United Association Of Journeymen And Apprentices Of The Plumbing And Pipefitting Industry Of The United States And Canada, Local 114

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 30, 1985

277 N.L.R.B. 10 (N.L.R.B. 1985)

10 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices
of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the
United States and Canada , Local 114 and M &
S Pipe and Supply Company , Incorporated.
Case 31-CC-1818
30 October 1985
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN DOTSON AND MEMBERS
DENNIS AND JOHANSEN
On 13 August 1985 Administrative Law Judge
Gerald A. Wacknov issued the attached decision.
The General Counsel filed exceptions.
The National Labor Relations Board has delegat-
ed its authority in this proceeding to a three-
member panel.
The Board has considered the decision and the
record in light of the exceptions and has decided to
affirm the judge 's rulings, findings , and conclusions
and to adopt the recommended Order.'
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board adopts the
recommended Order of the administrative law
judge and orders that the Respondent, United As-
sociation of Journeymen and Apprentices of the
Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United
States and Canada, Local 114 , Santa Maria, Cali-
fornia, its officers, agents, and representatives, shall
take the action set forth in the Order, except that
the attached notice is substituted for that of the ad-
ministrative law judge.
' The General Counsel excepts to the judge 's deviating from the
broader language of his cease-and-desist order by limiting the notice to
work being performed at one particular jobsite. We find ment in the ex-
ception and shall, therefore , revise the notice accordingly.
APPENDIX
NOTICE To EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found
that we violated the National Labor- Relations Act
and has ordered us to post and abide by this notice.
WE WILL NOT threaten, coerce, or restrain M &
S Pipe and Supply Company , Incorporated, where
an object thereof is to force or require it to cease
doing business with Marv's Plumbing.
UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEY-
MEN AND APPRENTICES OF THE
PLUMBING AND PIPEFITTING INDUS-
TRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA, LOCAL 114
Arthur Yuter, Esq., for the General Counsel.
Jeffrey L. Cutler, Esq. (Richard J. Davis Law Corpora-
tion), of Los Angeles, California, for the Respondent.
Wayne A. Hersh, Esq. (Hersh and Stoll), of Newport
Beach , California , for the Charging Party.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
GERALD A. WACKNOV, Administrative Law Judge.
Pursuant to notice, a hearing with respect to this matter
was held before me in Santa Maria, California, on 4 June
1985 . The initial charge was filed on 2 April 1985 by M
& S Pipe and Supply Company , Incorporated (the Em-
ployer).
Thereafter, on 19 April 1985 , the Regional Director
for Region 31 of the National Labor Relations Board
(the Board) issued a complaint and notice of hearing al-
leging a violation by United Association of Journeymen
and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Indus-
try of the United States and Canada , Local 114 (the Re-
spondent) of Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the National Labor
Relations Act.
The parties were afforded a full opportunity to be
heard , to call, to examine and cross-examine witnesses,
and to introduce relevant evidence. Counsel for the Gen-
eral Counsel , in lieu of a brief, argued the matter orally
at the hearing. Since the close of the hearing, briefs have
been received from counsel for the Respondent and
counsel for the Charging Party.
On the entire record ,' and based on my observation of
the witnesses and consideration of the briefs submitted, I
make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. JURISDICTION
The Employer, a California corporation, with an office
and place of business located in Santa Maria, California,
is engaged in the industrial fabrication and supply busi-
ness . In the course and conduct of its business oper-
ations, the Employer annually purchases and receives
goods or services valued in excess of $50,000 directly
from suppliers located outside the State of California,
and annually derives gross revenues in excess of
$500,000.
1 The Charging Party 's unopposed "Motion to Augment the Record
and File Documentary Evidence" is granted , and the attchment thereto,
namely, the 27-page document entitled "Master Agreement for the
Plumbing and Piping Industry of Southern California," is received into
evidence.
277 NLRB No. 6
PLUMBERS LOCAL 114 (M & S PIPE) 1l
It is admitted , and I find , that the Employer is now,
and has been at all times material herein, an employer
engaged in commerce and in a business affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the
Act.
II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
It is admitted that the Respondent Union is, and has
been at all times material herein , a labor organization
within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
III. THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The Issue
The principal issue raised by the pleadings is whether
the Respondent , in violation of Section 8(b)(4Xii)(B) of
the Act, threatened the Employer with picketing and
other economic reprisals in an effort to cause it to
remove a nonunion plumbing contractor from a con-
struction project.
B. The Facts
The Employer hired a general contractor, Rang Con-
struction Company, to construct a new warehouse on its
property in Santa Maria, California. The general contrac-
tor subcontracted the plumbing work to Marv's Plumb-
ing, a nonunion plumbing contractor. Work on the
project commenced on 12 March 1985. The gravamen of
the complaint involves the substance of telephone con-
versations between Al Allocca, the Respondent's busi-
ness agent, and two officials of the Employer, namely,
Sam Berkowitz, chairman of the board of directors, and
Martin Berkowitz, president.
Sam Berkowitz testified that on 18 March 19852 he re-
ceived a phone call from Allocca, with whom Berkowitz
had been acquainted for many years. Berkowitz gave the
following account of the conversation:
A. I received the call and he tells me who he is,
and naturally, I recognize his voice. And he goes
on to say "What do I hear, you have a construction
job going on, and you have a non-union plumber in-
volved?"
Q. Was anything else said?
A. Yes, he did. And I said to him, "We directly
have nothing to do with it. We have a general con-
tractor." He goes on to say, "If you don't do some-
thing about it," or a similar conversaton, "do you
want a little strike? And I go on to say, "You will
have to talk to [Martin Berkowitz] on this." I said,
"Call him in the morning." He says to me, "Don't
worry. I will." And then we parted.
Immediately thereafter the Employer contacted its at-
torney regarding the matter and on the same -date the
Employer's attorney sent a telegram to the Respondent
advising that a reserved gate system had been established
and that "If you wish to picket primary employers while
they're working on the project you are instructed to
limit your picketing to gate number one."3
Two days later, on 20 March 1985, Martin Berkowitz
received a phone call from Allocca . Martin Berkowitz
testified as follows regarding the conversation:
A. After exchanging a few pleasantries, "Hi,
How are you? How is your family, your children,
mom and dad?", he went on to tell me that he un-
derstands that we have got a construction site, that
we have a job going on, and that we are using non-
union help.
I said , "Al, what are you talking about ?" He said,
"Come on , Marty. I know, you guys are putting up
a new warehouse ." And I said, "That is correct. A
new warehouse is being built for us ." And he said,
"Well, you have got a non -union plumber out
there." And I said , "No, Al. We don 't have a non-
union plumber . We are dealing with a general con-
tractor, Rang Construction . He was hired based on
his bid . Whoever he put on to the job was it."
And then, he said , "Marty , you have got Marv's
Plumbing out there . They are non-union . You have
got to get them off. It is non-uinion . You can't have
this." And I said , "Al, you have got to deal with
them , and that is all ' there is to it ." And then, he
proceeded to tell me , "Marty, if you don't get them
off of there , I am going to hate to have to call all
my boys at Vanderberg [Air Force Base] and see
that you don't sell anything out there again." He
said , "I will call all my guys in purchasing."
Q. Was anything else said in this conversation?
A. I asked him if he was threatening me, because
I felt very threatened by Mr . Allocca at that time.
And he said, "No, Marty . I know better than to
threaten you." At that point , I said, "Al, then you
certainly won't mind if I record this conversation."
His comment to me was, "Aw , screw it," and
slammed the phone.
Allocca testified that when he learned from various
union plumbing contractors and union members that a
nonunion plumbing contractor had been awarded the
work on the warehouse project he phoned Sam
Berkowitz to advise him, as a friend , that "this could
cause him problems ." During the conversation Allocca
admits stating that "You are leaving yourself open for
any craft to put a picket line on you ," but denies that he
asked Sam Berkowitz whether he wanted "a little
strike." At the end of the brief conversation , Allocca
was advised to call Martin Berkowitz.
Allocca testified that during the 20 March 1985 con-
versation with Martin Berkowitz he asked Martin the
same question he had asked Sam, advising him that he
was "opening a door" by permitting a nonunion contrac-
tor to work on the project when he sells to many union
contractors . Martin asked if Allocca was threatening him
and Allocca said no. Martin then asked whether he
could record the conversation . Allocca said no, and
' On this date, four contractors , including Marv's Plumbing, were on
the jobsite.
' Gate number I was reserved exclusively for the use of the general
contractor and Marv's Plumbing
12 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
hung up. Allocca admits that he may have mentioned
Vandenberg Air Force Base in explaining that he ac-
quired the information regarding Marv's Plumbing from
some union members in purchasing positions who
worked at Vandenberg.
C. Analysis and Conclusions
Sam and Martin Berkowitz impressed me as credible
individuals with accurate recollections of the brief phone
conversations, in question . Allocca's testimony, on the
other hand, was neither entirely consistent nor convinc-
ing, and, given the various versions of the conversations,
I have no hesitancy in crediting the accounts given by
Sam and Martin Berkowitz . Contrary to Respondent's
contention , the fact that Martin Berkowitz stated, in an
affidavit to the Board, that Allocca asked Sam Berkowitz
whether he wanted "a little picket," rather than "a little
strike," does not warrant a different credibility resolu-
tion. I specifically credit Martin Berkowitz who testified
that he uses the terms "strike" and "picketing" inter-
changeably, and that his father, when relating the con-
versation to him, told him that Allocca asked whether he
wanted "a little strike."
I therefore find that, as alleged , Allocca threatened the
Employer with picketing and with the cessation of fur-
ther purchases by purchasing agents at Vandenberg Air
Force Base, with whom the Employer regularly did a
substantial amount of business , in an effort to cause the
Employer to remove Mary 's Plumbing from its ware-
house project . Such threats of picketing and other eco-
nomic repercussions directed to a neutral employer are
clearly violative of Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the Act. I so
find. See Sheet Metal Workers Local 418 (Young Plumbing
& Supply), 227 NLRB 300, 311-312 (1976); Food & Com-
mercial Workers Local 506 (Coors Distributing), 268
NLRB 475, 478 ( 1983); Carpenters Local 639 (American
Modulars), 203 NLRB 1112 fn. 1 (1973).
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. M & S Pipe and Supply Company , Incorporated is
an employer and person engaged in commerce and in an
industry affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(2), (6), and (7) and Section 8(b)(4)(ii )(B) of the
Act.
2. The Respondent , United Association of Journeymen
and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Indus-
try of the United States and Canada, Local 114, is a
labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5)
and Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the Act.
3. By threatening , coercing, and restraining M.& S
Pipe and Supply Company , Incorporated, as found
herein, with an object of forcing or requiring it to.cease
doing business with Marv 's Plumbing, the Respondent
has engaged in unfair labor practices proscribed by Sec-
tion 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
THE REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in
unfair labor practices proscribed by Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B)
of the Act, I shall recommend that it cease and desist
therefrom and that it take certain affirmative action de-
signed to effectuate the policies of the Act.
On these findings of fact and conclusions of law and
on the entire record , I issue the following recommend-
ed4
ORDER
The Respondent, United Association of Journeymen
and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Indus-
try of the United States and Canada, Local 114, Santa
Maria, California , its officers, agents, and representatives,
shall
1. Cease and desist from threatening , coercing, or re-
straining M & S Pipe and Supply Company, Incorporat-
ed, where an object thereof is to force or require said
person to cease doing business with Marv's Plumbing.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to
effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) Post at Respondent 's business office, meeting halls,
and all other places where notices to members are cus-
tomarily posted copies of the attached notice marked
"Appendix."s Copies of the notice, on forms provided
by the Regional Director for Region 31, after being
signed by the Respondent's authorized representative,
shall be posted by the Respondent immediately upon re-
ceipt and maintained for 60 consecutive days in conspic-
uous places including all places where notices to mem-
bers are customarily posted . Reasonable steps shall be
taken by the Respondent to ensure that the notices are
not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
(b) Sign and mail sufficient copies of the notice for
posting by M & S Pipe and Supply Company , Incorpo-
rated, Marv's Plumbing and Rang Construction Compa-
ny, if they are willing , at all places where notices to their
employees are customarily posted.
(c) Notify the Regional Director in writing within 20
days from the date of this Order what steps the Re-
spondent has taken to comply.
If no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102 .46 of the Board's
Rules and Regulations, the findings , conclusions, and recommended
Order shall, as provided in Sec . 102.48 of the Rules, be adopted by the
Board and all objections to them shall be deemed waived for all pur-
PoseL
a If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court of
appeals, the words in the notice reading "Posted by Order of the Nation-
al Labor Relations Board" shall read "Posted Pursuant to a Judgment of
the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the National
Labor Relations Board."