White Oak Coal Co., Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Jun 15, 1989

295 N.L.R.B. 567 (N.L.R.B. 1989)

WHITE OAK COAL CO. 567
White Oak Coal Co., Inc . and United Mine Workers
of America , District No. 28 .1 Cases 5-CA-
16843, 5-CA-17008, and 5-CA-17275
June 15, 1989
DECISION AND ORDER
BY MEMBERS JOHANSEN , CRACRAFT, AND
HIGGINS
On March 17, 1986, Administrative Law Judge
Thomas A. Ricci issued the attached decision. The
General Counsel and the Charging Party each filed
exceptions and supporting briefs. The Respondent
filed a brief in opposition to 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 briefs and has
decided to affirm the judge's rulings, findings 2 and
conclusions only to the extent consistent with this
Decision and Order.
As more fully set forth by the judge, the Re-
spondent operates a coal mine at a remote location
in Dickenson County, Virginia. The Respondent is
owned by Jerry Deel and his wife Arlene Deel.
Arlene Deel runs and manages the Respondent's
operation. The Respondent's employees are repre-
sented by the United Mine Workers of America,
District No. 28 (the Union or the Charging Party).
The Respondent and the Union have been parties
i The caption has been amended to reflect the correct name of the
Charging Party.
2 The General Counsel and the Charging Party have excepted to some
of the judge's credibility findings . The Board 's established policy is not to
overrule an administrative law judge's credibility resolutions unless the
clear preponderance of all the relevant evidence convinces us that they
are incorrect . Standard Dry Wall Products, 91 NLRB 544 ( 1950), enfd.
188 F 2d 362 (3d Cir . 1951). We have carefully examined the record and
find no basis for reversing the findings
However , in so doing , we do not rely on, and emphatically disavow,
the judge's finding that the General Counsel 's and the Charging Party's
position on the condonation issue constituted , in effect, a concession that
the General Counsel 's witnesses were not credible. As more fully dis-
cussed infra , counsel for the General Counsel and counsel for the Charg-
ing Party contended that if the judge credited the Respondent 's witnesses
(i.e., Arlene Deel and Patsy Fuller) rather than the General Counsel's
witnesses , then a finding that the Respondent condoned any striker mis-
conduct was mandated . In so arguing , counsel for the General Counsel
and counsel for the Charging Party took positions akin to a party who
engages in alternative pleading . See FRCP Rule 8(e)(2). Indeed, in the
circumstances of this case , counsel for the General Counsel and counsel
for the Charging Party would arguably have been remiss not to have
made the arguments that they made . Regardless of our ultimate resolu-
tion of the merits of the condonation issue, it is clear that counsel for the
General Counsel and counsel for the Charging Party acted in a responsi-
ble and legally sound manner in advancing their arguments . In these cir-
cumstances , it was serious error for the judge cavalierly to characterize
their position on the condonation issue as "fantasy" and to conclude that
their position served as a basis for discrediting the General Counsel's wit-
nesses. Nonetheless , based on our review of the record as a whole, we
shall not reverse the judge's credibility findings
to a series of collective-bargaining agreements.3
The most recent collective -bargaining agreement-
the 1981-1984 National Bituminous Coal Wage
Agreement-agreed on by the parties expired on
September 30, 1984 . During 1984 , subsequent to
the contract's expiration, the parties had three ne-
gotiating sessions for a new contract . On Decem-
ber 10, 1984, the employees began a strike at the
Respondent 's coal mine . Certain events occurring
both before and after the strike gave rise to the al-
legations of the complaint.
1. The complaint alleged , and the judge found,
that the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) of the
Act in numerous respects.4 Thus, the judge found
that the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) of the
Act by failing, in June 1984, to grant a wage in-
crease as required by the parties' contract then in
effect. Further, as found by the judge, the Re-
spondent , after expiration of the contract , unilater-
ally and unlawfully discontinued holiday and birth-
day pay, vacation pay, and pension benefits. Final-
ly, the judge found that the Respondent's refusal to
accept and process two grievances prepared on
behalf of employee Doug Coleman violated Sec-
tion 8(a)(5) of the Act.5
The General Counsel excepts to the judge's fail-
ure to find certain additional violations of Section
8(a)(5) of the Act. For reasons set forth below, we
find merit in the General Counsel's exceptions.
The complaint alleges, and we find, that the Re-
spondent violated Section 8(a)(5) by unilaterally
discontinuing payment for personal and sick leave.
Article IX, section (e), of the parties' contract pro-
vides that employees with one or more years of
service are eligible for personal and sick leave.
This section of the contract also provides that em-
ployees who have not used up their paid personal
or sick leave by the end of the calendar year will
receive pay for the leave not used. In uncontro-
verted testimony, the Respondent's bookkeeper
Patsy Fuller testified that during 1984 the Re-
spondent ceased paying employees for unused sick
and personal days. The Respondent 's unilateral dis-
continuance of these payments violated Section
8(a)(5) of the Act. Crest Floors & Plastic, 274
NLRB 1230, 1252-1253 ( 1985); see generally Hen
House Market No. 3, 175 NLRB 596 (1969).
We further find, as urged by the General Coun-
sel, that the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) by
8 We find , as alleged in the complaint, that art . IA, secs (a) and (b),
and appendix B of the parties' most recent collective -bargaining agree-
ment define a unit appropriate for collective bargaining.
4 The Respondent did not except to any of the judge 's findings.
5 The Union attempted to file grievances pertaining to the Respond-
ent's failure to pay Coleman for birthday benefits and the Respondent's
discharge of Coleman on December 3, 1984.
295 NLRB No. 64
568 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
unilaterally discontinuing the contractual grievance
procedure. As found by the judge, the Respond-
ent's agent and main bargaining representative,
Jack Head, told the union field representative that
the Respondent was in the process of negotiating a
new contract and that there was no grievance pro-
cedure in effect. Moreover, according to the min-
utes taken at the parties ' bargaining session held on
November 21, Head acknowledged that the Re-
spondent did not have a grievance procedure in
effect. Although the contract had expired, the Re-
spondent's obligation to honor the contractual
grievance procedure had not been extinguished.6
Thus, in regard to the grievance procedure, the
Respondent 's unlawful conduct was not merely its
refusal to entertain the Coleman grievances but
also its repudiation of the grievance procedure. By
that conduct, the Respondent violated Section
8(a)(5) of the Act.
The judge declined to order the Respondent to
recognize and bargain with the Union. In so doing,
the judge implicitly rejected the complaint allega-
tions that the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5)
by, inter alia , declaring an impasse in negotiations
when none existed and thereafter failing and refus-
ing to meet with the Union. We disagree with the
judge's findings.
As noted, the contract expired on September 20.
The parties held a total of three bargaining sessions
in 1984 . At the third bargaining session , on Decem-
ber 13 , the Respondent declared impasse, and it
thereafter-until March 1985-refused to meet and
bargain with the Union. It cited impasse as its
reason for refusing to meet with the Union.
A finding of impasse presupposes that the parties
prior to the impasse have acted in good faith. Gen-
erally, a lawful impasse cannot be reached in the
presence of unremedied unfair labor practices. The
Board has long held that an employer may not
"parlay an impasse" resulting from its own miscon-
duct. Wayne's Dairy, 223 NLRB 260, 265 (1976).
Here, as the General Counsel urges , the Re-
spondent engaged in unlawful conduct before De-
cember 13. The Respondent 's unilateral changes in
the employees ' terms and conditions of employ-
ment constituted significant violations of the Act.
In the context of that misconduct , no lawful im-
passe could be reached. Accordingly, as alleged in
the complaint , the Respondent unlawfully declared
impasse when none existed and thereafter unlawful-
ly refused to meet and bargain with the Union.7
9 Bethlehem Steel Co., 136 NLRB 1500 (1962), enfd . in relevant part
sub nom. Shipbuilders v. NLRB, 320 F.2d 615 (3d Cir 1963), see also In-
diana & Michigan Electric Ca, 284 NLRB 53 (1987).
r In light of our finding on the impasse issue, we need not pass on the
General Counsel 's contention that the Respondent separately violated
Sec. 8(a)(5) of the Act during the parties' negotiations by presenting a
Based on this finding, we shall order, as a part of
the remedy, that the Respondent, on request, bar-
gain with the Union.
2. The complaint alleged, inter alia, that the Re-
spondent made four unlawful threats in violation of
Section 8(a)(1) of the Act. The complaint alleges
three unlawful threats by Arlene Deel and one by
Jack Head. The judge inexplicably failed to discuss
fully these complaint allegations and the evidence
relevant to them.
We find, as alleged in the complaint, that the Re-
spondent, by Arlene Deel, unlawfully threatened to
discharge employee Doug Coleman for stating he
would file a grievance over the Respondent's fail-
ure to pay him birthday pay. According to Cole-
man's essentially uncontradicted testimony ,8 Cole-
man called Arlene Deel in October 1984 and raised
the matter of his failure to receive birthday pay. In
the past, according to Coleman, he had taken his
birthday off but was paid for the day. Coleman tes-
tified that Deel responded that she need not pay
him because the contract had expired. When Cole-
man protested that he would file a grievance over
the matter, Deel replied that "he couldn't threaten
her, she'd get rid of him."9 By that statement, Deel
threatened to discharge Coleman for engaging in
protected concerted activity- i.e., announcing an
intent to file a grievance.10 See , e.g., Crown Zeller-
bach Corp., 284 NLRB 111 (1987). Thereby, the
Respondent violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
3. The complaint alleges that the Respondent dis-
charged employee Doug Coleman in violation of
Section 8 (a)(3) and (1) of the Act. The judge rec-
ommended dismissal of this allegation , finding that
the General Counsel had not proved a violation.
The General Counsel and the Charging Party
except. For reasons set forth below, we find merit
in their exceptions.
As more fully set forth by the judge, on Novem-
ber 29, after learning of a coworker's death, several
employees agreed that they would take the next
take-it-or-leave-it proposal and by refusing to accept or consider counter-
proposals Findings regarding these allegations would not affect the
remedy.
8 Although the judge generally credited the testimony of Arlene Deel,
Deel did not specifically deny making the statements on this matter at-
tributed to her by Coleman.
0 Coleman's testimony in this regard is buttressed by the fact that the
Respondent , as discussed elsewhere in this decision , did not honor the
contract after expiration The Respondent consistently resisted attempts
by the Union and its members to have it comply with the terms and con-
ditions of employment set forth in the contract.
10 The other complaint allegations of 8(a )( 1) violations, as well as the
8(a)(1) findings sought by the General Counsel on the basis that matters
were fully litigated at the hearing , essentially involve, like the allegation
sustained above , alleged threats to discharge for engaging in protected
activity Accordingly, any findings made on these other allegations
would be cumulative and thus we find it unnecessary to pass on these
allegations.
WHITE OAK COAL CO. 569
day off in memory of the employee. However,
when Arlene Deel found out about the employees'
plan, she called the employees at home on Thurs-
day evening and told them to report to work on
Friday. Deel told Coleman that any employee who
did not work on Friday would be replaced. None-
theless, Coleman told Deel that he would not be
coming to work." Employee Bernard Viars told
Deel that he would not be coming to work on
Friday because he was going to the dentist. Other
employees did report to work on Friday but Viars
and Coleman did not return to work until Monday.
After a discussion on Monday with both men, Deel
sent Viars back to work but discharged Coleman.
The General Counsel and the Charging Party
argue that Coleman was discharged because of his
protected activities. The Respondent contends that
it discharged Coleman for "missing work."
In Wright Line,12 the Board set forth its test of
causation for cases alleging violations of the Act
turning on employer motive. First, the General
Counsel must make a prima facie showing suffi-
cient to support the inference that protected con-
duct was a motivating factor in the employer's de-
cision. Once this is established, the burden shifts to
the employer to demonstrate that the same action
would have taken place even in the absence of the
protected conduct.
We find that the General Counsel established a
prima facie case of a violation in regard to Cole-
man's discharge. The General Counsel established
that Coleman testified contrary to the Respondent's
interests at an arbitration hearing in late August
1984.18 It was also established that Coleman pur-
sued efforts to obtain his birthday pay, pursuant to
the parties' contract, for his October 8 birthday.
These efforts included his announced intention to
file a grievance over the matter. Coleman's testify-
ing at the arbitration hearing and his efforts to
obtain contractual benefits were clearly protected
activities 14 and the Respondent was aware of
those activities.15 Moreover the record establishes
' I The judge found that Coleman told Deel that he was going hunting
on Friday
12 251 NLRB 1083 (1980), enfd . 662 F .2d 899 (1st Cit. 1981), cert.
denied 455 U.S 989 (1982), approved in NLRB Y. Transportation Manage-
ment Corp , 462 U . S. 393 (1983).
Is The judge inexplicably failed to resolve a credibility dispute and de-
termine whether or not Jerry Deel, the Respondent 's president , informed
employee Larry Deel that Coleman , because of his testimony at the arbi-
tration hearing, should look for another job. However , the judge 's failure
to make a finding regarding the alleged threat is not critical to our reso-
lution of the complaint allegation regarding Coleman 's discharge
14 See Crown Zellerbach Corp, supra
's Though Arlene Deel initially equivocated in regard to Coleman's
claim for birthday pay, she ultimately conceded , as found by the judge,
that she discussed the matter with Union Committeeman Clement
O'Qmnn . Similarly, after some equivocation, Arlene Deel admitted that
she considered Coleman to be someone who was always starting trouble
with the other employees . Also, she testified that the union committee-
that the Respondent bore substantial animus
toward the Union. In particular, the Respondent
entertained hostility towards the efforts by the
Union and its members to enforce the provisions of
the collective-bargaining agreement-as Coleman
was doing by seeking birthday pay. Indeed, we
have found that the Respondent unlawfully threat-
ened Coleman with discharge for announcing an
intention to file a grievance . The discharge oc-
curred shortly after Coleman's participation in pro-
tected conduct. Certainly, an inference is warrant-
ed that Coleman's protected activities were a moti-
vating factor in the Respondent's decision to dis-
charge Coleman.
Before the judge, the Respondent urged that it
discharged Coleman for missing work on 2 consec-
utive days. The judge, in effect for a reason other
than that urged by the Respondent, found that the
Respondent's discharge of Coleman was lawful.
Contrary to the judge, we cannot find that the Re-
spondent established that it would have discharged
Coleman in the absence of his protected activity.
In her affidavit and at trial, Arlene Deel, the
person who discharged Coleman, testified, in sup-
port of the Respondent's contention that Coleman
was discharged for "missing work," that Coleman
was discharged for being absent 2 days-Friday
and Saturday. However, as the judge found, the
employees did not work on Saturday. Though
Deel may have contemplated operating on Satur-
day, she changed her mind , and the mine was
closed on Saturday. Thus, as the judge correctly
found, the Respondent was "clearly wrong" to say
that Coleman was absent on Saturday.
Nonetheless, the judge concluded that the Re-
spondent had discharged Coleman essentially be-
cause Coleman "expressed his complete affront to
the owner's proper instruction ." In so concluding,
the judge, in effect, found that the reason for Cole-
man's discharge was a reason other than that prof-
fered by the Respondent for the discharge.
Contrary to the judge, we cannot "understand"
Deel's offering reasons for the discharge that were
demonstrably false . In a case turning on employer
motivation , it is not for the judge to offer reasons
not advanced by the employer to justify the em-
ployer's actions.16 Here, the Respondent, to rebut
the General Counsel's prima facie case, stated,
through Deel, that it discharged Coleman for being
man told her that the men were "going to start trouble over the holidays
and birthday pay." From Deel 's affidavit, her testimony , and the record
as a whole , we infer that Deel viewed Coleman as a troublemaker, at
least in part , because of his efforts to obtain birthday pay and to enforce
the contract.
16 See NLRB v. Great Dane Trailers, 388 U S . 26, 34-35 (1967).
570 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
absent from work for 2 consecutive days.17 The
Respondent did not state that it discharged Cole-
man for showing an affront or indifference to man-
agement's rights . Given that Coleman was not
absent from work on Saturday, the Respondent's
proffered reason for the discharge was false and
must be deemed a pretext . Further , the Respond-
ent's reliance on a reason for the discharge that
was "clearly wrong" lends support to a finding
that the discharge was for unlawful reasons.18 Ac-
cordingly , we find that the Respondent 's discharge
of Coleman violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the
Act.
4. The complaint alleges, inter alia , that the Re-
spondent refused to reinstate the striking employees
in violation of Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act.
The judge found that the strike that commenced
on December 10, 1984 , was an unfair labor practice
strike from its inception . 19 He further found that
on April 4, 1985, the Union made an unconditional
offer on behalf of striking employees to return to
work . The Respondent did not respond to this
offer. The judge concluded that the strikers had en-
gaged in striker misconduct sufficiently serious to
justify the Respondent 's failure to reinstate the
strikers . He also rejected the General Counsel's and
the Charging Party 's contention that the Respond-
ent had condoned any and all striker misconduct.
Accordingly , he recommended dismissal of this al-
legation of the complaint . The General Counsel
and the Charging Party except, and we find merit
in their exceptions.
Based on the following, the General Counsel and
the Charging Party urged that the Respondent con-
doned any striker misconduct . According to the
Respondent, primarily through the testimony of
Arlene Deel , strikers engaged in serious miscon-
duct in late December 1984 and through March
1985. As noted , in early April the Respondent, on
the Union 's unconditional offer to return on behalf
17 The General Counsel suggests that the Respondent contended that
Coleman missed 2 days of work because the "attendance control " provi-
sion of the parties' contract sanctions an employee's discharge only on
that employee's being absent for 2 consecutive days (i.e., not for I day's
absence). Thus, according to the General Counsel , the Respondent was
aware that discharging Coleman for I day's absence would violate the
contract . Although the General Counsel 's explanation is plausible, we
need not determine the Respondent's reasons for offering false reasons for
the discharge of Coleman. The point is that the reason advanced for the
discharge was false . The General Counsel also cites substantial record
evidence suggesting that employees often missed I day's work and were
not disciplined . Thus, the General Counsel argues that Coleman's dis-
charge demonstrates disparate treatment of Coleman by the Respondent.
Again , as the Respondent 's proffered reason for the discharge was false,
we need not pass on the General Counsel 's contention . Finally, in light of
our decision regarding Coleman 's discharge , we need not decide wheth-
er, as contended by the General Counsel , the Respondent 's discharge of
Coleman constituted an unlawful unilateral discontinuance of the contrac-
tual attendance control provision
19 NLRB Y. Shattuck Denn Mining Corp., 362 F.2d 466 (9th Cir . 1966).
19 There are no exceptions to this finding.
of all striking employees , failed to reinstate the
strikers. Thereafter, in late April 1985, the Re-
spondent had an opening for a roof bolter position.
According to Arlene Deel and her sister, Respond-
ent's bookkeeper Patsy Fuller , Arlene Deel person-
ally contacted seven of the eight strikers one by
one and offered them the opening .2 ° According to
Deel, each striker rejected the offer.
Recently, in General Electric Co., 292 NLRB 843
(1989), the Board reviewed the doctrine of condo-
nation . As set forth in General Electric , condona-
tion applies when there is clear and convincing evi-
dence that the employer has agreed to forgive the
misconduct, to "wipe the slate clean ," and to
resume or continue the employment relationship as
though no misconduct had occurred .211
In deciding whether an employer has condoned
certain misconduct, the Board does not look for
any "magic words" suggesting that the employer
has forgiven the employee . Thus, the Board must
examine whether all the circumstances establish
clearly and convincingly that the employer has
agreed to "wipe the slate clean" in regard to any
employee misconduct . Certainly , condonation is
not to be lightly inferred.22
We find on the facts here that a finding of con-
donation by the Respondent is fully warranted.
Arlene Deel was the Respondent 's vice president,
and she managed the Company . She did the hiring
and firing . She was also the Respondent 's primary
witness regarding striker misconduct, and she testi-
fied that she personally witnessed substantial striker
misconduct . However, in late April 1985 when she
had an opening for a roof bolter, she personally
contacted seven strikers and offered them reem-
ployment . Her offers were neither tentative nor
20 According to Arlene Deel , the eighth striker-Tony Deel-was not
offered the job because he did not have the requisite skills Arlene Deel
testified that if Tony Deel possessed the requisite skills he would have
been offered the open position
21 In examining condonation in General Electric, the Board sought
guidance from cases including Kohler Ca, 128 NLRB 1062, 1105 ( 1960),
enfd. in part and remanded sub nom Auto Workers Local 833 v. NLRB,
300 F 2d 699 (D.C Cir. 1962), cert denied 382 U.S. 836 (1965); NLRB v.
Colonial Press, 509 F.2d 850 (8th Cir 1975 ), cert denied 423 U.S. 833
(1975); NLRB v. Community Motor Bus Ca, 439 F.2d 965 (4th Cir. 1971),
Bakery Workers Local 805 v. NLRB, 312 F.2d 108 (2d Cir 1963); and
Plasti-Line, Inc. Y. NLRB, 278 F.2d 482 (6th Cir. 1960).
22 In denying enforcement of the Board's Order in NLRB Y. Colonial
Press, supra, the court found that an employer had not condoned certain
misconduct In so finding , the court viewed the employer's statements re-
garding reemployment of the strikers as so general in nature as to
"amount only to preliminary invitations to renegotiate employment."
Thus, the court, applying the test we use here , disagreed with the Board
on the facts of that case.
Similarly, in NLRB Y. Community Motor Bus Ca, supra, the court
found that statements by an employer's superintendent to the effect that
the strikers were wanted back were not sufficient to constitute condona-
tion. Again , however, the court applied the test we now apply in this
case.
WHITE OAK COAL CO. 571
preliminary23-she flat out asked the strikers to
come back to work.24 Thus, the person who man-
aged the Company and personally witnessed mis-
conduct offered the strikers immediate reemploy-
ment. This fact establishes clearly and convincingly
that the Respondent intended to overlook the strik-
ers' misconduct , wipe the slate clean , and permit
the continuation or the resumption of the employ-
ment relationship.
The courts, in Colonial Press and Community
Motor Bus , deemed it significant in a condonation
case whether or not the employment relationship
had been severed prior to the condonation. Ac-
cording to the court in Colonial Press:
[I]f the employment relationship was, in fact,
terminated before the alleged condonation,
something additional must be done by the
former employee , in response to the compa-
ny's reemployment offer, in order to reestab-
lish the employer-employee relationship. If,
however, the employer-employee relationship
has not been terminated and the employee
seeks to return to work, as is the conventional
fact pattern in labor condonation cases, then
the employer's offer for the worker to return
to work may be determinative.
Here, at the time of the Respondent 's condona-
tion of the misconduct , the employment relation-
ship had not been terminated . The Board has held
essentially that a discharge is effected when notice
of the discharge is effectively communicated to the
employee or the employee 's agent . See, e .g., Wood-
lawn Hospital , 274 NLRB 796 ( 1985). Here, the Re-
spondent , prior to its condonation , had not in-
formed the employees or the Union that the em-
ployees were considered discharged . 25 When the
Union made an unconditional offer to return on
behalf of the strikers, the Respondent failed to re-
spond. Thus, the strikers remained employees at
the time of the condonation of the strike miscon-
duct. It was not until the Respondent and the
Union met on June 12, 1985, for their fourth and
final negotiating session that the Respondent con-
veyed that it considered the strikers no longer to
be its employees.26 Therefore, as the employer-em-
22 For example , in the case of striking employee Dale Vlars, Deel
drove to Viars ' home to ask him personally to return to work
24 There is no evidence nor allegation of striker misconduct occurring
subsequent to Arlene Deel's offers of reemployment to strikers.
25 Cf Christopher Construction Co., 288 NLRB 1272 (1988). In Chnsto-
pher, the Board found that an employer discharged striking employees
when it stated to them that they had to return at a set time or the em-
ployer would consider them to have quit . The strikers were also told that
if they later wanted to return to work , they would have to reapply. See
also Champ Corp., 291 NLRB 803, 804-805 (1988).
26 At the June 12 meeting, the Union continued to seek the return of
the strikers and inquired about the Respondent 's failure to respond to its
ployee relationship had not been terminated at the
time of the condonation '27 the striking employees,
under the court holdings in Colonial Press and
Community Motor Bus, were not required to take
any action to restore the employment relation-
ship.28
Based on the foregoing, we find that the Re-
spondent violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act
by refusing to reinstate the unfair labor practice
strikers on their unconditional offer to return to
work.
Finally, as urged by the General Counsel, we
shall include among the unfair labor practice strik-
ers unlawfully denied reinstatement both Tony
Deel and Douglas O'Quinn.
In regard to Tony Deel, we find, based on the
testimony of Arlene Deel, that any misconduct he
committed was condoned. Though Deel did not
offer Tony Deel reinstatement, she testified that
had he been qualified for the job opening she
would have offered it to him. Thereby, Arlene
Deel admitted that she condoned Tony Deel's ac-
tions and thus the failure to reinstate him violated
Section 8(a)(3) of the Act.
Douglas O'Quinn was hired by the Respondent a
few days before the strike began.29 However, he
never commenced working for the Respondent.
Rather, to "avoid trouble," O'Quinn honored the
picket line though he did not picket. By his actions,
O'Quinn made common cause with the strikers,
and he is entitled to the rights of an unfair labor
practice striker. Dave Castellino & Sons, 277 NLRB
453 (1985). See also Western Stress, Inc. , 290
NLRB 678 (1988). As there is no contention that
O'Quinn, who did not picket, engaged in any strike
misconduct , the Respondent 's failure to reinstate
him, on the Union's unconditional offer to
return,30 violated Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of the
Act. 31
offers to return . The Respondent at this meeting stated that it considered
the strikers to be "ex-employees."
27 As previously discussed , the Respondent unlawfully discharged em-
ployee Coleman on December 3, 1984. However , we also find that Cole-
man, on joining the strike , assumed the status of an unfair labor practice
striker . Further , under the circumstances here , Coleman 's status should
be the same as the other strikers . That is, Coleman was not discharged
during the strike for strike misconduct and thus we shall deem that, as of
the Respondent 's condonation , Coleman's employment had not been ter-
minated . Certainly , Deel, when offering Coleman the roof bolter position,
did not treat him differently from any other striker.
28 As the striking employees here were not discharged prior to the
condonation , we need not rely on the Board 's decision in Colonial Press.
29 The judge failed to make findings in regard to Douglas O'Quinn
90 Contrary to the Respondent , there is no basis for holding that
Douglas O 'Quinn was not included in the Union's offer to return because
it was not shown that O'Quinn had joined the Union. The Union, as the
employees' collective-bargaining agent, represented all striking employees
and its offer to return encompassed any and all strikers.
31 The record reflects that O'Qmnn accepted other employment during
the strike . Thus, the Respondent may raise , at the compliance stage of
Continued
572 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
AMENDED REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged
in certain unfair labor practices , we shall order the
Respondent to cease and desist and to take certain
affirmative action to effectuate the policies of the
Act.
Having found that the Respondent has unlawful-
ly refused to bargain with the Union, we shall
order that it recognize the Union and, on request,
bargain collectively with the Union as the exclu-
sive bargaining representative of the employees in
the appropriate unit.
Having found that the Respondent unlawfully
changed the wages and other terms and conditions
of employment of unit employees, including but
not limited to changes in wage rates , holiday pay,
birthday pay, vacation pay, pension benefits, per-
sonal and sick leave pay, and the grievance proce-
dure, we shall order the Respondent, on request, to
implement the wage increase called for in the par-
ties' most recent contract , to restore , to the extent
requested by the Union, all other benefits and, on
request , process any grievances, including those of
employee Doug Coleman , under the grievance pro-
cedure.
We shall order the Respondent to make the bar-
gaining unit employees whole for any loss in wages
or other benefits they may have suffered, as pre-
scribed in Ogle Protection Service, 183 NLRB 682
(1970), with interest to be computed in the manner
prescribed in New Horizons for the Retarded, 283
NLRB 1173 (1987). Any additional amounts owed
to the pension fund shall be resolved at the compli-
ance stage of this proceeding. Merryweather Optical
Co., 240 NLRB 1213 (1979).
Having found that the Respondent unlawfully
discharged Doug Coleman we shall order the Re-
spondent to offer Coleman reinstatement to his
former position or, if that position no longer exists,
to a substantially equivalent position . The Respond-
ent shall be ordered to make whole Coleman for
any losses resulting from his unlawful discharge
with earnings as prescribed in F. W. Woolworth
Co., 90 NLRB 289 (1950), plus interest as set forth
above.
Having found that the Respondent unlawfully
failed to reinstate striking employees , who were en-
gaged in an unfair labor practice strike, we shall
order the Respondent to offer them full and imme-
diate reinstatement to their former positions or, if
those positions no longer exist , to substantially
equivalent positions without impairing the employ-
this proceeding, a contention that O 'Quinn demonstrated an unequivocal
resolve not to accept reinstatement . See Harowe Servo Controls, 250
NLRB 958, 964 (1980)
ees' seniority or other rights and privileges, dis-
missing , if necessary , any person hired as a replace-
ment on or after December 10, 1984.
In regard to the unfair labor practice strikers, an
issue arises about whether a make-whole remedy is
appropriate. The Respondent made offers of rein-
statement to certain striking employees (i.e., except
Tony Deel and Douglas O'Quinn) and those offers
were refused. However, we find that the Respond-
ent's offers were invalid. An invalid offer of rein-
statement does not toll a striking employee's right
to backpay nor does the employee's rejection of
that offer waive the employee's right to reinstate-
ment . When, as here , the offers contemplate rein-
statement to positions with unlawfully imposed
terms and conditions of employment, the offers are
invalid. PRC Recording Co., 280 NLRB 615 fn. 2
(1986), enfd. sub nom. Richmond Recording Corp. v.
NLRB, 836 F.2d 289 (7th Cir. 1987); Brooks, Inc.,
228 NLRB 1365, 1368 fn. 18 (1977); see also blood-
line Motor Freight, 278 NLRB 1141, 1143 fn. 5
(1986), enfd. in relevant part 843 F.2d 285 (8th Cir.
1988). Accordingly, we shall order the Respondent
to make all the unfair labor practice strikers whole
for any loss of earning suffered by them by reason
of the Respondent's failure to reinstate them on the
Respondent's condonation of the strikers ' miscon-
duct32 with earnings computed as prescribed in
F. W. Woolworth Co., 90 NLRB 289 (1950), with
interest computed as set forth above.
Finally, in light of the serious nature of the Re-
spondent's unfair labor practices , we shall impose a
broad remedial order. Hickmott Foods, 242 NLRB
1357 (1979).
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board orders that
the Respondent , White Oak Coal Company, Hays,
Virginia, its officers, agents, successors , and as-
signs, shall
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Threatening employees with discharge for an-
nouncing their intention to file a grievance.
(b) Refusing to bargain with United Mine Work-
ers of America, District No. 28 as the exclusive
representative of the employees in the appropriate
bargaining unit by declaring impasse when none
existed and thereafter refusing to meet and bargain
with the Union.
(c) Unilaterally changing the employees' terms
and conditions of employment by failing to pay a
contractual wage increase and by discontinuing, on
32 Member Higgins would begin the backpay period on the date of the
unconditional offer to return to work by the strikers inasmuch as the Re-
spondent never notified any strikers that their employment was terminat-
ed or even that it was in jeopardy because of misconduct
WHITE OAK COAL CO. 573
expiration of the parties' contract, holiday pay,
birthday pay, vacation pay, pension fund payments,
personal and sick leave pay, and the grievance pro-
cedure.
(d) Discharging employees because they engage
in union and/or protected concerted activities.
(e) Failing to reinstate unfair labor practice strik-
ers on their unconditional offer to return to work.
(f) In any other manner interfering with, restrain-
ing, or coercing employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action neces-
sary to effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) On request, bargain collectively with the
Union as the exclusive collective-bargaining repre-
sentative of the Respondent's employees in the ap-
propriate unit, as defined in article IA, sections (a)
and (b), and appendix B, of the parties' most recent
collective-bargaining agreement , in regard to rates
of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other
terms and conditions of employment and, if an
agreement is reached , embody that agreement in a
written , signed instrument.
(b) Restore, to the extent requested by the
Union, the wages, hours, and other terms and con-
ditions of employment required by the parties' con-
tract that expired September 20, 1984, and notify
the Union that the Respondent will, on request,
process any grievances arising under the grievance
procedure.
(c) Offer Doug Coleman immediate and full rein-
statement to his former position or, if that position
no longer exists, to a substantially equivalent posi-
tion, without prejudice to his seniority or other
rights and privileges previously enjoyed, discharg-
ing if necessary other employees who may have
been hired in his place.
(d) Offer the unfair labor practices strikers set
forth below immediate and full reinstatement to
their former positions or, if those positions no
longer exist , to substantially equivalent positions
without prejudice to their seniority or other rights
and privileges previously enjoyed, discharging if
necessary employees who may have been hired to
replace them . The unfair labor practice strikers are
Larry Dean Deel, Leslie Charles, Danny Deel,
Tony Deel, Doug Coleman, Richard Kiser, Carl
Sykes, Dale Viars, and Douglas O'Quinn.
(e) Make whole Doug Coleman for any loss of
earnings he may have suffered by reason of the Re-
spondent 's unlawful discharge of him in the manner
set forth in the amended remedy section of this de-
cision and make whole all unfair labor practice
strikers , named above, for any loss of earnings suf-
fered by them by reason of the Respondent's un-
lawful failure to reinstate them in accordance with
the amended remedy section of this decision.
(f) Remove from personnel files any reference to
the discharge of Doug Coleman and notify him in
writing that this has been done and that evidence
of this unlawful discharge will not be used as a
basis for future personnel actions against him.
(g) Preserve and, on request, make available to
the Board or its agents for examination and copy-
ing, all payroll records, social security payment
records, timecards, personnel reports, and all other
records necessary to analyze the amount of back-
pay due under the terms of this Order.
(h) Post at its place of business in Hays, Virginia,
copies of the attached notice marked "Appen-
dix."33 Copies of the notice , on forms provided by
the Regional Director for Region 5, after being
signed by the Respondent's authorized representa-
tive, shall be posted by the Respondent immediate-
ly upon receipt and maintained for 60 consecutive
days in conspicuous places including all places
where notices to employees 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.
(i) Notify the Regional Director in writing
within 20 days from the date of this Order what
steps the Respondent has taken to comply.
98 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 Na-
tional Labor Relations Board" shall read "Posted Pursuant To a Judge-
ment Of The United States Court Of Appeals Enforcing An Order of
The National Labor Relations Board "
APPENDIX
NOTICE To EMPLOYEES
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.
Section 7 of the Act gives employees these rights.
To organize
To form, join , or assist any union
To bargain collectively through representa-
tives of their own choice
To act together for other mutual aid or pro-
tection
To choose not to engage in any of these
protected concerted activities.
574 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
WE WILL NOT threaten employees with dis-
charge for announcing an intention to file a griev-
ance.
WE WILL NOT refuse to bargain with United
Mine Workers of America, District No. 28, as the
exclusive representative of the employees in the ap-
propriate bargaining unit by declaring impasse
when none exists and thereafter refusing to meet
and bargain with the Union.
WE WILL NOT unilaterally change our employ-
ees' terms and conditions of employment by failing
to pay a contractual wage increase and by discon-
tinuing , on expiration of the contract, holiday pay,
birthday pay, vacation pay, pension fund payments,
personal and sick leave pay, and the grievance pro-
cedure.
WE WILL NOT discharge employees because they
engage in union and/or protected concerted activi-
ties.
WE WILL NOT fail to reinstate unfair labor prac-
tice strikers on their unconditional offer to return
to work.
WE WILL NOT in any other manner interfere
with, restrain , or coerce you in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed you by Section 7 of the Act.
WE WILL, on request, bargain collectively with
the Union as the exclusive collective-bargaining
representative of our employees in the appropriate
unit, as defined in article IA, sections (a) and (b),
and appendix B, of our most recent collective-bar-
gaining agreement in regard to rates of pay, wages,
hours of employment, and other terms and condi-
tions of employment and, if an agreement is
reached , embody that agreement in a written,
signed instrument.
WE WILL, to the extent requested by the Union,
restore the wages, hours, and other terms and con-
ditions of employment required by the parties' con-
tract that expired September 20, 1984, and notify
the Union that WE WILL, on request , process any
grievances arising under the grievance procedure.
WE WILL offer Doug Coleman immediate and
full reinstatement to his former position or, if that
position no longer exists , to a substantially equiva-
lent position , without prejudice to his seniority or
other rights and privileges previously enjoyed, dis-
charging if necessary other employees who may
have been hired in his place.
WE WILL offer the unfair labor practice strikers
set forth below immediate and full reinstatement to
their former positions or, if those positions no
longer exist , to substantially equivalent positions
without prejudice to their seniority or other rights
and privileges previously enjoyed, discharging if
necessary employees who may have been hired to
replace them . The unfair labor practice strikers are
Larry Dean Deel, Leslie Charles, Danny Deel,
Tony Deel, Doug Coleman , Richard Kiser, Carl
Sykes, Dale Viars , and Douglas O'Quinn.
WE WILL make whole Doug Coleman for any
loss of earnings he may have suffered by reason of
the Respondent 's unlawful discharge of him and
make whole all unfair labor practice strikers,
named above , for any loss of earnings suffered by
them by reason of the Respondent 's unlawful fail-
ure to reinstate them.
WE WILL remove from personnel files any refer-
ence to the discharge of Doug Coleman and notify
him in writing that this has been done and that evi-
dence of this unlawful discharge will not be used as
a basis for future personnel actions against him.
WHITE OAK COAL COMPANY
Charles L. Posner, Esq., for the General Counsel.
Timothy McAfee, Esq., of Norton, Virginia , and Steven M.
Hodges, Esq., of Abington , Virginia , for the Respond-
ent.
James J. Vergara Jr., Esq ., of Hopewell , Virginia, for the
Charging Party.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
THOMAS A. Ricci, Administrative Law Judge. A hear-
ing in this proceeding was held on 9 and 10 October
1985, at Bristol , Tennessee , and on 18, 19, 20, and 21 No-
vember 1985, at Lebanon, Virginia, on complaint of the
General Counsel against White Oak Coal Company (the
Respondent or the Company ). The complaint issued on
27 September 1985, on various charges filed from 27 No-
vember 1984 to 21 May 1985, by United Mine Workers
of America, District No. 28 (the Charging Party or the
Union). The essential issues presented are whether the
Respondent discharged an employee in violation of Sec-
tion 8(a)(3) of the Act, whether the Union struck in pro-
test against unfair labor practices committed by the Re-
spondent, and whether the Respondent illegally refused
to take back strikers who made a proper offer of return
to work. Briefs were filed by all parties after the close of
the hearing.
On the entire record and from my observation of the
witnesses I make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
White Oak Coal Company is a Virginia corporation
engaged in the operation of a coal mine ; its office and
place of business is in Hays, Virginia . During the 12-
month period preceding issuance of the complaint, a rep-
resentative period, in the course of its business it sold
and shipped materials valued in excess of $50,000 to
Clinchfield Coal Company , an enterprise within the State
of Virginia. Clinchfield Coal is engaged in the mining,
transportation , and selling of coal; during the 12 months
WHITE OAK COAL CO.
preceding issuance of the complaint it sold and shipped
from its Virginia place of business products and materials
valued in excess of $50,000 directly to points outside the
State of Virginia . I find that the Respondent in this case
is an employer within the meaning of the Act.
II. THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
I find that United Mine Workers of America is a labor
organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the
Act.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
From 1981 to 30 September 1984, the Respondent and
the Union were parties to a multiemployer collective-
bargaining agreement (the National Bituminous Coal
Wage Agreement). Before its expiration , the Respondent
and the Union started to negotiate a renewal of the
agreement between them . There were several meetings
of the parties between 1 October and 10 December. The
Respondent discontinued a number of money benefits
which the expired contract called for. On 3 December it
discharged an employee , Douglas Coleman. On 10 De-
cember 1984, the Union called a strike . The strike was
still in progress at the time of the hearing towards the
end of 1985. On 4 April 1985 the Union wrote a letter to
the Company offering to return all the strikers to work
unconditionally. The Respondent ignored the offer. This
is how matters stood at the time of the hearing.
Did the Respondent commit unfair labor practices
before the strike? In its answer it denies any allegations
of statutory violations. That the Company did in fact dis-
continue economic benefits clearly called for in the con-
tract, while the men were still working, both before and
after its expiration , was virtually admitted by the princi-
pal witness for the Respondent, as will appear below. As
to the discharge of Coleman , just before the strike, the
Respondent defends on the ground that it had proper
reason to dismiss him.
Was the strike called for economic reasons because the
Company had not agreed to the Union 's contract renew-
al proposals, or was it an unfair labor practice strike pro-
voked by the Company's earlier violations of the statute?
On this question there is evidence both ways.
Were the strikers entitled to reinstatement when the
offer to return was made the following April? If they
were unfair labor practice strikers, the Company was ob-
ligated to put them back to work regardless of whether
they had been replaced . Here the defense is that the men
had so misconducted themselves during the strike that
under Board law the Company was not obligated to take
them back in any event.
A. Unfair Labor Practices Before the Strike
Three employees testified that before the contract ex-
pired , in about June 1984, they were denied a raise called
for at that time by the terms of the agreement , although
they asked for it. Patsy Fuller, the Respondent's book-
keeper, corroborated this testimony . It is not contradict-
ed by any other witness. As a unilateral change in the
most direct condition of employment , it was a perfect
unfair labor practice by the Respondent. I find that by
575
failing to pay those raises, as called by the contract still
in effect, the Respondent violated Section 8(a)(5) of the
Act, as alleged in the complaint.
Arlene Deel testified she is the vice president of the
Respondent and runs the entire business herself-signing
checks, hiring and firing employees , and making the
major decisions . She candidly admitted that after expira-
tion of the contract, but before the strike started, she did
discontinue paying for holidays, birthdays, vacations, etc.
She also admitted that on 7 November 1984, she asked
the Clinchfield Coal Company to stop making payments
to the Union 's pension fund on behalf of the Respond-
ent's employees . The Respondent mines coal for the
Clinchfield Company, operating mines owned by the
latter company. When Clinchfield paid White Oak for
such work performed, it always deducted from the check
what payments White Oak was contractually obligated
to pay to the Union on behalf of its employees . The pen-
sion payments were in fact discontinued at that time.
Deel's explanation for her action was that she did
what she did because "the contract was pending," she
was not "certain" what contract provisions applied. This
was her way of saying that because the parties were ne-
gotiating towards a new contract , and it was not certain
what the future contract agreement would be, she was
free to ignore the conditions of employment then in ex-
istence . It was not a good defense to the unilateral
changes being made in the established conditions of em-
ployment . When a contract expires, the employees who
continue to work as before are entitled to all the eco-
nomic benefits they have been enjoying until such time
as the parties agree to change them .' The Respondent's
admitted discontinuance of such things as holiday pay,
pension benefits , vacation time, are therefore clear viola-
tions of Section 8(a)(5) of the Act, and I so find.
Coleman was one of the men who was not paid the
holiday benefit. At that time Clement O'Quinn, who died
shortly thereafter, was the union steward on the job. The
record shows he tried to file a grievance on Coleman's
behalf as the contract provided , but that management re-
fused to accept it. Arlene Deel's prehearing affidavit re-
lates the incident. She wrote "O'Quinn ... came to talk
to me about Coleman 's birthday . He had some envelope
in his pocket . I told him I didn't even want to see it and
repeated what I'd said earlier about birthdays and the ex-
pired contract ." Later Coleman was discharged on 3 De-
cember . He told Kenneth Holbrook about it; Holbrook is
a union field representative and had Coleman file a panel
form concerning the discharge which he gave to man-
agement . A few days later Holbrook talked to Jack
Head, an agent of the Respondent and its main spokes-
man at the bargaining sessions , and "asked him to set up
a meeting with the Company so we could sit down and
talk about this." Head answered he would have to check
with the Company and, a day or so later, Holbrook
again asked Head what did he intend to do about the
Coleman problem . Head's response , according to Hol-
brook's testimony, was "he told me that they were in the
' Meharry Medical College, 236 NLRB 1396 (1978 ), NLRB v. Katz, 369
U S. 736 (1962)
576 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
process of negotiations , there was no grievance proce-
dure ." Other than admitting the Respondent had re-
ceived Coleman 's "panel form," Head did not contradict
any of Holbrook' s testimony.
I find that by refusing to accept and process the two
Coleman grievances the Respondent violated Section
8(a)(5) of the Act.
B. The Discharge of Douglas Coleman
The discharge of this man presents an interesting ques-
tion . He was absent from work on Friday, 30 November.
Arlene Deel said she fired him for being absent 2 days,
30 November and 1 December , but for the moment let
us ignore 1 December . For a short time Coleman had
been a union committeeman , but not noticeably active.
He admitted that because of the absence of forms in his
hands he really did nothing openly in that capacity. In
fact, Deel testified she did not even know about his com-
mitteeman status . I have no reason not to believe her.
There was at the time also a second committeeman
among the only 10 or 12 employees altogether . The main
thrust of the argument that he was not fired for being
absent that one day is that the Company had at times ex-
cused a single day's absence from work by other employ-
ees. And it is true others had just not shown up for work
at times for a single day and not been disciplined for it.
The contract then in effect even provided that a 1-day
"unexcused" absence would not be reason for discharge.
But there is a significant difference between Coleman's
failure to appear for work as scheduled on 30 November
and the absence of all the other men mentioned in the
record. On Wednesday or Thursday of that week, one of
the employees on the job died as a result of an accident.
On Thursday evening, when the men were gathered off
the Respondent's premises and talked about that , they all
decided to take the next day off in memory of the de-
ceased . When Deel learned of that planned mass absence
that same evening, she telephoned every one of the men
at home and told them work was very important the
next day and insisted they come to work. Dale Viars,
one of the men, told her he had to go to the dentist and
she let him do that . He did, and when he returned to
work he brought the dentist's certificate with him to jus-
tify his absence . All the others obeyed the employer's
telephone order to come to work that day, all , that is,
except Coleman . His own testimony of his conversation
with Deel on the telephone tells the whole story and is
enough to dispose of his case. Deel called him Thursday
night : "Q. What did she say when she called? A. She
said there would be work on Friday and if anyone
wasn 't there, she 'd replace them . Anyone that wasn't
there would be replaced . Q. What did you tell her? A. I
told her I wouldn 't be there." Again , from Coleman's
testimony : "Q. Had she not told you Thursday night
when she called you that you were going to be fired if
you were not there Friday? A. Yes." Deel added to this
by testifying that during the conversation Coleman told
her he was not going to work because he was going to
go hunting . In fact he did that, both Friday and Satur-
day. I certainly believed Deel's version of the conversa-
tion.
Is an "unexcused" and unannounced absence the same
as a deliberate , face-to-face flouting of the Employer's
direct order to report to work on a regularly scheduled
day? I think not.2 Nor does the fact that the contract
terms, still in effect, although the contract had expired,
provided that a man could be fired for a 2-day absence,
dictate otherwise . The contract also provides for "unex-
cused" absences, and certainly can be read as meaning
that for one such absence a man cannot be discharged.
But I do not read that provision as permitting an em-
ployee to ignore a direct instruction, given in advance of
the absence, to work when necessary . I read it as excus-
ing unexpected , unannounced , and surprise absences of
less than 2 days . It is the employer , correctly called the
supervisor in the statute , who has the power to decide
when work shall be performed . So long as he acts within
the ambit of the agreed -upon conditions of employ-
ment-this is what a collective -bargaining agreement is
all about-he cannot be disregarded , or overridden, by a
single employee. And that all the employees well under-
stood this basic principle is further shown by the fact
that all the others-when Deel telephoned them that
night-quickly gave up their decision to just take a day
off and came to work as ordered. If Coleman believed he
had a right to ignore a proper order to work so he could
go hunting , he was just plain wrong . And the fact he
had been a very minor union committeeman , even admit-
ting he did nothing noticeable in that capacity, does not
help his position now. Union activity, even were it
known to the employer, is not license to ignore a work
order in the place of employment.
The clearest reality shown on this direct testimony-
both that of Coleman and Mrs . Deel-is that she had ab-
solutely decided , while talking to him that Thursday
night, that if he did not show up the next morning he
would never work for this Company again . Not only be-
cause she told him so in so many words, but because that
is the only rational way of reading what the two said to
one another. And when he showed up Monday morning
that is exactly what she told him. In Coleman 's words:
"She told me she was laying me off and replacing me for
my actions on Friday."
In her prehearing affidavit, dated 2 months after the
discharge, and at the hearing, Deel said she fired the
man for being absent 2 days , not only one-Friday and
Saturday . She explained that because of the confusion on
Friday, with two men absent and the principal cutting
machine operator having died , work did not go well, and
that she therefore decided to have the men work Satur-
day also. She had done this before . When work is sched-
uled for a Saturday a notice is posted a day or two earli-
er, listing the names of the men required to come in. She
testified such a notice was posted that Saturday, and she
brought it to the hearing to prove the fact . There is con-
flicting testimony about its posting, four employees
saying they did not see a notice that day and Jerry Deel
corroborating his wife . With the notice itself, dated 28
November , in evidence from the Company 's records, and
2 N.Y. Chinatown Senior Citizens Coalition , 239 NLRB 614, 617 fn. 1
(1978).
WHITE OAK COAL CO.
with the relevant fact that in my considered judgment
the employees who testified were generally much less
credible on this record than the defense witnesses, I do
believe the notice was posted.
While I do believe that during Friday Deel did have
Saturday work in mind for all the employees , it is still a
fact that before the work was finished on Friday she had
changed her mind and decided not to have anyone in on
Saturday at all. She admitted candidly that the men were
told Friday that all Saturday work was off. Since Cole-
man was not there-having gone hunting instead-he
could not have known of the temporarily scheduled Sat-
urday work. To say, therefore, that he was absent from
work Saturday is clearly wrong . And yet, I can under-
stand the Deels coming up with that additional reason
for the discharge 2 months later . By that time the charge
saying Coleman had been discharged improperly had
been filed and she was sitting in her lawyer's office when
giving the affidavit. She knew she had not discharged
others because of a single day's "unexcused" absence,
and she knew, with her lawyer examining the papers-
including the contract in effect at the time of the dis-
charge-that the written agreement permitted discharge
for 2 days' absence. After all, that happened between the
beginning of December 1984 and the time she gave her
affidavit on 25 February 1985, about 3 months later-vi-
olence on the picket line, local court litigation for an in-
junction to stop it, and picketing still going on-it was to
be expected she would add additional reasons why she
had to get rid of that man permanently . I am convinced
the idea of defending on the ground of a 2-day instead of
a 1-day absence was an afterthought . Whatever else this
record may show , it is a fact Coleman was a skilled cut-
ting machine operator ; O'Quinn , the man who had died,
was the more experienced operator of that machine;
Coleman was therefore very much missed that critical
Friday. Had Coleman been at work and been told about
the planned Saturday work , it may well be Deel would
have gone ahead with it, as she had scheduled.
The issue of this discharge must be decided on the
basis of what happened when it happened, not upon
ideas that were first articulated months later. As to that
there is no question . He expressed his complete affront to
the owner's proper instruction, he was told he would be
fired if he persisted , and in fact when discharged it was
for that same stated reason . If Deel was doubtful wheth-
er she had exercised a proper management right that
day, I can understand her concern , given the temper of
the times. And whether or not she told him she thought
him a troublemaker in the past, makes no difference.
Nothing can "excuse" the sort of indifference to manage-
ment rights Coleman took upon himself that day. Quot-
ing from the Board 's decision in Mate Holt Co., 161
NLRB 1606, 1612 (1966):
The mere fact that an employer may decide to ter-
minate an employee because he engages in unwel-
come concerted activities does not, of itself, estab-
lish the unlawfulness of a subsequent discharge. If
an employee provides an employer with a sufficient
cause for his dismissal by engaging in conduct for
which he would have been terminated in any event,
577
and the employer discharges him for that reason,
the circumstances that the employer welcomed the
opportunity to discharge does not make it discrimi-
natory and therefore unlawful.
I find the General Counsel has not proved a violation
of Section 8(a)(3) in the discharge of this man.
C. Was it an Unfair Labor Practice Strike?
The first charge in this case , filed in November 1984,
accuses the Respondent of violating Section 8 (a)(5) of
the Act in a number of unilateral actions, all of which
altered the conditions of employment in total disregard
of the existing, established benefits being enjoyed by the
employees . A number of those alleged violations are
listed in the complaint, and have already been found to
have been proved as correct, supported by the evidence.
That charge also accused the Company of having com-
mitted other similar violations of the Act, which have
not been included in this complaint.
The defense contention that the Union called the strike
for economic reasons and not because of the unfair labor
practices committed by the Company rests upon several
facts appearing in the record . The first is that at the start
of the strike the pickets carried signs saying "No Con-
tract No Work." And it is a fact such placards were car-
ried on the picket line in the beginning . The second is
that the decision to call the strike was made in the office
of the Union 's International president, pursuant to a
newly established system within the Union which pro-
vides for what are called "selective strikes ." The argu-
ment here is that the word "selective" logically means
selecting one out of many like situations . In this instance,
the contention is that because there were other compa-
nies also bargaining for a new contract , the International
chose this one company-also bargaining for renewal-
rather than strike all the Companies simultaneously, and
causing undue hardship on too many union members.
When the officers of District 28, in charge of this par-
ticular company's employees , asked the International
president for permission to strike, they received the fol-
lowing authorization:
Under authority in Article 19, Section 7 of the
International Constitution , I hereby call a selective
strike at the following companies and/or mines
under your jurisdiction effective 12/01 a .m. Decem-
ber 1, 1984. White Oak Coal Company, District 28,
L.U. 7170 is a selective strike target.
Officers of the International Union testified that some
time ago the Union set up a new policy . Whereas in the
past strikes used to be called against many employers at
the same time , it was decided to have selective strikes, to
strike only some companies because being out of work
caused too great a hardship on its striking members. And
to compensate the striking members it was decided that
all union members covered by collective-bargaining
agreements would contribute 2 percent of their earnings
to a common fund within the Union , the money to be
paid as partial benefits to the members who might be on
strike. This, so that the economic pain of striking would
578 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
fall on all members alike . In fact, the National Bitumi-
nous Coal Wage Agreement , by which this Respondent
was bound until 30 September 1984, itself provided for
such contributions from the employees ' pay to be sent by
the Respondent to the International Union's strike fund.
The Union's witnesses also testified , and there was no
contradiction , that the new system was not limited to
strikes that might take place merely to compel any com-
pany to sign a new agreement . Nowhere does such a lim-
itation on the concept of a "selective " strike appear in
writing . With all members of the Union, no matter what
company employed them , being obligated to support any
strike out of their own pay-even if their own employer
was not in dispute with the Union , it was logical to limit
the authority of any particular district , or local , to decide
by itself whether or not to strike.
As to the signs carried by the pickets the testimony of
the many witnesses is again very confused . Clearly, be-
cause photos were placed in evidence , in the beginning
there were placards indicating the purpose of the strike
was to compel the Company to come to terms with the
Union's contract demands.
A photo received in evidence shows four pickets, each
carrying a sign . One reads : "White Oak On Contract
Strike-No Contract-No Work." The other three signs
complain generally of the Company , but not one of them
even hints at the idea of any unfair labor practice having
been committed . In a total striking complement of less
than 10 employees there can be no doubt this was all the
pickets were carrying that day. With time-1 week? 2
weeks? It is impossible to tell on this very confusing tes-
timony by the many witnesses-additional signs were
carried . Admittedly the new ones charged the Company
was unfairness to Coleman , with having refused to pay
established benefits in employment, etc.
Taken altogether the signs carried by the pickets
cannot serve to prove a single purpose in the picketing-
economic objective. They cut in two directions-demand
for a contract and objection to the unfair labor practices
already committed by the Respondent-at least in the
opinion of the Union.
Given the fact that both kinds of picket signs were
used , some clearly indicating an intent to force the Com-
pany to come to terms and others indicating just as clear-
ly resentment against unfair labor practices committed
before the start of the strike , I think on this entire record
it can only be said the strike had a dual objective-to get
a new contract and to force the Company to stop its
unfair labor practices . There is unending testimony, by
officers of the International Union , by officers of the
Local District Council, and by the employees them-
selves, about talking that went on among the union
people before the strike as to what the purpose was. It is,
of course , all self-serving . There was a meeting of the
employees of the union hall on the evening of 9 Decem-
ber, the day before the strike was called . One witness
after another who was present kept repeating that it was
decided to strike because the Company had discontinued
holiday pay, not paid for other benefits, had illegally
fired Coleman , etc. It was to be expected , long after the
events, and now that the issue as to the nature of the
strike had become important, that all these witnesses
would keep repeating that story. But there is also testi-
mony by some of the employees present at that meeting
strongly indicating that the only purpose articulated by
the officer running the meeting was to force a contract
on the Company
There are other pertinent facts which also point to a
finding that the object of the strike was twofold. The
parties met three times before, and only once after the
strike . There is no evidence that after the strike started
the Company refused to meet and negotiate as requested
by the Union. This fact alone lends support to the idea
that the Union's technique towards achieving some kind
of a contract renewal was via the strike route. But an
equally important reality , in my considered judgment, is
that the week before the strike the Union had filed an
unfair labor practice charge against the Company listing
verbatim the very reasons articulated by the many wit-
nesses as the real reason for the strike . The Union would
hardly be indifferent to its own formal charge of wrong-
doing against the Company. It is enough that one pur-
pose of the strike was protest against the Employer's ad-
mitted unfair labor practice for a finding, which I make,
that when the strike started it was in fact an unfair labor
practice strike.
D. Section 8(a)(1) Violations Alleged
When the men held their union meeting on the
evening of 9 December and decided to strike , Arlene
Dee] learned about it. The next day she talked to a
number of the employees. There is conflicting testimony
as to just what phrases she used in asking was it true
they were not going to work. According to employee
Sykes, Deel told them , "we all knowed that we had the
right to strike ; she had the right to work and if we come
out the next day, we could have our job back or we
would all be fired . Q. Do you recall her saying anything
else? A. I believe she said `fired and replaced.' Q.
Pardon? A. `fired and replaced ."' On his cross-examina-
tion came the following : "Q. You said that when Arlene
talked to you the first day of the strike on the picket
line, she had the right to work and if you all didn't
work , you would be replaced? A. Yes, sir." Again, on re-
direct: "Q. Besides saying that you guys would be re-
placed if you guys did not return to work, did Arlene
Deel say anything else? A. I can't remember . She stayed
there for a while but I don 't remember what all was
said."
Tony Deel, another striker, testified that when Deel
asked him to "what was going on," and he answered it
was going to be a strike and he would honor the picket
line, she told him "anyone who didn 't show up for work
the next day would be fired ." Still another employee,
Richard Kiser , testified about being asked by Mrs. Deel
that first day of the strike whether or not he was going
to come to work. His story conforms with that of Sykes:
"She told us if we wanted to return to work the follow-
ing day that we could still have our job and if we didn't,
were to be fired and replaced."
Mrs. Deel denied having voiced any threat to dis-
charge anyone of the strikers. Surprised at the sudden
strike decision , she must have spoken of "replacement,"
WHITE OAK COAL CO. 579
as both Sykes and Kiser admitted . She had no reason to
speak of both discharge and replacement . Jack Head, the
official of a coal operator association of which this Re-
spondent is a member , was also present at the mine when
Arlene Deel was asking the employees about the possible
strike action . He quoted her as telling them all "we real-
ize that you all have the right to strike but you have got
to realize that I have to work and I have the right to get
other people to go to work . If you are at the mine in the
morning ready to go to work , we will forget about it
and you can go to work but if you are not, I will have to
replace you."
I do not credit the three employee witnesses on this
point, and I credit Arlene Deel instead . I therefore make
no finding of illegal threat by her then to these employ-
ees.
E. Refusal to Reinstate
Violence on the Picket Line
We come to the truly substantive issue of the case. On
4 April 1985 the Union wrote a letter to the Company
offering to abandon the strike and return all the strikers
to work. The Respondent refused to take any of them
back then . An implied defense, consistent with the basic
assertion that it was always an economic strike, is, of
course, that the strikers had all been replaced. And it is
true the Company had by that time resumed operations
and did have employees at work . Whether all the jobs
were filled or not is not quite clear on the record. It is
also true that the economic strike defense is not without
some persuasion, for there is much evidence that during
the first week of the strike its object was to force a con-
tract on the Company. The question is a very close one,
and I could very well be wrong in my contrary finding.
Could a strike which has two objectives-to compel
agreement with the Union's economic demands and to
protest the commission of unfair labor practices-and
still be held to have been caused by the unfair labor
practices under the statute? I think so! Cf. NLRB v. Crys-
tal Springs Shirt Corp., 637 F.2d 399 (5th Cir. 1981).
In any event that question is not really important, in
the light of the Respondent's more realistic defense of its
refusal to take back any of the strikers . It offered evi-
dence, and very convincing evidence, that during the
first month or two of the strike there was such violence
and misconduct on the picket line-by the strikers ac-
companied by their union officers-that the Company
was completely justified under Board law in refusal to
reinstate any of them regardless of what kind of strike it
was.
There is a straight question of credibility. The Compa-
ny's witnesses testified, clearly and consistently , that they
saw the strikers each and every one of them throw rocks
at strikebreakers ' cars and company cars passing the
picket line, placed countless very large nails on the
access road to the mine to damage cars of the Company
passing through, and engaged in very large mass picket-
ing of the premises . Against all of this the General Coun-
sel offered simple and direct denial of all wrongdoing by
a number of witnesses , most of them the strikers them-
selves . The denials were so straight-without a single ad-
mission of the smallest act of roughhouse by any of the
defense witnesses , that a partial finding of misconduct is
impossible . It is a matter of completely crediting one
group against the other, and that is it . Compared to
other record transcripts presenting conflicts in witnesses'
testimony, this is a very easy one to decide . I credit the
Respondent 's witnesses against the Union's denials.
The mine property where these 9 or 10 people worked
is in an isolated place in the mountains , sometimes called
"The end of the world." A private road, about 3 miles
long, leads from the mine to a public state road . It was at
the junction of two of these two passageways that the
picketing always took place. Jerry Deel, the president of
the Company, testified that during the first weeks of the
picketing he saw as many as 50 pickets at a time standing
along the narrow private road . He continued that they
threw large nails and rocks at the cars passing by, that
the replacement employees refused to come to work in
their own cars because they were suffering too many flat
tires as a result of the violence and that the Company
agents therefore took to driving them in and out of the
mine location each day in company-owned vehicles. The
Company uses large trucks, each with many wheels, to
transport the coal out of the mine . Deel said the Compa-
ny suffered many, many flat tires because of the great
number of nails filling the roadway , and that the bills for
constant fixing and replacing of tires was very great. In
his testimony this witness identified individually six of
the striking employees named in the complaint as persons
he actually saw throwing rocks and nails at the people
trying to pass by-Tony Deel, Coleman, Danny Deel,
Leslie Charles, Carl Sykes, and Bernard Viars. The nails
thrown by the pickets into the road , sometimes called
"jack-rocks," were strong , heavy steel wires so entangled
that no matter how they rested on the ground at least
one sharp pointed arrow aimed upward . The steel was
purposefully so welded together that any tire that passed
over it was bound to be punctured.
George Fuller, Arlene Deel's brother, not an employ-
ee of the Company , said he took to driving his sister to
work in his own car because of the danger to her from
the violence on the picket line . He said he saw as many
as 30 pickets at a time on the roadway, and nails and
rocks on the road where he had to drive through. This
witness added he sometimes stopped to pick up the nails
to clear the road . Fuller's testimony is that he personally
saw Tony Deel, Leslie Charles, and Richard Kiser, an-
other striker named in the complaint , throw the large
nails into the road. The witness added that the Company
car he drove was actually hit by rocks thrown by the
pickets . On cross-examination the General Counsel asked
Fuller was it not he who had thrown the "jack rocks"
nails into the road? The answer was that the witness had
picked some of them up and put them in his car as he
was driving through . With the Company having had to
pay so much for tire repair and replacement during that
period , as shown by one of the exhibits, how can I not
believe this man? This throwing of "jack rocks" into the
road was also testified to by one of the strike replace-
ments, Ricky Yates, who added they had to change tires
580 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
several times each day . Yates, too , recalled seeing as
many as 30 pickets at a time, as late as January.
Woodrow Bowman and Eddie Matherly were also
strike replacements , and gave testimony supportive of
that of Fuller and Jerry Deel. They both said they saw
the pickets throw rocks at passing cars , placing those
large nails on the road , and causing many flat tires which
they had to keep fixing . Both these witnesses admitted
that when there was a policeman in the vicinity the rock
throwing ceased . But there is other evidence showing
quite clearly that patrolmen , or troopers , were there
very rarely.
Laren Bradford works for a trucking company which
hauls coal away from this mine for the Respondent. He
too testified that his trucks had flat tires a number of
times because of the nails the pickets placed on the pas-
sage road . He said that in a single day they had to
remove as many as 60 nails from their truck tires. Brad-
ford added that when he once told a trooper about it,
the officer replied he was "tired of running in and out."
He admitted not telling the police formally what it was
all about because the place is far in the country and
rarely were there policemen in the area.
Finally, there is the testimony of Arlene Deel, the
over-the-top management, who was driven in and out of
the mine location every day. She spoke of the pickets re-
peatedly placing nails in the roadway , throwing rocks
and sticks at passing cars causing damage, the breaking
of a windshield , the placement of logs, brushes, and
leaves across the road to block passage, etc . She added
the pickets deliberately stood so close to the passing cars
as to make it dangerous for them to proceed . She also
identified the pickets so acting as Tony Deel, Coleman,
Carl Sykes , Richard Kiser, and Dean Deel . Arlene Deel
also said she told the policeman a number of times about
this but that nothing came of it.
To support her testimony the witness then offered sev-
eral exhibits into evidence. Some are photos of damaged
cars belonging to the Company, and they do show some
damage . More important, there are bills paid for by the
Respondent for repair and replacement of tires on its ve-
hicles . Mrs. Deel said they are regularly maintaining
company records, and that they reveal paid -for damage
caused by the nails on the picket line which she de-
scribed . One bill from a recapping company, the amount
of $1797, is dated 12 January 1985. Another, dated 27
December 1984, is from Sears, and seems to be for $403.
There were also placed into evidence copies of insurance
claims sent to the Respondent's insurance company,
dated later in 1985, also seemingly related to the same
losses previously billed to the Company . While docu-
ments of this kind cannot serve to prove the conduct
charged to the pickets by the Company, they tend, how-
ever indirectly , to support the straight and clear testimo-
ny of the witnesses.
Apart from the matter of demeanor or the rational
probabilities based on human experience , there is another
element in this total record which also points in the di-
rection of my credibility finding . When the striker wit-
nesses contradict one another of necessity someone is
lying on the witness stand . Danny Deel testified as clear-
ly as can be that he saw Coleman help dig the grave for
the dead man on the critical Friday, but Coleman, as a
witness himself, defended his position on the ground that
he had a right to go deer hunting which he did that day.
One of the two had to be lying. Kennedy, the union offi-
cial, was the principal speaker at the 9 December 1984
meeting, where the employees were informed that a se-
lective strike had been authorized to start immediately.
One witness after another testified that Kennedy de-
tailed , as reasons for the strike , the Company 's failure to
pay for holidays, to continue giving birthday pay, to
accept grievances pursuant to the contract , etc. But from
the direct testimony of Sykes came the following:
Q. Did you attend a union meeting on December
ninth?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Which union officials talked at that meeting?
A. John Kennedy, Jerry Smith-that 's about the
only ones I can remember.
Q. What did they talk to you about?
A. They just told us that we got a telegram that
we was drawed out on strike.
Q. Did they give any reasons?
A. For firing Doug Coleman and not signing a
contract.
Q. Do you recall them saying anything else to
you about the reason for the strike?
A. No.
Q. How long did the meeting last?
A. I say about an hour or hour and a half.
Were all of the other witnesses lying at the hearing?
How can I tell? But of one thing I am sure; all of them
cannot be believed.
Danny Deel's testimony is also inconsistent with that
of his costrikers. From his testimony:
Q. I believe you indicated a moment ago that one
of the things Mr. Kennedy stated at the December
ninth meeting was that they had reached an impasse
and White Oak would not bargain?
A. Yes, that's one of the reasons.
Q. And, Mr. Kennedy also said that as soon as
they can get an agreement , that you all could go
back to work?
A. Yes.
Viars started by detailing what was written on the
picket signs during the first week of the strike . He said
he saw two signs-received in evidence and shown to
the witnesses he testified-at the start of the strike,
during the "first week." One of those signs reads : "White
Oak Unfair To Doug Coleman" and the other reads:
"White Oak Unfair-Refuses to Bargain ." On 21 Febru-
ary 1985, 9 months before the hearing, the witness gave
an affidavit which reads as follows:
We began the strike on December 10, 1984. I
have carried signs, as have the others on strike. We
have a sign on a stump at the fork in the road to the
mines which says Local 7170 on contract strike
with White Oak Coal Company. That sign stays up
WHITE OAK COAL CO. 581
everyday. The signs we carry say that White Oak
Coal Company refuses to negotiate with the men.
These are the only signs we carry.
With his oral testimony a year later Viars contradicted
his sworn statement given virtually at the time of the
events . I cannot believe a word of the witness' testimony
at the hearing.
There are other inconsistencies in the defense stories,
but it is not necessary to repeat them all here. Some of
the strikers said they never saw more than 10 or 12 pick-
ets on the line at one time; others admitted there were as
many as 30 or 40 at a time. A policeman testified for the
defense . He said he never saw anyone throw rocks onto
the roadway. He may have been telling the truth, for,
reading from his precise records, he detailed exactly the
amount of time he spent at the picketing site : On 28 De-
cember 1984 (this was 2 weeks after the strike started!) 1
hour and 20 minutes starting at 6:30 a .m., and 1 hour and
40 minutes starting at 2 o'clock . He was there again on
31 December at 6:15 a .m. for 1 hour and 10 minutes, on
2 January for 55 minutes at 8:20 a .m., on 3 January for 1
hour and 45 minutes at 8:10 a .m., and for 50 minutes at
2:40 p .m.; and on 10 January only 20 minutes in the
afternoon . The testimony of this policeman does not
affect my conclusionary finding that the defense wit-
nesses were telling the truth . It is to be expected that
when a uniformed police officer is on the scene pickets
will refrain from violence or misconduct of any kind. By
the time the policeman appeared there had already taken
place in the local court an injunction proceeding brought
by the Respondent , and a judge had already issued a re-
straining order.
I find that during December and January the strikers
so misconducted themselves as to lose all rights to rein-
statement thereafter . Every single one of the men named
in the complaint as having been wrongly denied rein-
statement later in April was individually identified as
having personally participated in rock throwing and nail
placements . There was mass picketing , as many as 50
pickets at a time in the narrow private road leading only
to the mine in question . It was a joint activity by the
strikers, their local union officers , and fellow workers
from other nearby mines . All the strikers were therefore
responsible.
About a month after the Union's offer to return the
strikers to work, Arlene Del learned that a man was
about to quit and she therb5fore had need to hire someone
in his place . She decided to try to get one of the strikers
to come back . Her testimony is as follows: She tele-
phoned Charles and asked would he come back because
she needed him. He responded by asking had the con-
tract been signed , and when she said no he said he did
not need the job because she would be paying him for
every day he missed anyway. Next she talked to Cole-
man, who was close to her house , and he gave her the
same answer-that he did not need the work because he
would be paid by her in any event . Next she went to the
home of Viars , about a mile away from her home. His
response was also had she signed the contract and
whether all the men were coming back . When she said
she needed only one man, he refused the offer . Deel then
started out to go to the home of Kiser, who has no tele-
phone. She ran into him on the way, Kiser said no, he
did not want to work for her. She then telephoned
Danny Deel at his father's house, who responded to her
request to come to work by saying that while he needed
the work the Union would not let him go back. Dean
Deel, whom she also called next, gave the same answer.
The last man she spoke to was Carl Sykes; he refused
the offer also. Mrs. Deel's sister, Fuller, the company
bookkeeper, corroborated her sister's testimony. She said
he accompanied her sister when visiting the strikers, and
heard her talk with the others on the telephone.
Recalled in surrebuttal after Mrs. Deel had given her
foregoing testimony, each one of the strikers said he had
not been offered a job in April and denied receiving any
communication from the "boss-lady." For reasons al-
ready stated I do not credit them against Mrs. Deel and
her sister. The question is academic anyway, because
they had already lost all right to reinstatement in conse-
quence of the picket line misconduct.
This last conflict in testimony-were these seven strik-
ers offered a job in April?-became the basis for a con-
tention both in the General Counsel's and the Union's
brief which I can only describe as fantasy. They argue
that because Arlene Deel offered reinstatement to all
seven strikers after their misconduct on the picket line it
follows that in her heart she had condoned their misbe-
havior, and that therefore they are now entitled to rein-
statement under Board law without regard to their earli-
er misbehavior. Are the lawyers now saying that these
seven employees lied on the witness stand when they
denied the rock throwing, the nails in the roadway, the
mass picketing, that there really was misconduct for Mrs.
Deel to condone later? More likely, and of necessity,
they are saying all seven of the men lied when denying
the April offer of reinstatement. Whichever way I look
at it, the assertion that Mrs. Deel condoned the misbe-
havior is as a minimum admission that the employees'
witnesses were not to be believed. While there can be no
coherent response to irrational arguments, this final posi-
tion both of the General Counsel and the Union does
serve to discredit even more their entire claims with re-
spect to what happened on the picket line.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
ON COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section
III, above, occurring in connection with its operations
described in section I, have a close , intimate and substan-
tial relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the
several States and tend to lead to labor disputes burden-
ing and obstructing commerce and the free flow of com-
merce.
THE REMEDY
Before the strike violence and misbehavior which dis-
posed of a major issue of this case, there did occur sever-
al minor unfair labor practices which the Respondent
must be ordered to correct. While the employees were
still at work before the strike the Company denied them
certain raises as provided for in the union contract
582 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
before its expiration , and also denied them, after the ex-
piration of the contract , other direct money benefits in
the established conditions of employment-holiday pay,
vacation pay, birthday pay, and contributions to their
pension fund . The Company must now be ordered to
make every man then at work whole for any such
money benefits denied them up to the day of the strike-
10 December 1984. While the record does not show ex-
actly what holidays fell between 30 September and 10
December, what precise birthday benefits were denied,
what vacations earned , those matters can be ascertained
in the compliance stage of this proceeding by examining
the Respondent 's records in the light of the precise lan-
guage of the expired contract . As to the employees' pen-
sion payment rights-while they were still at work-it is
clear they were discontinued on 7 November, but there
is also indication that some months later the Respondent
ordered the Clinchfield Coal Company to make those
payments . Whatever the case , the usual investigation will
decide those matters with finality.
This record does not support the General Counsel's
contention that the Respondent must be ordered to rec-
ognize the Union now as representative of its old strikers
and bargain affirmatively with it. The complaint alleges
that the refusal to bargain , literally, first took place on 13
December , 3 days after the strike started. The parties
met that day in the hope of coming to terms and getting
the people back to work quickly, but tempers were hot.
A spirit of animosity understandably pervaded the meet-
ing. There are four separate paragraphs in the complaint,
each alleging a separate violation of Section 8(a)(5) of
the Act, but in reality each referring to no more than a
heated expression of resentment voiced by the company
representatives against the Union's adamant position, as
simultaneously shown by what was going on at the
picket line. The meeting broke up with heated words
thrown back and forth from each side.
The Union did not request bargaining again until 3
January . By that time the court injunction against mass
picketing and violence had been issued on 27 December.
On 9 January, after a hearing, the state court judge even
made an oral finding of criminal contempt against the
strikers because of their continued violence . In the light
of these things happening , it is not surprising that the
Company's response to the Union's 3 January letter was
that the parties were at an "impasse," and that talking
would be futile . Is an employer obligated to meet re-
spectfully with a union which at the very moment is car-
rying on in such fashion?
Nevertheless , by letter dated 12 March, the Company
offered to meet with the Union again and to talk things
over. The Union did not answer for 3 weeks, when, on 4
April, it proposed meeting a month later on 30 April. At
the same time , it offered to abandon the strike and return
all the strikers to work. The parties never did meet until
12 June . By this time the Union had filed another charge,
on 21 May, saying the Company had acted illegally in
failing to reinstate the strikers , and, of course, the Com-
pany was of the view that it was not obligated to take
them back because of their strike violence.
When Kennedy, the District 28 official , and Vergara,
the Union's lawyer, appeared at the meeting on 12 June,
they were accompanied by the eight strikers . The two
company representatives said those people could not par-
ticipate in the negotiations , saying they were no longer
employees of the Company. The Union said they were,
and insisted upon their being present during the negotia-
tions . There developed an "impasse," if I may use that
word, over that dispute . The argument continued for
hours-with recesses and meetings resumed . At one point
the union agents said if not as employees the men had a
right to remain as no more than observers . In the end,
after all the "verbal fencing . . . the session eventually
broke up over that issue," in the words of the General
Counsel 's brief.
What the Union was demanding of the Respondent
that day was that it indirectly concede the merits of the
pending charge-to wit, that the refusal to reinstate the
strikers was an unfair labor practice . Absent that conces-
sion , it refused the Respondent 's request for collective
bargaining . It never gave up on its insistence that the
strikers had a right to be present . There would be no jus-
tification in issuing an affirmative bargaining order now.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. By failing to pay wage increases called for in the
collective-bargaining in effect, and by failing to pay holi-
day, birthday, vacation , and pension contribution benefits
on behalf of the employees consistent with established
conditions of employment after expiration of that con-
tract, the Respondent has violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1)
of the Act.
2. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Sec-
tion 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
[Recommended Order omitted from publication.]