Mile Hi Metal Systems, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jun 30, 1989

295 N.L.R.B. 877 (N.L.R.B. 1989)

MILE HI METAL SYSTEMS 877
Mile Hi Metal Systems, Inc. and Sheet Metal
Workers International Association, Local No. 9.
Cases 27-CA-9241, 27-CA-9418, 27-CA-
9472, and 27-CA-10218
June 30, 1989
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN STEPHENS AND MEMBERS
CRACRAFT AND DEVANEY
Upon charges' filed by Sheet Metal Workers
International Association , Local No . 9, the Union,
the General Counsel of the National Labor Rela-
tions Board issued an order consolidating cases,
fourth consolidated amended complaint and notice
of hearing , order setting settlement agreement aside
on November 16, 1988 , against the Company, the
Respondent , alleging that it has violated Section
8(a)(5), (3), and (1 ) of the National Labor Relations
Act. After being properly served copies of the
charges, amended charges , and the fourth consoli-
dated amended complaint, the Respondent filed an
answer dated November 22, 1988 . By letter dated
February 10, 1989, the Respondent withdrew its
answer.
On April 21, 1989, the General Counsel filed a
Motion for Summary Judgment . On April 25, 1989,
the Board issued an order transferring the proceed-
ing to the Board and a Notice to Show Cause why
the motion should not be granted . The Respondent
filed no response . The allegations in the motion are
therefore undisputed.
The National Labor Relations Board has delegat-
ed its authority in this proceeding to a three-
member panel.
Ruling on Motion for Summary Judgment
Section 102 .20 of the Board 's Rules and Regula-
tions provides that the allegations in the complaint
shall be deemed admitted if an answer is not filed
within 14 days from service of the complaint,
unless good cause is shown . The fourth consolidat-
ed amended complaint states that unless an answer
is filed within 14 days of service , "all of the allega-
tions in the Fourth Consolidated Amended Com-
plaint shall be deemed to be admitted to be true
and shall be so found by the Board." Further, the
undisputed allegations in the Motion for Summary
Judgment disclose that the Respondent , by letter
dated February 10, 1989 , withdrew its answer to
the fourth consolidated amended complaint.
I The original charge in Case 27-CA-9241 was filed May 10, 1985, and
amended June 27, 1985 , and September 11, 1986. The original charge in
Case 27-CA-9418 was filed October 16, 1985, and amended October 22,
1985 . The original charge in Case 27-CA-9472 was filed December 5,
1985, and amended January 23 , 1986. The charge in Case 27 -CA-10218
was filed August 24, 1987.
The Respondent's withdrawal of its answer has
the same effect as failure to file an answer .2 In the
absence of good cause being shown for the failure
to file a timely answer to the fourth consolidated
amended complaint , we grant the General Coun-
sel's Motion for Summary Judgment.
On the entire record , the Board makes the fol-
lowing
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
At all times material , the Respondent , a corpora-
tion with an office and place of business in Denver,
Colorado, has been engaged in the construction in-
dustry as a heating and ventilation contractor. In
the course and conduct of its business operations,
the Respondent annually purchases and receives
goods, materials, and services valued in excess of
$50,000 from other enterprises within the State of
Colorado that received such goods , materials, and
services directly in interstate commerce . The Re-
spondent annually , in the course and conduct of its
business operations , sells and ships goods, materials,
and services valued in excess of $50 ,000 directly to
other enterprises within the State of Colorado that
are directly engaged in interstate commerce. We
find that the Respondent is an employer engaged in
commerce within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6),
and (7) of the Act and that the Union is a labor or-
ganization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of
the Act.
II. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The Unit and the Union 's Representative
Status
Since about July 1977 and at all material times,
the Union has been the designated collective-bar-
gaining representative of the employees in the bar-
gaining unit described below, and since that time,
the Respondent has so recognized the Union. That
recognition has been embodied in successive collec-
tive-bargaining agreements, the most recent of
which was effective by its terms for the period
July 1, 1983, to June 30, 1986. The following em-
ployees of the Respondent constitute a unit appro-
priate for bargaining within the meaning of Section
9(b) of the Act:
All journeyman, apprentice, and preapprentice
sheetmetal workers employed by Respondent
but excluding office clerical employees , and all
guards, professional employees and supervisors
as defined in the Act.
a See Maislin Transport, 274 NLRB 529 (1985).
295 NLRB No. 86
878 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
At all times from July 1977 until June 30, 1986,
the Union, by virtue of Section 9(a) of the Act, has
been the exclusive representative of the unit em-
ployees for the purpose of collective bargaining
with respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of em-
ployment, and other terms and conditions of em-
ployment.
B. The Violations
1. About April 12, 1985, the Respondent filed for
reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. By order dated May
17, 1985, the bankruptcy court issued an interim
order pursuant to section 1113(e) of the Bankrupt-
cy Code suspending the Respondent's obligation to
make the contractually required contributions to
the pension , health and welfare, and apprenticeship
trusts, and to the National pension , training, and
stabilization trusts established by the parties' July 1,
1983, through June 30, 1986 collective -bargaining
agreement , pending a decision on the Respondent's
petition for authorization to reject the contract. On
June 10, 1985 , the Respondent filed a petition in
the bankruptcy court seeking authorization to
reject the collective-bargaining agreement. About
June 28, 1985, the bankruptcy judge granted the
Respondent's petition to reject the collective-bar-
gaining agreement pursuant to section 1113(e).
About November 13, 1986, U.S. District Judge
Richard P. Matsch reversed the order of the bank-
ruptcy judge. Subsequent to November 13, 1986,
the Respondent filed an appeal of the U.S. district
court's order that is currently pending before the
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
The Respondent failed to continue in full force
and effect all the terms of the collective-bargaining
agreement by failing to make payments to the con-
tractually established pension, health and welfare,
and apprenticeship trusts, and to the National pen-
sion, training , and stabilization trusts for the period
January 1, 1985, through April 22, 1985; and by
failing to make payments to the contractually es-
tablished vacation trust for the period January 1
through June 28, 1985. The terms and conditions of
the agreement that the Respondent failed to contin-
ue in full force and effect relate to the wages,
hours, and other terms and conditions of employ-
ment of the unit employees and are mandatory sub-
jects of bargaining.
On or after June 28, 1985 , the Respondent
changed the unit employee wage structure and
wages in a manner not encompassed by the wage
proposal presented to the Union in connection with
the Respondent's petition for authorization to
reject the contract under section 1113(e) of the
Bankruptcy Code. The Respondent engaged in
these acts and conduct without prior notice to the
Union and without affording the Union an oppor-
tunity to negotiate and bargain as the exclusive
representative of the Respondent 's employees.
By this conduct, the Respondent has failed and
refused , and is failing and refusing to bargain col-
lectively and in good faith with its employees' rep-
resentative. Accordingly, the Respondent has en-
gaged in unfair labor practices within the meaning
of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) and Section 8(d) of the
Act.3
2. Since about April 16, 1985, certain employees
of the Respondent represented by the Union ceased
work concertedly and engaged in a strike. The
strike was caused by the Respondent 's unfair labor
practices described above and was prolonged by
the unfair labor practices of the Respondent. About
September 4, 1986, the employees who engaged in
the strike made an unconditional offer to return to
their former positions of employment. About Sep-
tember 4, 1986, the Respondent failed and refused
to reinstate the employees and since that date has
continued to fail and refuse to offer to reinstate
them to their former positions of employment. The
Respondent engaged in the acts and conduct de-
scribed herein because the employees joined, sup-
ported , or assisted the Union , and engaged in con-
certed activities for the purpose of collective bar-
gaining or other mutual aid or protection, and in
order to discourage employees from engaging in
such activities or other concerted activities for the
purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection . By this conduct, the Respondent
has discriminated and is discriminating in regard to
the hire or tenure or terms or conditions of em-
ployment of its employees and has discouraged and
is discouraging membership in a labor organization.
Accordingly, the Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices within the meaning of Section
8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act.
3. Since about June 5, 1985, the Union has re-
quested that the Respondent furnish it the follow-
ing information : the names , addresses, telephone
numbers, current wage rates, dates of any changes
in pay rates , and the pay rates of unit employees
from June 5, 1985, to June 30, 1986. Since about
July 20 and August 7, 1987, the Union has request-
ed that the Respondent furnish it the following in-
formation: a list of the Respondent 's employees
a In the event that the order of the U S . district court is affirmed on
appeal, the Respondent has also violated Sec. 8 (a)(5) and (1) of the Act
by failing to make payments to the contractually established pension,
health and welfare, apprenticeship , and vacation trusts, and the National
pension , training, and stabilization trusts from June 28 , 1985, to June 30,
1986, and by failing to pay the unit employees consistent with the wages
and wage structure set out in the collective-bargaining agreement from
June 28 , 1985, to June 30, 1986.
MILE HI METAL SYSTEMS 879
classified as apprentices and preapprentices and a
list of jobs performed by the Respondent from
April 1985 to June 30 , 1986, together with the
hours of work performed by sheet metal employees
on each job . The information described above is
relevant and necessary to the Union 's function as
bargaining agent of the unit employees . Since about
June 5 , 1985, and July 20 and August 7, 1987, the
Respondent has failed and refused to furnish the
Union the requested information described above.
By this conduct , the Respondent has failed and re-
fused to bargain collectively and in good faith with
its employees ' representative . Accordingly , the Re-
spondent has engaged in unfair labor practices
within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) and
Section 8(d) of the Act.
4. About October 16, 1985 , the Respondent,
acting through its president and agent, Kim
Hansen, coerced its employees by conducting a
poll among certain employees concerning their
union sympathies . By this conduct , the Respondent
has interfered with , restrained , and coerced, and is
interfering with, restraining , and coercing , employ-
ees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed by Sec-
tion 7 of the Act. Accordingly, the Respondent has
engaged in unfair labor practices within the mean-
ing of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
5. About October 16, 1985 , the Respondent with-
drew recognition of the Union as the representative
of the unit employees based on the results of the
poll described above . By this conduct, the Re-
spondent has failed and refused , and is failing and
refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith
with the employees ' representative. Accordingly,
the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor prac-
tices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and (1)
and Section 8(d) of the Act.
6. About September 17, 1985 , the Regional Di-
rector for Region 27 approved a settlement agree-
ment in Case 27-CA-9241 previously executed and
entered into by the Respondent . By its conduct de-
scribed above occurring after approval of the set-
tlement agreement, involving the poll , the refusal
to reinstate striking employees , the withdrawal of
recognition , and the failure and refusal to provide
the Union the information it requested July 20 and
August 7 , 1987 , the Respondent has violated the
terms of the settlement agreement . The Regional
Director vacated and set aside the settlement
agreement in the fourth consolidated amended
complaint.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. By failing and refusing to continue in full
force and effect all the terms of their collective-
bargaining agreement with the Union, by failing to
make payments to the contractually established
pension , health and welfare, apprenticeship , and va-
cation trusts , and the National pension , training,
and stabilization trusts, and by unilaterally chang-
ing the employees ' wage structure and wages, the
Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices
affecting commerce within the meaning of Section
8(a)(5) and ( 1), Section 8(d), and Section 2(6) and
(7) of the Act.
2. By failing and refusing to reinstate unfair labor
practice strikers on their unconditional offer to
return to their former positions of employment, the
Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices
affecting commerce within the meaning of Section
8(a)(3) and (1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
3. By conducting a poll among employees con-
cerning their union sympathies , the Respondent has
engaged in unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and
Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
4. By withdrawing recognition of the Union as
the unit employees ' representative based on the re-
sults of the unlawful poll , the Respondent has en-
gaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce
within the meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and ( 1), Sec-
tion 8(d), and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
5. By failing and refusing to provide the Union
the information it requested June 5, 1985 , and July
20 and August 7, 1987, the Respondent has en-
gaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce
within the meaning of Section 8 (a)(5) and (1), Sec-
tion 8(d), and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged
in certain unfair labor practices , we shall order it
to cease and desist and to take certain affirmative
action designed to effectuate the policies of the
Act.
Having found that the Respondent unlawfully
failed and refused to bargain with the Union, we
shall order the Respondent to recognize and bar-
gain with the Union. We shall also order the Re-
spondent to continue in full force and effect the
terms and conditions of the collective -bargaining
agreement including making payments to the con-
tractually established pension , health and welfare,
and apprenticeship trusts, and to the National pen-
sion , training, and stabilization trusts for the period
January 1 through April 22, 1985 ; and making pay-
ments to the contractually established vacation
trust for the period January 1 through June 28,
1985 , in the manner prescribed in Merryweather Op-
880 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
tical Co., 240 NLRB 1213, 1216 fn. 7 (1979).4 The
Respondent shall also reimburse employees for any
expenses ensuing from the Respondent 's unlawful
failure to make such payments, as set forth in Kraft
Plumbing & Heating, 252 NLRB 891 fn. 2 (1980),
enfd. 661 F.2d 940 (9th Cir. 1981), with interest as
provided in New Horizons for the Retarded, 283
NLRB 1173 (1987). We shall further order the Re-
spondent to bargain with the Union concerning
changes to the employee wage structure and wages
on or after June 28, 1985, and, on request, to re-
scind the changes. We shall order the Respondent
to make whole the unit employees for any loss of
wages they may have suffered as a result of the un-
lawful changes5 in the manner prescribed in Ogle
Protection Service, 183 NLRB 682 (1970), with in-
terest.6
We shall further order the Respondent to offer
its striking employees immediate and full reinstate-
ment to their former positions or, if those positions
no longer exist , to substantially equivalent posi-
tions, without prejudice to their seniority or any
other rights or privileges previously enjoyed, and
to make them whole for any loss of earnings they
may have suffered as a result of the discrimination
against them in the manner prescribed in F. W.
Woolworth Co., 90 NLRB 289 (1950), with inter-
est.7 We shall also order the Respondent to remove
from its files any reference to the unlawful refusal
to reinstate the striking employees and to notify the
employees that this has been done and that the re-
fusal to reinstate will not be used against them in
any way. Finally, we shall order the Respondent to
provide the Union the information it requested on
June 5, 1985, and July 20 and August 7, 1987.
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board orders that
the Respondent , Mile Hi Metal Systems, Inc.,
Denver , Colorado, its officers, agents, successors,
and assigns, shall
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Failing and refusing to recognize and bargain
with the Union.
(b) Failing to continue in full force and effect all
the terms and conditions of the collective -bargain-
4 In the event that the order of U S. District Judge Matsch is affirmed
on appeal , we shall additionally order the Respondent to make employees
whole by making payments to the contractually established pension,
health and welfare, apprenticeship , and vacation trusts , and to the Na-
tional pension , training, and stabilization trusts for the period June 28,
1985, through June 30, 1986.
In the event that the order of U.S . District Judge Matsch is affirmed
on appeal , we shall order the Respondent to make the unit employees
whole by paying them in accordance with the wages and wage structure
set out in the collective -bargaining agreement for the period June 28,
1985, through June 30, 1986
6 See New Horizons for the Retarded, supra.
7 See New Horizons for the Retarded, supra
ing agreement including making payments to the
contractually established pension , health and wel-
fare, apprenticeship and vacation trusts, and to the
National pension , training , and stabilization trusts.
(c) Changing the employee wage structure and
wages unilaterally or in a manner not encompassed
by the wage proposal presented to the Union in
connection with the petition for authorization to
reject the collective -bargaining agreement under
section 1113(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.
(d) Failing and refusing to reinstate unfair labor
practice strikers on their unconditional offer to
return to their former positions of employment.
(e) Conducting polls among employees as to
their union sympathies.
(f) Withdrawing recognition of the Union as the
unit employees' representative based on the results
of unlawful polls.
(g) Failing and refusing to provide the Union the
information it requested June 5, 1985 , including the
names, addresses , telephone numbers, current wage
rates, dates of any changes in pay rates, and the
pay rates of unit employees from June 5, 1985, to
June 30, 1986; and the information it requested July
20 and August 7, 1987, including a list of Respond-
ent's employees classified as apprentices and preap-
prentices and a list of jobs performed by the Re-
spondent from April 1985 to June 30, 1986, togeth-
er with the hours of work performed by sheet
metal employees on each job.
(h) In any like or related manner interfering
with, restraining , or coercing employees in the ex-
ercise of the rights guaranteed them by Section 7
of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action neces-
sary to effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Recognize and bargain with Sheet Metal
Workers International Association, Local No. 9, as
the exclusive bargaining representative of its em-
ployees in the following unit:
All journeyman, apprentice, and preapprentice
sheetmetal workers employed by Respondent
but excluding office clerical employees, and all
guards, professional employees and supervisors
as defined in the Act.
(b) Continue in full force and effect the terms
and conditions of the collective -bargaining agree-
ment including making required payments to the
contractually established pension, health and wel-
fare, vacation and apprenticeship trusts, and to the
National pension , training, and stabilization trusts
in the manner set forth in the remedy section of
this decision.
(c) Bargain with the Union concerning changes
to the employee wage structure and wages on or
MILE HI METAL SYSTEMS
after June 28 , 1985, and , on request , rescind the
changes.
(d) Make whole any employees who suffered
losses because of the Respondent 's failure to honor
the agreement or to bargain concerning changes in
the wage structure and wages in the manner set
forth in the remedy section of this decision.
(e) Offer its striking employees immediate and
full reinstatement to their former jobs or , if those
jobs no longer exist , to substantially equivalent po-
sitions, without prejudice to their seniority or any
other rights or privileges previously enjoyed, and
make them whole for any loss of earnings and
other benefits suffered as a result of the discrimina-
tion against them, in the manner set forth in the
remedy section of this decision.
(f) Remove from its files any reference to the un-
lawful refusal to reinstate the striking employees
and notify the employees that this has been done
and that the refusal to reinstate will not be used
against them in any way.
(g) Provide the Union the information it request-
ed June 5 , 1985, including the names , addresses,
telephone numbers, current wage rates, dates of
any changes in pay rates , and the pay rates of unit
employees from June 5, 1985 , to June 30, 1986; and
the information it requested July 20 and August 7,
1987, including a list of the Respondent 's employ-
ees classified as apprentices and preapprentices and
a list of jobs performed by the Respondent from
April 1985 to June 30, 1986, together with the
hours of work performed by sheet metal employees
on each job.
(h) Preserve and, on request, make available to
the Board or its agents for examination and copy
ing, all payroll records, social security payment
records, timecards , personnel records and reports,
and all other records necessary to analyze the
amount of backpay due under the terms of this
Order.
(i) Post at its Denver, Colorado facility copies of
the attached notice marked "Appendix."8 Copies
of the notice , on forms provided by the Regional
Director for Region 27, after being signed by the
Respondent's authorized representative, shall be
posted by the Respondent immediately upon re-
ceipt and maintained for 60 consecutive days in
conspicuous places including all places where no-
tices to employees are customarily posted. Reason-
able steps shall be taken by the Respondent to
8 If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court of
appeals, the words in the notice reading "Posted by Order of the Nation-
al 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."
881
ensure that the notices are not altered , defaced, or
covered by any other material.
(j) Notify the Regional Director in writing
within 20 days from the date of this Order what
steps the Respondent has taken to comply.
APPENDIX
NOTICE To EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found
that we violated the National Labor Relations Act
and has ordered us to post and abide by this notice.
Section 7 of the Act gives employees these rights.
To organize
To form , join , or assist any union
To bargain collectively through representa-
tives of their own choice
To act together for other mutual aid or pro-
tection
To choose not to engage in any of these
protected concerted activities.
WE WILL NOT fail or refuse to recognize and
bargain with Sheet Metal Workers International
Association, Local No. 9.
WE WILL NOT fail to continue in full force and
effect all the terms and conditions of the collective-
bargaining agreement including making payments
to the contractually established pension , health and
welfare, apprenticeship, and vacation trusts, and to
the National pension , training, and stabilization
trusts.
WE WILL NOT change the employee wage struc-
ture and wages unilaterally or in a manner not en-
compassed by the wage proposal presented to the
Union in connection with our petition for authori-
zation to reject the collective-bargaining agreement
under section 1113(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.
WE WILL NOT fail or refuse to reinstate unfair
labor practice strikers on their unconditional offer
to return to their former positions of employment.
WE WILL NOT conduct polls among our employ-
ees to determine their union sympathies.
WE WILL NOT withdraw recognition of the
Union as the unit employees ' representative based
on the results of unlawful polls.
WE WILL NOT fail or refuse to provide the
Union the information it requested June 5 , 1985, in-
cluding the names, addresses, telephone numbers,
current wage rates, dates of any changes in pay
rates , and the pay rates of unit employees from
June 5 , 1985, to June 30, 1986 ; and the information
882 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
it requested July 20 and August 7, 1987, including
a list of our employees classified as apprentices and
preapprentices and a list of jobs we performed
from April 1985 to June 30, 1986, together with
the hours of work performed by sheet metal em-
ployees on each job.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner
interfere with, restrain, or coerce you in the exer-
cise of the rights guaranteed you by Section 7 of
the Act.
WE WILL recognize and bargain with Sheet
Metal Workers International Association, Local
No. 9, as the exclusive bargaining representative of
our employees in the following unit:
All journeyman , apprentice, and preapprentice
sheetmetal workers employed by us but ex-
cluding office clerical employees , and all
guards, professional employees and supervisors
as defined in the Act.
WE WILL continue in full force and effect the
terms and conditions of the collective -bargaining
agreement, and WE WILL make required payments
to the contractually established pension , health and
welfare, vacation, and apprenticeship trusts, and to
the National pension, training , and stabilization
trusts.
WE WILL bargain with the Union concerning
changes to the employee wage structure and wages
on or after June 28 , 1985, and , on request, WE
WILL rescind the changes.
WE WILL make whole any employees who have
suffered losses because of our failure to honor the
agreement or to bargain concerning changes in the
wage structure and wages , with interest.
WE WILL offer our striking employees immediate
and full reinstatement to their former jobs or, if
those jobs no longer exist, to substantially equiva-
lent positions , without prejudice to their seniority
or any other rights or privileges they previously
enjoyed, and WE WILL make them whole for any
loss of earnings and other benefits suffered as a
result of our discrimination against them , with in-
terest.
WE WILL remove from our files any reference to
our unlawful refusal to reinstate the striking em-
ployees and WE WILL notify them that we have
done so and that the refusal to reinstate will not be
used against them in any way.
WE WILL provide the Union the information it
requested June 5, 1985 , including the names, ad-
dresses, telephone numbers, current wage rates,
dates of any changes in pay rates , and the pay rates
of unit employees from June 5, 1985 , to June 30,
1986; and WE WILL provide the information it re-
quested July 20 and August 7, 1987, including a list
of our employees classified as apprentices and
preapprentices and a list of jobs we performed
from April 1985 to June 30, 1986, together with
the hours of work performed by sheet metal em-
ployees on each job.
MILE HI METAL SYSTEMS, INC.