Preston Trucking Co., Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Mar 9, 1956

115 N.L.R.B. 750 (N.L.R.B. 1956)

750 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
served upon the parties a report containing resolutions of credibility
issues, findings of fact, and recommendations to the Board as to the
disposition of these objections. Within 10 days from date of the issu-
ance of such report, any party may file with the Board in Washington,
D. C., an original and 6 copies of exceptions. The party filing the
same shall serve a copy thereof upon each of the other parties, and the
Regional Director. If no exceptions are filed thereto, the Board will
adopt the recommendations of the hearing officer.
Preston Trucking Company, Inc., Petitioner and Local 822, Inter-
national Brotherhood of Teamsters , Chauffeurs , Warehouse-
men & Helpers of America , AFL-CIO. Case No. 15-RM 91$.
March 9, 1956
DECISION AND DIRECTION
Pursuant to a stipulation for certification upon consent election,
an election by secret ballot was conducted on October 25, 1955, under
the direction and supervision of the Regional Director for the Fifth
Region, among the employees in the unit described in the stipulation.
At the conclusion of the election, a tally of ballots was furnished the
parties in accordance with the Board's Rules and Regulations. The
tally showed that of approximately 5 eligible voters, 3 cast valid
ballots, of which 2 were for, and 1 against, the participating labor
organization . There were two challenged ballots.
As the challenged ballots were sufficient in number to affect the
results of the election, the Regional Director, in accordance with the
Board's Rules and Regulations, issued his report on challenges. In
his report he recommends that the challenge to the ballot cast by Byron
Abbott be overruled and that the challenge to the ballot cast by Wil-
liam Morris be sustained. On December 29, 1955, the Employer filed
exceptions to the Regional. Director's report on challenges.
Upon the basis of the entire record in this case, the Board makes
the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The Employer is engaged in commerce within the meaning of
the Act.
2. The labor organization involved claims to represent certain em-
ployees of the Employer.
3. A question affecting commerce exists concerning the representa-
tion of employees of the Employer within the meaning of Section
9 (c) (1) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
4. In agreement with the parties, the following employees of the
Employer constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective
115 NLRB No. 114.
PRESTON TRUCKING COMPANY, INC. 751
bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act: All office
clerical employees at the Employer's Norfolk, Virginia, terminal, ex-
cluding all other employees, guards, watchmen, professional employ-
ees, part-time personnel connected with the United States Navy, con-
fidential employees, and supervisors as defined in. the Act.
The challenges : Byron Abbott, whom the Employer challenged as
a supervisor, works as a rate clerk, with three other office clerical em-
ployees, in the Employer's Norfolk terminal office. The Regional
Director's investigation reveals that Abbott was never told that he-
has any authority to hire, fire, or discipline other employees, or to
recommend such action, and fellow employees reported that they do,
not regard him as their supervisor. Although the Employer set forth
in a written statement that Abbott lays out work and supervises its
performance, the investigation shows, according to the Regional Di-
rector, that Abbott is the most experienced employee in the office, and
that for this reason other office employees often seek his advice. In
these circumstances, the Regional Director concluded that Abbott was
not a supervisor, and recommended that the challenge to his ballot
be overruled. The Employer, in its exceptions, has not alleged any
new facts in support of its contention that Abbott is a supervisor, nor
does the Employer claim that the Regional Director overlooked or
rejected proof offered to him. In these circumstances, we rely on
the Regional Director's findings, and conclude that the Employer has
failed in its exceptions to raise any substantial and material issues
that warrant holding a hearing. We shall therefore adopt the Re-
gional Director's recommendation,' and hereby overrule the challenge
to the ballot of Byron Abbott.
William Morris , whom the Union challenged as a supervisor , is pri-
marily, according to the Regional Director's investigation , a salesman.
He receives a commission , has an expense account, and his duties in-
volve selling the Employer's trucking services and maintaining good-
will with customers. The Regional Director concludes , on these facts,
including the written statement of the Employer , that Morris was not
a supervisor , and that he lacks a sufficient community of interest with
the office clerical employees to warrant his inclusion in the office
clerical unit. He recommended that the challenge to Morris' ballot
be sustained . The Employer's exceptions do little more than reiter-
ate its claim that Morris properly belongs in the unit and allege no
facts in support of its assertion . The exceptions therefore do not
raise any substantial . or material issues with respect to the challenge
here involved . We shall, accordingly, adopt the Regional , Director's
recommendation 2, and hereby sustain the challenge to the ballot of
William Morris.
C. C. Anderson: ,Stores Company , 104 NLRB -218, 219
11
a Natcoual Foundry Comp any of New York, Inc., 112 NLRB 1214.
'752 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
As we have sustained the challenge to 1 of the 2 challenged bal-
lots and have overruled the challenge to the other ballot and as the
outcome of the election depends on the consideration of such ballot,
we direct that the ballot of Byron Abbott be opened and counted.
[The Board directed that the Regional Director for the Fifth
Region shall, within ten (10) days from the date of this Direction,
open and count the ballot of Byron Abbott, prepare and cause to be
served upon the parties a supplemental tally of ballots, including
therein the count of the ballot described above, and further proceed in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 102.61 and 102.62 of the
National Labor Relations Board's Rules and Regulations.]
Swift & Company and Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen of North America , Local 615, AFL-CIO and General
Drivers, Helpers and Inside Employees Union No . 329, AFL-
CIO, Joint-Petitioners . Case No. 18-RC-2639. March 9, 1956
DECISION AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION
Upon a petition duly filed under Section 9 (c) of the National
Labor Relations Act, a hearing was held before Clarence A. Meter,
hearing officer. The hearing officer's rulings made at the hearing are
free from prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed.
Upon the entire record in this case, the Board finds :
1. The Employer is engaged in commerce within the meaning of
the Act.
- 2. The labor organizations involved claim to represent certain
employees of the Employer.
- 3. A question affecting commerce exists concerning the re'presen
tation of employees of the Employer within the meaning of Section 9
(c) (1) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
4. The Employer is an Illinois corporation with the main office
in Chicago, Illinois, engaged in the sale and distribution of meat prod-
ucts and dairy and poultry products with places of business located
in many. of the States. This proceeding involves the Employer's op-
eration located at Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
The Petitioners and the Employer agree substantially on the ap-
propriateness of a production and maintenance unit. They, differ as to
the inclusion of the procurement route drivers, the Employer. urging
that they should be excluded from the plant unit or, placed in a sep
a,rate bargaining unit because of the lack of a community. of interest
with the production employees. The Petitioners desire the inclusion
of the procurement drivers in the plant unit, but stated at the }gearing
115 NLRB No. 105.