Monterey Drilling Company

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 1, 1981

255 N.L.R.B. 494 (N.L.R.B. 1981)

494 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Monterey Drilling Company and Operating Engi-
neers, Local Union No. 3, International Union
of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO. Cases 20-
CA-14706 and 20-CA-14739
April 1, 1981
DECISION AND ORDER
On September 26, 1980, Administrative Law
Judge Earldean V. S. Robbins issued the attached
Decision in this proceeding. Thereafter, the Charg-
ing Party filed exceptions and a supporting brief,
and Respondent filed a reply brief.
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, find-
ings,' and conclusions 2 of the Administrative Law
Judge and to adopt her 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, Monterey
Drilling Company, Carson, California, its officers,
agents, successors, and assigns, shall take the action
set forth in the said recommended Order.
I The Charging Party has excepted to certain credibility findings made
by the Administrative Law Judge. It is the Board's established policy not
to overrule 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 Prod-
ucts, 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 her
findings.
2 Based on the credited testimony of employee Steed and the absence
of any exceptions, we affirm the Administrative Law Judge's finding that
Respondent's supervisor, Hayes, coercively interrogated Steed in viola-
tion of Sec. 8(aXI) of the Act. Unlike the Administrative Law Judge,
however, we find it unnecessary to consider whether an unfair labor
practice charge would lie if Hayes' version of his conversation with
Steed were credited.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
EARLDEAN V. S. ROBBINS, Administrative Law Judge:
This case was heard before me in San Francisco, Califor-
nia, on various dates in April and June 1980. The charge
in Case 20-CA-14706 was filed by Operating Engineers,
Local Union No. 3, International Union of Operating
Engineers, AFL-CIO, herein called the Union, on July
12, 1979, and served on Monterey Drilling Company,
herein called Respondent, on July 13, 1979. The charge
in Case 20-CA-14739 was filed by the Union on July 24,
1979, and served on Respondent on July 25, 1979. The
consolidated complaint, which issued on December I I,
1978, alleges that Respondent violated Section 8(a)(l)
and (3) of the National Labor Relation Act, as amended,
herein called the Act.
255 NLRB No. 74
The principal issues herein are whether employees
James Borgna and Earl Gillian were discharged by Re-
spondent because of their union activities and whether
Respondent unlawfully threatened and interrogated em-
ployees.
Upon the entire record, from my observation of the
demeanor of the witnesses, and after due consideration of
the post-hearing briefs, I hereby make the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
Respondent, a California corporation, with an office
and place of business in Carson, California, is engaged in
providing oil and gas drilling and related services and at
all times material herein has operated a gas drilling rig at
Rio Vista, California. During the 12-month period
ending October 1979, Respondent, in the course and con-
duct of said business operations, has provided services
valued in excess of $50,000 for other enterprises within
the State of California, including McCullough Oil, which
are directly engaged in interstate commerce.
The complaint alleges, Respondent admits, and I find
that Respondent is an employer engaged in commerce
within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the
Act.
II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
The complaint alleges, Respondent admits, and I find
that the Union is now, and at all times material herein
has been, a labor organization within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(5) of the Act.
Itl. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The Union's Request for Recognition and the
Alleged Threats and Interrogations
Respondent is engaged in drilling oil and gas wells and
steam shafts. Craig Norton is its president. Prior to the
formation of Respondent approximately 2-1/2 years ago,
Norton had been manager of Camay Drilling for about 6
years. As manager of Camay, Norton has dealt with and
has negotiated collective-bargaining agreements with the
Union without any particular difficulty. Through their
dealings, Norton and Robert Mayfield, vice president of
the Union, have achieved an amicable relationship and
have acquired a mutual respect for each other. Respond-
ent's employees have never been represented by the
Union.
In June 1979,1 Respondent was drilling a gas well in
the Rio Vista area with rig B. The rig was operated 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, with three shifts, known as
the morning tour from 12 midnight to 8 a.m, the daylight
tour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the evening tour from 4
p.m. to midnight. The employee complement consisted
of four crews of five persons each. There was a crew for
each shift and a relief crew which manned the rig during
the off days of the other crews. Each crew was com-
posed of a driller, who operates the controls and is in
I All dates hereinafter will be in 1979 unless otherwise indicated.
MONTEREY DRILLING COMPANY 495
charge of the crew; a motorman, who maintains the
motors; a derrick man, who maintains the pumps and
works in the derricks above the floor of the rig; and two
floorhands, who perform general labor chores and assist
the rest of the crew as needed. The crews worked on a
rotating schedule with 6 days on the same tour, 2 days
off and then 6 days on a different tour. The tool pusher
is in overall charge of the rig and crews. He works 14
days on, 7 days off and is on call 24 hours a day. There
is a relief pusher for his days off. All crewmembers are
paid an hourly rate and subsistence at the location in-
volved herein.
In June, the Union began organizing Respondent's em-
ployees on rig B. On June 22, Mayfield telephoned
Norton and told him that the Union had obtained author-
ization cards from a majority of the employees on rig B
and he hoped Norton would sign a contract. Norton said
that he was unaware of any organizing drive at the rig,
but if a majority of the employees wished to be repre-
sented by the Union, he would sign a contract. Mayfield
proposed a card check. Norton agreed and, in a subse-
quent telephone conversation, they scheduled a meeting
in Los Angeles for June 27.
Norton testified that thereafter when he discussed this
matter with his partner, Bob Johnson, Johnson said the
employees did not want to be in a union. Apparently this
observation was based on the fact that Respondent was
paying $20 daily subsistence to employees on rig B
which was located in a zero-subsistence area under the
Union's contract. Norton said perhaps they should get
some help and work it out so that the employees would
get what they wanted. On June 25 or 26, Norton con-
tacted an attorney, Stanley Tobin, for advice. Tobin ad-
vised that under the circumstances they should have an
election.
Sometime between June 22 and 27, J. C. Wishby, Re-
spondent's drilling superintendent, telephoned Donald
Hayes, the tool pusher on rig B, told him the Union
claimed it represented a majority of the employees on rig
B and asked if Hayes knew whether this was true. Hayes
said he did not know but he would try to find out.
Wishby asked Hayes to report back to him.
Following this telephone conversation, Hayes admit-
tedly proceeded to ask all of the employees if they were
union. According to Hayes, Wishby did not ask him to
do this. He then reported to Wishby that he had talked
to the employees and, according to them, they did not
want the Union. On June 27, Norton, Tobin, and May-
field met as scheduled. Tobin told Mayfield that Re-
spondent did not question Mayfield's representation, that
he had signed authorization cards from a majority of the
employees, but that Respondent had information that de-
spite the cards, the majority of the employees did not
want to be represented by the Union. Tobin said Re-
spondent would agree to an expedited election within 17
days or less and would agree to a consent election. May-
field expressed his displeasure, stating that he thought
they were meeting to sign a contract. Tobin said that
would be improper under the circumstances. Tobin fur-
ther said that pending the election, Respondent would
take no action to undermine the Union's strength except
to relate to employees, within the framework of the Act,
Respondent's position.
Immediately after this conversation concluded, Tobin
explained to Norton the restrictions of Section 8 of the
Act and advised him that pending the election, Respond-
ent should not discharge any employees unless it was for
a clear-cut case of failure to perform duties. Later,
Wishby told Hayes that Tobin had advised that Re-
spondent should not discharge anyone that had anything
to do with the Union. Thereafter, prior to June 27 when
Hayes went on vacation, Hayes told all the drillers not
to discharge anyone unless they just had to, unless it was
really bad. He said if they discharged anyone, to make
sure there was a really good reason. Around that same
time, Hayes also told the drillers that next time a stuffing
box went bad, to discharge whoever was responsible.
James Borgna testified that in June, prior to June 16
when he signed a union authorization card, Hayes asked
him, in the presence of driller Larry Farmer, if he had a
union card. Borgna said "yes," he had a withdrawal
card. Borgna also testified that in mid-June, Hayes and
driller Gene Taylor were in Hayes' car. Hayes asked if
Borgna had a union card. Borgna showed him his card.
Hayes said if it went union, Respondent would move out
of State. However, Borgna also testified that he had only
one conversation with Hayes in which the Union was
mentioned and, on cross-examination, he testified that the
mention of moving the rig was in a second conversation,
that some employee asked Hayes if it were true that the
rig would be moved out of State if the Union came in,
but he does not recall Hayes' answer.
Borgna also testified that in the same conversation
where Hayes first asked him if he had a union card,
Farmer asked the same question and Borgna answered
"yes." However, Borgna earlier testified that Farmer
said nothing during this conversation. Farmer denied
asking this question and Hayes denied that he ever told
any employee that if they selected the Union as their
representative the rig would be moved to Wyoming or
that there would be any loss of employment. According
to Hayes, several employees asked him if the rig would
be moved to Wyoming and/or if they would lose their
subsistence if they voted for the Union. In each instance,
Hayes said he did not know. Hayes further testified that
the rumor regarding moving to Wyoming started prior
to the union activities when someone, whom Hayes did
not identify, said that Respondent would keep the rig
working even if it meant moving it to Wyoming. I do
not credit Borgna. I found him to be an unreliable wit-
ness whose testimony was confused and conflicting.
Gillian testified that in late June, Hayes asked him if
he had a paid up union card. Gillian said yes. Hayes said
"okay" and Gillian left.
Steed testified that about June 23 Hayes asked him if
he had signed a union authorization card. Steed does not
recall what he answered. Hayes said someone had called
Respondent the previous day stating that the Union had
enough authorization cards to require an election. Hayes
said he had been told that if it came down to a vote, Re-
spondent would finish the wells and move to Wyoming.
About 2 days later, according to Steed. he and Hayes
MONTEREY D ILLING COMPANY
496 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
were discussing the Union. Hayes said that Respondent
was adamant about not going union and would move the
rig to Wyoming if it came to a vote. Hayes further said
he had been told by someone in the office that no one,
including him, would go to Wyoming with the rig. I
credit Steed who impressed me as an honest, reliable wit-
ness. In this regard I note that Hayes did not specifically
testify as to a conversation with Steed. Rather he admits
being engaged in conversations with various employees
regarding a possible move to Wyoming and generally
denied that he ever said anything in this regard other
than to answer a specific question by saying he did not
know. Even crediting Hayes' version, I find the conver-
sation to be coercive. When an employee expresses to a
supervisor fear of being discriminated against because of
union activities, that supervisor has an obligation to reas-
sure the employee that the employer will not engage in
discrimination against employees because of their union
activities. A denial of any knowledge as to whether the
employer will discriminate or will not discriminate does
nothing to alleviate these fears but rather predictably
tends to reinforce them and is thus coercive.
Ron Hamilton, a derrickman, testified that about June
21 driller2 Roger Nell asked him if he belonged to the
Union. Hamilton said he did. Nell said that Hayes told
him that the office had told Hayes to discharge the union
employees. Hamilton said he belonged to the Union and
he was not going to let his card go, that it cost too much
money to get it back. Hamilton's testimony is essentially
undenied. Nell testified that on this occasion, he and
Hamilton were drinking heavily. According to him, he
did not recall making such statements. He denied that
Hayes or anyone else in management ever told him of
any adverse consequences which would result from the
union activities of the employees. I credit Hamilton.
Robert Ellis testified that in late June and early July,
he had several conversations with Hayes during which
Hayes made the same remark, that it seemed foolish to
vote for union membership when it would imply an
hourly pay cut and less subsistence. During the first of
these conversations, two crewmembers were present.
Also during the latter part of June, Hayes drove up to
where several employees were standing, Ellis walked up
to Hayes and said, "Well, I got a union card." Hayes
said something about a pay cut if they voted for the
Union. Ellis then backed away from the car and did not
hear Hayes say anything else.
However, in his prehearing affidavit, Ellis stated that
Hayes told them that someone in the office told him that
if the rig went union, Respondent would probably move
the rig out of State. Ellis denies that he actually heard
Hayes make this latter statement. Rather, according to
him, one of the employees who was standing closer to
Hayes told him that Hayes had made this statement. I
credit Ellis' denial that he heard Hayes make this state-
ment. Although Ellis' attendance at the hearing had to
be compelled and his memory at times had to be re-
freshed with his prehearing affidavit, he impressed me as
trying to testify honestly and truthfully.
2 Based on their authority to hire, discharge, and discipline employees.
I find that the drillers in Respondent's employ are supervisors within the
meaning of Sec. 2(11) of the Act.
The General Counsel argues that Respondent violated
the Act by statements of Hayes and Farmer as to loss of
pay and subsistence. I find these statements to be non-
coercive. It is undisputed that in the latter part of June
and the early part of July, the possibility of union repre-
sentation was a major subject of conversation among the
employees, including the drillers and sometimes the
pushers, in the doghouse where they ate lunch and
changed clothes before and after shifts. The conversation
tended to revolve around two subjects (I) that if they
went union they would lose their $20 daily subsistence
pay3 and possibly $1.40 in wages which Gillian argued
went into the pension and vacation funds under the
union contract, and (2) whether the rig would move to
Wyoming if they went union. Many of the employees
stated that they would not vote for the Union because
they did not want to lose the subsistence pay. Some of
the drillers, including Farmer, remarked that they could
not understand why the employees wanted union repre-
sentation on the rig when it would mean a cut in pay.
It is thus clear from the record that not only did the
employees spend a lot of time discussing an anticipated
loss of pay and subsistence, but that this was based upon
their comparison of Respondent's pay and subsistence
scale with that required by the union contracts in that
area. Under the circumstances, I find it highly unlikely
that any employee would ascribe a comment in this
regard to anything other than reference to the difference
in pay and subsistence being paid by Respondent and
that required under the existing union contracts. I further
find nothing coercive in Hayes' response to employees'
questions that he did not know whether there would be
loss of pay and subsistence. Accordingly, I find that Re-
spondent did not violate Section 8(a)(l) of the Act by
the statements of Hayes and Farmer in this record. How-
ever, I do find that Respondent violated Section 8(a)(1)
of the Act by Hayes' and Nell's interrogation of employ-
ees as to whether they were union members or had
signed union authorization cards; and by Hayes' threat
that the rig would move to Wyoming and none of the
present employees would move with the rig if the em-
ployees selected the Union as their collective-bargaining
representative; and by Nell's threat to Hamilton that
someone in the office said Respondent would discharge
union employees.4
3 At times some mention was made by employees as to the possibility
of a decrease of $1.40 an hour in wages if the rig went union. The ration-
ale for this is not clear on the record; however, there is nothing in the
record to indicate that it was based on anything other than what they
understood to be the wage rates in the union contracts existing in the
area
4 Steed testified that, in late June or early July, relief pusher Bob
Walker told him that someone in the office had said they were not to do
any more hiring of people from the Union. This was not alleged in the
complaint as violative of the Act and Walker did not testify. I denied
General Counsel's motion to amend the complaint to allege this conduct
which was made after General Counsel rested and after Respondent had
moved to dismiss the allegations of the complaint relating to Walker as
no evidence had been adduced in support thereof In her brief, counsel
for the General Counsel requested that I reconsider her motion. I have
done so and I adhere to my original ruling.
MONTEREY DRILLING COMPANY 497
B. The Discharge of Gillian and Borgna
Gillian and Borgna were hired by Respondent on May
15 and 13, respectively. They worked on the same crew
and they traveled to and from work together. Borgna
was a floorhand and Gillian was a derrickman. They
both signed union authorization cards on June 16. On
July 4, according to Borgna, Larry Farmer, the driller
on his crew, told him he and Gillian was discharged.
Borgna asked if it had anything to do with his work.
Farmer said "no," and further said he had two replace-
ments reporting for work the next day.
On cross-examination, Borgna's account of this con-
versation contains no reference to him asking if it had
anything to do with his work. Rather, he testified that he
did not say anything that he could remember and that
Farmer only said that he had two replacements coming
out. Borgna also testified that he was positive that he
said nothing about the Union. Then, after being shown
his prehearing affidavit, he admitted that he asked
Farmer if it was anything to do with the Union and
Farmer replied, "no." Robert Ellis and Sam McDowell,
the floorman and motorman, respectively, on their crew,
were present. McDowell did npt testify and, although
Ellis testified, he was not questioned in this regard.
Gillian came in later. Borgna told him that they had
been discharged. According to Gillian, they went up to
Farmer and Borgna asked why they were discharged.
Farmer said nothing personal, that Walker had dis-
charged them. As Borgna and Gillian were returning to
Rio Vista from the rig, they met Walker. According to
Gillian, Borgna asked why they were discharged.
Walker said Farmer had discharged them and that he
had two men to replace them the following morning.
Borgna testified that Walker's response to his question
was that Farmer had two men to replace them.
Farmer testified that he told Borgna and Gillian that
he was discharging them. Gillian asked if it was because
of his union activities. Farmer said no. Gillian asked
why. Farmer said because of the washout and the air-
tugger. Borgna also asked why he was discharged.
Farmer said because he was too slow. I credit Farmer as
to this conversation. In this regard, I note that in Borg-
na's prehearing affidavit he admits that Gillian asked if
the discharge had anything to do with the union activity
and Farmer said "no." I find it unlikely that when con-
fronted with what amounted to an accusation of a dis-
charge for union activity, which he denied, Farmer,
upon further probing for a reason by Gillian and Borgna,
would not reinforce his denial by mentioning the wash-
out of the stuffing box and the air-tugger incident.
Whether pretextual or not, these were not incidents that
Farmer had to dredge out of the past and might not have
remembered at the time of the conversation. Rather, the
stuffing box had just washed out the previous week and
the air-tugger incident occurred that day or the previous
day and thus could normally be expected to immediately
come to mind. Further, I note that Borgna does not cor-
roborate Gillian's statement that Farmer said it was noth-
ing personal, that it was Walker's decision. In all the cir-
cumstances, I find that Farmer's version is more consist-
ent with the record as a whole and that he was a more
reliable witness than Gillian and Borgna.
The complaint alleges that Respondent discharged Gil-
lian and Borgna because of their union activities. Gillian
and Borgna both signed union authorization cards on
June 16. Hayes admits that Gillian was one of the two or
three employees who answered affirmatively when he in-
quired as to whether they were union. Borgna testified
that he answered that he was union and had a withdraw-
al card. Borgna also testified that at various times, in the
presence of Hayes and Farmer, other employees stated
that they were members of the Union. Farmer testified
that Borgna volunteered information that he had a with-
drawal card. It is not clear from the record whether this
was during the Hayes conversation, at which Farmer
was present, or at some other time. Farmer further testi-
fied, without contradiction, that in June, Borgna told
him that it would cost him $500 to get reinstated in the
Union. He said he did not like the idea of having to pay
the $500 and if they had to vote, he would not vote for
the Union.
It is undisputed that Gillian was one of the most vocal
of the union supporters. He argued that they should go
union regardless of any loss of pay, that it really was not
a loss as to hourly wages because the amount of the de-
crease was actually going into the pension and vacation
funds. He also argued that the Union had done much to
improve wages, benefits, and working conditions in the
oilfields.
Gillian testified that from mid-June until the date of
his discharge, he had a half-dozen to a dozen conversa-
tions with Farmer, mostly in the doghouse in the pres-
ence of the other crewmembers. All of the conversations
were pretty much the same. Farmer said he had never
belonged to a union and that he never would. Gillian
said he liked, and was for, the Union. Farmer said they
would lose their $20 subsistence plus they were making
$1 an hour more being nonunion. Gillian said "you come
out ahead by belonging to the Union," that the bene-
fits-hospitalization, insurance, retirement, vacation pay
and the credit union-were better than the extra money
because you did not have to pay income tax on it and
the subsistence pay would not make that much difference
because if they went union and the rig moved they
might have the same subsistence. During these conversa-
tions, according to Gillian, McDowell and Ellis said they
would not vote for the Union because they did not want
to lose the subsistence pay.
Respondent contends that Borgna and Gillian were
discharged because of poor work performance and be-
cause they could not get along with the driller on their
crew.5 Hayes testified that when the rig first moved
from the Clearlake to the Rio Vista area, he was told
that it was only going to be for that one job, 60 to 80
days, and he communicated this to the crew. Instead,
when the well was finished on the Peterson Ranch in
s There was a lot of testimony concerning crewmembers not being
able to get along with drillers. Respondent's argument is that it is
common for drillers to discharge crewmembers with whom they did not
get along. I conclude from the testimony as a whole that the record does
not support such a broad contention. However, it does appear from the
record that it is important that crews work well together and that a
factor which may figure wholly or partially in some discharges is the fail-
ure of a crewmember to adapt to the driller's style of leading the crew.
498 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
June, the rig moved to the Hastings Island location in
the Rio Vista area. This decision resulted in low morale
among the employees most of whom wanted to return to
Clearlake, with an accompanying tendency to sloppiness
in work performance. Around the first of June, Hayes
told all of the drillers individually that the work per-
formance of their crews would have to improve or they
would be discharged. 6 Thereafter, he repeated these
comments to the drillers several times a week.
Hayes was particularly concerned regarding some dif-
ficulties they were having with the stuffing boxes on the
pumps. Certain liquid chemicals, referred to as mud, are
used in the drilling process. The mud is contained in a
closed system and during the drilling process it is
pumped from a tank through a pipe into the ground and
recirculated back through the tank.
Proper operation of this system requires that the mud
be contained within the system with no leakage to the
outside. A device referred to as the stuffing box is criti-
cal to the retention of the mud within the system. To
prevent the mud from escaping when the pump is oper-
ating at the normal 2,000 pounds of pressure, the stuffing
box is packed with a special type of packing held in
place with a gland nut. As the packing wears down, the
gland nut has to be tightened and when the packing be-
comes so worn that it cannot effectively prevent leakage,
the packing has to be replaced.
Monitoring and adjusting or replacing the packing is
the function of the derrickman. If the packing is not ad-
justed or replaced properly and timely, leakage will
oocur. Within an half-hour to an hour at high pressure, a
leakage can result in severe pitting or grooving or in a
hole, and packing will no longer be effective in contain-
ing the fluid within the system. This is referred to as a
washout, and the stuffing box must be repaired or re-
placed. Washouts are not a common occurrence. If the
leakage persists for 1 to 2 hours, major damage to the
pump may result, and certainly it would after several
hours. 7
On June 10, when attempting to test a blowout pre-
ventor, the pump would not operate properly. Upon in-
vestigation by Hayes and Gene Taylor, the driller on
duty, it was discovered that there had been a washout of
a stuffing box. Hayes checked the stuffing box to ascer-
tain the last time the pump had been in operation. The
check revealed that probably the last time the pump was
in operation at full pressure was during Gillian's shift.
The pump had operated for 6-3/4 hours on that shift.
The driller on Gillian's crew and all the other drillers
denied that a washout oocurred on their shifts. Because
of this, according to Hayes, and because certain oper-
ations were in progress which might have legitimately
diverted Gillian from giving the stuffing box packing the
proper attention, Hayes decided not to discharge Gillian.
However, Hayes told Taylor and Al Johns, the driller on
Gillian's crew, that he suspected Gillian was responsible
6 Hayes credibly testified that it was his practice to tell each driller he
hired that the crew was the driller's responsibility, he had to work them
and they had to please him: but if a crewmember could not get the work
done, then he should discharge him.
A replacement stuffing box costs around 1,00() and a pump costs
around $200,0010.
for the washout and if it ever happened again, on Gil-
lian's shift, he would discharge Gillian. Hayes also told
Johns to keep an eye on Gillian. Hamilton testified that
on June 10, Taylor, who roomed with Hamilton, told
him that there had been a washout and that Hayes
thought Gillian was responsible. Hayes also told all the
drillers that if a washout occurred on their shift, the der-
rickman should be discharged. The stuffing box was re-
placed within a couple of days.
On June 21, Farmer replaced Johns as driller on Gil-
lian's crew. As was his usual procedure, Hayes told
Farmer that he was responsible for the crew's perform-
ance, that if a crewmember was not performing satisfac-
torily, Farmer should discharge him. Farmer said he did
not think he could handle the crew. He said he had ob-
served the way Johns ran the crew with a lot of close
supervision and yelling, that this was not his style, and
he asked if he could replace the crew. Hayes asked him
to give it a try.
Prior to his leaving on his vacation, Hayes told
Farmer that they were having difficulty with the work
performance of the crew and he wanted the drillers to
pay stricter attention to the crews' work performance. 8
Hayes also told Farmer about the June 10 washout, that
he suspected that Gillian was responsible, that Farmer
should keep his eye on Gillian's monitoring of the
pumps, and that if a washout occurred on his shift,
Farmer was to discharge Gillian and, if he did not,
Hayes would discharge Farmer. Farmer testified that he
told Gillian that Hayes thought Gillian had been respon-
sible for the washout.
It is undisputed that Farmer and his crew did not have
the best of working relations. He made no attempt to dis-
guise that he thought they were not a good crew and, on
occasion, hinted that he might discharge them. The crew
had the same lack of respect for Farmer and often re-
ferred to him as a "worm." This is a term sometimes
used in the industry to describe an inexperienced driller
whose lack of experience or ability endangers the crew.
Farmer testified that, after working with the crew for
several days, he was sure that he could not work well
with them. According to him, Borgna constantly had to
be told what to do; further, he was slow. That is, he
would manage to delay his response just long enough for
another crewmember to do a job that Borgna should
have been doing. On one occasion, according to Farm-
er's undenied testimony, he remarked to Borgna "that's
kind of slow." Borgna said he did not "give a shit."
Farmer admits that he never actually warned Borgna as
to his work. Rather, he tried to joke around that Borgna
should work faster. He admits that Borgna may not have
taken these remarks seriously. Farmer also felt that Gil-
lian's attitude was bad. Thus his undenied testimony is
that Gillian would frequently initiate arguments in the
doghouse regarding the work performance of crew-
members. Further, according to Farmer, Gillian had a
poor attitude toward his work. Thus, his undenied testi-
" Farmer testified that Hayes said they were starting to have difficulty
and he wanted the drillers to eart watching the crew. General Counsel
argues that the use of the words starling and turt are significant as to
Farmer's credibility I do ot agree
MONTEREY DRILLING COMPANY 499
mony is that on one occasion, a couple of hours before
the end of the shift, he discovered a leak in the stuffing
box. He asked Gillian to tighten it; Gillian remarked that
it would last to the end of the shift. Farmer told him to
tighten it nevertheless. Farmer also testified that, during
the rig-up prior to July 4, Walker told him three or four
times that his crew was moving too slow, that Farmer
was not directing them fast enough. I credit Farmer as to
these conversations.
In the latter part of June, after Farmer became a
driller and before the rig was dismantled for the move to
Hastings Island, another washout occurred on Gillian's
shift. The exact date of the washout is not established by
the record. It is undisputed that the rig move occurred
while Hayes was on vacation and his vacation started on
June 27. Farmer testified that Hayes was on vacation and
Woods was the pusher. Gillian testified that it occurred
on either the first or second day that he worked for
Farmer, which would have been either June 21 or 24
since the parties stipulated that the crew was off duty on
June 22 and 23. Gillian also testified that it occurred on
the morning shift which would have been the shift he
worked June 24 through 29. In the circumstances, I con-
clude that the washout occurred between June 27 and 29
and that, because of the time it took to move the rig, it
was more likely to have been on June 27 than on June
29.
Farmer testified that he was not sure that the washout
occurred on his shift. According to him, the pump pres-
sure gauge had given him no warning and Gillian had re-
ported nothing untoward. He checked with several per-
sons in an effort to ascertain responsibility. Taylor and
Ray Livingston, the driller and derrickman on the shift
preceding Gillian's shift, said they thought Gillian was
responsible; however, Farmer does not recall what rea-
sons, if any, they gave for reaching this conclusion.
Gillian admitted that the washout occurred on his
shift. However, he testified that he informed Farmer that
there was a problem. According to Gillian, this was on
the morning shift. As usual, the first thing he did was to
check the mud and the pumps. The rod was leaking, so
he tightened the packing and then told Farmer the rod
was leaking. Farmer came down, poked at it and com-
mented that the leak was bad. Gillian agreed but said he
thought he had stopped it by tightening the packing. He
said he thought it was leaking inside the packing. Gillian
said it was not the stuffing box and since the rod was al-
ready scored it would not hurt to keep tightening the
packing. Farmer told him to keep an eye on it.
Gillian testified that Farmer looked at the pump three
or four times during the shift. Gillian kept tightening the
packing. According to Gillian, the stuffing box washed
out about an hour before the end of the shift. He started
to remove the packing but had not finished by the end of
the shift. Ellis testified, without contradiction, that about
midway through the shift Gillian told him that there was
a leak in the stuffing box but it would probably last
through the rest of their shift. According to Ellis, there
was a washout within hours thereafter. He thought it
was on the next shift.
Following this washout, Farmer went to Woods, the
relief pusher on duty, told him he was not satisfied with
Gillian's work, related to him the stuffing box incident
and what Hayes had said should be done in the event of
a stuffing box washout, and asked for approval of the
discharge of Gillian. Woods told him to wait until Hayes
returned. On July 3 or 4,9 as the rig-up was continuing,
Gillian was lifting something with the air-tugger. As he
started to let it down, according to Farmer, he used the
gears when he should have used the brake which caused
the shaft to break. Farmer considered this to be negli-
gence.10 Gillian testified that the break was not caused
by his operations but rather the air-tugger malfunctioned.
Steed testified that the air level was "touchy on the air-
tugger and if you gave it a little too much air, it would
go too fast." According to Gillian, Farmer did not say
anything to him about the air-tugger when it broke.
Later that day, according to Farmer, he told Walker,
who was then working as relief pusher, that Gillian
broke the air-tugger. Walker asked if he was sure.
Farmer said "yes." Farmer asked if he could discharge
Gillian and also if he could discharge Borgna because he
was too slow. Walker asked if he was sure. Farmer said
he was sure he wanted to discharge them. Thereafter, on
July 3, Walker contacted a friend-Hancock-whom he
had promised to hire as soon as a job was available on
his crew. He told Hancock he was going to discharge
Gillian and Borgna and needed two hands. Farmer asked
if Hancock knew of a second person. Hancock said
"yes," his brother was a good hand. Farmer said he
would give Hancock's brother a try. On July 4, Farmer
told Hancock that he and his brother should report for
work on July 5.
On July 7, according to Ellis, he and Farmer were dis-
cussing Gillian. Farmer said he just could not get along
with Gillian, that he wanted a crew that could work in
harmony, that this made it much easier for everyone.
Farmer asked if Ellis was upset because Farmer dis-
charged Gillian. Ellis said Gillian was his good friend,
that he did not think it was right but he was not the
driller. He also said he agreed that Gillian and Farmer
could not get along. Ellis asked if the discharge had any-
thing to do with the Union. Farmer said no. They then
discussed Gillian's open arguments in support of union
representation. Farmer said he was against Gillian argu-
ing for the Union, that it caused problems within the
work force because some wanted union representation
and some did not. Ellis said it would be all right if it
were not at the worksite. Farmer said, "Yes, I agree."
Ellis also testified that, on several occasions, Farmer told
him he was nonunion and proud of it. He said he disliked
the Union and did not like working for a union compa-
ny.
The General Counsel contends that the reason asserted
for the discharge of Gillian is pretextual since the der-
rickman was not discharged when a stuffing box washed
out during the latter part of July. I find no merit in this
9 According to Gillian it was July 4. According to Farmer. it was July
3. General Counsel argues that this date is significant in that, according
to Gillian's testimony as to date. Farmer sought Walker's permission to
discharge him prior to the air-tugger incident. However, considering Gil-
lian's erroneous testimony as to the date of the stuffing box incident, I
conclude that his testimony cannot he relied upon as to exact dates.
'I He has only seen it happen t ice in 12 years
MONTEREY D ILLING COMPANY
500 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
contention inasmuch as the derrickman properly, and ap-
parently accurately, reported the problem and Hayes
made a decision to continue operating the pump notwith-
standing the certainty that continued operation would
result in a washout. I credit Hayes that he based his deci-
sion on his determination that an emergency situation ex-
isted, and cessation of operation of the pump would
likely result in much greater damage than would flow
from the washout of the stuffing box.
I find the evidence insufficient to establish that Borgna
was discharged because of his union activities. His activi-
ties consisted only of signing a union authorization card.
This activity was no different in kind from that of many
of the other employees. Further, Borgna had told
Farmer that he would vote against the union because he
was on withdrawal from the union and did not want to
pay the reinstatement fee. There was no reason for
Farmer not to believe this statement since, despite the
union membership of a number of the employees and the
apparent signing of union authorization cards by a major-
ity of the employees, most of the employees were ex-
pressing among themselves the intention to vote against
the Union for financial reasons.
The General Counsel suggests that Borgna was dis-
charged because he was a friend of Gillian. However,
the record does not establish any direct evidence of such
motivation nor does it establish a relationship between
Gillian and Borgna sufficient to support such an infer-
ence. The only evidence as to their relationship is that
they were considered to be friends and they rode to and
from work together. However, Ellis considered himself
to be a friend of Gillian and Farmer apparently also con-
sidered them friends. Yet, Ellis was not discharged.
There is no evidence that Gillian and Borgna worked as
a team for they were hired separately. Also there is no
evidence that Gillian exerted any more influence over
Borgna as to union activities than he did over any other
employee or that Respondent had any reason to suspect
such.
As to Gillian, apparently he was the most vocal of the
union supporters. However, it is also apparent from the
record that Farmer wanted a new crew and that Gillian
was the most vulnerable of the crew because of the June
10 stuffing box washout. Regardless of whether Gillian
was, in fact, responsible for that washout, Hayes'
preunion activity statements" indicate that he thought
Gillian was responsible and intended to discharge him if
another washout occurred under circumstances which
pointed to Gillian. Before he left on vacation, he told
Farmer to watch Gillian and to discharge him, or
anyone else, if he was responsible for another washout.
The consequences of failing to do so, Hayes warned,
would be Farmer's discharge.
Thereafter, once again a stuffing box washed out
under circumstances indicating Gillian's responsibility. I
credit Farmer that Gillian did not tell him that there was
a leakage problem. However, even assuming, arguendo,
that Gillian's account is accurate, Farmer's perception of
Gillian's responsibility probably remained the same.
II The record does not establish when the union activities commenced.
The earliest evidence on the record is the June 16 signing of the authori-
zation cards.
Thus, if Gillian's account is believed, he told Farmer that
the leak was within the packing, that it was not the stuff-
ing box, an opinion that proved unreliable. This would
have left Farmer with two options. Either he was re-
sponsible or Gillian was responsible and Farmer did not
impress me as a driller who, to his own disadvantage,
would protect this crew of which he wished to rid him-
self. When Farmer checked with the driller and derrick-
man of the preceding shift, they placed the blame on Gil-
lian. This, along with Gillian's attitude, expressed few
days earlier, that he need not rectify a leaky situation
since it would last to the end of his shift, served to indi-
cate Gillian's responsibility for the washout.
Farmer immediately reported what had occurred to
Woods and sought permission to discharge Gillian.
Woods refused, stating that Farmer should await Hayes'
return. This does not seem to be the act of an employer
determined to rid itself of a union activist. Rather the
evidence tends to establish that it was Farmer who was
determined to be rid of Gillian and the evidence is insuf-
ficient to establish that this determination was based on
anything other than his desire to restaff his crew with
workers more to his liking. Certainly this determination
would have been reinforced by Walker's criticism that
Farmer was working his crew too slowly.
Finally, Gillian gave Farmer another opportunity. He
broke the air-tugger and again Farmer sought permission
to discharge him. This time Walker agreed. In all the cir-
cumstances, I find that the evidence is more consistent
with Gillian being discharged because Farmer wanted to
get rid of him for reasons unrelated to union activities
than with the allegation that Gillian was discharged be-
cause of his union activities. Accordingly, I find that the
evidence is insufficient to establish that Gillian and
Borgna were discharged for any reason other than that
asserted by Respondent-Farmer's dissatisfaction with
their work. Accordingly, I find that Respondent did not
violate Section 8(a)(1)and (3) of the Act by the discharge
of Gillian and Borgna.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Respondent is an employer engaged in commerce
within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
2. The Union is a labor organization within the mean-
ing of Section 2(5) of the Act.
3. Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices in
violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by coercively in-
terrogating employees concerning their support for and
their membership in the Union; by threatening its em-
ployees with loss of employment if they select the Union
as their collective-bargaining representative; and by
threatening its employees that it will move its operations
out of the State of California if they selected the Union
as their bargaining representative.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
5. Respondent has not violated the Act as alleged in
the complaints herein except as set forth above.
--- ---- --
MONTEREY DRILLING COMPANY 501
THE REMEDY
Having found that Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices in violation of Section 8 (a)(1) of the Act,
I shall recommend that it be ordered to cease and desist
therefrom, and take certain affirmative actions designed
to effectuate the policies of the Act.
In the event that Respondent's operations in Rio Vista
have been completed, it is recommended that Respond-
ent mail to all its employees employed on rig B in the
Rio Vista, California, area from June 22 to July 4, 1979,
a copy of the notice which would otherwise have been
posted, if said operations had not been completed. Brown
& Root, Inc., 234 NLRB 718 (1978).
Upon the foregoing findings of facts, conclusions of
law, and the entire record herein, and pursuant to Sec-
tion 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, as
amended, I hereby issue the following recommended:
ORDER 2
The Respondent, Monterey Drilling Company,
Carson, California, its officers, agents, successors, and as-
signs, shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Coercively interrogating employees concerning
their support for and their membership in the Union.
(b) Threatening employees with loss of employment if
they select the Union as their collective-bargaining rep-
resentative.
(c) Threatening employees that it will move its oper-
ations out of the State of California if they select the
Union as their collective-bargaining representative.
(d) In any like or related manner interfering with, re-
straining, or coercing employees in the exercise of their
rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to
effectuate the purposes of the Act:
(a) In the event its operations are still in progress in
Rio Vista, California, post at said project copies of the
attached notice marked "Appendix."13 Copies of said
notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for
Region 20, shall after being duly signed by Respondent's
authorized representative, shall be posted by Respondent
immediately upon receipt thereof, and remain posted as
long as Respondent's operations in Rio Vista, California,
12 In the event no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102.46 of
the Rules and Regulations of the National Labor Relations Board, the
findings, conclusions, and recommended Order herein shall, as provided
in Sec. 102.48 of the Rules and Regulations, be adopted by the Board and
become its findings, conclusions, and Order, and all objections thereto
shall be deemed waived for all purposes.
13 In the event that 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 National Labor Relations Board" shall read "Posted Pursu-
ant to a Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an
Order of the National Labor Relations Board."
are in progress but for a period no longer than 60 days
from the date of posting, in conspicuous places, including
all places where notices to employees are customarily
posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken by Respondent to
insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or cov-
ered by any other material.
(b) In the event that such operations have been com-
pleted, as described in the section herein entitled "The
Remedy," mail copies of the aforesaid notice to the em-
ployees specified therein.
(c) Notify the Regional Direction for Region 20, in
writing, within 20 days from the date of this Order, what
steps it has taken to comply herewith.
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 sides had an opportunity to
present evidence and state their positions, the National
Labor Relations Board found that we have violated the
National Labor Relations Act, as amended, and has or-
dered us to post this notice.
The Act gives employees the following rights:
To engage in self-organization
To form, join, or assist any union
To bargain collectively through representa-
tives of their own choice
To engage in activities together for the pur-
pose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid
or protection
To refrain from the exercise of any or all such
activities.
WE WILL NOT coercively interrogate our em-
ployees concerning their support for, and member-
ship in, the Union.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees with loss
of employment if they select the Union as their col-
lective-bargaining representative.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees that we
will move our operations out of the State of Cali-
fornia if they select the Union as their collective-
bargaining representative.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner in-
terfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees in
the exercise of their rights guaranteed in Section 7
of the Act.
MONTEREY DRILLING COMPANY
MONTEREY D ILLING COMPANY