Swift and Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Aug 22, 1960

128 N.L.R.B. 732 (N.L.R.B. 1960)

732 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
and make mathematical calculations to assist the engineers in the re-
search work. They are located in a separate building and utilize
highly specialized equipment to test the material under development.
These employees work under a minimum of instruction and require at
least 6 months' training. We find these employees are technicals and,
in view of the Employer's objection, we shall exclude them."
Accordingly, we find the following employees constitute a unit
appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning
of Section 9 (-b) of the Act :
All production and maintenance employees employed at the Em-
ployer's Arlington, Texas, plant, including inspectors, machinists, the
foreman and laboratory assistants in the research laboratory, special-
ists, loaders, shipping and receiving employees, but excluding techni-
cal employees,' the assistant laboratory technicians and helpers in the
core laboratory, guards, professional employees, and supervisors as
defined in the Act.
[Text of Direction of Election omitted from publication.]
' Leland Electric Company, et al., 126 NLRB 406. Chairman Leedom would not find on
this record that these helpers exercise independent judgment and utilize the specialized
training of technical employees ; accordingly, be would include the helpers in the unit.
S The Petitioner alternatively contended that if any . of the classifications it sought were
found technicals , it desired to represent such employees in a separate unit . However;.
Petitioner would be entitled to an election in a separate technical unit only if it sought
all technicals in the plant and it had an appropriate showing of interest for such em -
ployees. The Monarch Machine Tool Co., 98 NLRB 1243 ; We8tinghou8e Air Brake
Company, Union Switoh c& Signal Division, 119 NLRB 1391 . These requirements have
not been established here to justify a separate unit confined to the laboratory technicians.
Swift and Company and Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen of North America , AFL-CIO and National
Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers, Party to a Contract.
Case No. 4-CA-2024. August 22, 1960
DECISION AND ORDER
Upon a charge duly filed on October 12, 1959, by Amalgamated.
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, AFL-CIO,.
herein called Meat Cutters, the General Counsel of the National Labor
Relations Board, by the Regional Director for the Fourth Region,
issued a complaint and notice of hearing dated November 30, 1959,
against Swift and Company, herein called Respondent, alleging that
the Respondent had engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor prac-
tices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (1) and (2) of the National
Labor Relations Act, as amended (61 Stat. 136, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 151,
et seq.), herein called the Act. On December 7, 1959, the complaint
was amended by the General Counsel. The complaint and amended
128 NLRB No. 87.
SWIFT AND COMPANY 733
complaint named the National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Work-
ers, herein called the Brotherhood, as Party to a Contract. On Decem-
ber 21, 1,9591 the Respondent filed an answer to the amended complaint
in which it admitted certain allegations thereof, denied others, and
prayed that the complaint be dismissed. On December 21, 1959, the
Brotherhood filed an answer to the amended complaint in which it
admitted certain allegations thereof, and denied others. Copies of
the charge, the- complaint and notice of hearing,' the amended com-
plaint, and the answers were duly served on all parties.
With respect to the unfair labor practices, the complaint alleged, in
substance, that, on or about September 18, 1959, and at all times there-
after, Respondent rendered unlawful aid, assistance, and support to
the Brotherhood in violation of Section 8(a) (2) of the Act; and also
interfered with, restrained, and coerced employees in violation of
Section 8 (a) (1) of the Act, by extending an existing collective-
bargaining agreement, and subsequently entering into a new agree-
ment, with the Brotherhood at a time when there was pending before
the National Labor Relations Board a representation petition filed by
a rival labor organization.2
Thereafter, all the parties entered into a stipulation 3 which set
forth an agreed statement of facts, waived a hearing before a Trial
Examiner, waived the issuance of an Intermediate Report and Recom-
mended Order by a Trial Examiner, and, in effect, moved that the
proceeding be transferred to the Board. The stipulation, in effect
requested the Board to make findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
to issue a Decision and Order. On March 17, 1960, the Board granted
the aforesaid motion and transferred the proceeding to the Board .4
The stipulation is hereby approved and accepted and made a part
,of the record in this case.'
Upon the basis of the stipulation, and the entire record in the case,
the Board 6 makes the following :
I Brotherhood moved that the hearing be rescheduled for an earlier date than named in
the notice of hearing . The Regional Director denied the motion.
3 Swift and Company, Employer , and Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen
of North America, AFL-CIO, Petitioner , Case No 4-RC-3988 ( unpublished).
3 The stipulation reserved to the parties the right to file with the Board motions and
briefs in support thereof.
4 The Respondent and the Brotherhood filed motions to dismiss and briefs in support
thereof, asserting that on the facts in this case the rule in Shea Chemical Corporation,
121 NLRB 1027 (1958 ), should not be applied . In view of the decision herein these
motions are denied. The Respondent also requested oral argument before the Board.
The request is hereby denied as the stipulation , motions and briefs , and the answer to
the complaint , in our opinion, adequately present the issues and positions of the parties.
5 The motion of the General Counsel to strike certain paragraphs in the stipulation and
to reject certain exhibits is hereby denied as, in our opinion, such paragraphs and ex-
hibits are acceptable as background information.
0Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the Act, the Board has delegated its
powers in connection with this case to a three -member panel [Chairman Leedom and
Members Rodgers and Jenkins]
734 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
The Respondent is an Illinois corporation engaged in the slaughter-
ing and processing of meat in various plants throughout the United
States. Annually, the Respondent ships its finished meat products,
valued in excess of $1,000,000, between and among the various States
of the United States.
We find that the Respondent is engaged in commerce, and that it
will effectuate the policies of the Act to assert jurisdiction.
H. THE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, AFL-CIO, and National Brotherhood of Packinghouse
Workers are labor organizations within the meaning of Section 2(5)
of the Act.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Respondent and the Brotherhood were parties to a master agree-
ment, effective from September 24, 1956, to September 1, 1959, cover-
ing the employees of Respondent at various plants throughout the
United States, including the production and maintenance employees
at Respondent's Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant. On October 11,
1956, the date of the execution of the master agreement, Respondent
and Brotherhood executed supplemental agreements to the master
agreement, which included the following provision :
... if at any time during the term of the new Master Agreement
or between the date hereof and the effective date of said new
Master Agreement the National Labor Relations Board should
certify as the bargaining agent for any of the employees in any
of the bargaining units covered by such Master Agreement a labor
organization other than your own, then in such event said new
Master Agreement would cease and terminate as to such employ-
ees effective with the date of the Board's certification.
On June 18 and 25,1959, respectively, Brotherhood and Respondent
served on the other notice of termination of the master and supple-
mental agreements. Thereafter, beginning on July 23, 1959, the
parties met and began negotiations toward a new collective-bargain-
ing agreement.
On August 13, 1959, the Meat Cutters filed a representation petition
with the National Labor Relations Board, requesting an election at
Respondent's Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant in a unit of production
and maintenance employees, including truckdrivers. Hearing on the
petition was scheduled for September 9, 1959. It was postponed on
September 8 by the Regional Director, Fourth Region, and was re-
SWIFT AND COMPANY 735
scheduled for September 17, 1959. On the latter date a hearing was
held at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Respondent, Meat Cutters, and
Brotherhood each participated in the hearing.
On August 21, 1959, Respondent and Brotherhood entered into an
agreement continuing in effect the master and supplemental agree-
ments beyond their expiration date of September 1, 1959, until new
agreements were executed or the extended agreements were terminated
by notice. Thereafter, on September 18, 1959, Respondent and Broth-
erhood executed an agreement amending the master agreement and
supplemental agreements as extended on August 21. This agreement
modified the latter agreements and included therein wage increases
and provisions relative to improvements in working conditions. The
terms were made retroactive to September 1, 1959, and were made
applicable, among others, to employees at the Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania, plant of Respondent.
On October 22, 1959, Respondent and Brotherhood executed a new
master agreement, effective the same date, covering employees at
Respondent's various plants, including the production and mainte-
nance employees at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant. On the
same date, Respondent and Brotherhood executed a supplemental
agreement to the new master agreement, which included the same
language as to certification of another union as was part of the supple-
mental agreement to the expired master agreement, as hereinbefore
noted.
In the Shea Chemical Corporation case ,' the Board held that upon
presentation of a rival or conflicting claim which raises a real question
concerning representation, an employer may not go so far as to bar-
gain collectively with an incumbent union unless and until the ques-
tion concerning representation has been settled by the Board. The
foregoing facts show that at a time when a petition for representa-
tion of the employees at its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant was
pending before the Board, the Respondent extended its expiring con-
tract, entered into a supplemental agreement granting wage increases
and improved working conditions, and executed a new master agree-
ment with Brotherhood. We hold that by these acts Respondent
violated the Act under the Shea Chemical principle.
Respondent contends 8 that Shea Chemical is not controlling be-
cause no real question concerning representation existed when the
Respondent committed the acts in question. In this connection, Re-
spondent points to the fact that practically every employee in the
unit had continued his dues checkoff authorizations, although this
is a period when such authorizations could have been revoked. Re-
7 Shea Chemical Corporation, supra. See also Midwest Ps ping & Supply Co, Inc.,
63 NLRB 1060 ; Novak Logging Company, 110 NLRB 1573
1In its brief the Brotherhood , in substance , sets up the same defense as Respondent,
and, therefore , will not be treated separately.
736 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
spondent's contention, however, is without merit, inasmuch as the
timely filing of the petition supported by an administratively deter-
mined showing of interest in fact raises a real question concerning
representation. Shea Chemical Corporation, supra, footnote S.
Respondent also contends that its neutrality as to claims by rival
unions is evidenced by the provision in the supplemental agreements
which provide that the master agreement shall cease and terminate
as to any unit covered upon certification by the Board of a union other
than the contracting union. We find this contention also without
merit, as the effect of assistance to the contracting union in the face
of a rival claim is not dissipated by the mere inclusion in the contract
of such a provision. Moreover, such a provision does not allay the
fact that Respondent has concluded for itself which of two competing
unions the employees desire as their representative. As previously
noted, the Board has held that this is not the employer's prerogative.
Respondent further contends that consideration must be given to
the fact that for many years past its collective bargaining has been
conducted on the same basis as shown in this case. It states that on
many occasions in the past it has executed master agreements while
petitions for representation elections were pending, and no allega-
tion of illegal activity was leveled against the practice by the Meat
Cutters, a petitioning union in some cases, or by any other union. The
contention is likewise without merit. A failure to challenge Respond-
ent's past conduct in similar situations is no defense to a present
charge that the same, or similar, conduct is presently unlawful.
For the foregoing reasons we find that Respondent violated Section
8(a) (1) and (2) by signing an agreement on August 21, 1959, con-
tinuing in effect on and after its termination date of September 1,
1959, amending the master agreement previously extended and grant-
ing wage increases and improved working conditions for employees ;
and by executing a new master agreement and supplemental agree-
ments with Brotherhood on October 22, 1959-all at a time when there
was a real question concerning representation by reason of the Meat
Cutters' rival claim.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section III, above,
occurring in connection with its operations described in section I,
above, have a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic,
and commerce among the several States, and tend to lead to labor
disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the free flow of
commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor prac-
tices violative of Section 8(a) (1) and (2) of the Act, we shall order
SWIFT AND COMPANY 737
it to cease and desist therefrom and take certain affirmative action
designed to effectuate the policies of the Act. However, since the
master agreement covers employees at a number of Respondent's
plants, but the Meat Cutters' representation claim is for only the
production and maintenance employees at Respondent's Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, plant, the remedy and order herein shall be limited to
that plant.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, AFL-CIO, and National Brotherhood of Packinghouse
Workers are labor organizations within the meaning of Section 2(5)
of the Act.
2. By entering into the various collective-bargaining agreements
with National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers described here-
inabove, thereby contributing unlawful aid, assistance, and support
to the said labor organization, the Respondent has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section
8(a) (2) of the Act.
3. By such conduct the Respondent interfered with, restrained, and
coerced its employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in
Section 7 of the Act, and has thereby engaged in and is engaging in
unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8 (a) (1) of the
Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices
affecting commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of
the Act.
ORDER
Upon the entire record in this case, and pursuant to Section 10(c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Respondent, Swift and Com-
pany, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, its officers, agents, successors, and
assigns, shall :
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Giving effect, to the extent that it applies to the employees at
its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant, to the collective-bargaining
agreement, dated October 22, 1959, between the Respondent and the
National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers, or to any exten-
sion, renewal, or modification thereof, or any other contract or agree-
ment between the Respondent and the said labor organization which
may now be in force.
(b) Recognizing National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers
as the representative of its employees at its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
plant for the purposes of dealing with the Respondent concerning
738 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment,
or other conditions of employment, unless and until the said labor
organization shall have been certified by the Board as the representa-
tive of the Respondent's production and maintenance employees at
its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant.
(c) In any like or related manner interfering with, restraining, or
coercing its employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Sec-
tion 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Withdraw and withhold all recognition from National Brother-
hood of Packinghouse Workers of America as the collective-bargaining
representative of any of its employees at its Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania, plant, unless and until the said labor organization shall have
been certified by the Board as the representative of such employees.
(b) Post at its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, plant, copies of the
notice attached hereto marked "Appendix." s Copies of said notice,
to be furnished by the Regional Director for the Fourth Region, shall
be duly signed immediately upon receipt thereof, and shall be posted
and maintained by the Respondent for a period of 60 consecutive days
thereafter in conspicuous places, including all places where notices
to employees are customarily placed. Reasonable steps shall be taken
by Respondent to insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or
covered by any other material.
(c) Notify the Regional Director for the Fourth Region, in writing,
within 10 days from the date of this Order, what steps have been taken
to comply herewith.
0In the event that this Order is enforced by a decree of a United States Court of
Appeals, there shall be substituted for the words "Pursuant to a Decision and Order" the
words "Pursuant to a Decree of the United States Court of Appeals, Enforcing an Order "
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to a Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations
Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, you are notified that : .
WE WILL NOT give effect to our contract dated October 22, 1959,
with National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers as the col-
lective-bargaining representative of any of our employees at our
plant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and will not recognize the said
labor organization as such representative, unless and until the
said labor organization shall have been certified by the Board
as such representative of the employees.
SHERRY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. 739
WE WILL withdraw and withhold all recognition from National
Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers as the collective-bargain-
ing representative of any of such employees, and will not recognize
the said labor organization as such representative, unless and until
the said labor organization shall have been certified by the Board
as the representative of the employees.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with, re-
strain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of the rights guar-
anteed in Section 7 of the Act, including the right to join or assist
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, AFI^-CIO, except to the extent that such right may be
affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor organ-
ization as a condition of employment, as authorized in Section
8 (a) (3) of the Act, as modified by the Labor-Management Report-
ing and Disclosure Act of 1959.
SWIFT AND COMPANY,
Employer.
Dated---------------- By-------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from the date hereof,
and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc. and International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union, AFL-CIO, Local Chapter No. 415.
Case No. 12-CA-1090. August 22, 1960
DECISION AND ORDER
On March 8, 1960, Trial Examiner Arthur E. Reyman issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices, and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom and
take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the copy of the Inter-
mediate Report attached hereto. Thereafter, the General Counsel and
Respondent 1 filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report, and briefs
in support thereof.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the National Labor
Relations Act, the Board has delegated its powers in connection with
this case to a three-member panel [Chairman Leedom and Members
Rodgers and Jenkins].
1 Respondent, in its exceptions, excepts to the failure to enforce subpenas served upon
the Florida Industrial Commission. The points raised by Respondent in support of its
exception were considered by the Board in Its Order, dated December 22, 1959, which
revoked the subpenas and denied enforcement thereof. Accordingly, they will not be
further considered herein.
1.28 NLRB No. 86.