Weill's, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 30, 1954

108 N.L.R.B. 731 (N.L.R.B. 1954)

WEILL-S, INC. 731
In view of the related nature of the work performed by
the air- conditioning operator and the maintenance handyman
and the engineers and firemen , and in light of their common
supervision and working conditions , we find, contrary to the
Petitioner's contention that these employees may be included
in the unit. 4
The oilers in the production area : The Employer would
include three employees classified as oilers who workthrough-
out the main plant oiling machinery and equipment. As it
does not appear that the oilers are closely associated with
the powerhouse employees , we shall exclude them from the
unit. 5
The assistant chief engineer : This employee performs the
regular duties of an engineer . In the absence of the chief
powerhouse engineer , he had the authority to make routine
assignments and to pass along instructions issued by the
chief plant engineer . He has no authority to hire, discharge,
or discipline powerhouse employees , but may recommend
promotions to the chief powerhouse engineer who, in turn,
has the authority effectively to recommend changes in the
status of powerhouse employees . Admittedly, the only recom-
mendation accorded substantial weight is that of the chief
powerhouse engineer.
On the foregoing facts, we find that the assistant chief
engineer does not possess the supervisory authority contem-
plated by Section 2 (11) of the Act.' Accordingly, we will
include him in the unit.
We find that all powerhouse employees at the Employer's
Cambridge, Massachusetts , plant , including firemen, engineers,
the air- conditioning operator , the maintenance handyman,
and the assistant chief engineer , but excluding all other em-
ployees, maintenance department employees , the oilers in the
production area , the chief powerhouse engineer , and all other
supervisors as defined in the Act, constitute aunit appropriate
for the purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning
of Section 9 (b) of the Act.
[Text of Direction of Election omitted from publication.]
4Cf. Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, Pamona Division, 108 NLRB 159 (air-
conditioning operators ); Westinghouse Electric Corporation , 108 NLRB 556.
5 Chrylser Corporation, 98 NLRB 1105, 1108.
6Cf. The Clinton Construction Company, 107 NLRB 946; Warren Petroleum Corporation,
97 NLRB 1458, 1460-1461.
WEILL'S, INC. and RETAIL CLERKS' UNION, LOCAL 137,
RETAIL CLERKS' INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AFL,
Petitioner . Case No. 21-RC-3327.
DECISION AND CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
On December 5, 1953, pursuant to a stipulationfor certifica-
tion upon consent election , an election by secret ballot was
108 NLRB No. 38.
7 32 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
conducted under the direction and supervision of the Regional
Director for the Twenty - first Region among employees at
the Employer ' s retail department store at Bakersfield, Cali-
fornia , in the agreed unit . Following the election , the Regional
Director served on the parties a tally of ballots, which showed
that of approximately 126 eligible voters, 60 cast votes for
and 57 against the Petitioner ; 3 ballots were challenged;
and 1 ballot was void.
The Petitioner , on December 9, and the Employer , on Decem-
ber 14, filed timely objections to conduct affecting the results
of the election . Thereafter , on December 28, the Regional
Director issued his report on challenged ballots and objections
to conduct of election, i in which he recommended that the
Board certify the Petitioner as exclusive bargaining repre-
sentative of the employees in the agreed unit . On January 4,
1954, the Employer filed exceptions to the Regional Director's
report.
The Board has reviewed the stipulation of the parties, the
objections of the Employer and the Petitioner, respectively,
the challenges of the Board agent , report on challenged
ballots and objections to conduct of election, and the Employer's
exception thereto. '
On the entire record in this case , the Board makes the fol-
lowing findings of fact:
1. The Employer is engaged in commerce withinthe meaning
of the Act. 2
2. The Petitioner claims to represent certain employees
of the Employer.
3. A question affecting commerce exists concerning the
representation of certain employees of the Employer within
the meaning of Section 9 (c) (1) and Section 2 (6) and (7)
of the Act.
4. The following employees of the Employer constitute
a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining
within the meaning of the Act: All regular full- and part-time
employees at the Employer's Bakersfield , California, de-
partment store , excluding guards, watchmen , and supervisors
as defined in the Act.
5. The Board ' s agent in charge of the election challenged
the ballots of Ruth Jones , Beatrice Whitten, and Mable Harris
because they were not on the list of eligible employees
submitted by the Employer.
'The objections relate to the void ballot and to the omission of the names of challenged
voters from the eligibility list. These issues are resolved below.
2 The Employer operates a retail store at Bakersfield, California. For the 9-month period
ending September 30, 1953, it is estimated that the Employer purchased from suppliers
outside the State merchandise valued at $445,799.67. During a 12-month period, the Em-
ployer's out-of-State purchases will reasonably exceed $500,000. Contrary to the Employer's
contentions, we find that it will effectuate the purposes of the Act to assert jurisdiction in
this case. Federal Dairy Co., Inc., 91 NLRB 638. Chairman Farmer and Board Member
Rodgers join in this decision, but are not to be deemed thereby as adopting the Board's
present jurisdictional standards.
WEILL'S, INC. 733
Ruth Jones and Beatrice Whitten: The Regional Director
found that Jones and Whitten were employees of the Employer's
lessees and not employees of the Employer and therefore
sustained the challenges . 8 The Employer excepts to his finding,
contending that employees of leased departments were within
the unit description.
Jones works in the drug department and Whitten in the mil-
linery department of the Employer' s store ." These two de-
partments are leased by the Employer to lessee operators
of concessionaires . The leases are terminable upon notice
by the Employer. The rent charged is based on the percentage
of sales made . Each lessee fixes the method and rate of pay
for its employees . Each selects its own employees and dis-
charges or otherwise changes their status without intervention
by, or permission from, the Emplcyer. The Employer, however,
may effectively demand the discharge of any employee of a
lessee whose appearance or conduct fails to'meet the Em-
ployer's standards . The lessee of the drug department pays
his employees' wages directly to them . The Employer pays
the wages to the employees of the millinery department, and
in turn is reimbursed by the lessee of that department.
Employees of the lessees punch the same time clocks, work
the same hours , use the same facilities , observe the same
dress regulations , attend the same store meetings, participate
in the same sales campaigns and contests staged by the Em-
ployer , and have the same storewide discount privileges
as the employees of the Employer. They do not receive
the same sick benefits as the employees of the Employer,
but they are eligible for membership in the same hospital
service plan.
We agree with the Regional Director and find that the lessees
and not the Employer control the essential terms and conditions
of employment of employees in their departments and that the
employees of the lessees are not within the agreed unit. 5
We therefore sustain the challenges to the ballots of Jones
and Whitten.
Mabel Harris, who , as noted above , was challenged because
her name did not appear on the eligibility list , was not a
regularly scheduled worker . During the past year, however,
Harris worked more hours than any regular extra employee.
First employed during the payroll period ending December 12,
1952, she worked during 15 of the following semimonthly
payroll periods . During those payroll periods in which she
was actively employed, her hours worked ranged from 54i
to 831 hours . The Regional Director found that, although
SNo other leased departments ' employees attempted to vote in the election . The Em-
ployer had informed employees in leased departments that they were not eligible to vote
in the election. The names of these persons did not appear on the eligibility list furnished
by the Employer for the purposes of the election.
40n election day Whitten worked as a temporary employee for the Employer. During
the eligible period , however, she was employed as usual in the leased millinery department-
5 Herpolsheimer Company, 100 NLRB 1452, 1455.
7 34 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Harris did not work a regular full or part -time schedule,
Harris was a contingent employee whose work history and job
status demonstrates that she has a regular employee ' s interest
in the outcome of the election . ' No exception has been filed
to his finding . We therefore overrule the challenge to Harris'
ballot.
The "void" ballot : The Board has examined the certain
disputed ballot which was declared void by the Board's agent
at the election over the Petitioner ' s objection , and which
the Regional Director submitted to the Board. We believe
that, inasmuch as the number of "X's" may be either mean-
ingless lines or crossings out of what may have been an
original " X," the intent of the voter is not clearly expressed
on the face of the ballot . We find, therefore , that this ballot
is void.
It appears that the Petitioner has clearly received a
majority of the valid votes cast . Because the ballot of Harris
will not affect the results of the election , we shall not direct
that it be opened and counted . We therefore certify the Pe-
titioner as exclusive bargaining representative of the em-
ployees in the appropriate unit.
[The Board certified Retail Clerks ' Union, Local 137,
Retail Clerks ' International Association , AFL, as the designated
collective - bargaining representative of the employees of
Weill's, Inc ., Bakersfield , California.]
Member Beeson took no part inthe consideration of the above
Decision and Certification of Representatives.
6Bonwit Teller & Company, 101 NLRB 358.
THE STANLEY WORKS and LODGE 1433 OF THE INTERNA-
TIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS, AFL. Case No.
1-CA-1407. May 5, 1954
DECISION AND ORDER
On November 13, 1953, Trial Examiner Sidney Lindner
issued his Intermediate Report in the above - entitled proceeding,
finding that the Respondent had engaged in certain unfair labor
practices , as set forth in the Intermediate Report attached
hereto, but recommending , for the reasons set forth in the
Intermediate Report, that the complaint be dismissed . There-
after the Union filed exceptions to the Intermediate Report and
Recommended Order, and the Respondent filed a reply to the
Union's exceptions.
The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner
made at the hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was
108 NLRB No. 102.