recommended that the complaint be dismissed insofar as it
alleges that the respondent engaged in surveillance, advised employees that it was
in possession of a list of union members, and discriminatorily terminated the
employment of Raymond J. Thomas.
As provided in Section 33 of Article II of the Rules and Regulations of the
National Labor Relations Board-Series 2-as amended, effective October 28,
1942, any party may within fifteen (15) days from the date of the entry of the
order transferring the case to the Board, pursuant to section 32 of Article II of
said rules and regulations, file with the Board, Rochambeau Building, Washington,
D. C., an original and four copies of a statement in writing setting forth such
exceptions to the Intermediate Report or to any other part of the record or
proceeding (including rulings upon all motions or objections) as it relies upon,
together with the original and four copies of a brief in support thereof. As
further provided in said Section 33, should any party desire permission to argue
orally before the Board, request therefor must be made in writing to the Board
within ten (10) days from the date of the order transferring the case to the Board.
MoRrrMER Rixin,
Trial Examiner.
Dated July 12, 1943.