Stimson Lumber Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Feb 16, 1937

2 N.L.R.B. 568 (N.L.R.B. 1937)

In the Matter of STIMSON LUMBER COMPANY and LUMBER AND
SAWMILL WORKERS, GLENWOOD LOCAL No. 2540
Case No. R-114.-Decided February 16, 1937
Lumber Industry-Strike-Boycott-Interference, Restraint or Coercion:
refusal to bargain with union ; distributing anti-union statements among em-
ployees; discrediting union; compelling employees to disclose union member-
ship; by citizen vigilante committees-Election Ordered: controversy concerning
representation of employees-refusal by employer to bargain with union-
question affecting commerce : current strike caused by employer's refusal to
bargain with union; confusion and unrest among employees-Unit Appropriate
for Collective Bargaining: production employees; no controversy as to-Certi-
fication of Representatives: petition for denied.
Mr. E. J. Eagen for the Board.
Mr. Thomas H. Tongue, Jr., of Hillsboro, Ore., and Mr. A. P.,
Kelley and Mr. William C. McCulloch, of Portland, Ore., for the
Company.
Green, Tanner & Boesen, by Mr. Chris Boesen, of Portland, Ore.,
for the Union.
Mr. Joseph Rosen f arb, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF CASE
On August 12,1936, Lumber and Sawmill Workers, Glenwood Local
No. 2540, hereinafter called the Union, filed with the Regional Direc-
t or for the Nineteenth Region a petition for an investigation and cer-
tification of representatives of production employees at the mill and
in the logging camp of the Stimson Lumber Company, Forest Grove,
Washington County, Oregon, hereinafter called the Company. On
November 28. 1936, a notice of hearing was issued and duly served.
After two postponements, a hearing was held on December 21 and
22) 1936, before Harry Hazel, the Trial Examiner duly designated by
the National Labor Relations Board, hereinafter called the Board.
On December 10, 1936, the Company filed an answer to the petition,
denying that the Board has jurisdiction in the matter and alleging
that the National Labor Relations Act, hereinafter called the Act, is
unconstitutional and void. Both the Union and the Company ap-
peared at the hearing and were represented by counsel. Although
counsel for the Company stipulated that the appearance of the Com-
568
DECISIONS AND ORDERS , -569
pany•was in the nature of a special appearance, the Company, called
witnesses in its behalf and introduced evidence.. At the end of the
.Board's case the Company moved for the dismissal of the proceedings
on the ground that the Board had no jurisdiction in the matter and
that the Act was unconstitutional. The motion was denied., This
denial is hereby affirmed. - , ,
Upon the record of the case, the stenographic report of the hear-
ing, and all the evidence, including all the testimony, documentary
and other evidence offered and received at the hearing, the Board
makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE COMPANY AND ITS BUSINESS
The Stimson Lumber Company is a corporation duly organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Oregon with its 'princi-
pal office and place of business in Forest Grove, Washington
'County, Oregon. The Company is engaged in the production of
general forest products, in the general logging and sawmill business,
in the cutting of timber into logs, in the sawing and milling of logs
into lumber, and in the sale and distribution of such products. The
Company has 50 million feet of timber holdings in Washington
County, Oregon. The logs cut by the Company's employees in its
woods are transported from the place of felling to the mill of the
Company by a logging railroad entirely owned and operated by
the Company. The logging railroad consists of two locomotives, 35
skeleton flat cars, two donkey engines, and other cars. There is a
sidetrack owned by the Company, leading from the tracks of the
Southern Pacific Company to the mill of the Company. Loaded
cars are transported by the Company's engines over the sidetracks
to the tracks of the Southern Pacific Company where they are
picked up by the latter's trains and where the empties are returned
by the Company's engines for reloading. The Company's mill con-
sists of a logging camp, sawmill, dry kiln, dry kiln sheds, cooling
sheds, shipping sheds, planing building, storage sheds for lumber,
and office building.
The Company's mill has an eight hour capacity of 100,000 to
140,000 feet. It is one of the largest sawmills in the Northwest.
In all of its operations the Company employs on the average of
about 219 men. In some of its various operations it employs the
following number of men: logging camp, 50; sawmill, 25; pond, 3;
planer mill, 20; dry kiln, 1; wood department,.7; yard, 40; loading
platform, 10 to 15; workers from other departments are also used
for the purpose of loading cars.
570 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
About 20 per cent of the business of the Company is carried on
through filling orders previously received from customers. Over
50 per cent of the Company's lumber is shipped to destinations out-
side of the State of Oregon. Most of its sales are made through
brokers.
The foregoing operations of the Company constitute a continuous ,
flow of trade, traffic and commerce among the several States.
II. THE QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION
The official name of the Union, according to its charter from the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, is Lumber and Sawmill Workers
Union, Carpenters' Local 2540. However, it is generally referred
,to as Lumber and Sawmill Workers, Glenwood Local No. 2540, the
name appearing on the petition.
On May 4, 1935, the employees of the Company went out on strike,
an occurrence which was part of the general Pacific Coast lumber
strike of 1935. Failure of the Company to deal with the Union was
one of the reasons for the strike. Within a few days after the
.commencement of the strike, 150 of the former employees of the
Company returned to work. The strike is still going on. However,
many of the union men went back to work.,with,the acquiescence,
if not express approval, of the Union. The campaign to unionize
the workers of the Company has not abated. There was testimony
to show that in August, 1936, the membership of the Union was
156, and that at, the time of the hearing it was 184, a majority of
whom are-now actually employed by the Company. The Company
has continually, refused to bargain collectively with the Union, and
this refusal has precluded a settlement of the strike.
After an agent of the 'Board. had suggested to the Company in
August, 1936, that it should consent to an election under the Act
to determine whom the employees wished to represent them, the
Company distributed among its employees a strongly worded anti-
union statement.' Two days later the foremen of the Company
called its employees together in the yard in full view of the office,
And a so-called election by- standing vote was taken to determine
i Bd Exh. 13-9.
„"STATEMENT BY STIMSON LUMBER TO ITS EMPLOYEES
AUGUST 10, 1936
"In May, 1935 1tjiis mill , was started by -a petition from our, employees asking us to start
operations: Since that time we have been running under conditions well known to
you.all . , • _ •
"Recently we have been asked by Mr Howard, Federal Representative under the
Wagner Labor Law, to agree to an election giving you the right to decide whether you
wish the Glenwood Local No. 2540 to act as your agent to conduct negotiations with us,
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 5,71.
whether the' employees wished to join the. Union. Those who were
for the Union went over to one side and the remainder, to the other
side. It was testified in behalf of the Company that the Union lost
the election by about 'two to one. There is no need to,
,
dilate on the
obvious fact that this is not a type of election calculated to ascer-
tain the sentiment of the employees without fear of reprisal by a
hostile employer.
We feel that a question concerning the representation of the
employees of the company has arisen.
III, THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION ON. COMMERCE
The record is replete with evidence of the direct and detrimental
effect which the labor dispute with the Company has had on the
interstate commerce of the Company. There is evidence of vio-
lence, activities of citizen vigilante committees operating under
the guidance and with the participation of officials of the Company,
or whether you prefer a Committee of your own choosing to do this Without any Union
domination.
"As we started up under a petition from you and have received no other, we do not feel
that we. have any right to consent to any such election. These negotiations have ceased,
and so far as we are concerned there wily be no election.
"If you wish to change present conditions we will consider any petitions for any
changes you desire.
"At present a considerable number of our men have made application ' to' join the
Glenwood Local No. 2540. If youjoin.up , we fully expect said Local to claim the right
to represent you. IF-this is what you want do nothing: IF THIS IS NOT.WHAT YOU
WANT file a petition and let 'usknow what you do want' Yo.1 can elect your own com-
mittee if you wish. .
"Up to the present time there has been harmony in this organization , and we dislike
to see that condition changed. We. do not wish to deal with the Glenwood Local and we
do not consider it to your best interest's for- the-following reasons :
"First : While you can elect your own Committee , their word is NOT final with the
Union. A Union Committee's actionsmust be approved by the:Upion. < You number about
295 men and the local has about 1400 members . Better think this over.
"Second: Union hours would without doubt go into effect. -This you all know means
less hours per month than you. now put in. This - is especially true in the woods.
"Third : The Company does not think it necessary for you to pay to,join the Union or
pay dues to it to get reasonable "justice, which we think you have had in the past. If you
do not agree with this statement you should join the Union.
"Fourth : It is not necessary for you to join the Union to have a Committee . of your
own to 'deal with the Company. If -this is what you want, elect one. We will neet.with
it. ' We think you will be better satisfied that way than with a Union Committee. At
least, if you like what your own Committee does; outsiders cannot upset their deals. If
you do not like what they do, you can elect ahother committee , without advice from men
NOT in our employ.
''Fifth Wages, hours and working conditions can be handled as well by your own
Committee as by a Union Committee. Maybe better . ALL THE BRAINS ARE -NOT-'IN
THE UNION.
"Sixth : Unions may call strikes in which case you might be compelled to go out. Do
not forget that in the past year and a half our mill employees have had work for about
three months and the loggers for about five months while Union operations were on strike.
"The principal disadvantage if you do not join the Union Is that if you leave our
d . if you went elsewhere.employ you might be fine
"The Company is willing to continue to operate as we are doing and see no reason' why
we cannot continue to do so indefinitely.
"YOU DO NOT HAVE TO JOIN THE UNION TO HOLD YOUR JOB.
"THIS WILL BE AN OPEN SHOP FOR SOME TIME YET."
572 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
physical obstruction to the shipment of the Company's products,
and boycotting of the Company's products by workers in all parts
of the country.
During the strike, the longshoremen refused to handle the prod-
ucts of the Company. "Unfair" placards were placed on the lum-
ber of the Company. Although prior to May, 1935, 50 per cent of
the Company's shipments were by water, since then this has been
greatly reduced .2v The record contains evidence of numerous re-
fusals by customers to continue to patronize the Company any
longer. Several shipments of lumber were returned to the Com-
pany. Likewise, carpenters' unions all over the 'country have re-
fused to work on and handle the products of the Company. It is
obvious that the damage to the interstate business of the .Company
caused by this labor dispute was considerable. Indeed, all this is
admitted by counsel for the Company.
The question of representation which has arisen, has, caused con-
fusion, uneasiness and unrest among the employees of the_ Com-
pany,, and. has led and tends to, lead to labor, disputes , burdening
commerce and the free flow of commerce.
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
The employees of the Company, engaged in the logging camp and
in the lumber mill of the Company constitute a • single unit appro-
priate for the purpose ' of collective bargaining., There is no con-
flict of evidence on this point.
CONca usIONs OF, LAW
Upon the basis of the above' findings; • the. following 'concusions
of law are made by,the Board:,
1. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-'
sentation of,the employees, of the Stimson Lumber Company, with-
in the meaning of Section 9 (c) and Section 2, subdivisions' (6) and,
(7), of the National Labor Relations Act. "
2. The employees in the logging camp and lumber mill of the'
Company constitute, a ,unit 'appropriate for the purposes of collec-
tive bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Na-
tional Labor Relations At.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION 'L
The National Labor Relations Board: having found that a ques-
tion affecting commerce has arisen concerning the representation of'
A Bd. Exh. 4.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 573
the employees in the lumber mill and logging camp of Stimson
Lumber Company, Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon, and
that the said employees constitute a single unit appropriate for the
purposes of collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9
(b) of the National Labor Relations Act, and acting pursuant to
the power vested in the National Labor Relations Board by Section
9 (c) of said Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8 of Na-
tional Labor Relations Board Rules and- Regulations-Series 1, as
amended, hereby
DIRECTS that as-part of the investigation authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for the purposes of collective bargain-
ing with the Stimson Lumber Company, elections by secret ballot
shall be conducted within a period of 20 days after the date of this
Direction of Election, under the direction and supervision of the
Regional Director for the Nineteenth Region, acting in this matter
as the agent of the National Labor Relations Board and subject to
Article III, Section 9 of said Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as
amended, among the production employees in the lumber mill and,
logging . camp of , the, Stimson; Lumber Company on the payroll; on
the date of the last payment of wages prior to the hearing in the
case, excepting office help, foremen, and others engaged in a super-
visory capacity, ,to determine-whether or not they desire to be repre-
sented by Lumber and Sawmill Workers, Glenwood Local No. 2540.
SAME TITLE
DENIAL OF PETITION TO CERTIFY REPRESENTATIVES
April 27. 1937
On August 12, 1936, Lumber and-Sawmill Workers; Glenwood
Local No. 2540, filed with the Regional Director for the, Nineteenth
Region (Seattle, Washington) a petition for an investigation and
certification of representatives pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Act,.49 Stat. 449, said petition alleging that
a question affecting commerce had arisen concerning the represen-
tation of the production employees at the mill and in the logging
camp of the Stimson Lumber Company, Forest Grove, Washington
County, Oregon. Subsequently, the National Labor Relations
Board, acting pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III,
Section 3 of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regula-
tions-Series 1, as amended, authorized the Regional Director for
the Nineteenth- Region to,conduct • an , investigation : and. to provide,
for an appropriate hearing upon due notice. Pursuant to such
authorization, notice of hearing was duly issued and served by the
574 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Regional Director, and on December 21 and 22, 1936, a hearing was
held before Harry Hazel, sitting as Trial Examiner.
After said hearing and upon the full record in the case, the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board issued. its Decision and Direction of
Election dated February 16, 1937. Pursuant to the Direction, an
election by secret ballot was conducted by the Regional Director on
March 4, 1937, among the production employees employed as of
December 10, 1936, in the lumber mill and logging camp of the
Stimson Lumber Company at Forest Grove, Washington County,
Oregon, said election being held in accordance with Article III,
Section 9 of said Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended.
Thereafter the Regional Director prepared and served upon the
parties to the proceeding his Intermediate Report, in which he found
that 170 persons were eligible to vote in the election, that 160 ballots
were cast, and that 46 of such ballots were cast for the Lumber and
Sawmill Workers, Glenwood Local No. 2540, 109 against Lumber
and Sawmill Workers, Glenwood Local No. 2540, and Ave ballots
were contested.
Now THEREFORE , by virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in
the National Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National
Labor Relations Act and pursuant to Article III, Section 8 of
National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1,
as amended , the petition to certify representatives is hereby denied.