The Putnam Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 23, 1945

64 N.L.R.B. 418 (N.L.R.B. 1945)

0
In the Matter of THE PUTNAM COMPANY and INTERNATIONAL MOLDERS
AND FOUNDRY WORKERS UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, A. F. OF L.
Case No.1-R-2543.Decided October 03,1945
Mr. Ernest L. Anderson, of Worcester, Mass. , and Mr. Samuel
Reynolds, of Putnam, Conn., for the Company.
Mr. E. F. Kennedy, of Providence, R. I., for the Union.
Mr. Donald B. Brady, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon a petition duly filed by International Molders and Foundry
Workers Union of North America, A. F. of L., herein called the
Union, alleging that a question affecting commerce had arisen con-
cerning the representation of employees of The Putnam Company,
Putnam, Connecticut, herein called the Company, the National Labor
Relations Board provided for an appropriate hearing upon due notice
before Robert E. Greene, Trial Examiner. The hearing was held at
Putnam, Connecticut, on July 31, 1945. The Company and the Union
appeared and participated. All parties were afforded full oppor-
tunity to be heard, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to
introduce evidence bearing on the issues. The Trial Examiner's rul-
ings made at the hearing are free from prejudicial error and are
hereby affirmed. All parties were afforded an opportunity to file
briefs with the Board.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
The Putnam Company is a Connecticut corporation with its prin-
cipal office and place of business at Putnam, Connecticut, where it is
engaged in the manufacture of gray iron castings. The principal
raw materials used are iron, sand, and coke, of which approximately
64 N. L R. B., No. 76.
418
THE PUTNAM COMPANY 419
80 percent is received from outside the State of Connecticut. The
value of annual sales exceeds $300,000, of which more than 50 percent
represents products shipped to points outside the State of Connecticut.
The Company admits that it is engaged in commerce within the
meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
II. THE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
International Molders and Foundry Workers Union of North
America, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, is a labor
organization admitting to membership employees of the Company.
III. THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
In June 1945, the Union requested recognition as sole bargaining
agent of the Company's employees. The Company thereafter re-
fused to accord such recognition until the Union had been certified
by the Board in the appropriate unit.
A statement of a Field Examiner, introduced into evidence at the
hearing, indicates that the Union represents a substantial number of
employees in the unit hereinafter found appropriate?
We find that a question affecting commerce has arisen concerning
the representation of employees of the Company, within the meaning
of Section 9 (c) and Section (2) (6) and (7) of the Act.
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
We find, in accordance with the stipulation of the parties, that all
employees of the Company at its Putnam, Connecticut, plant, ex-
cluding office and clerical employees, foremen, and all other super-
visory employees with authority to hire, promote, discharge, disci-
pline, or otherwise effect changes in the status of employees, or
effectively recommend such action, constitute a unit appropriate for
the purposes of collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section
9 (b) of the Act 2
V. TIIE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
We shall direct that the question concerning representation which
has arisen be resolved by an election by secret ballot among the em-
ployees in the appropriate unit who were employed during the pay-
roll period immediately preceding the date of the Direction of Elec-
i The Field Examiner reported that the Union submitted 27 authorization cards that
there are approximately 60 persons in the appropriate unit ; and that there were 17 cards
dated May 1945 and 10 dated June 1945.
2 During the hearing the Union made a motion to amend the petition to exclude pattern
makers from the unit but since no pattern makers are employed by the Company the motion
was withdrawn.
420 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
tion herein, subject to the limitations and additions set forth in the
Direction.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 9, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 3, as amended, it is
hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation to ascertain represent-
atives for the purposes of collective bargaining with The Putnam
Company, Putnam , Connecticut , an election by secret ballot shall be
conducted as early as possible , but not later than thirty (30) days
from the date of this Direction under the direction and supervision of
the Regional Director for the First Region, acting in this matter as
agent for the National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article
III, Sections 10 and 11, of said Rules and Regulations , among the
employees in the unit found appropriate in Section IV, above, who
were employed during the pay-roll period immediately preceding
the date of this- Direction , including employees who did not work
during the said pay -roll period because they were ill or on vacation
or temporarily laid off, and including employees in the awned forces
ur the United States who present themselves in person at the polls,
but excluding those employees who have since quit or been discharged
for cause and have not been rehired or reinstated prior to the date of
the election , to determine whether or not they desire to be represented
by International Molders and Foundry Workers Union of North
America, A. F. of L ., for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Mn. GERARD D. REILLY took no part in the consideration of the
above Decision and Direction of Election.