The Toledo Steel Tube Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 3, 1939

15 N.L.R.B. 837 (N.L.R.B. 1939)

In the Matter of THE TOLEDO STEEL TUBE COMPANY and INTER-
NATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE WORKERS OF AMERICA, #12
Case No. R--628.-Decided October 3, 1939
Metal Products Manufacturing Industry-Labor Organizations Involved: recog-
nition of split in parent labor organization ; two groups constituting separate labor
organizations affiliated with C. I. 0. and A. F. L.-Investigation of Representa-
tives: controversy concerning representation of employees : dispute between craft
and industrial unions as to appropriate unit ; refusal of Company to recognize
industrial or craft union as exclusive bargaining agents until question of repre-
sentation settled-Contracts: of craft union subject to determination of appro-
priate unit ; of industrial union no bar to investigation due to provision for
modification and amendment coupled with fact that it was executed' by petition-
ing union-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining: dependent on desire of'
employees involved where considerations determinative of appropriate unit are.
such that either of two contentions is valid; determination of dependent upon.
results of elections-Elections Ordered: both A. F. L.-U. A. W. and C. I. 0.--
U. A. W. to be placed on ballot unless Regional Director notified of desire not:
to be represented thereon.
Mr. Harry L. Lodish and Mr. Bernard Bralove, for the Board.
Mr. C. E. Kilter, Mr. Edward Lamb, and Mr. Lowell Goerlich, of
Toledo, Ohio, for Local No. 12.
Mr. J. W. Starritt, of Toledo, Ohio, for the M. E. S. A.
Mr. Raymond J. Compton, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On September 25, 1937, International Union, United Automobile-
Workers of America, #12, herein called Local No. 12, filed with the.
Regional Director of the Eighth Region (Cleveland, Ohio) a petition
alleging that a question affecting commerce had arisen concerning the-
representation of employees of The Toledo - Steel Tube Company,.
Toledo, Ohio, herein called the Company, and requesting an investi-
gation and certification of representatives pursuant to Section 9 (c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, 49 Stat. 449, herein called the,
Act. On January 12, 1938, the National Labor Relations Board,,
herein called the Board, acting pursuant to Section.9 (c) of the Act
and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor Relations Board Rules.
15 N. L. R. B., No. 95.
837
199549-39-vol. 15--54
838 DECISIONS OF -`NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
and Regulations-Series 1, as amended, ordered an investigation and
authorized the Regional Director to conduct it and to provide for an
appropriate hearing upon due notice.
On February 17, 1938, the Regional Director issued a notice of
hearing, copies of which were duly served upon the Company, upon
Local No. 12, and upon the Mechanics Educational Society of
America, Local No. 4, herein called the M. E. S. A., a labor organization
claiming to represent employees directly affected by the investigation.
Pursuant to the notice a hearing was held on March 8, 1938, at Toledo,
Ohio, before Harlow Hurley, the Trial Examiner duly designated by
the Board. On July 14, 1939, the Regional Director issued notice of
further hearing for the purpose of introducing additional evidence
into the record. Copies of the notice were duly served upon the afore-
mentioned parties. Pursuant to the notice a further hearing was held
on July 24 and 25, 1939, at Toledo, Ohio, before Earl S. Bellman, the
Trial Examiner duly designated by the Board. The Board, Local
No. 12, and the M. E. S. A. were represented by counsel and partici-
pated in both hearings. Full opportunity to be heard, to examine
and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on the
issues was afforded all parties. During the course of the hearings the
Trial Examiners made several rulings on objections to the admission
of evidence. The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Exam-
iners and finds that no prejudicial errors were committed. The rulings
are hereby affirmed. Pursuant to permission granted by the Board,
Local No. 12 and the M. E. S. A. submitted briefs which the Board has
considered.
Upon the entire record in the case, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
The Company is an Ohio corporation having its office and principal
place of business in Toledo, Ohio. It is engaged in the manufacture
and sale of electric welded steel tubing , the principal raw materials
used including hot and cold rolled stripped steel , carbide, and oxygen.
In 1.937 the Company expended approximately $420,000 for the pur-
chase of raw materials, 70 per cent of which were shipped to it from
points outside the State of Oiio. During the same period , sales of the
finished product totaled $1,115,402, and 93 per cent of such product
was shipped outside the State of Ohio. The Company normally has
a personnel of approximately 200 employees.
H. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America, #12,
is a labor organization which at the time it filed its.petition was
THE TOLEDO STEEL TUBE COMPANY 839
affiliated with the Committee for Industrial Organization.' It admits
to membership all the employees of the Company, excluding clerical
and supervisory employees, and its membership also includes em-
ployees of a number of other employers in Toledo, Ohio. The split
occurring early in 1939 within the membership of the International
Union, United Automobile Workers of America, of which No. 12 is
a local, has been recognized by the Board as establishing two separate
labor organizations: one affiliated with the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, herein called the C. I. O.-U. A. W.; and the other
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, herein called the
A: F. L.-U. A. W.' However, the record in the present proceeding
fails to show that prior to the second hearing any affirmative action
with reference to this controversy was taken by Local No. 12. Conse-
quently, we are unable definitely to determine whether Local No. 12
has reaffirmed its affiliation with the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions, or whether it has become affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor.
Mechanics Educational Society of America, Local No. 4, is an
unaffiliated labor organization, admitting to membership all the em-
ployees in the toolroom of the Company, excluding supervisory
employees.
III. TILE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
The controversy herein is over the representation of the employees
in the toolroom, which department is composed of skilled tool and
die makers. Local No. 12 claims that all the employees of the Com-
pany, excluding clerical and supervisory employees, constitute an
appropriate bargaining unit. The M. E. S. A. contends that the
employees in the toolroom constitute a separate bargaining unit.
On February 6, 1935, Local No. 12 entered into, a written contract
with the Company covering "employees" and according "recogni-
tion" of Local No. 12. The contract did not set forth specifically
what employees of the Company were covered by its provisions,. nor
did it define the scope of the recognition accorded Local No. 12.
Until 1937 the constitution of Local No. 12 expressly excluded tool
and die makers from its jurisdiction. Despite this constitutional
prohibition, however, five of the tool and die employees were per-
mitted to become members of Local No. 12 in 1936. These subse-
quently withdrew their membership. Up to the time of the hearing,
i Now Congress of Industrial Organizations.
See Matter of Chrysler Corporation and United Automobile Workers of America, Local
ell, affiliated with- C. I. 0.. 13 N. L. R. B. 1303; Matter of Briggs Manufacturing Com-
pany and Briggs Indiana Corporation and International Union, United Autom-ohile Workees
of America, affiliated with the C. 1. (d., and Locals No. 212 and No. 265, International Union.
United Automobile Workers of America affiliated with the C. 1. 0., 13 N. L. R. B. 1320;
Matter of Motor Products Corporation and Local 203, International Union , United Automo-
bile Workers of America, affiliated with the C. I. 0., 13 N. L. R. B. 1320.
840 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Local No. 12 had operated under its 1935 contract and had secured
blanket wage increases from 1934 to 1937 covering all employees,
including the tool and die makers. The 1935 contract provided that
it was subject to modification or amendment at any time after
August 1, 1935.
In 1937 dissatisfaction with the delay in and insufficiency of wage
increases, and the alleged lack of representation by Local No. 12
with respect to their particular needs, led the tool and die employees
successfully to petition the M. E. S. A. for membership. The same
year both Local No. 12 and the M. E. S. A. presented a written con-
tract to the Company covering the respective units they claimed to
represent. The Company refused to sign either contract until the
National Labor Relations Board determined the question as to which
unit was appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining.
However, on May 16, 1939, the Company signed a contract with the
M. E. S. A. covering the tool and die employees. This agreement
specifically provided that it was to remain in effect until such time
as the Board issued a decision conflicting therewith. At the time
of the second hearing, Local No. 12 also was completing its nego-
tiations for a new contract which similarly provided that recogni-
tion as the exclusive bargaining agency of all the employees of the
Company would be subject to the decision of the Board in the pres-
ent proceeding. The Company had made and makes no objection
to entering into an agreement with either or both Local No. 12 or
the M. E. S. A.
We have noted above that the contract of February 6, 1935, be-
tween the Company and Local No. 12 is subject to modification or
amendment at any time after August 1, 1935, and that Local No. 12
is the petitioner herein. The contract is, therefore, no bar to an
investigation or certification of representatives by the Board. The
M. E. S. A. contract, as noted above, is subject to determination by
the Board of the appropriate unit and hence constitutes no bar to
any investigation or certification of representatives.
We find that a question has arisen concerning representation of
the employees of the Company.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON
COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which has
arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the Company
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States,
and tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing coin-
merce and the free flow of commerce.
0
THE TOLEDO STEEL TUBE COMPANY
17. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
841
As stated above, Local No. 12 alleges that all the employees of
the Company, excluding clerical and supervisory employees, con-
stitute an appropriate bargaining unit, whereas the M. E. S. A.
contends that the tool and die makers employed in the toolroom
constitute a separate and distinct unit.
In support of its contention, the M. E. S. A. introduced evidence
showing that the tool and die makers are a well-established craft,
that because of their required skill there is no interchangeability
of personnel between the toolroom and the production division of
the plant, and that the toolroom is separate and apart from the
other production units. On the other hand, as stated hereinbefore,
Local No. 12 secured plant-wide wage increases over a period of
years, the benefits of which were received by the tool and die em-
ployees, and at one time included within its membership approxi-
mately half the employees of the toolroom.
Under all the circumstances it appears that the tool and die
makers might appropriately either be included within the single
industrial unit claimed by Local No. 12, or they might function as
a separate bargaining unit. Under similar circumstances, the Board
has held the desires of the employees themselves to be determinative a
At the hearing, the M. E. S. A. introduced in evidence petitions
signed by all the tool and die makers attesting their membership in
the M. E. S. A. and requesting that the Board certify the M. E. S. A.
as their bargaining representative. Local No. 12 introduced con-
siderable evidence in support of its claim that a majority of the
employees in an industrial unit had designated it as their collective
bargaining representative. We believe, however, that the policies of
the Act will best be effectuated and the desires of the various
employees can best be determined by the holding of elections by
secret ballot'
As we have noted above,. two separate labor organizations, the
C. I. O.-U. A. W. and the A. F. L.-U. A. W., have resulted from the
split occurring early in 1939 within the membership of the Interna-
tional' Union, United Automobile Workers of America, and the
present record is silent as.to whether Local No. 12 has reaffirmed its
affiliation with the Congress of Industrial Organizations or has
become affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.
8 See Matter of The Globe Machine and Stamping Company and Metal Polishers Union,
Local No. 3, International Association of Machinists, District No. 5¢, Federal Labor Union
18788, and United Automobile Workers of America, 3 N. L. R. B. 294, and subsequent cases.
4 See Matter of The Cudahy Packing Company and United. Packinghouse Workers of
America, Local No. 21,.of the Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee, etc., 13 N. !L.
R. B. 526; and Matter of Armour' ct Company and United Packinghouse Workers, Local
Industrial Union No. 13 of Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee, etc., 13 N. L.
R. B. 567. .
.842 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Under the circumstances, we will order elections among the
employees within the groups described below who were employed by
the Company during the pay-roll period next preceding the date of
the Direction of Election herein,5 including employees who did not
work during such pay-roll period because they were ill or on
vacation and employees who were then or have since been tem-
porarily laid off, but excluding those who have since quit or been
discharged for cause :
(a) The tool and die makers to determine whether they desire td
be represented by the M. E. S. A., the C. I. O.-U. A. W., the A. F. L.-
U. A. WI., for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by none of
the three labor organizations ;
(b) All the remaining employees of the Company, excluding
clerical and supervisory employees, to determine whether they desire
to be represented by the C. I. O.-U. A. W. or the A. F. L.-U. A. W.,
for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.
There shall be no final determination of the appropriate unit or
units pending the outcome of the elections. If a majority of the
employees in one group designate one labor organization as bar-
gaining representative and a majority of the employees in the other
group designate a second labor organization as bargaining repre-
sentative or select no bargaining representative, the employees in
each said group designating a bargaining representative shall con-
stitute, respectively, a separate bargaining unit. If a majority of the
employees in each of the two groups designate the same labor or-
ganization as bargaining representative, that labor organization shall
be certified as the exclusive bargaining representative of all the
.employees in the two groups.
Since there may be some question as to whether the labor organi-
zation with which Local No. 12 is not affiliated will desire to
participate in the elections herein ordered, we shall withdraw from
the ballots the name of any labor organization which' within 5 days
after receipt of notice of the Direction of Election notifies the
Regional Director for the Eighth Region that it desires such
withdrawal.
Upon the. basis of the above findings of fact and upon the entire
record in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSION OF LAW
A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of employees of The Toledo Steel Tube Company, Toledo,
e The parties at the hearing stipulated that in the event an election was directed by the
Board eligibility to vote should be determined by employment as indicated by the pay roll
of July 21 , 1939. We conclude, however, that adoption of a current pay-roll period will be
more appropriate in the instant case,
THE TOLEDO STEEL TUBE COMPANY - 843,
Ohio, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and
(7) of the National Labor Relations Act.
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 Re-
lations Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 2, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation ordered by the Board
to ascertain representatives for collective bargaining with The Toledo
Steel Tube Company, Toledo, Ohio, elections by secret ballot shall
be conducted within twenty-five (25) days from the date of this
Direction, under the direction and supervision of the Regional
Director for the Eighth Region, acting in this matter as agent for
the National Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article III,
Section 9, of said Rules and Regulations, among the employees
within the groups described below who were employed by the Com-
pany during the pay-roll period next preceding this Direction of
Election, including employees who did not work during such pay-
roll period because they were ill or on vacation and employees who
were then or have since been temporarily laid off, but excluding
those who have since quit or been discharged for cause :
(a) The tool and die makers to determine whether they desire
to be represented by the Mechanics Educational Society of America,
Local No. 4, by International Union, United Automobile Workers
of America, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions, by International Union, United Automobile Workers of Amer-
ica, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, for the pur-
poses of collective bargaining, or by none of the three labor
organizations ;
(b) Among all the remaining employees of the Company, exclud-
ing clerical and supervisory employees, to determine whether they
desire to be represented by International Union, United Automobile
Workers of America, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Or-
ganizations, or by International Union, United Automobile Workers,
of America, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, for
the purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither.
MR. WILLIAM M. LEISERSON, concurring in part and dissenting 171
part :
I do not think it is necessary to postpone final determination of
the appropriate unit pending the outcome of the election. The evi-
dence in this case requires a finding that the tool and die makers
constitute an appropriate unit and that they must therefore be voted
separately from the rest of the employees. No so-called' industrial
844 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
unit including tool and die makers has been established by custom,
practice, or contract between duly designated representatives of the
employees and the employer.
If, as Local No. 12 contends, it was operating in 1937 as the
representative of the tool and die makers, as well as the other em-
ployees in a single unit, then of course its petition, which originated
the present case, could not be entertained by the Board. The peti-
tion would.have to be dismissed on the' ground that the petitioner
already was the duly designated and recognized representative under
the current contract, and, it could not raise a question disputing its
own representation. The petition in the case can be considered by
the Board only-because by filing the petition Local No. 12 recog-
nized the fact that its claim to represent the tool and die makers
was questionable.
A dispute as to representation was thus created, and in my judg-
ment the dispute can best be settled by an election.
MR. EDWIN S. SMITH, dissenting in part and concurring in part :
I see no warrant in granting the craft group the privilege of
splitting themselves from the industrial unit in this case. There has
been a plant-wide contract between Local No. 12 and the Company
since 1935, and the tool and die makers have benefited, along with the
other employees, from the blanket wage increases secured by Local
No. 12 during this period. I think the reasoning in my dissents in the
Allis-Chaloners ° and subsequent cases is here applicable.
I cannot agree with the reasoning of the concurring opinion that if
Local No. 12 was operating in 1937 as representative of the tool and
die makers, then its petition for certification could not be entertained
by the Board. At that time the M. E. S. A. was claiming to rep-
resent a majority of the tool and die makers and had presented a
written contract to the Company covering the employees in that unit.
Further, the contract with Local No. 12 had been in existence since
1935 and Local No. 12 itself requested the Company to sign another
contract covering the broader unit. Faced with these conflicting
claims the Company refused to execute either contract. Under these
circumstances I think it plain that a question concerning representa-
tion had arisen and that Local No. 12, while claiming to represent
all the employees, could properly petition for a determination of the
question by this Board.
If, however, a single bargaining unit including the tool and die
makers is not found appropriate, as the majority holds, I agree with
B Matter of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company and International Union, United
Automobile Workers of America, Local 248, 4 N . L. R. B. 159, 175.
THE TOLEDO STEEL TUBE COMPANY 845
Chairman Madden's opinion that final determination of the bargain-
ing unit should await the outcome of the separate election for the tool
and die makers.
[SADIE TITLE]
AMENDMENT TO DIRECTION OF ELECTION
October 11, 1939
On October 3, 1939, the National Labor Relations Board, herein
called the Board, issued a Decision and Direction of Election in
the above-entitled proceeding. The Direction of Election provided
that the Board would withdraw from the ballots the name of any
labor organization involved therein which within 5 days after re-
ceipt of notice of the Direction of Election notified the Regional
Director for the Eighth Region that it desired such withdrawal.
The Board, having been advised by the Regional Director that
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America, affil-
iated with the American Federation of Labor, has advised of its de-
sire to have its. name withdrawn from the ballots, hereby amends
its Direction of Election issued on October 3, 1939, by striking from
Section (a) thereof the words "by International Union, United
Automobile Workers of America, affiliated with the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, by International Union, United Auto-
mobile Workers of America, affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor, for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by none of
the three labor organizations," and substituting therefor "or by In-
ternational Union, United Automobile Workers of America, affili-
ated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, or by neither";
and by striking from Section (b) thereof the words "they desire to
be represented by International Union, United Automobile Work-
ers of America, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions, or by International Union, United Automobile Workers of
America, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, for the
purposes of collective bargaining, or by neither" and substituting
therefor' "or not they desire to be represented by International
Union, United Automobile Workers of America, affiliated with the
Congress of Industrial Organizations, for the purposes of collective
bargaining."
15 N. L. R. B., No. 95a.