Western Contracting Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 17, 1962

139 N.L.R.B. 139 (N.L.R.B. 1962)

WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 139'
of their strike action. N.L.R.B. v. The Ozark Dam Constructors and Flip pin Ma-
terials Co., 203 F. 2d 139, 145-147 (C.A. 8), enfg. 99 NLRB 1031, 1035-1036.
Whatever rule of limitation the statute may require the Board to observe, calculated
to prevent the issuance of complaints based upon charges reflective of stale unfair
labor practices, such rules of limitation cannot be construed, legitimately, to deprive
strikers of reinstatement rights upon the termination of an unfair labor practice
strike.
Respondent's course of conduct, despite its limited thrust, goes to the very heart
of the statute, and suggests the firm's purpose, generally, to limit the lawful rights
of employees. N.L.R.B. v. Entwistle Mfg. Co., 120 F. 2d 532 (C.A. 4). Upon
the entire record I am persuaded that the unfair labor practices found are closely
related to other labor practices statutorily proscribed, the future commission of
which may reasonably be anticipated, because of the conduct found attributable to
the Respondent enterprise in this report. The preventive purposes of the statute will
be frustrated unless recommended remedial action and any order which may prove
necessary can be coextensive with the threat. Therefore, to make the interdependent
guarantees of Section 7 effective, to prevent any recurrence of the unfair labor
practices found, to minimize industrial strife which burdens and obstructs com-
merce, and thus to effectuate statutory policies, it will be recommended that Re-
spondent cease and desist from infringement, in any other manner , upon rights
guaranteed by the aforesaid statutory provisions.
In view of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in this case,
I make the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Great Western Broadcasting Corporation d/b/a KXTV, Sacramento, Cali-
fornia, is an employer within the meaning of Section 2(2) of the Act, engaged in
commerce and business activities which affect commerce within the meaning of
Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act, as amended.
2. San Francisco Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists, AFL-CIO, is a labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of
the Act, as amended, which admits employees of Great Western Broadcasting Cor-
poration to membership.
3 All of Respondent's employees at Sacramento, California, who perform before
the camera or microphone, exclusive of instrumental musicians performing as such,
guards, all other employees, and supervisors as defined in Section 2(11) of the Act,
as amended, constitute a unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining
within the meaning of Section 9(b) of the Act, as amended
4 San Francisco Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists, AFL-CIO, has been, at all times material, and still is entitled to recognition
as the exclusive representative of all Respondent's employees in the unit described
above, for the purposes of a collective bargain with respect to rates of pay, hours
of employment, and other terms and conditions of employment, within the meaning
of Section 9(a) of the Act, as amended.
5. By refusal to bargain collectively in good faith with the labor organization
entitled to function as the exclusive representative of its employees within an ap-
propriate unit, and by consequent interference with, restraint, and coercion of those
employees in the exercise of rights statutorily guaranteed, Respondent engaged, and
continues to engage, in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning
of Section 8(a)(1) and (5) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act, as amended
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]
Western Contracting Corporation and International Brother-
hood of Teamsters , Chauffeurs , Warehousemen and Helpers
of America , Local No. 222. Case No. 27-CA-1170. October 17,
1962
DECISION AND ORDER
On July 12, 1962, Trial Examiner David Karasick issued his Inter-
mediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
139 NLRB No. 17.
140 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
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 attached Intermedi-
ate Report. Thereafter, the Respondent filed exceptions to the Inter-
mediate Report and a supporting brief.'
Pursuant 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 McCulloch and Members Fanning and Brown].
The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner made
at the hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was committed.
The rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered the Inter-
mediate Report and the entire record in the case, including the excep-
tions and brief, and hereby adopts the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Trial Examiner.
ORDER
The Board adopts as its Order the Recommended Order of the
Trial Examiner.2
1 The Respondent 's request for oral argument is hereby denied, as , in our opinion, the
record, exceptions , and brief adequately present the issues and the positions of the parties.
2 The notice appended to the Intermediate Report is hereby amended by adding the
following note which will appear immediately below the signature at the bottom of the
notice
NOTE -We will notify any of the above -named employees presently serving in the
Armed Forces of the United States of their right to full reinstatement upon applica-
tion in accordance with the Selective Service Act after discharge from the Armed
Forces.
The notice is also amended by deleting the phrase "This notice must remain posted for
60 days from the date heieof," and substituting therefor the phrase "this notice must
remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of posting "
INTERMEDIATE REPORT AND RECOMMENDED ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
This proceeding involves allegations that the Respondent , Western Contracting
Corporation , violated Section 8 ( a) (1) and ( 3) of the National Labor Relations Act,
as amended , 61 Stat. 136, 73 Stat . 519, and is based upon a complaint ' issued by the
General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, on behalf of the Board, on
March 23 , 1962 , and a charge and first amended charge filed by International Broth-
erhood of Teamsters , Chauffeurs , Warehousemen and Helpers of America, Local
No. 222 , herein called the Union , on February 7, 1962 , and March 16, 1962, respec-
tively. A hearing , at which all parties were represented , was held before Trial
Examiner David Karasick on May 10 and 11 , 1962, at Salt Lake City, Utah.
Following the close of the hearing , each of the parties filed a brief. In addition, the
Respondent filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. Each of the
findings and conclusions so proposed is accepted to the extent it is consistent with
the findings of fact and conclusions of law hereinafter set forth , and in all other
respects is rejected.2
Upon consideration of the entire record in the case , and from my observation of the
witnesses , I make the following:
'The complaint was amended at the hearing to delete the names of three individuals
as alleged discriminatees.
2 Counsel for all parties entered into two written stipulations , filed on July 2, 1962,
providing for corrections in the transcript of testimony It is hereby ordered that the
transcript be corrected accordingly and that said stipulations be made part of the record.
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 141
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
The Respondent, an Iowa corporation, with its principal office and place of busi-
ness located in Sioux City, Iowa, is a general contractor. The Respondent is engaged
in business in various States of the United States other than the State of Iowa.
Only the place of business located at Bingham Canyon, Utah, is involved in this
proceeding. The Respondent annually performs services valued in excess of $50,000
in States other than the State of Iowa. The Respondent concedes, and I find, that
it has been, at all times material to this proceeding, an employer engaged in commerce
within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act.
II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
The Respondent concedes, and I find, that the Union is a labor organization within
the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The facts
The facts giving rise to this proceeding are for the most part undisputed.
Kennecott Copper Corporation operates an open-pit mine at Bingham Canyon,
located approximately 36 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Respondent,
under contract with Kennecott Copper Corporation, is engaged in removing by
truck the soil lying above the mineral-bearing strata in the mine
Since 1958, the Union and the Respondent have been parties to successive collective-
bargaining agreements, and the Union has represented the truckdrivers em-
ployed by the Respondent.
The Bingham mine at which the truckdrivers work is located in the mountains at
an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet. During the winter months the weather
tends to be extremely cold.
Commencing in the winter of 1959, and continuing until the events which have
given rise to this proceeding, the Union has sought unsucessfully on behalf of the
truckdrivers to induce the Respondent to install heaters in the cabs of the trucks.
The Respondent, upon the advice of its engineering department, has taken the posi-
tion that the installation of such heaters is not feasible.
On January 15, 1962, the weather at the work project was cold and windy. During
the night there had been a low reading of 15° above zero and by 9 o'clock that
morning the temperature was 26° above zero and the day was windy and cloudy.
At about 8.30 that morning, Gary Stephenson, one of the .truckdrivers employed by
the Respondent, was warming his feet beside a small fire while waiting to change
trucks He signaled Ralph Tolman, also a truckdriver employed by the Respondent,
who was driving another truck and the two began to discuss the need for heaters.
At this point, John Keith drove up and joined the conversation. Other trucks, driven
by other employees of the Respondent, began to arrive and m a few minutes all of
the drivers except one were on the scene.
Shortly thereafter, Glenn Estes, day haul foreman, drove up. He asked what
the trouble was. The men told Estes that they needed heaters in their trucks
and that they wanted to talk to Thomas Speight, project manager. Estes declared
that he did not want to become involved in the matter. He told the employees that
if they were not going to drive their trucks, to park them and go down to Speight's
office and see him there.
The men thereupon parked their trucks and went to the grease shack nearby.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Speight arrived. At this time, 9 of the 11 drivers on
the day shift were present. Upon his arrival, Speight asked the assembled employees
who their ringleader was and to whom he should talk. Tolman replied that there
was no deader, the drivers were acting together and that they wanted hot water
heaters for their trucks Speight replied that there would be no hot water heaters
since they were not feasible; that this matter had been discussed previously; that
he would like to have everybody go to work; that the men should either drive
their trucks or go home, but before they quit, they should think about what they were
doing. The employees continued to discuss their desire for heaters.
One of the employees, John Keith , thereupon suggested that they callthe business
representative of the Union. Tolman and Keith drove down from the project site
to a telephone where they placed a call to Alma May, an organizer for the Union.
Both Keith and Tolman spoke to May and informed him that the truckdrivers had
stopped their trucks and talked to Project Manager Speight about installing hot water
142 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
heaters, that they had been told by Speight to either drive their trucks or get off the
job, and they requested May to come up to the project site and advise them. May
suggested that the men return to the jobsite, choose a couple of other employees
to accompany them, and thereafter they would all go to Speight's office where May
would attempt to arrange for a meeting.
Tolman and Keith then returned to the jobsite and asked who would like to
accompany them to Speight's office. Employees Bob Crotch 3 and LaVelle Robinson
joined Tolman and Keith. In the meantime, Speight had also called May, informed
bun of the shutdown, and requested that he come to the project.
May drove to Speight's office accompanied by John Pickett, another representative
of the Union, and J. Neeley, a representative of Operating Engineers Union, Local
No. 3, which represented other employees working for the Respondent.
The seven men met in Speight's office. Speight stated that the employees had re-
fused to work and that someone was going to pay for the loss of time to the Respond-
ent. May Teplied that the Union had not called the strike but that it was in full
sympathy with the action taken by the employees. May stated that the Union had
made a number of requests to install heaters. He pointed out that Speight had prom-
ised at least to close up the holes in the floor boards of the cabs and to tighten
the windshields and doors but that this had not been done. Speight admitted that
this matter had been discussed on numerous occasions, but that his position now,
as in the past, was that hot water heaters were not feasible. He also stated that he
had been unable to repair the holes in the floor boards of the cabs and to tighten
the windshields and doors because the welders were busy repairing the bodies of the
trucks.
John Keith then stated that the drivers had already improvised repairs by filling
in the holes in the cabs with rags; that what was needed was hot water heaters; and
that other heaters which had been placed in a few of the trucks were not the answer?
At this juncture, Tolman declared that he felt the men should have some considera-
tion; that they had done a good job and should be treated like men instead of like
animals; that they were not asking for a share of the profits but merely for heaters
in the cabs; and that the men were in the cabs for 18 hours in subzero weather and
could not keep warm. Tolman then pointed out that 'the scout truck which Speight
drove less than 2 hours each day had a heater and that in addition it was new,
and had tight fitting windows. At this juncture, as Tolman testified; Speight told
Tolman, "You are not working for Western as of this morning when you opened
your mouth " 5 The meeting ended without agreement as to 'the demand of the
employees for heaters.
After the employees and the union representative had left his office, Speight called
Foreman Estes and instructed him to shut the job down at 11 o'clock so that the
employees would not be paid for more than 4 hours work In the meantime, Tolman
and the three other employees who had accompanied him to Speight's office started
back to the project site for the purpose of informing the other drivers what had oc-
curred at the meeting. Before they arrived, they met the other drivers who informed
them that their foreman had shut down the job and locked up the grease rack.
Since the men had no place to stay, all but one or two of the day shift drivers
went down to the union hall.
The employees first met by themselves, and were later joined by May. Those
present decided to get in touch with the drivers on the night shift Tolman called
Owen Woolsey, the night shift steward, and informed him that there had been
a work stoppage because the employees were trying to get heaters installed in the
trucks and the Respondent would not agree. Tolman told Woolsey that the day shift
employees would like to get in touch with the men on the night shift and have a
meeting with them. By that time it was too late to telephone the night shift em-
3 According to May's recollection, Gary Stephenson rather than Bob Crotch was present
at this time. Whether the fourth employee in the group at this time was Crotch or
Stephenson is not important in terms of the ultimate issues to be decided.
* The Respondent had previously tried, apparently without success, to install manifold
heaters in some of the trucks.
5 With a slight variation in wording, May corroborated Tolman's testimony in this re-
gard . Speight's version of this conversation was that he told Tolman that since he quit
driving that morning, he quit working for the Respondent. The recollections of May and
Tolman seem more reliable concerning this incident. If Speight's version were correct,
there would seem to be no reason why he should have made such a statement to Tolman
and not to the other three striking employees who were present at the same meeting, even
though Tolman' s manner or remarks may have prompted a reply from Speight. Accord-
ingly, I find that the statement was made as recounted by Tolman and May.
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 143
ployees, who had already left for their jobs. Tolman and the other employees on
the day shift, therefore, drove to Leadmine, a community located some 5 or 6 miles
from the project site, where they met the night shift drivers on their way to work,
told them what had happened and invited them to attend a meeting at the union
hall.
A meeting was held at the union hall that evening. All except one or two employees
from both the day and the night shifts were present. After discussion, the employees
voted not to return to work until heaters were installed in the trucks. Stephenson and
Tolman, representing the day shift drivers, and Ronald Johnson and Gordon Lee,
representing the night shift drivers, were chosen at this meeting as a committee
'to meet with the union representatives and the Respondent. A request was made
of May that the Union intercede on behalf of the employees and confer further
with Speight in an attempt to settle the dispute.
On January 16, the four committeemen were to meet May and thereafter proceed
to a meeting with Speight A misunderstanding occurred regarding the place they
were to meet and the committeemen therefore went to the union hall to await May's
arrival. When May did arrive, he called Speight and later reported to the men
that he had gained nothing from the conversation.
At about this time, Woolsey, the night shift steward, arrived at the union hall and
told the men that the Respondent had called him and stated that everything had
been straightened out and to report for work.6 The committeemen decided to inform
the drivers on the night shift that Woolsey's information was erroneous -and that no
agreement had been reached with the Respondent. Because it was too late in the day
to get in touch with the night shift drivers by telephone, Gary Stephenson, John
Keith, Bob Crotch, and Tolman drove ,to Leadmine. There they stood at the side
of the road and flagged down the night shift truckdrivers as they passed? While
the four men were so engaged , Speight appeared and spoke to John Keith. Speight
told Keith that he thought Keith was doing the wrong thing. Keith replied that he
did not believe that he was, that he was cold,'that he was with the rest of the men
and that he would like a heater in his truck. Speight asked Keith if he knew that he
could sue him for this. Keith replied that Speight could sue him if he wished, that
all Keith had was his overcoat.8
One of the drivers asked Speight if he would go down and meet with the employees
and Speight said he definitely would not. Speight thereupon left and the drivers
returned to the union hall where they held a meeting at which they further discussed
the need for heaters. At this time, the discussion centered about the fact that heaters
were a health factor, that the drivers could catch cold because of the unheated cabs
in the trucks, that their hands and feet got numb and it was a hazard to drive in that
condition, and that the men were entitled to heaters in the cabs of their trucks since
all the other companies in the locality had such equipment.
On January 17, Speight met with Fullmer Latter, secretary- treasurer of the Union,
and May in Latter's office at the union hall. On his way to this meeting, Latter met
the four committeemen who asked if they might attend. Latter advised them to wait
and he would let them know. When the meeting began, Latter told Speight that the
four men were downstairs, that they were members of a committee which had been
formed, and that they asked for permission to sit in at the meeting. Speight replied
that he felt it would be better if just the three of them discussed the matter. The
four members of the employees' committee remained downstairs in the union ball but
did not attend this meeting.
9 This was apparently the result of a misunderstanding on the part of May and Speight
that the drivers had been persuaded to return to work.
T Foreman foseph Mumm , a witness called by the Respondent , testified that on this
occasion Tolman said that the employees were on their own in the strike "because the
Union had sold them down the river ." Tolman's denial of dissatisfaction on his part or
that of the other employees with the Union, his denial that the strike occurred for such
a reason, and his reliance upon and close association with the Union from the very be-
ginning and throughout the strike convince me , and I find, that he did not make the
statement so attributed to him by Mumm.
8 Tolman testified that on this occasion Speight stated : "You know I can sue you for
stopping these men." Speight's version of his statement to Keith was that he asked
Keith if he knew what he was doing and told him he could get into trouble with something
like that. The coloration of mildness and restraint inherent in Speight's recounting is
hardly in keeping with the strong feelings exhibited by his remarks made to the em-
ployees alone and to the employees and union representatives the day before . I am con-
vinced , and find, that be made the statement to Keith in substance and form as related
by Keith and Tolman.
144 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Latter and May attempted to persuade Speight to return the drivers to their jobs
and to install hot water heaters in the trucks. May pointed out that the Respondent
had purchased four pieces of light equipment from Utah Construction Company which
had hot water heaters in them and urged that such heaters be installed in the present
equipment. Speight stated that the Respondent' s engineers had determined that hot
water heaters were not feasible for the type of equipment they were presently using
and that the Respondent would therefore not install such heaters in that equipment.
After further discussion, it was agreed that the Respondent would fill the holes in
the floors of the cabs and repair the doors and windshields. Speight offered to pro-
vide the drivers with flying suits instead of heaters. He also agreed that the drivers
would return to work without discrimination. After some further discussion, Speight
expressed concern about the attitude of the men, stating he was fearful that the
drivers might be dissatisfied upon returning to their jobs. Latter assured Speight
that the Union would do everything it could to achieve a proper attitude on the
part of the men. Speight in return agreed that in the event any difficulty arose in
this respect the individual involved would not be summarily discharged but would
be given an opportunity for a hearing before Speight, rather than the immediate
foreman or supervisor in charge, and that a union representative could be present
at such a hearing. Although the collective-bargaining agreement to which the Re-
spondent and the Union are parties contains no provisions with respect to seniority,
Latter proposed that seniority be followed by the Respondent in the event of future
layoffs and rehires. Speight declined to agree with this but did agree that all em-
ployees who had been laid off previously would be rehired before new employees were
secured and that this principle would be followed with respect to a number of drivers
who had been laid off by the Respondent during the previous October.
Following this meeting , Latter and May reported what had occurred to the com-
mittee of four drivers who had been waiting downstairs in the union hall. Latter
told the men that he thought Speight's offer constituted a good settlement, that it was
something more than the Union had in the contract and that he thought they ought
to accept it and return to work. The committee members expressed dissatisfaction
since their original demand for heaters had not been met. They decided, however,
to call a meeting of the entire membership and submit the proposal to the entire
group.
On the following day, a meeting of all the employees of the Respondent who
were covered by the collective-bargaining agreement was held at the union hall.
Approximately 27 9 employees were present, in addition to Latter and May. Gary
Stephenson was selected by the employees as chairman of the meeting. A report
was made to the employees of the proposal agreed upon the prior day by Latter,
May, and Speight. In the discussion which followed, some of the employees
expressed the belief that flying suits would be too burdensome for driving, that
they were not adequate to keep their bodies warm, and that even with such suits
the hands and feet of the drivers would remain cold and unprotected. Following
the discussion a vote was taken and the men voted approximately 15 to 12 to refuse
to return to work until the Respondent installed heaters in the trucks Those
present agreed that Ronald Johnson should call Speight and invite him to lunch the
next day and at that time advise Speight of the outcome of the meeting.
Following the meeting, Johnson called Speight and suggested that they have
lunch together and discuss the matter. Speight refused, stating that he did not
have time to have lunch with him, that he had no business to discuss with Johnson,
and that Speight's dealing with the people involved in the strike would be directly
with the Union.
On January 19, Latter called Speight and told him that the employees had voted
to refuse to return to work unless the Respondent installed hot water heaters in the
trucks. The two men agreed that they did not know how to resolve the dispute
and each promised to call the other if any new ideas should occur to him.
On the next day, a Saturday, Latter again called Speight. He told Speight that
May was on a connecting telephone. He then told Speight that some of the em-
ployees had approached him after the meeting which had been held the previous
Thursday, and expressed the view that Latter ought to speak to Speight again in an
attempt to arrive at some understanding . Speight stated that he had changed his
9 There are 35 employees in the collective -bargaining unit covered by the contract Of
this number 22 are truckdrivers Both the Union and a sister local are parties to the
agreement. The record does not show how many of the 35 employees are represented by
the Union , as distinguished from its sister local
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 145
mind and that the agreement they had reached previously was no longer acceptable.
He asked Latter to tell the men to report to work on Monday morning and to
bring their identification badges and hard hats. The Respondent, Speight informed
Latter, was going to discharge the men and would rehire all except five of them.
Latter asked who the five men in question were. Speight replied that he thought it
would be inadvisable at this time to state who they were. After some further con-
versation, Speight stated that under the terms of the contract the Union was obligated
to assist the Respondent in furnishing men for the job. Latter agreed. Speight
thereupon stated that he was placing an order with Latter for 10 men for the day
shift and 6 for the night shift, that these men were to report on the job Monday
morning and that the Respondent would hire them after that.
Following this conversation with Speight, Latter and May discussed the matter
and decided they would recommend to the employees that they return to work
unconditionally and the Union would refer them to the jobs. It was agreed that
the men would register on the out-of-work list which is made up by the Union each
week on Monday morning.
That evening, another meeting of the employees was held at the union hall. Some
15 or 18 of the employees of the Respondent attended. Latter informed those present
of the telephone call he and May had had with Speight earlier in the day. He advised
the men to go back to work unconditionally and suggested that after work was re-
sumed this might relieve the pressure on Speight and might create a different psy-
chological atmosphere which would permit them to sit down and discuss the matter
further with him about heaters for the trucks.
on the morning of January 22, the 12 employees who were involved in the dispute
went to the union hall where they signed the out-of-work list, and were given referral
slips to apply to the Respondent. The men then reported for work to Tom Lowe,
project accountant. Lowe declined to accept the referral slips tendered by the men.
Instead he told the men that they were discharged. Each man was given his ter-
mination papers 10 upon the orders and at the direction of Project Manager Speight
who admitted at the hearing that the employees were discharged because they had
engaged in the strike.
Shortly after the employees had been discharged, Speight spoke to those who in
his opinion wanted to go back to work. According to Speight, these were the men
who "didn't have the `no heater, no work' proposition in mind." Thereafter, he
rehired 7 of the 12 employees involved." The Respondent has refused to rehire
John Keith, Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson, and Ralph Tolman
on the ground that these employees instigated and prolonged the work stoppage
which occurred on January 15.
B. Contentions of the parties
The General Counsel and the Charging Party contend that the discharge of Ralph
Tolman on January 15, the discharge of the remaining truckdrivers named in the
amended complaint on January 22, 1962, and the refusal on that date to rehire
Tolman, Gary Stephenson, John Keith, Ronald Johnson, and Gordon Lee constitute
violations of Section 8(a) (1) and ( 3) of the Act.12
The Respondent contends that Tolman was discharged on January 22 (rather
than January 15) 1962, and that his discharge as well as the discharge of each of
the other men and the subsequent refusal to rehire the above -named individuals
was justified because: (1) the contract contains a no-strike clause; and ( 2) even
in the absence of such a clause, the employees engaged in a wildcat strike and were
therefore subject to discharge.
10 The employees were: Fred Garcia , Frank Gross , Harry M . Jeffs, Blaine Jensen , Lavelle
Robinson , Gary Todd , Dee Wright , John Keith , Gordon Lee , Gary Stephenson , Ronald
Johnson, and Ralph Tolman.
u These employees and the dates upon which they were rehired are as follows: Fred
Garcia-January 22; Frank Gross , Harry M. Jeffs , Blaine Jensen, Lavelle Robinson, and
Dee Wright-January 25 ; Harry Todd-January 26. Robinson was not available for
work until January 25 and Todd was not available for work on January 25 but was re-
hired the following day.
u In view of the findings hereafter made , I deem it unnecessary to pass upon the con-
tention advanced by the Charging Party that the employees were terminated unlawfully
because the contract expressly provides that the employees "shall not be discharged for
refusing to operate equipment they deem to be unsafe "
146 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
C. Concluding findings
1. Effect of the existing contract
It is the position of the Respondent that article I, section 5 of the current contract
,constitutes a non -strike clause . The provision in question reads as follows:
The UNION shall not countenance, permit or require any limit upon or cur-
tailment of rates of production within their respective jurisdiction, or craft,
and shall not object to, refuse to operate, or otherwise hamper the use of any
equipment, machinery, tools or devices within their craft intended to speed or
increase the efficiency of the EMPLOYER operations.
This section of the agreement , as the General Counsel contends , amounts to a
guarantee by the Union that it will not permit interruptions of work by slowdown
or strike arising as a result of the introduction or use of automated equipment or
devices by the Respondent. It does not, however, constitute an agreement not to strike
for other reasons or in relationship to other conditions of work which might lead
to dispute. It is neither counterbalanced by a promise on the part of the employer
not to lock out, nor is it the quid pro quo for a system providing for the handling
of grievances and a resort to arbitration in the settlement of disputes, as is commonly
found where broad no-strike clauses appear in collective-bargaining agreements.
See Textile Workers Union v. Lincoln Mills, 353 U S. 448. Such a broad no-strike
clause, containing those very features, does appear in the existing contract to which
the Union and the Associated General Contractors of America, Intermountain
Branch (herein called the AGC) are parties and which the Respondent, for the
reasons noted hereafter , asserts is applicable in this case.13 But the contract, also
contains the identical provision appearing in article I, section 5 of the agreement
executed by the Respondent and the Union
Accordingly, I find that article I, section 5 of the contract signed by the Respond-
ent and the Union does not constitute a general no-strike clause which outlawed the
work stoppage in this case.
2. The question of mutual mistake
The Respondent further contends that, even if article I, section 5 of the existing
contract is not properly to be construed as a no-strike clause, the provisions of the
AGC agreement apply because it was this latter agreement which the Respondent
and the Union intended to sign and they failed to do so through mutual mistake.
The present agreement is 'the third in a successive series between the parties, the
first of which was entered into in 1958. Speight testified in substance that, when
the present agreement was executed, he had been assured by May that he was signing
the AGC contract; that, with respect to the prior two contracts, the parties had an
understanding in each instance that the wages and working conditions were those
contained in the AGC agreement; that not until the day after the strike in this case
began did Speight look at the agreement he had signed on behalf of the Respondent;
and that he then discovered for the first time that the contract did not contain a
no-strike clause. He further testified that on January 24, 1962, Latter volunteered
the information that he also had believed the contract contained a no-strike clause
and had only the evening before discovered that it had not. Latter was not called
by the General Counsel to deny this testimony.
18 This clause , which is included in the article of the contract dealing with settlement of
disputes through established grievance machinery and arbitration , is as follows:
It is the purpose and intent of the parties hereto that all grievances and disputes
arising under this Agreement be settled in accordance with the procedure hereinabove
set forth, and that during the term of this Agreement, the UNIONS signatory hereto
or in whose behalf this Agreement is made , shall not during the term hereof , call or
engage in, sanction or assist in a strike against or slow down or stoppage of work
of the Contractor, and that there shall be no stoppage of work by any party hereto
for any reason. UNIONS will require its members to perform their services for the
Contractors on all work described herein when required by contractors to do so ; and
Contractors will not cause or permit any lockout of members of signatory Unions dur-
ing the terms of this Agreement . It shall not be in violation of this Agreement for
the UNION or its members to honor a picket line duly authorized by its Local Union,
or other Local Unions having jurisdiction over the work , providing such picket line
shall not be promoted as a subterfuge to accomplish a strike on behalf of the Unions
signatory hereto.
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 147
May, however, denied that he had told Speight that the present contract between
the parties was the AGC agreement. He testified that he had negotiated and signed
the present contract; that it was the document he had intended to sign; that it was
not the product of any mistake; and that he had never made any oral agreement
with any official of the Respondent which would vary the terms of the contract as
executed.
It is reasonable to conclude that, at the time the current collective-bargaining
agreement was negotiated, Speight was concerned with the similarity of wage rates
and perhaps other provisions in the AGC contract and the agreement then proposed
to him by the Union. This much the record shows. I do not believe, however,
that the affirmative defense of mutual mistake asserted by the Respondent is supported
by the evidence.14 I am impelled to this conclusion by the following considerations.
If, as Speight testified, he did not learn of the absence of the no-strike clause until
the day after the strike had begun, it would seem reasonable to expect that sometime
during that first day he would have sought to end the walkout by telling both the
employees and the Union that they were violating the contract. Ample opportunity
presented itself on more than one occasion during the day in question. That morning
Speight called May and asked him to come to the work project because of the strike;
he thereafter spoke to the striking drivers and urged them to return to work before
May arrived; he then met with May and a group of the strikers; and he later spoke
to May that evening. Yet on none of these occasions did he tell either the employees
or the Union that he considered either or both of them to be acting in breach of the
agreement. Speight's statement during the meeting on January 15 with May and the
group of strikers in his office that someone was going to pay for the loss of time to the
Respondent does not necessarily carry the inference that .it was motivated by a belief
that the contract had been broken any more than does a similar remark he made
to employee John Keith on January 16, at a time after Speight admittedly had dis-
covered that the contract did not contain a no-strike clause.
Nor is Speight's later conduct consistent with his testimony in this regard.
When the strike ended, an appreciable part of the winter remained and the contract
by its terms will continue to run through the winter of 1963. The basic cause of the
dispute which led to the walkout has not been removed. Nevertheless, the Re-
spondent has not discussed with the Union the question of inserting the no-strike
clause in the agreement and thus conforming it with their asserted understanding,
even though, according to Speight's testimony, both the Respondent and Latter were
aware of and acknowledged the omission of that clause at least as early as January 24.
Moreover, apart from Speight's conduct, other evidence concerning the contents
of the agreement which the parties signed as compared with the AGC contract casts
doubt upon the assertion that a mutual mistake occurred. The no-strike clause in
the AGC agreement 15 constitutes part of an entire article providing for grievance
machinery and arbitration in the settlement of disputes which covers two pages near
the center of the document. At the time Speight signed the agreement the Re-
spondent would now repudiate, he added a sentence to qualify the provisions con-
tained in two short paragraphs which appear in the center of the document and which
deal with the payment to employees for time spent driving to and from work and for
servicing and repair of equipment. One would believe that the omission of the
article containing the no-strike clause would have been noted as readily as the single
sentence qualification which he added both because of the relative importance
of the two provisions and the amount of space which each covered. On the record as
14 When Latter was first informed of the work stoppage, he instructed May that the
Union could not assume responsibility for it. This evidence falls to provide a sufficient
basis for inferring that Latter took this position because he believed that the contract
contained a no-strike clause rather than because union authorization by means of a strike
vote, as provided for in the Union 's constitution and bylaws, had not been secured. In
any event , although knowledge on the part of Latter as to the contents of the contract
may be imputed to the Union , the fact that be may have harbored the belief that the
contract contained a no-strike clause is not relevant in determining whether or not a
mutual mistake existed . May, not Latter , negotiated the contract with Speight; and it
would be May 's understanding of its terms , and not Latter 's which would be controlling.
Nor is this conclusion affected by the fact that Latter, who is secretary -treasurer of the
Union, signed the contract in addition to May.
15A significant difference between the two contracts , other than the no-strike clause, is
the inclusion of a provision for the checkoff of union dues which appears in the agree-
ment executed by the Respondent but is absent from the AGC agreement . The wage rates
and other provisions of the two contracts are not identical but are substantially similar.
672010-63-vol. 139-13
148 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
a whole, and on the basis of the foregoing facts, I find that the evidence does not
establish the existence of a mutual mistake as to the contract which was executed
or as to the fact that it did not contain a no-strike clause. In this connection, I
credit the testimony of May.
3. Nature of the strike
The evidence in this case is clear that the strike which began on January 15, 1962,
was not called by the Union but was the result of action taken by the employees
themselves. It is equally clear that when the Union learned of the strike it sup-
ported the employees in the action they had taken and attempted to convince the
Respondent that it should grant the demand of the employees for hot water heaters
as a means of resolving the dispute. The Union itself had long sought to have the
Respondent accede to such a request. The action taken by the employees was there-
fore in support, and not in derogation, of the position taken by the Union. It is this
factor, I believe, which becomes the touchstone for determining whether a withhold-
ing of their services by the employees is to be regarded as sanctioned by the Union
and therefore not in the nature of so-called "wildcat" action. If the position taken
by the employees is contrary to that of their bargaining representative, the bargain-
ing process itself may thereby be impaired or destroyed. N.L.R.B v. Draper Corpora-
tion , 145 F. 2d 199 (C.A. 4). But a position taken by the employees in support of
that of their bargaining representative creates no such threat. The demand of the
employees in this case and of the Union which represented them was one and the
same. Under these circumstances, I can see no basis for finding that the strike which
began on January 15, 1962, was unlawful as without sanction by the Union and
therefore deprived those who struck from the protections otherwise guaranteed in
the Act. Sunbeam Lighting Company, Inc., 136 NLRB 1248; Philanz Oldsmobile,
Inc., 137 NLRB 867.
4. Summary
The employees named in the complaint engaged in an economic strike on
January 15, 1962, in protest against the absence of heaters in the trucks The Union
thereafter supported them in their position and represented them in an attempt to se-
cure a settlement of the dispute with the Respondent. By withholding their services,
the employees in question were engaged in concerted and union activities. The Re-
spondent's conduct on January 22, 1962, in terminating their employment for engag-
ing in such activities constituted an act of discrimination which discouraged union
membership within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3) and in addition interfered with,
restrained, and coerced the employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed them in
Section 7, thereby violating Section 8(a)-(1) of the Act.16
In addition, the Respondent's refusal to reinstate five of the strikers 17 on
January 22, 1962, on the ground that they had instigated and prolonged the work
stoppage and upon their unconditional application to return to their jobs before they
had been permanently replaced violated Section 8(a) (1) and (3) of the Act.
N.L.R.B. v. Mackay Radio & Telegraph Co., 304 U.S. 333; Ablon Poultry & Egg
Company, 134 NLRB 1827.
Finally, Project Manager Speight's statement to employee John Keith on Jan-
uary 16, 1962, at the time Keith was standing beside the road flagging down the night
shift drivers to inform them that an agreement respecting heaters had not been
reached with the Respondent, to the effect that Speight could sue Keith for this action
was certainly inhibitory in nature and constituted interference, restraint, and coercion
in violation of Section 8 (a) (,1) of the Act.
As noted above, the General Counsel contends, and the Respondent denies, that
Ralph Tolman was discharged on January 15 rather than January 22, 1962. This
contention is based upon Speight's statement to Tolman during the meeting in
Speight's office on January 15, 1962, that Tolman had quit working for the Re-
spondent when he had opened his mouth during the course of the discussion. Tol-
man's employment release and separation notice to the Utah Department of Employ-
ment Security bear the date of January 22, 1962, as were similar documents given
18 This conclusion would follow whether the termination of the employees were regarded
as effective before they had tendered their referral slips, in which case they were dis-
charged because they had engaged in the strike (Brookville Glove Company, 114 NLRB
213, enfd. 234 F. 2d 400 (CA 3) ) ; or instead were considered to have taken place after
they had proffered such slips, in which event they had unconditionally offered to return
to work before they had been permanently replaced and were thereupon denied reinstate-
ment (Marydale Products Company, Inc., 133 NLRB 1232.)
17 As noted above, these five employees are John Keith, Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson,
Ronald Johnson, and Ralph Tolman.
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION 149
each of the other employees involved. Speight testified that these documents relat-
ing to Tolman, as well as to the other employees, were prepared on that date and
at his direction. On this state of the record, I find that while Speight, in the heat
of the discussion, indicated that he was terminating Tolman, he did not actually
discharge him until January 22, 19,62. Although Speight's statement to Tolman,
therefore, did not amount to a discharge within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3),
it nevertheless did constitute threatened reprisal directed toward an employee for
engaging in protected concerted activities and therefore became an act of inter-
ference, restraint, and coercion in violation of Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section III, above, occurring in con-
nection with the operations of the Respondent described in section 1, above, have
a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the
several States and tend to lead, and have led, to labor disputes burdening and obstruct-
ing commerce and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices violative
of Section 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(3) of the Act, I shall recommend that it cease and
desist therefrom and take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate the policies
of the Act.
It has been found that the Respondent terminated the employment of 12 employees
on January 22, 1962, in violation of Section 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(3) of the Act. Of
the 12 employees so discharged, Fred Garcia was rehired by the Respondent on
January 22, 1962; Frank Gross, Harry M. Jeffs, Blaine Jensen, LaVelle Robinson, and
Dee Wright were rehired on January 25; and Gary Todd was rehired on January 26,
1962 It has also been found that the Respondent refused to rehire John Keith,
Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson, and Ralph Tolman on January 22,
1962, and thereafter, in violation of Section 8(a) (1) and (3) of the Act Accord-
ingly, I shall recommend that the Respondent offer each of the employees whom it
has refused to rehire immediate and full reinstatement to his former or substantially
equivalent position (Chase National Bank of the City of New York, San Juan, Puerto
Rico, Branch, 65' NLRB 827) without prejudice to all rights and privileges to which
each employee is entitled. I shall also recommend that the Respondent make whole
each employee for any loss he may have suffered as a result of the discrimination
against him, by payment to him of a sum of money equal to that which he normally
would have earned from January 22, 1962, to January 25, 1962, with respect to
Frank Gross, Harry M. Jeffs; Blaine Jensen, Dee Wright, and Gary Todd; is and
from January 22, 1962, to the date of a proper offer of reinstatement with respect
to John Keith, Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson, and Ralph Tolman,
less net earnings as to each of said employees for the period applicable to each. The
payments provided for hereunder are to be computed on a quarterly basis in the
manner established by the Board in F. W. Woolworth Company, 90 NLRB 289. In
addition, I shall recommend that the Respondent be ordered to pay interest on the
backpay due each of the discriminatees above named at the rate of 6 percent per
annum commencing at the end of each quarter of the year for which backpay is
shown to be due hereunder.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in
the case, I make the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The Union is, and has been at all times material to the issues in this proceed-
ing, a labor organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
2 The Respondent is, and has been at all times material to the issues in this
proceeding , an employer within the meaning of Section 2(2) of the Act, engaged
in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
3 By discriminating against employees with respect to hire, tenure , terms, and
conditions of their employment , thereby discouraging membership in the Union, the
11 Todd was not available for work on January 25 1962, but was rehired on January 26,
1962 LaVelle Robinson was not available for work from January 22 to 25, and there-
fore suffered no loss of earnings , as is likewise true of Fred Garcia who was reinstated
on January 22.
150 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Respondent has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the mean-
ing of Section 8(a)(3) of the Act.
4. By the above conduct, and by the conduct of Project Manager Speight in
threatening to discharge employee Ralph Tolman and threatening to institute legal
proceedings against John Keith because they had engaged in concerted and union
activities, the Respondent has interfered with, restrained, and coerced employees
in the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, and has thereby engaged in unfair
labor practices within 'the meaning of Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
5. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and
pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act, I hereby recommend that We-stem Contracting
Corporation, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Discouraging membership in International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauf-
feurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, Local No. 222, or in any other labor
organization of its employees, by discharging, laying off, or refusing to reinstate
or reemploy any of its employees because of their concerted or union activities, or
in any other manner discriminating in regard to their hire or tenure of employment
or any term or condition of employment.
(b) Threatening employees with discharge, legal proceedings or any other re-
prisals because they engage in concerted or union activities.
(c) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the
exercise of the rights guaranteed them in Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action which is necessary to effectuate the
policies of the Act:
(a) Offer John Keith, Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson, and Ralph
Tolman immediate and full reinstatement to their former or substantially equivalent
positions, without prejudice to all rights and privileges to which they are entitled.
(b) Make whole John Keith, Gordon Lee, Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson,
Ralph Tolman, Frank Gross, Harry M. Jeffs, Blaine Jensen, Dee Wright, and Gary
Todd in the manner set forth above in the section entitled "The Remedy."
(c) Preserve until compliance with any order for reinstatement or back pay
made by the National Labor Relations Board is effectuated, and make available to the
said Board and its agents, upon request, for examination and copying, all payroll
records, social security payment records, timecards, personnel records and reports,
and all other records, relative to a determination of the amount of backpay due, and
to the reinstatement and related rights provided under the terms of any such order.
(d) Post in conspicuous places at its place of business at Bingham Canyon, Utah,
including all places where notices to employees are customarily posted, copies of the
notice attached hereto as an appendix.19 Copies of said notice, to be furnished by
the Regional Director for the Twenty-seventh Region, shall, after being duly signed
by the Respondent's representative, be posted by it immediately upon receipt thereof,
and maintained by it for 60 consecutive days thereafter. Reasonable steps shall be
taken by the Respondent to insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered
by any other material.
(e) Notify said Regional Director, in writing, within 20 days from the receipt of
this Intermediate Report, what steps the Respondent has taken to comply herewith 2°
It is further recommended that, unless within said 20 days the Respondent shall
have notified the said Regional Director that it will comply with the foregoing
recommendations, the National Labor Relations Board issue its order requiring the
Respondent to take the action aforesaid.
19 In the event these Recommendations be adopted by the Board, the words "A Deci-
sion and Order" shall be substituted for the words "The Recommendations of a Trial
Examiner" in the notice In the further event that the Board's Order be enforced by a
decree of a United States Court of Appeals, the words "Pursuant to a Decree of the
United States Court of Appeals , Enforcing an Order" shall be substituted for the words
"Pursuant to a Decision and Order."
2O In the event that these Recommendations be adopted by the Board , this provision
shall be modified to read : "Notify said Regional Director, in writing, within 10 days from
the receipt of this Order , what steps the Respondent has taken to comply herewith."
HARVEY ALUMINUM (INCORPORATED) , ETC. 151
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to the Recommendations of a Trial Examiner of the National Labor
Relations Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, we hereby notify our employees that:
WE WILL NOT discourage membership in International Brotherhood of Team-
sters, Chauffeurs , Warehousemen and Helpers of America, Local No. 222, or
any other labor organization , by discharging , laying off, or refusing to reinstate
or reemploy any of our employees because of their concerted or union activities
or in any other manner discriminate in regard to their hire or tenure of employ-
ment or any term or condition of employment.
WE WILL NOT threaten our employees with discharge , legal proceedings, or
any other reprisals because they engage in concerted or union activities.
WE WILL NOT in any other manner interfere with, restrain , or coerce our em-
ployees in the exercise of their right to self-organization , to form, join, or assist
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers
of America, Local No. 222, or any other labor organization , to bargain collec-
tively through representatives of their own choosing , or to engage in concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or pro-
tection, or to refrain from any or all of such activities.
WE WILL offer immediate and full reinstatement to John Keith, Gordon Lee,
Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson , and Ralph Tolman.
WE WILL make whole the following employees for any loss they may have
suffered as -a result of the discrimination against them: John Keith , Gordon Lee,
Gary Stephenson, Ronald Johnson , Ralph Tolman , Frank Gross, Harry M. Jeffs,
Blaine Jensen, Dee Wright, and Gary Todd.
All of our employees are free to become, remain , or refrain from becoming or
remaining, members of any labor organization . We will not discriminate in regard
to hire or tenure of employment , or any term or condition of employment , against
any employee because of membership in or activity on behalf of any labor
organization.
WESTERN CONTRACTING CORPORATION,
Employer.
Dated------------------- By-------------------------------------------
(Representative ) ( Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from its date, and must not be
altered, defaced , or covered by any other material . Employees may communicate
directly with the Board 's Regional Office, 609 Railway Exchange Building , Denver,
Colorado, Telephone Number, Keystone 4-4151, if they have any question con-
cerning this notice or compliance with its provisions.
Harvey Aluminum (Incorporated ) and General Engineering,
Inc.; Wallace A. Ummel d/b/a Wallace Detective and Security
Agency; I Harvey Aluminum (Incorporated ) and United Steel-
workers of America , AFL-CIO. Cases Nos. 36-CA-1067-1,
36-CA-1067-2, and 36-CA-1067-3. October 18, 1962
DECISION AND ORDER
On March 30, 1962, Trial Examiner Martin S. Bennett issued his
Intermediate Report in the above -entitled consolidated proceeding,
finding that the Respondents had engaged in certain unfair labor
1 Although the formal papers were amended at the hearing to reflect the correct name
of this Respondent , this amendment was not reflected In the Intermediate Report or the
Appendixes attached thereto. Those documents are hereby amended accordingly.
139 NLRB No. 8.