Hilton Hotel

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

May 12, 1961

131 N.L.R.B. 486 (N.L.R.B. 1961)

486 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
since has been , the exclusive representative of all the employees in the aforestated
appropriate unit for purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section
9(a) of the Act.
3. By refusing to bargain with the above-named Union with respect to wages, on
February 4, 1960, and by refusing on February 10, 1960, and at all times thereafter,
to recognize or bargain with said Union as the exclusive representative of the em-
ployees in the aforestated appropriate unit, the Respondent has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (5) of the Act.
4. By the foregoing conduct the Respondent has interfered with, restrained, and
coerced its employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act,
and thereby has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the
meaning of Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
5. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
6. Respondent has not engaged in unfair labor practices within the meaning of
Section 8 ( a)(5) and (1 ) of the Act by unilaterally granting individual wage
increases.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
Hilton Hotels Corporation d/b/a Hilton Hotel and Local 628,
Bartenders & Culinary Workers Union , Hotel & Restaurant
Employees & Bartenders International Union , AFL-CIO.
Case No. 28-CA-655. May 12, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
On December 14, 1960, Trial Examiner Howard Myers issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that
the Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair
labor practices and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom
and take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the copy of the
Intermediate Report attached hereto. Thereafter, the Respondent
filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (b) of the Act, the Board has
delegated its powers in connection with this case to a three-member
panel [Chairman McCulloch and Members Leedom and Fanning].
The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner made
at the hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was committed.
The rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered the Inter-
mediate Report, the exceptions, and the entire record in the case,
and hereby adopts the Trial Examiner's findings, conclusions, and
recommendations.
We are satisfied, as apparently was the Trial Examiner, that Theo-
dore Coombes did not engage in union activity during working hours.
Accordingly, we reject, as having no basis in fact, the Respondent's
defense that it discharged Coombes because he engaged in union
activity during working hours. For the reasons indicated in the
Intermediate Report, we find, as did the Trial Examiner, that the
Respondent discharged Coombes because of his protected union activ-
ity, in violation of Section 8 (a) (3) and (1) of the Act.
,131 NLRB No. 68.
HILTON HOTEL
ORDER
487
Upon the entire record in this case and pursuant to Section 10(c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Respondent, Hilton Hotels
Corporation, doing business as Hilton Hotel, El Paso, Texas, 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 the right to self-organization, to form,
join, or assist Local 628, Bartenders & Culinary Workers Union,
Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders International Union,
AFL-CIO, or any other labor organization, to bargain collectively
through representatives of their own choosing and to engage in other
concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other
mutual aid or protection, or to refrain from any and all such activities.
(b) Discouraging membership in Local 628, Bartenders & Culinary
Workers Union, Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders Inter-
national Union, AFL-CIO, or in any other labor organization, by
discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its employees or by dis-
criminating in any other manner in regard to their hire or tenure
of employment or any term or condition of their employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action, which the Board finds
will effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Offer to Theodore Coombes immediate and full reinstatement
to his former or substantially equivalent position without prejudice
to his seniority or other rights and privileges.
(b) Make whole Theodore Coombes for any loss of pay he may
have suffered by reason of the discrimination against him by pay-
ment to him of a sum of money equal to the amount which he
normally would have earned as wages from the date of his discharge
to the date of the Respondent's offer of reinstatement, less his net
earnings during said period, said backpay to be computed on a
quarterly basis in the manner established by the Board in F. W.
Wooliworth Company, 90 NLRB 289.
(c) Preserve and, upon request, make available to the Board or
to its agents, for examination and copying, all payroll records, social
security payment records, timecards, personnel records and reports,
and all other records necessary to analyze the amounts of backpay
due Theodore Coombes and his right of reinstatement under the terms
of this Order.
(d) Post at its establishment at El Paso, Texas, copies of the notice
attached hereto marked "Appendix." 1 Copies of said notice, to be
In the event that this Order is enforced by a, decree of a United States Court of
Appeals, there shall be substituted for the words "Pursuant to a Decision and Order" the
words "Pursuant to a Decree of the United States Court of Appeals , Enforcing an Order."
488 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
furnished by the Regional Director for the Twenty-eighth Region,
shall, after being duly signed by the Respondent's authorized repre-
sentative, be posted for 60 consecutive days thereafter in conspicuous
places, including all places where notices to employees customarily
are posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken by the Respondent to
insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any
other material.
(e) Notify the Regional Director for the Twenty-eighth Region,
in writing, within 10 days from the date of this Order, as to what steps
the Respondent has taken to comply herewith.
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to a Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations
Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, we hereby notify our employees that :
WE WILL NOT in any manner interfere with, restrain, or coerce
our employees in the exercise of their right to self-organization,
to form labor organizations, to join or assist Local 628, Bartenders
& Culinary Workers Union, Hotel & Restaurant Employees &
Bartenders International Union, AFL-CIO, or any other labor
organization, 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,
or to refrain from any and all of such activities.
WE WILL offer to Theodore Coombes immediate and full rein-
statement to his former or substantially equivalent position with-
out prejudice to any seniority or other rights and privileges previ-
ously enjoyed, and make him whole for any loss of pay suffered
as a result of our discrimination against him.
All our employees are free to become, or remain or to refrain from
becoming or remaining, members of the above-named Union or any
other labor organization. We will not discriminate in regard to hire
or tenure of emplgylnent or any term or condition of employment
against any employee because of membership in or activity on behalf
,of any such labor organization.
HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION DOING
BUSINESS AS HILTON HOTEL,
Employer.
Dated---------------- By-------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from the date hereof,
,and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
HILTON HOTEL 489)
INTERMEDIATE REPORT AND RECOMMENDED ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon a charge duly filed on August 10 , 1960,' by Local 628 , Bartenders & Culinary
Workers Union , Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders International Union,
AFL-CIO , herein called the Union , the General Counsel of the National Labor
Relations Board, herein respectively called the General Counsel z and the Board,
through the Regional Director for the Sixteenth Region , issued a complaint, dated
September 26, against Hilton Hotels Corporation doing business as Hilton Hotel,
herein called Respondent , alleging that Respondent had engaged in and was engaging
in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a) (1)
and (3 ) and Section 2 ( 6) and (7) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended
from time to time, 61 Stat . 136, herein called the Act.
Copies of the charge , complaint , and notice of hearing were duly served upon,
Respondent and copies of the complaint and notice of hearing were duly served upon
the Union.
Specifically, the complaint alleged that Respondent discharged T.H. Coombes on,
or about August 1, and thereafter refused to reinstate him, because Coombes had
engaged in union or concerted activity.
On October 7 Respondent duly filed an answer denying the commission of the-
unfair labor practices alleged.
Pursuant to due notice , a hearing was held on October 21 at El Paso , Texas, before
the duly designated Trial Examiner . Each party was represented by counsel and
participated in the hearing . Full opportunity was afforded the parties to be heard, to
examine and cross-examine witnesses , to introduce evidence pertinent to the issues, to
argue orally at the conclusion of the taking of the evidence , and to file briefs with
the Trial Examiner on or before November 15 . Briefs have been received from,
the General Counsel and from Respondent, which have been carefully considered.
Upon the entire record in the case , and from his observation of the witnesses,.
the Trial Examiner makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. RESPONDENT 'S BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Respondent , during all times material operated , and now operates , hotels in various-
cities of the United States. Its El Paso , Texas, hotel , here involved , employs approxi-
mately 170 employees and 75 percent of its guests stay less than 1 month. It has
a gross total annual revenue in excess of $500,000, and during the 12-month period
immediately preceding the issuance of the complaint herein , it received goods, mate-
rials, and services valued at approximately $20,000 , directly from points located
outside the State of Texas.
Upon the basis of the foregoing facts , the Trial Examiner finds, in line with ,,
established Board authority and contrary to Respondent 's contention , that Respond-
ent is engaged in , and during all times material was engaged in, business affecting
commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act and that its oper-
ations meet the standards fixed by the Board for the assertion of jurisdiction .3
H. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
The Union is a labor organization admitting to membership employees of
Respondent.
M. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Prefatory statement
The sole issue here to be resolved is whether , as the General Counsel contends,
Theodore Coombes was discharged on August 1, for engaging in protected con-
certed activities or, as Respondent contends he was discharged for cause.
In support of its position Respondent contended, at the hearing and in its brief,
that Coombes who was first employed from about February 9, 1957 , until about
'Unless otherwise noted, all dates herein mentioned refer to 1960.
2 This term specifically Includes counsel for the General Counsel appearing at the-
hearing.
a See Case No. 33-RC-785, a representation proceeding involving the same employer
and the same labor organization here involved wherein the Board asserted jurisdiction on,
October 7, 1960.
490 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
August 5; 1959, was discharged on the latter date because he "had been repeatedly
reprimanded and warned about absences without leave, about appearing for work
under the influence of alcohol or suffering from the after-effects of alcohol, about
unauthorized departure from the kitchen [where he worked] as steak chef while he
was on duty, about the use of profane, vulgar or abusive language within the hearing
.of the patrons of the hotel, and about arguing with other employees in a loud voice";
and that Coombes was discharged on August 1, for the sole reason that he was "away
from his job [on July 29, 1960] and was not where he was supposed to be and he
was soliciting for the Union away from his job and at the same time talking to a
.man and interfering with this man's work."
Coombes' ability as a chef is not in issue for the record convincingly establishes,
and the Respondent admits, that Coombes was the best steak-house chef it ever had
in its employ.
B. The pertinent facts
Coombes was rehired about April 1, 1960, as a chef in Respondent's steak house.
His hours of employment normally were from about 3 or 3:30 p.m. until about
11:30 p.m. and he normally worked said hours 7 days a week.
About a week or so prior to Coombes' August 1 discharge, Juan Alonzo, Coombes'
immediate supervisor and the person who supervises the preparation of all food
served at Respondent's El Paso hotel restaurants and who has the authority to dis-
charge cooks or other kitchen employees, called Coombes from the kitchen into
the employees' dining room and queried Coombes about his union affiliations. In
fact, Alonzo opened the conversation by asking Coombes, "How about the Union?"
When Coombes replied, "Well, it's all right, I guess," Alonzo stated, "It won't work
in El Paso." Alonzo also stated to Coombes on that occasion that he was aware of
the latter's union membership, adding that cooks, whether employed on the West
Coast or on the East Coast "have to belong to the Union." Thereupon, Coombes
stated, "Well, I've been a member [of the Union] for a long time." ,
During June and July, Coombes, prior to and after his work hours, solicited mem-
bership for the Union from amongst his coworkers. This solicitation, which took
place on Respondent's premises , resulted in Coombes obtaining about 50 signed
union cards.
On Thursday, July 28, the Union filed a representation petition with the Board .4
On Saturday morning, July 30, Leonardo Pineda, a Respondent linen room em-
ployee, told his immediate supervisor, Housekeeper Lynde, that on the previous
evening Coombes had given him some cards "from the Union" and he then showed
Lynde the cards .5 Lynde thereupon picked up the telephone and called Respondent's
general manager, James E. Murphy. However, Lynde was unable to speak to
Murphy because he did not answer the telephone.
On August 1, when Pineda reported for work, Lynde told Pineda that Murphy
wanted to see him, whereupon Pineda went to Murphy's office.
Although denying that Lynde had told him the reason why Pineda wanted to see
him, Murphy testified that as soon as Pineda entered his office he asked Pineda to sit
down and then said, "Leonardo, now tell me what happened between you and Tony
Coombes on Friday, the 29th?"; that Pineda then related his purported July 29
conversation with Coombes; that Pineda also mentioned that Coombes had given
him some cards; that he then drew up a statement reciting what Pineda had told
him which, after the statement had been typed by his secretary, he had Pineda sign
and swear to it; that Pineda had left his office, "The next thing I did was to call Mr.
Gorny 6 and tell him to pull Tony's [Coombes] time card and also to notify Tony
upon his arrival that I would like to see him in my office"; that "Tony came into the
office and I asked Tony to have a seat and I told Tony then that he was discharged
or fired"; that "Tony asked me why and I told Tony that I had a statement here from
.' The record establishes , and the Trial Examiner finds, that Respondent received a copy
of this petition prior to Coombes' discharge
S Pineda testified that at exactly 6 p m on Thursday, July 29, while he was en route to
check certain guest rooms, Coombes stopped him and "talked to me about the union" and
also gave him some cards . Coombes denied that he ever talked to Pineda about the
Union or ever gave Pineda any cards The Trial Examiner credits Coombes' denial and
rejects Pineda's testimony with respect to his purported conversation with Coombes.
This finding is buttressed by the fact that Coombes particularly impressed the Trial
Examiner as being a person who is careful with the truth and meticulous in not enlarging
his testimony beyond his actual memory of what occurred or what was said. On the
other hand, Pineda did not so impress the Trial Examiner.
O 'Wolfgang Gorhey, Respondent's assistant manager. ,
HILTON HOTEL , . 491
a man., It was signed and notarized and witnessed and everything that Tony was
away from his job and was not where he was supposed to be and he was soliciting
for the Union away from his job and at the same time talking to a man and inter-
fering with-this man's work"; that when Coombes inquired whether his work had
anything to do with his discharge, "I told Tony no, that I thought that he was the
best steak-house cook that we ever had"; and that, in fact, Coombes was the best
steak-house cook Respondent ever employed.
Coombes testified that when he reported for work on August 1 he noticed that
his timecard was not in the rack; that when he asked the watchman where his card
was he was informed by the watchman that he was "to see Mr. Murphy before I
come [sic] to work"; that he thereupon went to Murphy's-office and asked Murphy
"What's the beef, Mr. Murphy?"; that Murphy replied, "You're fired"; that when
he inquired as-to the reason for his discharge Murphy stated, "For Union activity";
that when he asked whether his work played any part in Murphy's decision to fire
him, Murphy replied in the negative; and that the following then ensued:
"Well," I says [sic], "Well, the Union is here. I've been a member as you know
for years." He said, "Yes, I known that." I says [sic], "What's the matter
now?" He said, "Well, it isn't your work. You are the best we ever had here.
It's just your Union activities, . You're fired." . he told me that he
had a written statement by an employee that I was soliciting on the job while
I should have been working. I said, "No, Mr. Murphy, 'I did not solicit on
the company's time.... I'll admit I solicited on my own time, in the base-
ment in the shower room, either before going to work or after."
In the light of the entire record, the Trial Examiner is convinced, and finds, that
Coombes' version of what transpired during his conversation with Murphy on
August 1, referred to immediately above, is substantially in accord with the facts.
This finding is supported by the fact that, as found above, Coombes particularly
impressed the Trial Examiner as being a person who is careful with the truth and
meticulous in not enlarging his testimony beyond his actual memory of what occurred
or what was said, whereas Murphy, on the other hand, gave the Trial Examiner the
impression that he was studiously attempting to conform his testimony to what' he
considered to be the best interest of Respondent.
Coombes testified further, and the Trial Examiner finds, that about 2 weeks prior
to the opening of the hearing herein he called upon Murphy and the following
conversation ensued:
I said, "How do you do?" He [Murphy] said, "How do you do, Tony?" "I
come back after my job back." . . . He says, "I can't do it. You have a case
against us on the 21st, . . . I couldn't hire you back until after the case or
otherwise. I absolutely couldn't" . he says, "I haven't anything against
you. You're the best cook we ever had in the hotel. You're tops. It's you and
the Union versus the Hilton Hotel."
C. Concluding findings
Upon the entire record in the case, the Trial Examiner finds that the Respondent's
apparent defense, that had the solicitation not taken place during working hours
Coombes would not have been discharged, is merely an obfuscation to conceal
Respondent's unlawful intent. The record is convincingly clear that Coombes was
discharged because of his union activities and affiliation.
The Trial Examiner further finds that Respondent discriminatorily discharged
Coombes in violation of Section 8(a) (3) of the Act, thereby discouraging member-
ship in the Union, and since such act interfered with, restrained, and coerced Re-
spondent's employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the
Act, it was likewise violative of Section 8(a)(1) thereof.?
° Of course, disbelief of the reasons advanced by Respondent does not itself make out a
violation The burden is on the General Counsel to establish discriminatory motive, not
on Respondent to disprove it. But here, the General Counsel more than amply met that
burden . Likewise it goes without saying, as the Fifth Circuit pointed out in N.L R B. v.
T. A. McGahey, Sr. et al. d/b/a Columbus Marble Works, 233 F 2d 400 (C A. 5),
"Management can discharge for good cause or bad cause , or no cause at all," provided the
discharge was not motivated by any purpose proscribed by the Act. But, the court also
pointed out that where the evidence reveals that the real and dominant purpose for the
discharge was discriminatory, as here, then a finding of a violation of Section 8(a) (3)
of the Act is clearly warranted.
492 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of Respondent set forth in section III, above , occurring in connec-
tion with the operations of Respondent as described in section I, above, have a
close , intimate , and substantial relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the
several States and, such of them as have been found to constitute unfair labor
practices , tend to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and
the free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices violative of
Section 8 ( a)(1) and ( 3) of the Act, the Trial Examiner will recommend that it
cease and desist therefrom and take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate
the policies of the Act.
Having found that Respondent has discriminated in regard to the hire and tenure
of employment , and the terms and conditions of employment , of Coombes, the
Trial Examiner will recommend that the Respondent offer him immediate and full
reinstatement to his former or substantially equivalent position , without prejudice
to his seniority or other rights and privileges . The Trial Examiner will also recom-
mend that the Respondent make Coombes whole for any loss of pay he may have
suffered by reason of the Respondent 's discrimination against him , by payment to
him of a sum of money equal to the amount he normally would have earned as
wages from the date of his discharge to the date of the Respondent's offer of rein-
statement , less his net earnings during that period.
Loss of pay shall be computed and paid in accordance with the formula adapted
by the Board in F. W. Woolworth Company, 90 NLRB 289.
The unfair labor practices found to have been engaged in by Respondent are of
such a character and scope that in order to insure Respondent 's employees their
full rights guaranteed them by the Act it will be recommended that Respondent
cease and desist from in any manner interfering with , restraining and coercing its
employees in their rights to self-organization.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact , and upon the entire record in
the case, the Trial Examiner makes the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Local 628, Bartenders & Culinary Workers Union, Hotel & Restaurant Em-
ployees & Bartenders International Union, AFL-CIO, 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 Coombes,
thereby discouraging membership in the Union , Respondent has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (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, Respondent has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices within the
meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
Flemingsburg Manufacturing Company and Amalgamated Cloth-
ing Workers of America , AFL-CIO. Case No. 9-CA-2149.
May 12, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
On February 9, 1961, Trial Examiner Phil Saunders issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
Respondent engaged in certain unfair labor practices and recommend-
ing that it cease and desist therefrom and take certain affirmative
131 NLRB No. 81.