Lick Creek Coal Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 13, 1939

17 N.L.R.B. 654 (N.L.R.B. 1939)

In the Matter of LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY and UNITED MINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH THE C. I. O.
and PROGRESSIVE MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #5,
AFFILIATED WITH THE A. F. OF L., PARTY TO THE CONTRACT
In the Matter of LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY and UNITED MINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA, DISTRICT #23, AFFILIATED WITH TIIE C. I. O.
,Cases Nos. C-1413 and R-1610, respectively. Decided
November 13, 1939
'Coal Mining Industry-Settlement: stipulation providing for compliance with
-the Act, including disestablishment of company-dominated union.-Order:
-entered on stipulation-Investigation of Representatives: stipulated: respond-
ent refuses to recognize either of rival labor organizations unless certified by
the Board-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining : all persons in the min-
ing operations of the respondent as production employees , excluding superin-
tendents , mine foremen , room bosses, face bosses , top bosses , entry bosses,
electricians in a supervisory capacity , all other - supervisory employees, and
"guards" or "watchmen"-Election Ordered: pursuant to stipulation.
Mr. Arthur R. Donovan, Mr. Colonel C. Sawyer, and Mr. Robert
D. Malarney, for the Board.
Mr. Abner C. Johnston, of Dawson Springs, Ky., for the
Respondent.
Mr. Ed. J. Morgan, of Madisonville, Ky., and Mr. Earl E. Houck,
of Washington, D. C., for the United.
Mr. John R. Kane, of Springfield, Ill., for the Progressive.
Mr. Langdon West and Miss Margaret Holmes, of counsel to the
Board.
DECISION
ORDER
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon charges and amended charges duly filed by United Mine
Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, herein called the United, the National
Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, by the Regional
Director for the Eleventh Region (Indianapolis, Indiana), issued its
17 N. L. R. B., No. 54.
654
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY 655
complaint dated October 20, 1939, against Lick Creek Coal Com-
pany, Dawson Springs, Hopkins County, Kentucky, herein called
the respondent, alleging that the respondent had engaged in and was
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8
(1), (2), and (3) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449,
herein called the Act. A copy of the complaint accompanied by
notice of hearing was duly served upon the respondent, the United,
and Progressive Mine Workers of America, District *5, affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor, herein called the Progres-
sive. The respondent did not file an answer to the complaint.
On or about October 18, 1939, the United filed with the Regional'
Director a petition alleging that a question affecting commerce had
arisen concerning the representation of employees of the respondent
and requesting an investigation and certification of representatives
pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act. On October 20, 1939, the
Board, acting pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III,.
Section 3, Article III, Section 10 (c) (2); and Article II, Section
36 (b), of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regula-
tions-Series 2, ordered an investigation upon the petition and
authorized the Regional Director to conduct it and to provide for an
appropriate hearing upon due notice and further ordered that the,
two cases be consolidated.2 On October 23, 1939, the respondent, the-
United, the Progressive, and counsel for the Board entered into a
stipulation in settlement of the case subject to the approval of the-
Board. On November 10, 1939, the respondent, the United, the
Progressive and counsel for the Board entered into a supplemental
stipulation amending the complaint. The stipulation and the.
supplemental stipulation are set forth below :
STIPULATION
Lick Creek Coal Company, hereinafter called the Respondent;
United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with,
the Congress of Industrial Organizations, hereinafter sometimes
called the United; the Progressive Mine Workers of America,.
District #5, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor,,
hereinafter sometimes called the Progressive; and Arthur R.
Donovan, Regional Attorney for the Eleventh Region of the
National Labor Relations Board, Colonel C. Sawyer, and Robert
D. Malarney, Attorneys, National Labor Relations Board, here-
inafter sometimes called the Board, hereby stipulate and agree
that:
I Although this case had been consolidated with several others by orders of the Board,
dated August 9, 1937, May 3, 1939, and July 17, 1939, respectively, these orders of con-
solidation were revoked by the Board's order dated October 20, 1939.
2 The name of Robert Nance was incorrectly inserted in the caption of the complaint
case in the order of consolidation.
656 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
I
Upon amended charges duly filed by the United on August
30, 1939, the National Labor Relations Board, by its Regional
Director for the Eleventh Region, acting pursuant to authority
granted in Section 10 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act
(49 Stat. 449), hereinafter sometimes called the Act, and pur-
suant to authority granted by the Board's Rules and Regula-
tions, Series 2, Article II, Section 5, issued its Complaint on the
20th day of October 1939, against the Respondent.
II
Upon a Petition duly filed by the United on October 18, 1939,
the Board, on October 20, 1939, directed that an investigation
of bargaining representatives be made pursuant to Section 9 (c)
of the Act. Upon. authorization by the Board, the Regional
Director for the Eleventh Region, issued notice of hearing on
October 20, 1939. In the petition filed by the United, it was
stated that both the United and the Progressive claim to have
been designated as collective bargaining representatives by em-
ployees in the unit alleged in said petition to be appropriate, and
the United and the Progressive are each a party to said proceed-
ing instituted by said petition by virtue of the Board's Rules
and Regulations, Series 2, Article III, Section 3.
III
The Respondent, the United and the Progressive withdraw all
motions and other pleadings filed by them in the proceedings
herein, except that the United does not withdraw the amended
charges and the petition hereinbefore mentioned in Articles I
and II of this sitpulation.
IV
The respondent, the United and the Progressive, hereby waive
their right to a hearing or hearings in these cases and all parties
expressly agree that the amended charges filed on August 30,
1939, the complaint and notice of hearing issued on October 20,
1939, the petition filed by the United on October 18, 1939, the
Order of the National Labor Relations Board directing an in-
vestigation and the notice of hearing pursuant to this Order for
investigation, and this stipulation, may be introduced in the
record in the proceedings herein, by filing with the Chief Trial
Examiner of the National Labor Relations Board at Washing-
ton, D. C.
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY
V
657
The Respondent, the United, and the Progressive, hereby
acknowledge due service of the complaint and notice of hearing
upon the complaint and of the petition and notice of hearing
pursuant to the Board's Order directing investigation and hear-
ing and expressly waive any right or privilege which they may
have for ten (10) days notice of hearing and to the holding of
a hearing or hearings in these cases and also waive any right or
privilege which they may have to the making of findings of fact
and conclusions of law by the Board.
VI
The Respondent specifically admits each and every allegation
in paragraphs I and II of the Board's complaint herein and
stipulates and agrees that it is engaged. in interstate commerce
within the meaning of Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
VII
The United, the Progressive and the Independent Miners'
Union, are, each and all of them, labor organizations within
the meaning of Section 2, subdivision (5) of the Act.
VIII
It is agreed by and between the Respondent and the Progres-
sive that the contract now in force and effect between the
Respondent and the Progressive is hereby cancelled and is void
and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this stipula-
tion shall preclude the Respondent from hereafter making an
agreement with the Progressive or any other labor organization
(not established, maintained or assisted by any action defined
in the National Labor Relations Act as an unfair labor practice)
requiring, as a condition of employment, membership therein, if
such labor organization is the representative of the employees as
provided in Section 9 (a) of the Act; and it is agreed that the
Respondent will not recognize the Progressive or any other labor
organization as the exclusive representative of its employees
until and unless such labor organization is certified by the Board
as such exclusive representative in the manner hereinafter
provided.
658 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
IX
It is'hereby stipulated and agreed that all-persons employed as
production employees at Respondent's Hopkins County Mine,
excluding superintendents, mine foremen, section foremen, room
bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, electricians in a super-
visory capacity, all other supervisory employees, and "guards"
or "watchman", constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes
of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b)
of the Act.
X
It is hereby stipulated and agreed by the Respondent, the
United, and the Progressive, that a question has arisen con-
cerning the representation of the employees in the bargaining
unit set forth in Article IX of this stipulation in that the
United and the Progressive each claim to have been designated
by employees in the unit set forth above as representative for
purposes of collective bargaining, within the meaning of the
Act, and in that Respondent refuses to recognize either the
United or the Progressive as the exclusive representative of
all the employees in said unit until and unless the Board has
made a certification pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
XI
The Respondent, the United, and the Progressive, stipulate
and agree that the Board shall forthwith issue a Direction of
Election. The election shall be conducted within thirty (30)
days from the issuance of the Direction of Election by the
Board and shall be conducted in accordance with and pursuant
to the Act, the Board's Rules and Regulations, and decisions of
the Board in representation cases. The election shall be for
the purpose of determining whether the eligible employees de-
sire to be represented for the purposes of collective bargaining
by the United, the Progressive, or by neither. The employees
eligible to vote in this election shall be all the employees in the
appropriate unit set forth in Article IX, above, on the payroll
of Respondent one week preceding issuance of a Direction of
Election pursuant to this Article. This stipulation and the
Election Report filed on the results of the election shall con-
stitute competent evidence upon which the Board may make
a certification pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act.
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY
XII
659
Upon the basis of the amended charges filed by the United
on August 30, 1939, the complaint herein and this stipulation,
the Respondent expressly consents to the issuance by the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board of an Order 'to the following
effect :
ORDER
Upon the basis of this stipulation and pursuant to Section
10 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Lick Creek Coal Com-
pany, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, its officers, agents, successors,
and assigns shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In any manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing
its employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organiza-
tion, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain
collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and
to engage in concerted activity for the purposes of collective
bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed in
Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act;
(b) Discouraging membership in the United Mine Workers
of America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Indus-
trial Organizations, or any other labor organization of its em-
ployees, or encouraging membership in the Progressive Mine
Workers of America, District #5, affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, or any other labor organization of its
employees, by discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its
employees or in any other manner discriminating in regard to
their hire and tenure of employment or any term or condition
of their employment;
(c) Dominating or interfering with the administration of
the Independent Miners Union, or dominating or interfering
with the formation or administration of any other labor or-
ganization of its employees, or contributing support to any such
labor organization;
(d) Recognizing the Independent Miners Union as the rep-
resentative of any of its employees.for the purposes of dealing
with the Respondent concerning grievances, labor disputes,
wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or other conditions
of employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action to effectuate the poli-
cies of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a) Withdraw and continue to withhold all recognition of the
Independent Miners Union as a representative of any of its
660 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
employees for the purposes of collective bargaining with the
Respondent in respect to rates of pay, wages , hours of employ-
ment, and other terms or conditions of employment , and com-
pletely disestablish the Independent Miners Union as such rep-
resentative;
(b) Immediately post notices in conspicuous places through-
out its plant and maintain such notices for a period of sixty
(60) consecutive days or for the period until the Board issues-
its certification in Case XI-8-244, whichever period proves to be
of shortest duration , stating ( 1) that the Respondent will cease
and desist as aforesaid, (2) that the Respondent will take the
affirmative action as aforesaid ; these notices shall contain the
substance of this Order but will not be in the exact language
thereof;
(c) Notify ' the Regional Director for the Eleventh Region
of the National Labor Relations Board within a ,period of ten
(10) days after the entry of this Order what steps have been
taken to comply with this Order.
XIII
The Respondent hereby consents to the entry by an appro-
priate United States Circuit Court of Appeals, upon applica-
tion by the Board, of a decree enforcing an Order of _the Board
as hereinabove set forth in Article XII, above , and hereby
waives further notice of the application for such decree. The
United and the Progressive expressly waive any right or privi-
lege to contest the entry of this decree by an appropriate Circuit
Court of Appeals and hereby waive further notice of applica-
tion for entry thereof.
XIV
Wherever the facts , spelling of names, titles , or other material
and documents in the record of this proceeding shall appear
inconsistent with the names , titles, or other material set out and
made part of this stipulation , the spelling of names, titles' and
other material in this stipulation shall be considered correct.
XV
This stipulation shall be subject in all respects to the approval
by the Board. If this stipulation is not approved by the Board,
it shall be of no force and effect and shall not be used as
evidence against the parties hereto in any subsequent proceed-
ings herein.
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY
XVI
661
The entire agreement between all parties hereto is contained
within the terms of this stipulation, and there is no verbal agree-
ment of any kind which alters, varies, or adds to said stipula-
tion in any respect.
SUPPLEMENTAL STIPULATION
It is hereby stipulated, consented to and agreed, by and be--
tween Lick Creek Coal Company; United Mine Workers of
America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial.
Organizations; the Progressive Mine Workers of America, Dis-
trict #5, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor; and
Arthur R. Donovan, Regional Attorney for the Eleventh Re-
gion of the National Labor Relations Board, Colonel C. Sawyer
and Robert D. Malarney, Attorneys, National Labor Relations
Board, as follows :
1. That paragraph VIII of the complaint in the above entitled
proceedings, numbered XI-C-578, be deemed amended by in-
terlineation so that the first sentence thereof shall read as
follows : "Thereafter, and on or about August 20, 1938, the.
Independent became merged with the Progressive."
On November 10, 1939, the Board issued its order approving the.
above stipulation and supplemental stipulation, making them part
of the record in the case and transferring the proceeding to the
Board for the purpose of entry of a decision ands order by the Board.
Upon the basis of the above stipulation and supplemental stipu-
lation and the entire record in the case, the Board makes the
following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT 8
The respondent, a Kentucky corporation with its principal office
and place of business in or near the town of Dawson Springs, Hop-
kins County, Kentucky, is engaged at a place of business called the
Hopkins County Mine in or near Dawson Springs, Hopkins County,.
Kentucky, in the mining, sale, and distribution of coal.
In the year 1938, the respondent produced approximately 30,000.
tons of coal, about 90 per cent of which was sold and shipped to
points located in States other than Kentucky. The respondent, in,
the course and conduct of its business, causes and has continuously
8 The facts set forth in this section are based upon allegations in the complaint admitted,
by the respondent.
'662 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
caused a substantial quantity of coal-, consisting of more than 90 per
cent of the products mined, sold, and distributed by it as a part of
its business, to be supplied, delivered, and transported in interstate
commerce from its Hopkins County Mine in the States of Kentucky.
The respondent agreed that it is engaged in interstate commerce
within the meaning of the Act.
We find that the above-described operations constitute a continu-
ous flow of trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States.
IL THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the
Congress of Industrial Organizations; the Progressive Mine Work-
ers of America, District #5, affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor ; and Independent Miners Union, are labor organizations as
defined in Section 2 (5) of the Act.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
In accordance with the terms of the stipulation, we find that the
United and the Progressive each claimed to have been designated by
employees in the unit hereinafter found to be appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining as their bargaining agent and that
the respondent refuses to recognize either the United or the Progres-
sive as the exclusive representative of all the employees in said unit
until and unless the Board has made a certification pursuant to Sec-
tion 9 (c) of the Act, and that therefore a question has arisen con-
cerning representation of the employees of the respondent.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING
REPRESENTATION UPON COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which has
arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the respondent
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States, and
tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce
and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
We find, in accordance with the terms of the stipulation, that all
persons employed in the mining operations of the respondent as
production employees, excluding superintendents, mine foremen, sec-
tion foremen, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, elec-
tricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory employees,
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY 663
and "guards" or "watchman", constitute a unit appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining, and that such unit will insure to
the said employees the full benefit of their right to self-organization
and collective bargaining and will otherwise effectuate the policies of
the Act.
VI. THE DETERMINATION or REPRESENTATIVES
We find that the question which has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of the employees of the respondent can. best be resolved by
the holding of an election by secret ballot. In accordance with the
terms of the stipulation, we find that the employees eligible to vote
in the election shall be all employees in the appropriate unit on the
pay roll of the respondent one week preceding the issuance of our
Direction of Election.
. Upon the basis of the above findings of fact and the stipulation and
supplemental stipulation, and upon the entire record in the case,
the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. United Mine Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with
the Congress of - Industrial Organizations, and Progressive Mine
Workers of America, District #5, affiliated with the American ' Fed-
eration of Labor, are labor organizations within the meaning of- Sec-
tion 2 (5) of the Act.
2. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning they repre-
sentation of employees of Lick Creek Coal Company, Dawson
Springs, Hopkins County, Kentucky, within the meaning of Section
9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the National Labor Relations
Act.
3. All persons employed in the mining operations of the respond-
ent as production employees, excluding superintendents, mine fore=
men, section foremen, room bosses, face bosses, top bosses, entry
bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity, all other supervisory
employees, and "guards" or "watchmen," constitute 'h unit appro-
priate for collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (b)
of the Act.
ORDER.
Upon the basis of the above findings of fact, stipulation, supple-
mental stipulation, and. the entire record in the case, and pursuant
to Section 10 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, the National
Labor Relations Board hereby orders that the Lick Creek -Coal
Company, Dawson Springs, Hopkins County, Kentucky, its officers,
agents, successors, and assigns shall:
247384-40-vol. 17--43
664 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) In any manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing its
employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization, to
form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively
through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in
concerted activity for the purposes of collective bargaining or other
mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of the National
Labor Relations Act;
(b) Discouraging membership in United Mine Workers of Amer-
ica, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organi-
zations, or any other labor. organization of its employees, or encour-
aging membership in Progressive Mine Workers of America, District
#5, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, or any other
labor organization of its employees, by discharging or refusing to
reinstate any of its employees or in any other manner discriminating
in regard to their hire and tenure of employment or any term or
condition of their employment ;
(c) Dominating or interfering with the administration of Inde-
pendent Miners Union, or dominating or interfering with the for-
mation or administration of any other labor 'organization. of its.em-
ployees, or contributing support to any such labor organization ;
(d) Recognizing Independent Miners Union as the representative
of any of its employees for the purposes of dealing with the re-
spondent concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,
hours of employment, or other conditions of employment.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds
will effectuate the policies of the National Labor Relations Act :
(a) Withdraw and continue to withhold all recognition of Inde-
pendent Miners Union as a representative of any of its employees
for the purposes of collective bargaining with the respondent in re-
spect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other terms
or conditions of employment, and completely disestablish Independ-
ent Miners Union as such representative ;
(b) Immediately post notices in conspicuous places throughout its
plant and maintain such notices for a period of sixty (60) consecu-
tive days or for the period until the Board issues its certification in
Case R-1610, whichever period proves to be of shortest duration,
stating (1) that the respondent will cease and desist as aforesaid
and (2) that the respondent will take the affirmative action as afore-
said; these notices shall contain the substance of this Order but will
not be in the exact language thereof;
(c) Notify the Regional Director 'for the Eleventh Region of the
National Labor Relations Board within a period of ten (10) days
after the entry of this Order what steps have been taken to comply
with this Order.
LICK CREEK COAL COMPANY 665
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 2, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation ordered by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargain-
ing with Lick Creek Coal Company, Dawson Springs, Hopkins
County, Kentucky, an election by secret ballot shall be conducted
within thirty (30) days from the date of this. Direction under
the direction and supervision of the Regional Director for the
Eleventh Region, acting in this matter as agent for the National
Labor Relations Board and subject to Article III, Section 9, of said
Rules and Regulations, among all persons employed in the mining
operations of the Lick Creek Coal company, Dawson Springs, Hop-
kins County, Kentucky, on the pay roll of the respondent one week
preceding the. issuance of this Direction of Election, but excluding
superintendents, mine foremen, section foremen, room bosses, face
bosses, top bosses, entry bosses, electricians in a supervisory capacity,
all other supervisory employees, and "guards" or "watchmen," too,
determine whether they desire to be represented by United Mine
Workers of America, District #23, affiliated with the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, or Progressive Mine Workers of America,
District #5, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, for
the purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.