Markle Mfg. Co.Download PDFNational Labor Relations Board - Board DecisionsJan 2, 1979239 N.L.R.B. 1142 (N.L.R.B. 1979) Copy Citation DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD Markle Manufacturing Company of San Antonio and International Union of Electrical, Radio and Ma- chine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC, and its Local 1000. Cases 23-CA-5890, 23-CA-6056, 23-CA- 6330, 23-CA-6411, and 23-CA-6504 January 2, 1979 DECISION AND ORDER BY MEMBERS JENKINS. PENELLO. AND MURPHY On August 24, 1978, Administrative L.aw Judge Robert C. Batson issued the attached Decision in this proceeding. Thereafter, Respondent filed exceptions and a supporting brief, and the General Counsel filed a brief in support of the Administrative Law Judge's Decision. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the Na- tional Labor Relations Board has delegated its au- thority in this proceeding to a three-member panel. The Board has considered the record and the at- tached Decision in light of the exceptions and briefs and has decided to affirm the rulings, findings,' and conclusions of the Administrative Law Judge and to adopt his recommended Order. ORDER Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor Re- lations Board adopts as its Order the recommended Order of the Administrative Law Judge and hereby orders that the Respondent, Markle Manufacturing Company of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall take the action set forth in the said recommended Order. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the complaint be dis- missed insofar as it alleges unfair labor practices not found herein. Respondent has excepted to certain credibility findings made by the Administrative Law Judge. It is the Board's established policy not to over- rule an Administrative Law Judge's resolutions with respect to credibility unless the clear preponderance of all of the relevant evidence convinces us that the resolutions are incorrect. Standard Dry Wall Products, Inc., 91 NLRB 544 (1950). enfd. 188 F.2d 362 (3d Cir. 1951). We have carefully examined the record and find no basis for reversing his findings. In the absence of exceptions, the Board adopts proforma the Administra- tive Law Judge's finding that Respondent's failure to reinstate Marvin O'Neil, a striking employee, did not violate the Act. DECISION STATEMENT OF THE CASE ROBERT C. BATSON. Administrative Law Judge: This con- solidated proceeding under the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 151, et seq., herein the Act, was heard before me at San Antonio, Texas, on various dates in August and September 1977, upon charges filed by International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC, and its Local 1000, herein col- lectively the Union, against Markle Manufacturing Com- pany of San Antonio, herein Respondent or Company, and complaints issued thereon.' An order consolidating all cases for hearing issued on June 21, 1977. The complaints, as' amended at the hearing, allege refus- al by Respondent to furnish the Union with requested in- formation concerning the subcontracting of unit work: a list of bargaining-unit employees who worked in excess of 40 hours a week or 8 hours a day during a specified period of time; lists of employees including the names of those recalled from strike and the jobs to which they had been recalled; and information with respect to layoffs and repri- mands given employees during a 6-month period, all in violation of Section 8(aX5) and (1) of the Act. Also alleged to violate Section 8(a)(5) is a layoff of certain employees without notification to or consultation with the Union; a unilateral change in working hours, rules. The complaint in 23-CA-5890 alleges that Respondent violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act by refusing to reinstate 47 named unfair labor practice strikers upon their unconditional of- fer to return to work. The complaint in 23-CA-6504, is- sued 18 months later, alleges the refusal to reinstate 16 named strikers, all of whom were named in the first com- plaint, to their former positions when those positions be- came available in accordance with their rights as economic strikers. The nature of the strike, which commenced on July 8, 1975, and ended with an unconditional offer on behalf of all strikers to return to work on December 20, 1975, was litigated in Cases 23-CA-5460, et al, in Decem- ber 1975, before Administrative Law Judge James L. Rose, whose Decision issued March 26, 1976, JD-187-76. Judge Rose declined to find the strike an unfair labor practice strike, and the issue is now before the Board on exceptions by both the General Counsel and Respondent. To avoid further delay in issuing the Decision in this case, I assume, without deciding, for purposes of this Decision, the cor- rectness of Judge Rose's Decision and Order in the prior case with respect to the nature of the strike and will decide the reinstatement issue raised by the complaint in 23-CA- 6504. It appears that these cases constitute merely another chapter in the ongoing struggle between these parties to I The charge in Case 23-CA-5890 was filed on December 23. 1975, and amended January 20, 1976. Complaint thereon issued on March 19. 1976. The charge in Case 23-CA-6056 was filed on May 17. 1976, and complaint thereon issued on July 8. 1976. The charge in Case 23-CA-6330 was filed on December 29, 1976. and complaint thereon issued on April 18. 1977. The charge in Case 23-CA-6504 was filed on May 5. 1977. and amended on June 10. 1977. Complaint thereon issued on June 21, 1977. 1142 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY achieve the amicable collective-bargaining relationship en- visioned by the Act-or perhaps, as each party charges the other, to frustrate such relationship. Respondent charges the Union with engaging in harassing tactics, citing the numerous unfair labor practice charges it has filed which were dismissed or withdrawn-thus, it contends these friv- olous and groundless charges frustrated the bargaining re- lationship. While it is true that the Union has filed numer- ous charges which were apparently found to be without merit, it is also true that the General Counsel has issued complaints based upon 13 such charges since the parties began negotiations for a second contract. On the other hand, the Union charges Respondent with engaging in di- latory tactics, most of which have been alleged in various complaints. The allegations of the complaints in the prior cases are similar in some respects to those of the instant case. All issues were fully litigated at the hearing; all parties were represented throughout by counsel or other represen- tatives and were afforded full opportunity to present evi- dence and arguments and to file briefs. Briefs have been received from counsel for the General Counsel and Re- spondent. Upon the entire record, including careful consideration of the briefs, upon my observation of the testimonial de- meanor of the witnesses testifying under oath, and upon substantial reliable evidence, I make the following: FINDINGS OF FACT I. THE sUSINEss OF RESPONDENT Respondent is a Texas corporation, having its principal place of business at San Antonio, Texas, where it is en- gaged in the manufacture of metal products. During the 12 months preceding issuance of the complaints herein, which is a representative period, Respondent purchased and re- ceived goods and materials valued in excess of $50,000 from points located directly outside the State of Texas. The complaints allege, Respondent admits, and I find that Re- spondent is now and at all times material herein has been an employer engaged in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act. II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED The complaints allege, Respondent admits, and I find that International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC, and its Local 1000 are labor or- ganizations within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act. III. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE A. Background In 1973 the Union mounted an organizational campaign among Respondent's employees, which resulted in a Board-conducted election and certification of the Union on September 7, 1973, in an appropriate unit.2 Subsequent negotiations resulted in the execution of a collective-bar- gaining agreement on February 22, 1974, which, by its terms, remained in force and effect from February 6, 1974, to February 6, 1975, and thereafter from year-to-year un- less either party at least 60 days prior to the expiration date gave notice in writing to the other party of its desire to terminate the contract. Paul Javior, representative of Local 1000, served timely notice of intent to terminate the con- tract. Thus, the contract expired on February 6, 1975. The unfair labor practice allegations of these complaints span a period of almost 2 years and will be treated by subject matter. B. Alleged Refusals To Furnish Information 1. Subcontracting On two occasions, October 17 and December 22, 1975, the Union requested Respondent to furnish it certain infor- mation with respect to its subcontracting practices, which information was necessary to the performance of the Union's statutory duty as a bargaining agent. By letter dat- ed October 17, 1975, Union Representative Paul Javior wrote to Roland Friese, Respondent's general manager, with a copy to Attorney Manitzas, stating in relevant part: I am writing as the collective bargaining agent rep- resenting the employees at Markle Mfg. Company within the bargaining unit for the following informa- tion for collective bargaining, and responsible agent. 2. I am requesting a complete list of items being sub-contracted, date subcontract originated, and name of sub-contractor being sub-contracted to, work that has been and is being produced by any one of the following classifications at Markle Mfg. Company San Antonio, Texas Lead-person, Maintenance, Tool checker, Machine Operator, Helper, Fitter, Welder, Burner, Bldg. & Gds., Painter, Crane Operator, Fitter Helper, or Truck driver, but is now being sub-con- tracted out of your plant, or is sent direct rather than produced by your operation, but was to be produced by your operation within the bargaining unit. By letter dated October 23, 1975, Manitzas responded to Javior's request, in pertinent part as follows: Your request for information relating to subcon- tracting of work is hereby denied. In this regard, your attention is directed to Article IV, Management Rights, of the expired collective bargaining contract. Specifically bearing on this matter are the following sections of the said provision: Section I, Section 3, and Section 5. Having been denied the requested information in Octo- ber, on December 22, 1975, 2 days after the Union uncon- 2 The certified unit is: All production and maintenance employees, including group leaders, leadmen. shop clerks, truck drivers, shipping and receiving clerks, weld- ers, burners, fitters, lay-out men, and inspectors, but excluding all other employees, including all office clencal employees, guards, watchmen and supervisors as defined in the Act, employed by the Respondent at its San Antonio, Texas. plant. 1143 DEICISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD ditionally offered the return to work of all striking employ- ees, Javior again wrote Manitzas, with a copy to Friese: I am writing to requesting [sic] that as the collective bargaining agent representing the employees in the bargaining unit, I am requesting that you provide me with a list of all the sub-contracting and contracting work being formed [sic] out of the bargaining unit at this time that the employees in the following classifica- tions otherwise would be performing leadmen. ma- chine operators, fitters, Welders, Operators, Helpers and Maintenance. The purpose specifically that I need this information is to represent the employees in the bargaining unit concerning Article IV, and its Section 4. I1 need this information as soon as possible, so that I may full fill [sicl my legal obligations to represent the members of IUE- AFL-CIO and its Local 1000 repre- senting the bargaining unit established in Case No. 23-RC-3986 and the employees and classification therein. On December 24, 1976, Manitzas replied by letter, stat- ing: This is in response to your letter dated December 22, 1975, requesting information relating to subcon- tracting of work. We question the propriety of this request for such information, particularly in light of the contractual provisions of Article IV, Management Rights, of the expired collective bargaining contract. In any event, the Company's current practices regard- ing subcontracting of work are in accordance with past practice and pursuant to the rights and preroga- tives accorded to the Company under the terms of the expired collective bargaining contract. The General Counsel contends that the information sought by the Union is relevant and reasonably necessary for the intelligent performance of its statutory function as a bargaining agent and argues "there can be no question, [of the right to the information] since a prime concern of the Union was the preservation of bargaining unit work." Na- tional Woodwork Manufacturers Association, et al. v. N.L.R.B., 386 U.S. 612. (1967)." Respondent, on the other hand, argues that it had no obligation to furnish the infor- mation sought relating to subcontracting of bargaining- unit work, since the Union, by agreeing to the management rights clause, article IV,3 in their only collective-bargaining 3Said article reads, in pertinent part: Article IV. Section 1, The Company retains and reserves to itself all the rights, powers, privileges, prerogatives and authority which it possessed prior to the certification of the Union as the exclusive bargaining repre- sentative, except only those which are specifically limited by the terms of the provisions of this Agreement as they are expressly set forth Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company's sole and exclusive right to take any action it deems appropriate in the management of the plant, the assignment, disposal and the use of its facilities and equipment, the direction of the work force and of all employees, except only as expressly limited in this Agreement. Section 3. The Company shall have the exclusive right to determine and control all matters pertaining to products to be manufactured and, or sold, services to be performed. places of business or performance of work, the sources, classes and types of materials. parts. components, and pre-assemblies. contracting and/or subcontracting of work. the scheduling and assignment location of work, the structure and assign- agreement, had "waived its statutory right to bargain with respect to the subject, [and] was not entitled to information pertaining to the sub-contracting of unit work by Respon- dent." Respondent further contends that the request for this information was rendered moot when the Board, upon investigation of unfair labor practice charges relating to subcontracting and the diminution of bargaining-unit work, "confirmed" that Respondent's practices were con- sistent with its past practices. 4 There is a general obligation on an employer to provide information needed by the bargaining representative for the proper performance of its duties. This duty extends beyond the period of contract negotiation and applies to labor-management relations during the term of a collec- tive-bargaining agreement. N.L.RB. v. Acme Industrial Co., 385 U.S. 432 (1967). As the Court there said at 435- 436: There can be no question of the general obligation of an employer to provide information that is needed by the bargaining representative for the proper perfor- mance of its duties. N.L.R.B. v. Truitt Mfg. Co., 351 U.S. 149. Similarly, the duty to bargain unquestion- ably extends beyond the period of contract negotia- tions and applies to labor-management relations dur- ing the term of an agreement. The obligation of an employer to furnish such informa- tion is one created by Section 8(d) of the Act, and not by agreement between the union and the employer. However, its exercise may be affected by provisions of collective- bargaining agreements. The test of relevancy is "the proba- bility that the deisred information [is] relevant, and that it would be of use to the Union in carrying out its statutory duties and responsibilities." Acme Industrial Co., supra at 437. Where the information sought, such as wage and related ment and scheduling of work crews and shifts, the methods, processes. means and machinery to be used or any changes therein and the intro- duction of new or improved methods or facilities. all without liability to the Union or to the employees. The Company shall have the unre- stricted nght and privilege to suspend. transfer, cease, relocate or re- sume. at its discretion, the operation of its business, or use of its equip- ment and facilities, or any part thereof, without liability to the Union or to the employees. The above. while not an exclusive designation of the Company's prerogatives. are the exclusive nght of determination of the (Company. except only as expressly limited by this Agreement. Section 5. It is expressly agreed by the parties that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from contracting and/or sub- contracting out existing or new work or operations, or Company for materials. components, assemblies complete orders, services or portions of orders, to other firms or individuals for any economic factors which, in the Company's judgment, warrant such action. Contracting and /or subcontracting shall be at the sole and exclusive option and determination of the Company, however, the Company agrees that it will not exercise this right for the sole and exclusive purpose of causing a lay-off or avoiding the recall of employees. 4 At the hearing Respondent asserted, as an additional and "principal" reason for refusing to furnish this and other information to the Union, its alleged good-faith doubt that the Union continued to represent a majority of employees in the unit, which doubt was based in pan upon the fact that the Union had not requested Respondent to bargain for over 2 years. As noted supra., at the time the request for this information was first made the Union was engaged in a strike, which, whether ultimately determined to be economic or an unfair labor practice strike, is clear evidence that the Union was requesting Respondent to bargain. Moreover, the unfair labor practices found herein preclude Respondent from raising such defense. !144 MAKKLE MANUFACTUR'NG COMPANY information, pertains to employees in the bargaining unit, there is a presumption of relevance, and no specific show- ing of relevance is required. However, where as here, the information sought pertains to matters occurring outside the bargaining unit, relevance is required to be more pre- cise. See Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Wright Aeronautical Division v. N.L.R.B., 347 F.2d 61 (3d Cir. 1965). Respondent does not contend that the subcontracting of unit work formerly done by unit employees is not a manda- tory subject for bargaining, since such practice clearly in- volves the preservation of unit work, 5 but relies instead upon the contention that the Union had clearly and unmis- takably waived its right to bargain about the subcontract- ing of work by the agreement executed February 22, 1974, citing N.L.R.B. v. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Inc., and Advertis- er Publishing Co. Ltd., d/b/a Hawaii Newspaper Operators 372 F.2d 691, 693 (9th Cir. 1967). Respondent's reliance on Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Inc., is misplaced on the facts of this case, where the contract had expired. The court there held, "Since the Company was given discretion as to that particular matter [bonus plans], that matter was removed from the scope of collective bargaining during the term of the contract." [Emphasis supplied; citations omitted.] As- suming, arguendo, that during the term of the contract the Union had waived its right to obtain information pertain- ing to Respondent's subcontracting practices, such waiver expired with the contract. Therefore, Respondent's first de- fense is without merit. Likewise, Respondent's contention that the Union's re- quest became moot when the Board (the Regional Office) determined during the course of investigating an unfair la- bor practice charge relating to its subcontracting practices that such practices were consistent with its past practice is not valid. The issue here is not whether Respondent's prac- tices in that respect had changed but the right of the Union to obtain the information as to what those practices were in order that it could fulfill its statutory duty to fairly repre- sent the employees. I find that by failing and refusing to timely furnish the Union the information it sought on October 17 and De- cember 22, 1975, with respect to the subcontracting out of unit work Respondent violated Section 8(aX5) and (1) of the Act, as alleged. 2. Request for list of employees working over 40 hours per week On March 17, 1976, by letter to Respondent's general manager, Friese, Javior requested, inter alia, a list of all unit employees who worked in excess of 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day since December 15, 1975. Javior assert- ed two reasons for requesting this information: (I) to veri- fy reports that the plant was operating 6 or 7 days a week and, if so, ascertain whether there was an equal distribu- tion of the overtime work and (2) to verify the Company's claimed economic reduction in force, which left approxi- mately 50 former strikers without jobs. On March 19, 1976, Respondent's attorney, Manitzas, replied by letter, refusing Fiberboard Paper Products Corp v N.I..R. B.. 379 U S. 203 11964) to furnish the information on the grounds that it related to the Union's unfair labor practice charges of unlawful dimi- nution of the unit then being investigaged by the Board's Regional Office. Manitzas stated the pertinent information had been submitted to the Board and asserted, "In any event, there has been no change in the company's policy or practice regarding hours of work, overtime or days of work." On April 29, 1976. Javior reiterated his request, and on May 6, 1976, Manitzas refused for the reasons stated in his March 19 lette;. Respondent in its brief contends that the Board's deter- mination that the Union's charges of unlawful diminution of the unit was without merit disposed of the Union's pur- ported need for the information and aruges that it had no duty to furnish such information, since its "practices did not represent any unilateral deviation from or inconsisten- cy with its practice: as they existed both during and prior to the existence of the collective bargaining agreement." The information sought here by the Union is clearly rele- vant to the performance of its representational obligations to employees. Although the collective-bargaining agree- ment had expired, the Union's duty to fairly represent the employees continued, as did Respondent's duty to bargain in good faith with the Union. While it may be argued that in the absence of a contractual provision providing for the equal distribution of overtime work the Union would not be entitled to the requested information to ascertain wheth- er such work was equally distributed, in my opinion the Union is entitled to the information under the circum- stances here to enable it to intelligently bargain with the employer concerning the distribution of overtime work. Furthermore, the Union is entitled to the information for the second reason stated, i.e.. to determine whether the em- ployer has departed from its past practice with respect to overtime in order to forestall the recall of some 50 former strikers who had unconditionally offered to return to work. Respondent's defense, that it had supplied the requested data to the Board's Regional Office in connection with its investigation of an unfair labor practice charge involving the same issue and been exonerated of unlawful conduct, is irrelevant to the issue of the duty to furnish the informa- tion to the Union. Indeed, had Respondent furnished the Union the requested information, which was, even without any stated reason, potentially relevant 6 to the Union's ability to intelligently bargain with Respondent, the unfair labor practice charge might never have been filed. I find that by failing and refusing to furnish the Union the information it sought on March 17 and April 29, 1976, with respect to overtime worked since December 15, 1975, Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act. 3. Requests for other information On December 11, 1976, Javior, by letter to Manitzas, requested that Respondent furnish the Union: (I) a com- plete and updated list of all employees in the bargaining unit, showing name, seniority, classification, rate of pay, department, last raise, age, sex, and race, a- of December 11, 1976: (2) the jobs recently recalled strikers held in July See T7h BrooAlin I nin (;l t(rompanl 220 NI.RB 8X9 (1975). 1145 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 1975; (3) the jobs recently recalled strikers filled when they returned to work; (4) a list of all reprimands, layoffs, terminations, or quits in the last 6 months; and (5) the reasons for the reprimands, layoffs, or terminations in the past 6 months. On March 14, 1977, by letter to Manitzas, Javior requested a list of employees recalled from layoff within the past 30 days, including the jobs to which the employees were recalled, rate of pay, and date recalled. On April 13, 1977, Javior, by letter to Manitzas, reiterated the above requests and added a request for a list showing which employees recalled from the strike in 1976 did or did not receive a Christmas bonus in 1976. On February II, 1977, Javior, by letter, renewed in substance the December II request and also requested copies of the recall letter Respondent had sent to some of the former strikers. Javior admits that on November 10, 1976, he obtained from Manitzas, by telephone, the names of all the strikers who had been recalled as of that date, but such informa- tion did not include the positions to which they had been recalled. On February 15, 1977, Respondent furnished the Union a roster of the bargaining-unit complement includ- ing the name, employment dates, classification, age, sex, race and/or national origin, present rate of pay, and date and amount of the last wage increase of each, as requested by the Union. In addition, Respondent furnished the Union with copies of the letters it had sent to I I strikers and the names of 3 who declined the offer of reinstate- ment. The complaint in Cases 23-CA-5460, et al., heard by Administrative Law Judge Rose, in December 1975 and January 1976 (JD-187-76) contained an allegation that since July 25, 1975, Respondent had refused to furnish the Union with information apparently identical to that re- quested here in (I) above. Administrative Law Judge Rose concluded that the information was relevant to the Union's performance of its collective-bargaining duty but that Re- spondent had furnished the information prior to the hear- ing. I allude to this finding only to place in perspective the Union's frequent requests for this type of information and Respondent's response to the requests. I also note that in Javior's October 17, 1975, letter requesting the subcon- tracting information discussed in section III, B above, a request was also made for this same information. Manitzas' October 23 reply stated that the Company was in the pro- cess of preparing the requested information. Presumably such information was supplied to the Union at that time. Respondent apparently concedes that it has a duty to furnish the Union a bargaining-unit roster setting forth the information requested in (1), above, and contends that it has complied with that duty. I find that by furnishing the Union the information it did on February 15 and 20, 1976, Respondent did not refuse to furnish the Union the infor- mation it sought. While there was a 2-month interval be- tween the first request and the time the information was furnished, I find it was not unreasonable and did not ham- per the Union in the performance of its duty. In view of this finding, I need not decide whether Respondent had a duty to supply the Union with information pertaining to the age, sex, and race of the unit employees. With respect to the information pertaining to the jobs recently recalled strikers held at the time of the strike, Re- spondent contends, and it is not disputed, that it supplied the Union with that information some 3 weeks before the strike and suggests that there were no changes between June 15, 1975, and the date of the strike. I find and con- clude that the infornmation provided the Union on June 15, 1975, indicating the jobs striking employees held as of that date, was sufficient to enable the Union to intelligently fulfill its representative functions. With respect to the jobs recently recalled strikers filled when they returned to work, I find that the information on the roster furnished the Union on February 15, 1976, setting forth as it did name, classification, and department, was sufficient for the Union to determine the jobs in which recalled strikers had been placed. Having found that Respondent furnished this in- formation to the Union, albeit not in the most desirable form, I need not deal with Respondent's arguments that it had no duty to furn sh such information. Respondent contends that it has no duty to furnish the Union information with respect to reprimands, layoffs, ter- minations, and quits and the reasons therefor, as requested in the December 11, 1976, letter. I disagree. Although the collective-bargaining agreement had expired, the Union re- mained the duly designated collective-bargaining represen- tative of the employees and as such was clearly entitled to this information to intelligently perform its representative functions. Likewise, the Union was entitled to a list of em- ployees recalled from layoff and the positions to which they were recalled as requested in the March 14 and April 13, 1977, letters. The same is true with respect to the names of employees who did and did not receive a Christmas bo- nus. It is well settled that the requested information need only be of potential relevance to mandate an employer to provide it. The Brooklyn Union Gas Company, supra There- fore, Respondent violated Section 8(aX5) and (1) by refus- ing to furnish the Union the information it requested, as found above. C. Unilateral Changes and Layoffs On or about January 25, 1977, without notice to or con- sultation with the Union, Respondent laid off several em- ployees and unilaterally changed the hours of work, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On or about April 25, 1977, Respondent unilaterally posted 10 general safety rules which applied to unit employees. On January 25, 1977, Respondent posted in its plant a notice to all shop employees advising them that effective January 27, 1977, there would be a layoff of indefinite du- ration due to economic conditions and naming 15 employ- ees who would be laid off. The same notice advised the employees that the workweek would be reduced to 40 hours and the work hours would be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Javior testified that he learned of the change in work hours and his information about a layoff was confirmed when Manitzas supplied him that information on February 15, 1977. The expired collective-bargaining agreement pro- vides that the employer will notify the Union 3 working days prior to any impending layoff. Respondent does not address these issues in its post-hearing brief. The General Counsel contends Respondent violated Section 8(a)5) and (I) by failing to notify the Union 3 working days in ad- !146 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY vance of the layoff in accord with the collective-bargaining agreement and past practice and also by changing the working hours without notification to or consultation with the Union. Respondent has a duty to notify the Union with respect to changes in wages, hours, and conditions of employment in order to afford the Union an opportunity to bargain about same. It appears also that Respondent has a duty under the expired collective-bargaining agreement and past practice to notify the Union 3 days prior to any layoff. This, it admits, it did not do. Accordingly, I find and con- clude that Respondent violated Section 8(a)5) and (1) by failing to notify the Union concerning the layoff and the change in work hours. However, the same cannot be said with respect to the alleged unilateral implementation of the safety rules on or about April 22, 1977. Respondent deals extensively with this issue in its brief, while the General Counsel does not address it at all. It appears that this same issue was litigated in the prior case with respect to another date. On April 22, 1977, Respondent posted copies of the fol- lowing, throughout the plant: You are working for an organization which is sincere in its desire to conduct all of its operations in the saf- est manner possible. Compliance with the General Safety Rules listed below will assist us in achieving this objective. These rules are the minimum guides for working safely. Your continued awareness and coop- eration in loss control is a vital part of your job. It is your duty to apply these and all accepted standards of loss control. 1. Whenever you are involved in any accident that results in personal injury or damage to property, no matter how small, the accident must be reported. Get first aid promptly. 2. Report immediately any condition or practice you think might cause injury or damage to equipment. 3. Do not operate any equipment which, in your opinion is not in a safe condition. 4. All prescribed safety and personal protective equipment should be used when required and main- tained in a working condition. 5. Obey all company rules, governmental regula- tions, signs, markings, and instructions. Be particu- larly familiar with those that apply directly to you. If you don't know-ask. 6. When lifting, use the approved lifting technique, i.e., bend your knees, grasp the load firmly, then raise the load keeping your back as straight as possible. Get help for heavy loads. 7. Don't horseplay; avoid distracting others; be courteous. 8. Always use the right tools and equipment for the job. Use them safely and only when authorized. 9. Good housekeeping should always be practiced. Return all tools, equipment, materials, etc. to their proper places. Disorder wastes time, energy, and ma- terial, and will often result in injury. 10. The use of drugs and/or intoxicating beverages are prohibited. It is undisputed that Respondent first posted these no- tices throughout the plant in late 1974. Respondent further established that it had throughout its existence displayed safety posters relating to each of the 10 rules set forth above. There is no evidence or contention that the general safety rules which were first posted in 1974, apparently during the term of the collective-bargaining agreement, be- came dormant or were otherwise rescinded. Therefore, the rules were not newly promulgated in April 1977, as alleged, and there was no duty on Respondent to notify or bargain with the Union. Even assuming that these specific general safety rules had not been posted continuously since 1974, it is undisputed that safety posters displayed throughout the plant conveyed the same message. Thus, the rules were merely a codification of rules which had been in existence for several years, a-id their posting does not constitute a unilateral change in working conditions about which Re- spondent must bargain with the Union. D. The Reinstatement of Strikers Issue The outcome of this case with respect to the reinstate- ment rights of all striking employees as of December 20, 1975, as unfair labor practice strikers, depends upon the Board's decision in Cases 23-CA-5460, et al., JD-187-76, on the issue of whether the July 8, 1975, strike was caused, and/or prolonged, by the unfair labor practices alleged and litigated in those cases. If the Board finds in the earlier case, wherein the nature of the strike was litigated, that the strike was not an unfair labor practice strike because it was not caused or pro- longed by any unfair labor practices found therein, then the allegations of paragraphs 17 and 18 of the complaint in Case 23-CA-5890 should be dismissed and the reinstate- ment rights of the strikers should be decided under the allegations of the complaint in Case 23-CA-6504. If, on the other hand, the Board finds the strike there in issue to be an unfair labor practice stnke, then paragraphs 16 and 17 of the complaint in Case 23-CA-6504 should be dis- missed and the issue decided under the allegations of the complaint in Case 23-CA-5890, which would require the immediate reinstatement of all striking employees for whom jobs were available after the displacement of re- placements. The evidence before me in this respect deals entirely with the alleged failure of Respondent to recall 16 strikers in accordance with their rights to reinstatement as econom- ic strikers when their former, or substantially equivalent, positions became available after being vacated by perma- nent replacements. The undisputed evidence and stipulations before me es- tablish that on July 8, 1975, there were 75 to 78 employees occupying positions within the described unit, and such employees constituted a full complement. On December 20, 1975, Union Representative Javior, by mail-O-gram, made an unconditional offer on behalf of all striking em- ployees to return to work. On December 22, 1975, Respon- dent's vice president, Friese, replied by letter, asserting in substance that all strikers had either been permanently re- placed, or their positions'were not presently available due 1147 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD to economic considerations, and added that certain strikers were not eligible for reinstatement due to their participa- tion in strike violence or misconduct. At this time there were 49 employees working in unit jobs, consisting of 25 nonstriking employees, 4 employees who had abandoned the strike and returned to work prior to this time, and 20 replacements who had been hired between July 8 and De- cember 20, 1975. Counsel for the General Counsel stipulat- ed that the diminution of the unit during the strike was the result of legitimate economic considerations and that no other jobs or positions were available in the unit. The General Counsel contends that if the strike is found to be an unfair labor practice strike the 49 jobs available on December 22, 1975, should be apportioned among the striking and nonstriking employees, after removal of all replacements, on a nondiscriminatory basis, citing Lytron Incorporated 207 NLRB 554, 560 (1973). As previously noted, the issue of the status of the strike is now before the Board in its review of the previous case. It appears that Respondent's defense of its failure to reinstate some of the strikers, such as those it charges with strike misconduct, is a defense it would assert regardless of the nature of the strike and that resolution of these issues would be neces- sary in any event. The complaint in Case 23-CA-6504, as amended at hearing, alleges that Respondent refused to reinstate 16 strikers in accordance with its duty to reinstate economic strikers. Ten strikers were never offered reinstatement, six because of alleged strike misconduct and four because of unsatisfactory work records. Four strikers were recalled af- ter new employees had been hired in positions the General Counsel contends should have been offered to these indi- viduals. Two strikers were recalled and subsequently, the General Counsel contends, were improperly denied rein- statement. Robert Castro On March 22, 1977, Vice President Friese sent a letter via certified mail to Robert Castro requesting his return to work on or before April 4, 1977. The letter was properly addressed to Castro at the last address known to Respon- dent. The letter' was returned to Respondent marked by the postal service "Moved, not forwardable," "forwarding has expired." Castro testified that he had moved from that ad- dress 15 months earlier and admits that he did not notify the Company of his change of address but contended that his telephone number had remained unchanged. Castro learned about 2 months later that strikers were being re- called and went to the plant to inquire about his recall. Superintendent Louis Acros advised him that his recall let- ter had been returned because of his change of address, obtained his new address and telephone number, and told Castro that no jobs were available then, but he might be called when work picked up. The General Counsel, while reciting the above facts in his brief, does not address any theory with respect to why Respondent had not fulfilled its obligation to recall Castro by the March 22 letter. At the trial the General Counsel appeared to take the position that Respondent had a fur- ther duty, after the return of the letter, to attempt to tele- phone Castro with a message of his recall. It is well settled that an employee awaiting recall under Laidlaw has a duty, at a minimum, to keep the employer informed of his current address in order to allow the em- ployer to effectively notify him of recall by certified mail, a means which has been approved by the Board. Indeed, if such employee fails to maintain a current address with the employer for this purpose, an employer may be justified in assuming the employee is no longer interested in his job. Assuming, as Castro testified, that Acros told him in June, 2 months after his recall letter was returned, that he would call him when work picked up, such does not constitute an extention of Laidlaw rights, and the issue of refusal to re- hire an employee was neither alleged nor litigated. Accord- ingly, I find that Respondent fulfilled its duty to recall Castro when his job became available by the attempted delivery of the April 22, 1975, letter. This is not a case where the employer is remedying an unfair labor practice such as offering reinstatement to an unlawfully discharged employee, in which case the Board has held that an unde- livered letter offering reinstatement does not constitute a valid offer, Ertel Manufacturing Corp., 147 NLRB 312 (1964), and the employer must utilize all other reasonable means to effectuate the offer of reinstatement. See Gladwin Industries, Inc., 183 NLRB 280 (1970). Joe Valdez On April 4, 1977, the employer, by certified mail, offered helper Joe Valdez his former position at the plant. Upon receipt of the letter, Valdez, who had worked approximate- ly I month prior to the strike, and his father, who was also an employee, went to the plant and talked with Manager Friese and Superintendent Acros. The elder Valdez, who had also been recalled, declined to return to work and ad- vised Friese and Acros that the younger Valdez, Joe, was in school at the time and that when school was out in June he would return to work. According to Valdez, he was told as soon as school was out he could have his job back. Accord- ing to Friese, he told Valdez he could not wait for him under the provision of the recall, but that he could call when he finished school and they might be able to use him. In June Valdez went to the plant and talked with Acros, who told him he had been replaced but could complete another application for consideration for future employ- ment. Valdez declined to do so, reasoning that "I already had one there." Valdez testified that when he went to work at Markle, in the summer of 1975, he was thinking about quitting school in order to work. However, since he did not have a job when school resumed in September, he returned to school. Again, counsel for the General Counsel does not address a specific argument with respect to Respondent's duty to hold Valdez' job for 2 months while he completed the school year. However, it appears that he contends that the duty arises from Friese's alleged promise to hold his job for him. I find, based upon the credited testimony of Friese, that he told Valdez that he could not hold his job for him, but would consider him for other positions when they be- came available. I do not believe that Valdez intentionally gave false testimony on this point. His command of the 1148 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY English language was minimal, and he may well have un- derstood from Friese's statement that his job would be available in June. Clearly, if the employer needed the posi- tion offered to Valdez filled at that time, it could not wait for 2 months while Valdez completed the school year be- fore filling it. It is equally clear that the employer, having fulfilled its obligation to recall Valdez, considering the state of its business at that time, could hardly guarantee Valdez employment when he completed school. Accord- ingly, I find that Respondent fulfilled its duty to recall Valdez by the April 4, 1975, letter and has no further duty to recall him under the Laidlaw doctrine. The issue of a refusal to rehire Valdez in June 1977 was not alleged or litigated. Humberto Perales Humberto Perales was employed in the maintenance classification as an equipment maintenance man at the time of the strike. At that time there were four employees carried under the maintenance classification: a chief main- tenance man, a janitor, a tool checker, and Perales. Perales was the only employee in this classification to join the strike. Prior to Perales' unconditional offer to return to work, Harvey Zombro was hired in his classification as a permanent replacement. According to Friese, Zombro quit sometime in May 1977, but Perales was not recalled be- cause the position did not need to be filled at that time. At some point after this, Zombro was rehired and worked un- til approximately July 8, 1977. On July 12, Perales was offered his former position, which had been vacated for a second time by Zombro. Also pertinent to the General Counsel's contention with respect to Perales is the fact that after the strike Gonzales, the janitor who was carried under the maintenance classification, retired and was replaced by Esparza. The General Counsel contends that Respondent should have offered Perales the janitor position when it became vacant, since it was in the maintenance classifica- tion, and/or have offered him his former position when Zombro quit the first time. In its brief Respcndent con- tends that it had no duty to offer Perales the janitor posi- tion, since it had never hired an equipment maintenance man to perform janitorial duties. Without addressing Zombro's first "quit" as testified to by Friese, it contends that Perales was properly reinstated when Zombro quit in July 1977. There is no evidence in the record before me dealing with the comparability of the janitor job with that of equip- ment maintenance. such as wages and duties of the jobs. The 1974 contract between the Union and the employer provides for a wage range in maintenance of from $2 to $3.70 an hour. However, other evidence in the record, spe- cifically Respondent's June 15, 1976, reply to the Union's request for information, which includes wages and classifi- cations of all employees, shows that as of that date Gon- zales, the janitor, was earning $2.80 an hour and Zombro, Perales' replacement, was earning $3 per hour. The defi- ciencies of this comparison are obvious, since Gonzales was far senior to Zombro and such could affect the wage rate. The burden is upon Respondent to establish either that the job was not substantially equivalent or that Perales was not reasonably well qualified to perform the janitorial duties. This burden it has failed to sustain. I find and con- clude that Respondent had a duty to offer the janitor posi- tion to Perales on May 27, 1977, when it hired a new em- ployee to fill the vacancy. In any event, Perales had a paramount right to his former position when Zombro quit the first time and was rehired at some point after May 27, 1977. Juan Morales, Jose Hinojosa, and Bob Jones Juan Morales and Jose Hinojosa were employed in the "helper" classification at the time of the strike, and Bob Jones was a welder. On December 20, 1975, permanent replacements had been hired to Hinojosa's and Jones' posi- tions and Morales' position had been eliminated due to the economic diminution of the unit. The counsel for the Gen- eral Counsel contends that Respondent failed to recall these strikers until after it had hired new employees in their respective classifications.7 Respondent admits that 10 new employees had been hired in the helper classification and 2 in the welder classification when it recalled Morales, Hino- josa, and Jones on July 12, 1977. Respondent contends that it had "legitimate and substantial business reasons" for its failure to recall these three strikers before hiring new em- ployees. The only business consideration advanced is "their poor performance records and their undesirability as employees." Other than the conclusional testimony of Friese, no evidence was adduced in support of this conten- tion. There is no contention by Respondent that Morales, Hinojosa, and Jones would have been disciplined by terrm- nation, layoff or otherwise, had they not participated in the strike. It is well settled that permanently replaced economic strikers who have unconditionally offered to return to work are entitled to their jobs upon the vacation of the jobs by the permanent replacements and to be placed on a prefer- ential hiring list for recall to like, or substantially equiva- lent, positions. The employer may, however, deny such re- instatement for substantial and legitimate business reasons. N.L R.B v. Mackay Radio & Telegraph Co., 304 U.S. 333 (1938); N.L.R.B. v. Fleetwood Trailer Co., 389 U.S. 375 (1967). In my view, the reasons asserted here are not sub- stantial and legitimate business reasons. Respondent may not rely upon asserted work deficiencies, for which there is no evidence the employees would have been disciplined absent their participation in a strike, to deny them their proper recall rights. Respondent's reliance upon Plymouth Cordage Co. d/b/a Wilson & Toomer Fertilizer Company, 151 NLRB 949 (1969), is misplaced. In that case a number of employees were laid off due to economic reasons and the employer refused to recall from layoff four employees, asserting work deficiencies and their undesirability as em- ployees as reasons therefor in defense against a complaint alleging that the refusal to recall stemmed from their union activities and was violative of Section 8(aX3) of the Act. The Board considered the defense and, as to one employee The record discloses that new employees were hired in the helper classi- fication on April 7 and 18. May 9. 20, 24. 25(2). and 31, June 7, and July I I, 1977. and in the welder classification on June 13 and July I I. 1977. 1149 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (Rodgers), affirmed the trial examiner's finding that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding of discrimi- nation in light of the credited evidence of his undesirability as an employee. There is no duty imposed on an employer by operation of the Act to recall economically laid-off em- ployees, other than to refrain from discriminating against them because of their union or protected concerted activi- ties. Such duty, if any, arises out of a contractual relation- ship. Whereas the Act, by operation of the interpretation enunciated in the Laidlaw concept imposes a duty to recall economic strikers when their jobs, or substantially equiva- lent jobs for which they are reasonably well qualified, be- come available, I know of no cases, and Respondent cites none, where the Board has permitted an employer to reev- aluate an economic striker's desirability as an employee and assert its determination that he is an undesirable em- ployee as a legitimate and substantial business reason for denying him his right to be recalled to his job when the job becomes available. Accordingly, I find that Respondent has not met its bur- den of proof that the delay in the recall of Morales, Hino- josa, and Jones was for legitimate and substantial business reasons. Morales and Hinojosa should have been nondis- criminatorily recalled to the first two helper positions for which new employees were hired and Jones to the welder position filled by a new employee on June 13, 1977.8 Jesus Gonzales, Mike Ulloa, and Eulalio Palacios Respondent admits that it has refused to recall machine operator Jesus Gonzales and helpers Mike Ulloa and Eula- lio Palacios, whose jobs had been eliminated on December 20, 1975, and that it has hired new employees in those positions. Respondent refused to reinstate these employees for the asserted reason of unsatisfactory employment rec- ords, including excessive absenteeism and tardiness. Gon- zales was given 33 slips between January and July 1975 and, in June 1975, received a 3-day suspension for absen- teeism. Palacios was absent 12 times during the 4-month period prior to the strike, and Ulloa was absent or late 7 times during a 2-month period. According to Plant Manag- er Friese, Respondent has a progressive disciplining system wherein, it appears, attendance records are reviewed at 2- month intervals and if such review reveals the employee has been unexcusably tardy or absent five times he is given a warning letter admonishing that his attendance must im- prove. If during the next 2-month period he has five or more unexcused absences, he is given what is called a "1- day letter," which, according to Friese, means that if his In its brief Respondent asserts that Jones was not offered reinstatement because "it bad received information that Jones had secured other employ- ment." The only evidence presented in support of this contention was the following testimony by Friese: Q. (By Mr. Manitzas) "To your kno ledge. was he (Jones) working prior to the time you offered him recall?" A. "Yes, you hear these things, but you can't be sure. As far as I know, he's working." Such evidence is clearly insufficient to establish that Respondent possessed any reliable evidence that Jones had secured regular and substarnially equivalent employment to bring him within that exception of the Laidlaw doctinne. attendance does not improve during the next 2-month pe- riod he will be laid off for 2 days. During the next 2-month period, if his attendance has not improved he will be laid off for 3 days, and at the end of the following 2-month period, if improvement is not shown, the employer has the option to fire him. The progressive disciplinary policy de- scribed above is extremely liberal and possibly encourages lax attendance. While there is little evidence in the record before me to determine the extent of absenteeism and tar- diness. Administrative Law Judge Rose, in the prior case, JD-187-76 (p. 10, sl. op.) observed "the record is clear, that absenteeism, tardiness and the like are common at the Markle Plant. Yet few, if any employees are ever disci- plined for this, much less dishcarged. An occasional em- ployee may not be given a raise at the end of the proba- tionary period if he misses too much work, and other employees, after substantial absenteeism, have been repri- manded and some have been disciplined by lay-off." Respondent's refusal to recall these employees in accor- dance with their rights as economic strikers is tantamount to discharge. It is evident that Respondent departed from its progressive disciplinary policy in terminating these em- ployees for excessive absenteeism. Assuming that a respon- dent may in some cases go behind the economic strike and establish legitimate and substantial business considera- tions, which burden is on Respondent, for refusing to recall employees from strike by showing that an employee's work record or habits were sufficient to warrant his discharge, Respondent has failed to sustain that burden here. Denial of reinstatement to economic strikers is inherent- ly destructive of important Section 7 rights, including the right to strike. If an employer may seize upon a lawful strike to review strikers' competency and desirability as employees and, if they are found to be less than adequate, assert such finding as a substantial business reason for not reinstating them, where it is not established that such em- ployees would have been forthwith discharged, the result is inherently destructive of the right to strike. Any employee with less than an exemplary work record, which work rec- ord is frequently not known to the employee, would be fearful to engage in this protected activity and afford the employer an opportunity to review his work record and deny him reinstatement. In my opinion, a better rule would be to preclude a struck employer from asserting as a legiti- mate business consideration any work deficiencies or un- desirable habits known to it at the time of the strike as a basis for denying reinstatement to its employees. Accordingly, I find and conclude that Respondent has not met its burden of establishing substantial business just- ifications for refusing to recall Gonzales, Ulloa, and Palac- ios before hiring new employees in their former positions for which they were reasonably well qualified. Teofilo Guzman Respondent contends that it was justified in not offering reinstatement to Teofilo Guzman because it was notified by Guzman's insurance company in December 1975 that he had filed a claim for disability and was not able to work. Guzman was a machine operator at the time of the strike. Guzman sustained a work-related injury to his back in 1150 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1974 and did not work for several months, but returned about March 1975 and worked until the strike on July 8, 1975. After the strike ended, in January 1976, Respondent received a copy of Guzman's claim for disability filed with his insurance company. In November 1976, Respondent also received notice that Guzman had visited at least two physicians for treatment for pain in his legs. It appears that he was also treated for related problems in 1977. Respon- dent contends that it had never been notified by Guzman's physician that he had been released from his claimed dis- ability. There is nothing contained in the information Respon- dent had in its possession to indicate that Guzman was claiming permanent disability, or indeed that his claim for disability had been sustained by the insurance carrier. I find and conclude that Respondent has not established a substantial business reason for not offering Guzman his own position or one for which he was reasonably well qua- lified when such position became available. Feles Cantu, Robert Pineda, Guillermo "Willie" Suarez. J. Navarro, Albert Almaraz, and Marvin O'Neal Respondent denied reinstatement to strikers Feles Can- tu, Robert Pineda, Guillermo "Willie" Suarez, J. Navarro, Albert Almaraz, and Marvin O'Neil for alleged strike mis- conduct and violence. The conduct claimed by Respon- dent to be so egregious as to make these employees unsui- table for employment is set forth in the allegations of paragraph 8(a) through (h) and 9 of the complaint issued in Case 23-CB-1773 on February 3, 1976. Disposition of that case was achieved by formal settlement. On April 13, 1976, the Respondent Union therein, the Charging Party (Re- spondent herein), and the General Counsel entered into a settlement stipulation subject to the approval of the Board, providing for the entry of a consent order by the Board and a consent judgment by any appropriate United States Court of Appeals. The parties waived all further proce- dures they may be entitled to before the Board. The settle- ment stipulation contained a nonadmissions clause. On June 15, 1976, the Board entered its Decision and Order based upon the settlement stipulation, and on July 15, 1976, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Cir- cuit entered judgment enforcing the Board's Order. In its answer to the complaint in Case 23-CA-6504, at the hearing, and in its post-hearing brief, Respondent con- tended that the complaint issued by the General Counsel in Case 23-CA-1173, the all party settlement stipulation, the adoption of the settlement stipulation by the Board, and the entry of its consent Order and of the consent judgment by the court of appeals create a collateral estoppel on the General Counsel to allege in the instant case that the strik- ers named in the CB compalint were entitled to reinstate- ment, thereby placing in issue the question of whether they had engaged in disqualifying misconduct. Respondent fur- ther contends that the position now taken by the General Counsel is inconsistent with and contrary to the position taken by the General Counsel in the prior CB case and that such constitutes an "intentional self-contradiction and is an affront to the sanctity and dignity of judicial proceed- ings." At the hearing I denied Respondent's motion to preclude the General Counsel's adducing testimony from these strik- ers to explain the circumstances surrounding the miscon- duct alleged in the CB compoaint or to deny that they had been guilty of it, and to dismiss the complaints with respect to Respondent's refusal to reinstate them. I concluded then, as now, after further consideration and research, that Respondent was entitled to rely upon the allegations of the prior CB complaint with respect to the strike misconduct of these employees, and the dispisition thereof by consent or- der and judgment, only to establish the good-faith belief that they had engaged in disqualifying misconduct and shift the burden to the General Counsel to establish by a preponderance of evidence that they had not in fact en- gaged in such conduct under the criterion approved by the Supreme Court in N.L.R.B. v. Burnup and Sims, Inc., 379 U.S. 21, 23 (1964), as enunciated by the Board in Rubin Bros. Footwear, Inc., 99 NLRB 610 (1952). Relying upon its contention of collateral estoppel and/or res judicata, Re- spondent adduced no evidence of misconduct of these six strikers. Respondent's argument for collateral estoppel on the facts here has some appeal. However, I find no support for the application of collateral estoppel on these facts in the Federal courts or Board decisions or in other authorities on the subject.9 The General Counsel argues in substance that the settlement stipulation here ran only to the Union and not to the individuals named as agents of the Union. In other words, the strikers who are alleged as discriminatees herein were not parties to the prior proceeding. Mosher Steel Company, 226 NLRB 1163 (1976), enfd. in part, de- nied in relevant part 532 F.2d 1374 (5th Cir. 1976), cited by the General Counsel, is inapposite on the facts. In Mosher there had been a prior hearing based upon a charge and complaint against the Union wherein the Administrative Law Judge made findings of fact that certain strikers had engaged in conduct attributable to the Union in violation of Section 8(bXIXA).' ° No exceptions were filed. In the subsequent proceeding, the issue of the relitigation of the facts found in the CB case, with respect to the conduct of strikers who had not testified in the prior case, was raised by the complaint allegation of a violation of Section 8(aX3) and (1), predicated on Respondent's refusal to reinstate the strikers upon their unconditional offer to return to work after a strike. The Board adopted without comment the Administrative Law Judge's conclusions that the General Counsel was not estopped from relitigating their conduct, since the alleged discriminatees were not parties to the prior proceeding, although named as agents; had not been served with notice of hearing; were under no obligation to appear unless subpenaed; were not privies for purposes of estoppel; had no interest in the CB proceeding; and bad not offered to return to work at the time of the CB hearing, and since the issue of the denial of reinstatement was not ripe for litigation. Respondent there, as in the instant case, declined to adduce evidence to rebut the alleged discrimi- natees' denials that they had engaged in disqualifying mis- conduct. In denying enforcement of this part of the 9See Moore's Federal Practice. lB. 4009 Sec 0.444 (31. iOCase 23-CA 1158. not reported 1151 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD Board's Order, the court observed that "collateral estoppel is applicable only if the same parties or their privies are involved in both actions and if it was foreseeable that the facts to be the subject of estoppel would be of importance in future litigation." The court found that the employee whose conduct had been litigated in the previous case de- rived his protection from the Union in the latter case and that the Union had prosecuted both cases. Thus, unlike the instant case, in Mosher the same con- duct of the striker had been litigated in a previous case before an Administrative Law Judge and findings of fact made thereon, and the court accepted the findings of fact made by the Judge and considered the employee's eligibili- ty for reinstatement in light of those facts. Of greater precedential value here is the Board's decision in W. C. McQuaide, Inc., 220 NLRB 593 (1975), enfd. in relevant part 552 F.2d 519 (3d Cir. 1977). In McQuaide, Respondent contended that a contempt of court citation by a Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas justified its dis- charge of three strikers. The court made no findings of fact but provided merely that the Respondents therein "are ad- judged to be in contempt of court." The Board, after not- ing that not all misconduct in the course of a strike de- prives an employee of his right to reinstatement, stated at 594 that "in so evaluating the conduct by strikers, the Board will not abdicate its statutory responsibility to weigh the aforementioned considerations to another tribunal whose decision may be predicated on different considera- tions from those pertinent to our inquiry." In enforcing this part of the Board's Order, the court of appeals stated at 526 "We agree with the Board, that, in the absence of spe- cific findings of fact by the Ebensburg court, the contempt rulings are not controlling." The court then quoted with approval the language of the court in N.L.R.B. v. Cambria Clay Products Company, 215 F.2d 48, 54 (6th Cir. 1954): "It is not the fact that there was a violation of the injunction that determines whether they should or should not be rein- stated, but the type of conduct they engaged in, and the manner and nature and seriousness of their violation of the order." In Cambria the court stated, "While the amount of the fine and the ten days of imprisonment imposed by the court of common pleas would seem to indicate a serious offense, there is no proof as to the facts. We wish to know what the conduct actually was; whether it resulted from improper motives, and was of a violent or of such serious character as to render the employees unfit for further ser- vice." Thus, even where it has been found by another tribunal that a striker has engaged in some misconduct, the courts have approved the Board's position that it is the Board's statutory responsibility to assess and weigh the nature of the conduct and whether it was so serious and egregious as to justify discharge. I have found no cases, and Respon- dent has cited none, wherein the Board has found striker misconduct merely alleged in a Board complaint to rebut live credible testimony of the strikers that such conduct did not occur. Finally, it appears that the Supreme Court has rejected in general the blanket application of collateral estoppel ar- ising from a settlement agreement and consent judgment. In United States v. International Building Co., 345 U.S. 502, 506 (1953), the Court said, "[A] judgment entered with the consent of the parties may involve a determination of fact and law by the court. But unless a showing is made that that was the case, the judgment has no greater dignity, so far as collateral estoppel is concerned, than any judgment entered only as a compromise by the parties." Accordingly, I find and conclude the General Counsel was not estopped from litigating the misconduct of these six alleged discriminatees. Respondent was so advised at the trial and chose to take the risk that a finding would be made that they had not engaged in the misconduct alleged in the CB case or that such conduct was not so egregious as to deprive them of reinstatement. As noted, Respondent chose not to call any witness to testify with respect to the alleged misconduct. I turn now to the complaint allegations in the CB case, upon which Respondent asserted a good-faith belief that six strikers here involved had engaged in strike misconduct, and to the General Counsel's evidence denying or explain- ing such conduct. Feles Cantu It was alleged in the CB complaint that Cantu "followed a group of nonstriking employees from the employer's premises in his automobile on Interstate Highway 35 South, . . . cutting back and forth in front of said vehicle in a hazardous manner and in an attempt to block the vehicle in which the nonstriking employees were driving." Cantu. who was president of Local 1000 when the 1975 strike commenced, was also alleged to have been present during the occurrence of the other allegations of the com- plaint. He denied that he at any time during the strike followed any group of nonstriking employees on the San Antonio freeways or undertook to block or assault any nonstriker on the San Antonio freeways or engaged in any similar activity. Cantu also denied being present during the occurrence of any misconduct by other strikers." Respon- dent declined to cross-examine Cantu, asserting, "We don't intend to litigate 23CB-1773 in this proceeding." Although Cantu's denial that he had engaged in the con- duct alleged in the prior CB complaint was elicited by lead- ing questions by counsel for the General Counsel, I find that such does not debilitate Cantu's credibility, in view of his impressive testimonial demeanor and the record evi- dence as a whole. Accordingly, I find and conclude that the General Counsel has sustained his burden of going for- ward with the proof that Cantu did not in fact engage in misconduct sufficient to disqualify him for employment, and Respondent's failure to properly reinstate him violates Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act. Robert Pineda There are no specific allegations with respect to Pineda's personal conduct, but he, as secretary-treasurer of Local u Cantu testified specifically regarding an allegation involving strikers Guillermo "Willie Suarez. and J. Navarro. and employee Francisco Escam- illa. This testimony will be considered with other testimony concerning this event. !152 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1000, is alleged to have been present on the picket line during the occurrence of the misconduct of other strikers. Pineda denied having witnessed any misconduct on the part of any striker. He also testified to the circumstances surrounding the allegation involving nonstriker Escamilla. I credit Pineda's denials that he witnessed any striker mis- conduct. I need not decide for purposes of this decision whether Pineda's merely witnessing misconduct on the part of other strikers without evidence of condonation or assis- tance would make him ineligible for employment. Accord- ingly, I find and conclude that Respondent violated Sec- tion 8(aXI) and (3) of the Act by refusing to properly reinstate Pineda. Albert Almaraz Almaraz is alleged in the CB complaint to have threat- ened nonstriking employees entering Respondent's plant on three occasions and to have threatened a nonstriking employee with "physical violence" away from the prem- ises. Almaraz denied having threatened in any manner a nonstriking employee. I credit his denial and find and con- clude that Respondent violated Section 8(aX)(I) and (3) of the Act by refusing to properly reinstate him. Guillermo "Willie" Suarez and J. Navarro Suarez and Navarro are alleged in the CB complaint to have threatened a nonstriking employee with "physical vio- lence" and to have "physically beat" nonstriking employee Escamilla and threatened to kill him if he reported the incident to the police. Employee Francisco Escamilla abandoned the strike in September and returned to work. According to Cantu, Es- camilla became unhappy with the Union and the strike, in part because the Union's strike benefits and pay for walk- ing picket was less than Escamilla expected. At some point Escamilla informed Cantu that he carried a gun and would not take anything from anybody. After abandoning the strike, Escamilla taunted the strikers by laughing and wav- ing his paycheck as he crossed the picket line. Cantu ad- monished the strikers not to become involved in arguments or any altercation with Escamilla, since he carried guns. Suarez testified that in October Escamilla stopped his car at the picket line and he observed a gun in Escamilla's hand. According to Suarez, in November Escamilla, who was drinking beer at the time, was returning to the plant shortly after noon and stopped his car at the picket line and began yelling obscenities against Suarez and and the Union. Escamilla threatened to kill Suarez and reached un- der the seat of his car. Suarez, asserting that he feared for his life, reached in and slapped Escamilla twice with his open hand, then ran behind his automobile. According to Suarez, Jesse Navarro drove up about that time but appar- ently was not involved in the altercation. Suarez denied that he at any time had a gun on the picket line. Suarez was indicted by the Criminal District Court for the State of Texas for assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment was subsequently dismissed. Suarez denied that he threat- ened any employee with physical violence. Upon the fore- going findings, I conclude that Respondent violated Sec- tion 8(a)(l) and (3) of the Act by refusing to properly rein- state Suarez and Navarro. Although Navarro did not testi- fy, the allegations of the CB complaint place him and Sua- rez together in the alleged misconduct, and based upon Suarez' testimony as to Navarro's lack of involvement in the Escamilla incident, I conclude that the General Coun- sel has sustained his burden of establishing that Navarro did not engage in the conduct alleged. Marvin O'Neil The CB complaint alleges that O'Neil threatened non- striking employees that "those employees engaging in the strike would get them." O'Neil did not testify at the hear- ing. Such threat may or may not, depending on the sur- rounding circumstances, constitute disqualifying miscon- duct. While it may be argued that such conduct violated Section 8(a)(1)(a) of the Act only because committed in the presence of union agents or officers and, in view of Cantu and Pineda's denials that they observed such conduct, that the General Counsel has sustained his burden of proof that such conduct on the part of O'Neil did not occur, I find and conclude that general denials by the union officers of having observed such conduct is insufficient to sustain that burden. Accordingly, Respondent did not violate the Act by refusing to reinstate O'Neil. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW I. Jurisdiction is properly asserted in this proceeding. 2. By failing and refusing to timely furnish the Union with requested information which was necessary to the Union's performance of its statutory duty as a bargaining agent pertaining to Respondent's subcontracting practices; a list of employees who worked overtime from December 15, 1975, to March 17, 1976; lists of employees who had received reprimands, been laid off, been terminated, or quit and the reasons for such reprimands, layoffs, termina- tions, and quits; a list of employees recalled from layoff and the positions to which they were recalled; and the names of employees who did and did not receive a Christ- mas bonus in 1976, Respondent has engaged in unfair la- bor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act. 3. By unilaterally changing the hours of work of its em- ployees and laying off some 15 employees on February 27, 1977, without prior notification to and consultation with the Union, Respondent has further engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec- tion 8(a)(5) and (1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act. 4. By failing and refusing to reinstate Albert Almaraz, Feles Cantu. Jesus Gonzales, Teofilo Guzman, Jose Hino- josa, Bob Jones, Juan Morales, J. Navarro, Eulalio Palac- ios, Humberto Perales, Robert Pineda, Guillermo "Willie" Suarez, and Mike Ulloa to the positions held by them prior to the July 8, 1975, strike when such positions became available, as found above, Respondent has violated Sec- tions 8(a)(3) and (I) and 2(6) and (7) of the Act. 1153 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD THE REMEDY I have found that Respondent unlawfully refused to fur- nish the Union with certain information which the Union duly requested, as set forth in section 11I, B of this decision, which information was necessary to the Union in the per- formance of its obligations as the statutory bargaining agent of the employees of Respondent. To remedy this vio- lation, Respondent should be ordered to cease and desist from refusing to furnish the Union with this, and any other, information which is potentially relevant to the Union in its collective-bargaining negotiations with Re- spondent, and Respondent should be ordered to immedi- ately furnish the Union with the requested information, and where applicable such information should be updated to the date Respondent complies with this Order. It having been further found that Respondent, unilaterally and with- out notification to or consulation with the Union, changed the hours of work of its employees and laid off 15 employ- ees at a time when the Union was the duly designated col- lective-bargaining representative of the employees, Re- spondent should be ordered to cease and desist from making these and other changes in terms and conditions of employment without first notifying the Union in order to afford the Union an opportunity to bargain about such changes. Respondent should further be ordered, upon re- quest by the Union, to bargain in good faith with the Union concerning the effect of such changes. Finally, it has been found that Respondent unlawfully refused to reinstate to their former positions, or positions for which they were reasonably well qualified, when such positions became available, its employees named in item 4 of the section of this Decision entitled "Conclusions of Law," who had made unconditional offers to return to work from strike. Respondent should further be ordered to make these employees whole for any loss of earnings such employees may have suffered by reason of Respondent's failure to reinstate them when such jobs became available, by payment to them of a sum of money equal to what each would normally have earned from the date each should have been reinstated to the date each actually was rein- stated, as found in section III, D, of this Decision, less each employee's net earnings during each backpay perioo. Back- pay shall be computed with interest thereon in the manner set forth in F. W. Woolworth Company, 90 NLRB 289 (1950, and Florida Steel Corporation, 231 NLRB 651 (1977).12 Additionally, because Respondent's unfair labor prac- tices go to the very heart of the Act, Respondent should be ordered to cease and desist from in any other manner infr- inging on rights guaranteed to its employees by Section 7 of the Act. N.LR.B. v. Entwistle Mfg. Co., 120 F.2d 532 (4th Cir. 1941). Respondent should further be ordered to post the usual informational notice to employees, attached hereto as an appendix. Upon the foregoing findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the entire record, and pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act, I hereby issue the following: 11 See, generally, Isis Plumbing & Heating Co., 138 NLRB 716 (1962). ORDER 3 The Respondent, Markle Manufacturing Company of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, its officers, agents, suc- cessors, and assigns. shall: 1. Cease and desist from: (a) Refusing to bargain with International Union of Electrical Radio and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC, and its Local 1000, by failing and refusing to furnish the Union duly requested information, which is relevant to the Union's performance of its statutory duty as a bargaining representative, pertaining to the subcontracting of unit work; by failing and refusing to furnish the Union request- ed information concerning employees working overtime; by failing and refusing to furnish the Union requested in- formation concerning employees given reprimands, layoffs, or terminations and quits and the reasons therefor; by fail- ing and refusing to furnish the Union requested informa- tion concerning employees recalled from layoff and the po- sitions to which they were recalled; and by failing and refusing to furnish the Union requested information con- cerning employees who did not receive a Christmas bonus in 1976. (b) Refusing to bargain with the aforementioned Union by unilaterally changing its employees' hours of work and laying off its employees without notifying the Union and affording the Union an opportunity to request bargaining over such acts. (c) Discouraging membership in or activities on behalf of Local 1000 and its International, or any other labor or- ganization; or interfering with, restraining, and coercing its employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act by failing and refusing to reinstate its striking employees to their former positions when such po- sitions become available, or to other substantially equiva- lent jobs for which such employees are reasonably well qualified, upon their unconditional offer to return to work; or by discriminating against employees in any other man- ner in regard to their hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment. (d) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of their right to self- organization, to form labor organizations, to join or assist the above-named Union or any other labor organization, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, or to refrain from any and all such activities. 2. Take the following affirmative action, which is neces- sary to effectuate the policies of the Act: (a) Furnish to the above-named labor organization the requested information concerning unit work being subcon- tracted from the period October 17, 1975, to the date of compliance with this Order. (b) Furnish to the above-named labor organization the 13 In the event no exceptions are filed as provided in Sec. 102.46 of the Rules and Regulations of the National Labor Relations Board, the findings, conclusions, and Order herein shall, as provided in Sec. 102.48 of the Rules and Regulations, be adopted by the Board and become its findings, conclu- sions, and Order, and all objections thereto shall be deemed waived for all purposes. 1154 MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY requested information concerning reprimands, layoffs, ter- minations, and quits of its employees and the reasons therefor. (c) Furnish to the above-named labor organization the requested information concerning employees who had been recalled from the January 27, 1977, layoff and the positions to which they were recalled. (d) Furnish to the above-named labor organization the requested information concerning employees who did and did not receive Christmas bonuses in 1976. (e) Offer to its employees Albert Almaraz, Feles Cantu, Jesus Gonzales, Teofilo Guzman, Jose Hinojosa, Bob Jones, Juan Morales, Jr., J. Navarro, Eulalio Palacios, Humberto Perales, Robert Pineda, Guillermo Suarez, and Mike Ulloa immediate reinstatement to their former jobs or, if those jobs are no longer available, to substantially equivalent jobs, without prejudice to their seniority or other rights, and make them whole for any loss of earnings they may have suffered by reason of the discrimination against them in the manner set forth in the section of this Decision entitled "The Remedy." (f) Preserve and, upon request, make available to the Board or its agents, for examination and copying, all pay- roll records, social security payment records, timecards, personnel records and reports, and all other records neces- sary or useful in analyzing the amount of backpay due under the terms of this Order. (g) Post at its San Antonio, Texas, facility a copy of the attached notice marked "Appendix." 14 Copies of said no- tice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for Re- gion 23, after being duly signed by Respondent's author- ized representative, shall be posted by it immediately upon receipt thereof, and maintained by it for 60 consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Rea- sonable steps shall be taken by Respondent to insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material. (h) Notify the Regional Director for Region 23, in writ- ing, within 20 days from the date of this Order, what steps have been taken to comply herewith. IT is FURTHER ORDERED that the complaint be dismissed insofar as it alleges unfair labor practices not found herein. 14 In the event that this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States CQurt of Appeals, the words in the notice reading "Posted by Order of the National Labor Relations Board" shall read "Posted Pursuant to a Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the National Labor Relations Board." APPENDIX NOTICE To EMPLOYEES POSTED BY ORDER OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD An Agency of the United States Government After a hearing at which all parties had the opportunity to present evidence, the National Labor Relations Board found that we violated the National Labor Relations Act and has ordered us to post this notice. The National Labor Relations Act gives all employees these rights: To engage in self-organization To form, join, or assist unions of their choosing To bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing To act together for collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection To refrain from any and all of these things. WE WILL NOT refuse to bargain collectively with In- ternational Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC, and its Local 1000, by re- fusing to furnish the above-named Union with infor- mation requested which is necessary to the perfor- mance of its bargaining obligations. WE WILL NOT refuse to bargain collectively with the above-named labor organization by unilaterally and without notice to the Union changing the hours of work of our employees or laying off our employees without notifying the Union and affording it an op- portunity to bargain about such changes in terms and conditions of employment. WE WILL NOT. upon their unconditional offer to re- turn to work, refuse to reinstate our employees who engage in a lawful strike to their former jobs when those jobs are available or to substantially equivalent jobs for which they are reasonably well qualified. WE WILL NOT in any other manner interfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. WE WILL furnish the Union the information it re- quested concerning our subcontracting of work per- formed by unit employees. WE WILL furnish the Union the information it re- quested concerning employees who worked overtime. WE WILL furnish the Union the information it re- quested concerning reprimands and layoffs given to our employees and employees who were terminated or quit and the reasons therefor. WE WILL furnish the Union the information it re- quested concerning the employees who did and did not receive a Christmas bonus in 1976. WE WILL offer our employees Albert Almaraz, Feles Cantu, Jesus Gonzales, Teofilo Guzman, Jose Hinojo- so, Bob Jones, Juan Morales, J. Navarro, Eulalio Pa- lacios, Humberto Perales, Robert Pineda, Guillermo Suarez, and Mike Ulloa immediate and full reinstate- ment to their former jobs or, if those jobs no longer exist, to substantially equivalent jobs, without loss of seniority or other rights and privileges, and WE WILL make each of them whole for any loss of earnings they may have suffered by reason of our discrimination against them. MARKLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF SAN ANTO- NIO 1155 Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation