Long-Bell Lumber Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jul 9, 1946

69 N.L.R.B. 302 (N.L.R.B. 1946)

In the Matter of LONG-BELL LUMBER COMPANY-WEED DIVISION C ivi
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA, CIO
Case No. 20-R-1640.-Decided July 9, 19 416
Mr. Johan, Mantle, of Weed, Calif ., for the Company.
Mr. George Brown, of Portland , Oreg., Mr. Tim. Sullivan , of Weed,
Calif., and Mr. Joe Huber , of Klamath Falls, Oreg., for the CIO.
Mr. W. A. Davis, of Weed, Calif ., and Messrs . William Wedel,
Harlan W. Collins , and Hugh R. Haddock , all of Klamath Falls,
Oreg., for the AFL.
Mr. Warren H. Leland, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AN D
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
ST \TEMES'r OF THE CASE
Upon a petition duly filed by International Woodworkers of America,
CIO, herein called the CIO, alleging that a question affecting com-
merce had arisen concerning the representation of employees of Long-
Bell Lumber Company-Weed Division, Weed, California, herein
called the Company, the National Labor Relations Board provided
for an appropriate hearing upon due notice before Thomas J. Davis,
Jr., Trial Examiner. The hearing was held at Weed, California, on
May 21, 1946. The Company, the CIO, and Lumber and Sawmill
Workers Union, Local 2907, AFL, herein called the AFL, appeared
and participated. All parties were afforded full opportunity to be
heard, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce evi-
dence bearing on the issues. The Trial Examiner's rulings made at
the hearing are free from prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed.
All paties were afforded opportunity to file briefs with the Board.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE. BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
Long-Bell Lumber Company, a Missouri corporation engaged in the
manufacture of lumber and lumber products, operates plants, works,
69 N. I, R. B., No. 37.
302
LONG-BELL LUMBER COMPANY 303
retail lumber yards, and offices in various States in the United States.
This proceeding is concerned solely with the Company's sawmill,
lumber yard, box factory, sash and door factory, planing mill, treating
plant and veneer plant, all located at Weed, California. During the
fiscal year ending December,)) 1, 1945, the Weed Division manufactured
in excess of 55,000,000 board feet of rough and finished lumber, of
which more than 50 percent was sold and transported to points outside
the State of California.
The Company admits that it is engaged in commerce within the
meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
11. TILE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
International Woodworkers of America is a labor organization
affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, admitting
to membership employees of the Company.
Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Local 2907, is a labor organ-
ization affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, admitting
to membership employees of the Company.
111. T11E QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
The Company has refused to grant recognition to the CIO as the
exclusive bargaining representative of certain of its employees until
the CIO has been certified by the Board in an appropriate unit.
We find that a question affecting commerce has arisen concerning
the representation of employees of the Company, within the meaning
of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
The Company, the CIO, and the AFL agree that a unit of production
and maintenance employees of the Company's Weed Division lumber
operations, excluding office and clerical workers and supervisory
personnel, is appropriate. Although the parties also agree to the
exclusion of subforeinen as supervisory employees, the CIO and the
AFL would include the employee in charge of the Special Order De-
partment in the Door Department, the employee in charge of the
Green Chain Gang, and the Checker in the Treating Plant, contending
that their duties differ from those of subforemen to the extent that
they do not possess supervisory authority, whereas the Company would
exclude them on the ground that they are in fact sub-foremen with
the same supervisory duties as subforemen.1
' Since 1941 the Company and the AFL have bargained pursuant to collective eontracts
covering the unit upon which all parties are in agreement. There is no evidence to indi-
cate definitely whether or not the disputed categories were encompassed by these eontracts
Neither the Company nor the AFT, has raised its existing agreement as a bar to this
proceeding.
304 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Employee in charge of Special Order Department in the Door De-
partment, and Employee in charge of the Green Chain Gang: While
these employees spend some time performing manual labor , they de-
vote the major part of their time supervising the activities of their
subordinates . They possess the same authority effectively to recom-
mend discharge as sub-foremen. Accordingly, we shall exclude them
from the unit hereinafter found appropriate.
Checker in the Treating Plant: This employee supervises the work
of approximately 15 men , who load and unload lumber from cars to
trams and trams to cars . The only manual work he performs is to
mark the lumber as he counts it when it is pulled off the conveyor
chain. Apparently , the Checker , unlike subforemen , does not have
authority effectively to recommend discharge , and the Company itself
has stated that, because of the small number of employees in his
department , it has not insisted that the Checker accept a "supervisory
rating." Accordingly, we shall include the Checker in the Treating
Plant in the unit hereinafter found appropriate.
We find that all production and maintenance employees of the
Company's Weed Division lumber operations, including the Checker
in the Treating Plant, but excluding office and clerical employees, the
employee in charge of the Special Order Department in the Door
Department , the employee in charge of the Green Chain Gang, fore-
men, subforemen , and all other supervisory employees with authority
to hire, promote , discharge , discipline , or otherwise effect changes in
the status of employees , or effectively recommend such action , consti-
tute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining within
the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
V. THU DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
We shall direct that the question concerning representation which
has arisen be resolved by an election by secret ballot among employees
in the appropriate unit who were employed during the pay-roll period
immediately preceding the date of the Direction of Election herein,
subject to the limitations and additions set forth in the Direction.
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 9, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 3, as amended, it is
hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation to ascertain represent-
atives for the purposes of collective bargaining with Long-Bell Lum-
her Company-Weed Division , Weed. California , an election by secret
LONG-BELL LUMBER COMPANY 305
ballot shall be conducted as early as possible, but not later than thirty
(30) days from the date of this Direction, under the direction and
supervision of the Regional Director for the Twentieth Region, act-
ing in this matter as agent for the National Labor Relations Board,
and subject to Article III, Sections 10 and 11, of said Rules and Reg-
ulations, among employees in the unit found appropriate in Section
IV, above, who were employed during the pay-roll period immedi-
ately preceding the date of this Direction, including employees who
did not work during said pay-roll period because they were ill or on
vacation or temporarily laid off, and including employees in the
armed forces of the United States who present themselves in person
at the polls, but excluding those employees who have since quit or
been discharged for cause and have not been rehired or reinstated
prior to the date of the election, to determine whether they desire to
be represented by International Woodworkers of America, CIO, or
by Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Local 2907, AFL, for the
purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.
MR. GERARD D. REILLY took no part in the consideration of the
above Decision and Direction of Election.
701592---47--vol, 69--21