## United States Court of App eals

F O R T H E E I G H T H C I R C U I T

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No. 1 0- 29 34

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Nati on al Labo r Rel at io ns Bo ard

, *

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Pet it io ne r, *

*

v. * On Ap pl ic at io n fo r

* Enfo rcem en t o f an Orde r of th e W hi te se ll Co rp or at io n, * Nati on al Labo r Rel at io ns Bo ard

. *

Res po nd en t. *

*

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Su bm it te d: Marc h 1 5, 2 01 1

Fi le d: Apri l 2 2, 2 01 1

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Befo re SM ITH, ARNOLD, an d S HEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

SHEPHERD, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

The Nati on al Lab or R e l a ti on s Bo ard (“ NLRB” or “ th e Bo ard ”) pe ti ti on s fo r

en fo rcem en t of it s or de r f i nd in g th at W hi te se ll Co rp or at io n (“ W hi te se ll ”) vi ol at ed

va rio us pr ov is io ns of th e Nati on al Lab or Rel at io ns Act (“ NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 15 1-

69

, whi le ne go ti at in g a ne w co ll ect iv e-b arg ai ni ng ag re em ent (“ CBA”) wit h th e Glas s,

Mo ld ers , Po tt ery, Pl as ti cs , an d A l l i e d W or ke rs In te rn at io na l Uni on , AFL-CIO
(“ Uni on ”). W hi te se ll op po se s en fo rcem en t on t h e g r o un d th at th e NLRB la ck ed
juri sd ic ti on to en te r a “ ne w” de ci si on fo ll owi ng th is co ur t ’s d e ni al of th e NLRB’s

pr io r ap pl ic at io n fo r en fo rcem en t. In th e al te rn at iv e, W hi te se ll ch al le ng es , for lac kof su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce, th e NLRB’s de te rm in at i o n s t h a t W hi te se ll fai le d to (1 )

ba rg ai n in go od fai th to im pa ss e; (2 ) gi ve th e req ui r e d ti m el y no ti ce to th e Fed eral

Med ia ti on an d Co nc il ia ti on Serv ic e ( “FM CS”) ; an d (3 ) ba rg ai n in go od fai th by

fai li n g t o p r o v id e in fo rm at io n req ue st ed by th e Uni on whi le ne go ti at in g th e ne w

CBA.

I.

In Ja nu ary 20 05

, W hi te se ll pu rch as ed Fan st eel W as hi n g t o n Man uf act ur in g,

In c.

, a wire m an uf

act ur er in W as hi ng to n, Io wa. Pu rs ua nt to th e pu rch as e, W hi te se ll

reco gn iz ed th e Uni on th at ha d rep res en te d th e pl an t’s pr od uc ti on an d m ai nt en an ce

em pl oyees fo r m or e th an 40 y ear s an d ad op te d th e ex is ti ng CBA, whi ch was se t to

ex pi re on Ju ne 12 , 2 00 6. The em pl oyees at W hi te se ll ’s o th er faci li ti es do no t ha ve

un io n re p r es en ta ti on

. The ex pi rin g CBA co nt ai ne d a du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n (wh ereb y th e em

pl oyer wit hh ol ds un io n du es fro m th e em pl oyee’s wag es an d pa y s

th em to th e un io n)

, im

po se d a “ jus t caus e” lim it at io n on em pl oyee di sc ip li ne , ba se d

la y of f an d reca ll on se ni or it y , an d se t va cat io n en ti tl em en ts on y ears of se rv ic e. The

CBA al so in cl ud ed a y earl y wag e in crea se of $0 .25 pe r ho ur , a de fin ed co nt rib ut io n

pe ns io n pl an , m ed ic al co ve rag e, gr ou p li fe in su ran ce, an d a vo lu nt ary su pp le m en ta l

acci de nt fu nd

. In ad di ti on , th e CBA de fin ed th e wor kwe ek as Mo nd ay to Fri da y , wit h

ov ert im e pa y fo r Sat ur da y an d Sun da y , an d li m it ed th e pr ob at io na ry pe rio d for new

em pl oyees t o 6 0 d ay s.

On Mar ch 2, 20 06

, W hi te se ll ’s hu m an res ou rces m an ag er, Cri s Lib era, se nt th e

Uni on a le tt er, de cla ri ng W hit es el l’s “ in te nt to te rm in at e” th e CBA up on it s ex pi rat io n

on Ju ne 1 2

, 2 0 0 6

. A t t a c he d to th is le tt er was a co py of th e F-7 fo rm th at a pa rty

se ek in g to m od ify or te rm in at e a CBA m us t fil e wit h th e FMC S w i t h i n 30 da y s of

no ti fy in g th e ot he r pa rty of th e d i s p u t e

. See 29 U.S.C. § 15 8( d) (3 ). Howev er, th e

FMC S ne ve r co nt act ed th e pa rti es , a fact th at bo th si de s no te d was od d du rin g th e

su bs eq ue nt ne go ti at io ns

. W he n Uni on ne go ti at or Dale Je te r co nt act ed th e FMC S to

- 2

-req ue st a m ed ia to r on Ju ly 10

, al m os t a m on th aft er W hi te se ll de cl ared im pa ss e an d

en de d th e ne go ti at io ns ov er th e ne w CBA, th e FMC S rep li ed th at it ha d no

kn owl ed ge of t h e di sp ut e. Alt ho ug h W hi te se ll cl ai m s it m ai le d th e F-7 fo rm on

Mar ch 2, th e sa m e da y it se nt th e le tt er to th e Uni on , th e FMC S di d no t rece iv e an F-7

fo rm fro m W hi te se ll un ti l Au gu st 11

.

On May 1, 20 06

, W hi te se ll ne go ti at or Ro be rt Ja no wit z pr ov id ed Je te r wit h th e

c o mp a ny’ s in it ia l pr op os al fo r a ne w CBA. Ja no wit z al so in fo rm ed Je te r th a t

W hi te se ll wou ld no t ne go ti a t e b e yo nd th e ex is ti ng CBA’s ex pi rat io n on Ju ne 12

, 20 06

. W hi te se ll ’s s ta te d i n t e n ti on was “ to ne go ti at e a ne w a gr eem en t fro m st art to

fin is h” an d “ to eq ua li z e l a b o r co st s wit h th at of ot he r [n on -u ni on ] lo cat io ns an d

f aci li ti es .” Acco rd in gl y , W hi te se ll pr op os ed a nu m be r of si gn ifi can t c h a n g e s , in cl ud in g: el im in at io n of th e du es -ch eck of f p r o vi si on ; el im in at io n of th e pr ov is io n

pr oh ib it in g t he co m

pa ny from

di sc riminat in g ag ai ns t un io n m em be rs whe n m ak in g

em pl oym en t de ci si on s; rep la cem en t of th e “ jus t cau se ” pr ov is io n wit h a req ui rem en t

th at th e Uni on de m on st rat e th at W hi te se ll act ed arb it rari ly; el im in a t i o n o f Uni on

r e p r es en ta ti on at di sc ip li na ry m eet in gs ot he r th an th os e reg ard in g te rm in at io n o r

su sp e n si on ; im

po si ti on of W hi te se ll ’s un il at eral rig ht to ch an ge an y po li cy or

pr oc ed ur e affe ct in g ov ert im e pa y , ho li da y s , va cat io ns , an d si ck pa y , in acco rd an ce

wit h th e co m

pa ny’ s pr act ic e at it s ot he r faci li ti e s ; e x t en si on of th e pr ob at io na ry

pe rio d fo r n e w e mp l oyees to 90 da y s; an d co ns id erat io n of fact or s in ad di ti on to

se ni or it y for layoffs an d re cal ls

.

Beg in ni ng on May 26

, th e pa rti es he ld ei gh t ba rg ai ni ng se ss io ns

. The fir st an d

la st se ss io ns di d no t in vo lv e su bs ta nt iv e ba rg ai ni ng

. The Uni on pr es en te d it s in it ia l

pr op os al s to W hi te se ll on May 26

, whi ch in cl ud ed a y earl y wage in crea se of $1 pe r

ho ur , two ad di ti on al ho li da y s, an d in crea se s in th e co m pa n y’ s de fin ed pe ns io n

co nt rib ut io ns , si ck ne ss , an d acci de nt be ne fit s. At th e fir st se ss io n, Ja no wit z re ite rat ed

W hi ts el l’s in te nt io n no t to ne g o t i a t e b ey on d th e ex pi rat io n of th e ex is ti ng CBA on

Ju ne 12

. At th e se co nd m eet in g on Ju ne 6, W hi te se ll pr ov id ed Je te r wit h th e sp eci fic s

- 3

-of th e co m

pa ny-wid e po li ci es th at it pr op os ed t o im pl em en t. The se in cl ud ed th e

rep la cem en t of th e Uni on -d efi ne d co nt rib ut io n pe ns io n pl an wit h th e co m pa ny’ s

40 1( k) pl an , a fo ur - or fiv e-fo ld in crea se in th e in su ran ce p rem iu m s fo r em pl oyees 1

wit h le ss th an te n ye a r s o f s e rv ic e, an in crea se in th e nu m be r of y ears of se rv ic e

req ui red fo r cert ai n va cat io n be ne fit s, an d a de crea se in th e nu m be r of pa id ho li da y s

fro m te n to ei gh t da y s. Je te r req ue st ed m or e in fo rm at io n ab ou t th e pr op os ed va cat io n

po li cy , whi ch he e s t i mat ed wou ld cau se ap pr ox im at el y on e-t hi rd of hi s ba rg ai ni ng

un it to lo se va cat io n be ne fit s. W hi te se ll di sa gr eed wit h Je te r’s es ti m at e an d reject ed

th e Uni on ’s pr op os al to gr an df at he r in th e em

pl oyees w ho wou ld lo se accr ue d

va cat io n be ne fit s un de r th e ne w pl an

. W hi te se ll ’s pr op os al al so el im in at ed ov ert im e

pa y for week en d wo rk

.

At th e th ird m eet in g on Ju ne 7, W hi te se ll pr op os ed fo r th e fir st ti m e rep la ci ng

an nu al wag e in crea se s wit h a m eri t-b as ed syste m ba se d on an nu al pe rfo rm an ce

rev ie ws. A t th e fo ur th m eet in g on Ju ne 8, W hi te se ll pr ov id ed Je te r wit h co st

es ti m at es fo r em

pl oyees pa rti ci pa ti ng in it s va rio us be ne fit pr og ram s an d as ke d th e

Uni on to pr op os e a fin al of fer. At th e fif

th m eet in g on Ju ne 9, W hi te se ll of fere d a

m od ifi ed wag e pr op os al

, whe reb y it wou ld in crea se wag es by $0 .25 pe r ho ur fo r th e

fir st y ear of th e CBA an d in crea se th e sh ift di ffer en ti al s fo r th os e wor ki ng se co nd an d

th ird sh ift s. W hi te se ll al so co nc ed ed th at th e Uni on co u l d r ep res en t em pl oyees

du rin g pe rfo rm an ce ev al ua ti on s. Alt ho ug h th e pa rti es ag reed on se ve ral of

W hi te se ll ’s pr op os al s, the Uni on req ue st ed th at th e ex is ti ng CBA be ext en de d un ti l

Ju ly 16 to pr ov id e th e Uni on wit h ti m e to un de rs ta nd so m e of W hi te s e l l ’s mo re

su bs ta nt ia l ch an ge s. In pa rti cu la r, Je te r req ue st ed in fo rm at io n reg ard in g th e im pa ct

of th e co m

pa n y’s pr op os ed va cat io n pl an

. The co m pa ny refu se d to de la y th e

ex pi rat io n da te of th e ex is ti ng CBA. At th e si xt h m eet in g on Ju n e 1 0

, t h e U n i on

Und er th e ex is ti ng pe ns io n, th e co m pa ny co nt rib ut ed $0 .84 pe r reg ul ar ho ur

. 1

Und e r t h e p r op os ed 40 1( k)

, W hi te se ll wou ld pr ov id e a 25 % m at ch on em pl oyee

co nt rib ut io ns up to 8% of an nu al co m pe ns at io n an d th e em

pl oyee wou ld no t be co m e fu ll y en ti tl ed to th e em

pl oyer’s con tri bu ti on s u nt il th e si xt h year of em pl oym en t.

- 4

-lo wered so m e o f i t s wag e de m an ds an d in di cat ed th at it wou ld be wil li ng to acce pt

a m od ifi ed m eri t-p ay syste m

. Howev er, th e Uni on rei te rat ed it s ob jecti on to so m e of

W hi te se ll ’s p r o p o s al s. W it h reg ard to th e co m pa ny’ s pr op os al to rep la ce th e “ jus t

cau se ” st an da rd fo r em

pl oyee di sc ip li ne wit h a pro hi bi ti on on “ arb it rary ac ti on ” by

th e co m pa ny, Je te r to ld W hi te se ll ’s ne got ia tor th at th e Uni on wou ld ne ve r acce pt su ch

a st an da rd an d t ha t t hi s was th e Uni on ’s “ fin al po si ti on .”

The la st su bs ta nt iv e b arg ai ni ng be twee n t he pa rti es to ok pl ace a t th e se ve nt h

m eet i ng on Ju ne 11

. At th is m eet in g, th e pa rti es ag reed on a nu m be r of im po rta nt

is su es

. In ex ch an ge fo r W hi te se ll ’s a c c e pt an ce of th e Uni on ’s du es -ch eck of f

pr op os al

, th e Uni on acce pt ed W hi te se ll ’s pr op os al s on ho li da y , va cat io n, an d fu ne ral

l e a v e

. Whi te se ll al so m ad e a co un te rp ro po sa l on se ni or it y

. On Ju ne 12

, th e

ex pi rat io n da te of th e ex is ti ng CBA, W hi te se ll pr es en te d it s fin al of fer aft er th e Uni on

ag reed to ad op t th e co m

pa ny’ s pr op os ed he al th in su ran ce pl an

. Je te r was di ss at is fie d

wit h th e of

fer an d refu se d to pr es en t it to Uni on m em be rs hi p fo r a vo te

. Late r th at

ev en in g, Je te r req ue st ed fu rth er ne go ti at io ns

. W h i t e s el l refu se d, de cl ari ng th at th e

n e g o t i a t io ns were at an im pa ss e. At th is ti m e, th e pa rti es ha d reac he d te nt a t i v e

ag reem en ts on ap pr ox im at el y 30 is su es

.

W hi te se ll th en im

pl em en te d se le ct ed po rti on s of it s fin al of fer. Howev er,

de sp it e W hi te se ll ’s in cl us io n of th e Uni on ’s du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n in it s fin al of

fer,

W hi te se ll st op pe d co ll ect in g Uni on du es a f t e r J un e 12

. W hi te se ll al so can cel ed a

vo lu nt ary acci de nt pr og ram an d r efu nd ed th e m on ey to em pl oyees who ha d

co nt rib u t e d

, ev en th ou gh can cel li ng th e pr og ram ha d no t be en on e of th e te rm s

pr es en te d in th e co m

pa ny’ s fin al of

fer. In ad di ti on , Whi te se ll pr oh ib it ed Uni on

m em be rs fro m us in g th ei r br eak an d u np ai d ti m e to po st no ti ces ab ou t Uni on

m eet in gs on th e co m

pa ny’ s b ul le ti n b oa rd s.

The Uni on su bs eq ue nt ly fil ed a co m pl ai nt

. Afte r an ad m in is tra ti ve la w jud ge (“ ALJ”) de te rm in ed th at th e co m pa ny ha d co m

m it te d se ve ral vi ol at io ns of th e NLRA,

- 5

-W hi te se ll ap pe al ed th es e fin di ng s to th e NLRB. The NLRB, at th at ti m e co ns is ti ng

of on ly two m em

be r s , a d op te d a nu m

be r of th e ALJ’s fin di ng s. Fi rs t, th e NLRB

fo un d th at W hi te se ll ha d vi ol at ed se ct io n 8( a)(1 ) of th e NLRA, 29 U.S.C. § 15 8( a)(1 ),

b y pr oh ib it in g Uni on m em be rs fro m po st in g no ti ces ab ou t Uni on m eet in gs o n

co m pa ny bu ll et in bo ard s du rin g th ei r br eak an d un pa id ti m e. Seco nd

, th e NLRB

fo un d th at W hi te se ll vi ol at ed se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) of th e NLRA, 29 U.S.C. § 15 8( a)(5 ), by

te rm in at in g th e ex is ti ng CBA an d im pl em en ti ng po rti on s of it s fin al o f f e r wit ho ut

pr ov id in g no ti ce to th e FMC S as req ui red by se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) of th e NLRA, 29 U.S.C.

§ 15 8( d) (3 ). Thi rd

, th e NLRB fo un d th at W hi te se ll vi ol at ed se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) by fai li ng

t o pr ov id e rel ev an t in fo rm at io n req ue st ed by th e Uni on co nc ern in g W hi te se ll ’s

ad m in is tra ti on of th e mer i t

- pa y pr op os al at th e co m pa ny’ s ot he r faci li ti es an d by

f a il in g to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n co nc ern in g th e im pa ct of W hi te se ll ’s va cat io n

pr op os al

. Fo ur th

, th e NLRB de te rm in ed th at W hi te se ll ha d vi ol at ed se ct io ns 8( a)(1 )

2

an d (a)( 5) by u ni la te ral ly i m pl em en ti ng cert ai n p r o v i si on s of it s fin al of fer wit ho ut

fir st ba rg ai ni ng to a va li d i m pa ss e.

Bas ed up on th es e fin di ng s, th e N LR B o rd ered W hi te se ll to ceas e an d de si st

fro m it s t erm in at io n of the pr ev io us CBA and to res to re t he pre vi ou s C BA un ti l t he

pa rti es si gn a ne w ag reem en t or , in go od fai th

, reac h a va li d im pa ss e

. The NLRB

pe ti ti on ed th is Co ur t fo r en fo rcem en t of th e or de r. Afte r br ie fin g an d pr es en ta ti on of

or al arg ume n t b u t be fo re th e fil in g of an op in io n, th e Su pr em e Co ur t he ld in New

Pro ces s St eel

, L.P. v. NLRB, 13 0 S. Ct

. 26 35 (2 01 0) th at two m em be rs of th e NLRB

m ay no t ex erci se de le ga te d au th or it y whe n th e to ta l Bo ard m em be rs hi p fal ls be lo w

t h r e e b e cau se “ th e de le ga ti on cl au se [in se ct io n 3( b) of th e NLRA, 29 U.S.C

. § 1 5 3 ( b ) ] req ui res th at a de le ge e gr ou p m ai nt ai n a m em be rs hi p of th ree in or de r to

ex erci se t h e d e l eg at ed au th or it y of th e Bo ard .” Id

. at 26 44

. In li gh t of th e New

The NLRB al so affi rm ed th e ALJ’s fin di ng th at W hi te se ll ha d vi ol at ed se ct io n 2 8( a)(5 ) by fai li ng to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n req ue st ed by th e Uni on o n A u g u s t 10

co nc ern in g W hi te se ll ’s rel oc at io n of so m e ba rg ai ni ng u ni t em pl oyees to ot he r faci li ti es

.

- 6

-Pro ces s de ci si on , th is Co ur t de ni ed th e NLRB’s ap pl ic at io n fo r en fo rcem en t. NLRB

v. W hi te se ll Co rp ., 38 5 F. App ’x 61 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (u np ub li sh ed pe r cu ria m ). W e

su bs eq ue nt ly d e n i ed th e NLRB’s m ot io n fo r rem an d or cl ari fic at io n, an d we al so

de ni ed W hi te se ll ’s pe ti t i o n f o r a writ of m an da m

us to pr ev en t th e NLRB fro m

reco ns id eri ng it s de ci si on in li gh t of ou r de ni al of en fo rcem en t. W it h a th ree- m em be r

de le ge e gr ou p, th e NLRB ag ai n co ns i d e r e d th e cas e an d ad op te d th e ALJ’s

co nc lu si on s fo r th e reas on s ex pl ai ne d in th e pr io r de ci si on , whi ch it in co rp or at ed by

refe ren ce.

The NLRB no w pe ti ti on s th is co ur t fo r e n f o rcem en t of it s or de r. W hi te se ll

op po se s th e pe ti ti on , arg ui ng : (1 ) th e NLRB la ck s juri sd ic ti on to is su e a ne w de ci si on

an d ord er fo ll owi ng th is Co ur t’s d en ia l o f it s p rev io us ap pl ic at io n fo r en fo rcem en t;
(2 ) su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce do es no t su pp or t th e NLRB’s fin di ng s th at W hi te se ll fai le d

to ba rg ai n in go od fai th ; (3 ) co nt rary to th e NLRB’s fin di ng , W hi te se ll pr ov id ed

pr op er no ti ce to th e FMC S an d th eref or e th e NLRB im

pr op erl y or de red W hi te se ll to

rei m bu rs e th e Uni on ’s du e s ; a nd (4 ) su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce do es no t su pp or t th e

NLRB’s fin di ng th at W hi te se ll im pr op erl y fai le d to pr ov id e fu rth er i nf or m at io n

co nc ern in g i ts va cat io n p ro po sa l. 3

W hi te se ll do es no t op po se th e NLRB’s or de r wit h res pe ct to th e NLR B ’s 3

de te rm in at io n th at : (1 ) W hi te se ll vi ol at ed th e NLRA by pr oh ib it in g Uni on m em be rs fro m po st in g no ti ces ab ou t Uni on m eet in gs on co m pa ny bu ll et in bo ard s du rin g th ei r br eak an d un pa id ti m e; (2 ) W hi te se ll fai le d to ba rg ai n in go od fai th by fai li ng to

pr ov id e in fo rm at io n co nc ern in g W hi te se ll ’s ad m in is tra ti on of th e m eri t-p ay pr op os al

at t h e c o mpan y ’s ot he r faci li ti es ; an d (3 ) W hi te se ll fai le d to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n

co nc ern in g W hi te se ll ’s rel oc at io n of so m e ba rg ai ni ng u ni t em pl oyees to ot he r faci li ti es

.

- 7

-II.

As an in it ia l qu es ti on , we co ns id er whe th er ou r p r i o r o pi ni on de nyin g th e

NLRB’s ap pl ic at io n fo r en fo rcem en t pr ecl ud es th e NLRB’s fro m reco ns id eri ng th is

act io n. Se e 2 9 U.S.C. § 16 0( e). W e h ol d t ha t i t d oe s n ot

.

Alt ho ug h m an y co ur ts aro un d th e na ti on va cat ed th e Bo ard ’s de ci si on s an d

rem an de d fo r fu rth er co ns id erat io n in li gh t of th e New Pro ces s de ci si on , we ch os e to

de ny th e res pe ct iv e ap pl ic at io ns fo r en fo rcem en t in th is cas e an d in a co m pa nion cas e.

See W hi te se ll Co rp ., 38 5 F. App ’x at 61 4; NLRB v. Am

. Dire ct io na l Bo rin g, In c.,

38 3 F. App ’x 59 4, 59 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (u np ub li sh ed pe r cu ria m ). W e were no t al on e

in th at act io n; bo th th e Fi rs t an d S e co nd Ci rcu it s al so de ni ed en fo rcem en t of

ap pl ic at io ns wit ho ut refe ren ce to rem an d. See NLRB v. Met ro Mayagu ez, In c., 61 7

F.3 d 13

, 14 (1 st Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ) ( p e r cu ria m ); NLRB v. Dom se y Trad in g Co rp ., 38 3 F.
App ’x 46

, 47 (2 d Ci r. 20 10 ) (s um m ary or de r); NLRB v. Talm ad ge Park

, 60 8 F.3 d 91 3
(2 d Ci r. 20 10 ) (p er cu ria m ). Alt ho ug h th e Talm ad ge Park co ur t was am en ab le to an

NLRB m ot io n to cl ari fy th at th e m at te r co ul d be reco ns id ered by th e Bo ard

, th e

Dom se y Tr a d i n g co ur t de cl in ed th e in vi ta ti on to cl ari fy it s de ni al de ci si on

. The

Dom se y Trad in g co ur t an ti ci pa te d fu rth er pr o c e e d i n g s be fo re th e NLRB an d th at a

ne w pe ti ti on fo r en fo rcem en t co ul d be fil ed

. In de ed

, th e cas e was reco ns id ered by th e

Bo ard

, an d aft er th e Bo ard fo ll owe d th e sa m e pr oc ed ur e as he re by in co rp or at in g th e

pr io r de ci si on , th e Seco nd Ci rcu it ad dr es se d th e m eri ts of th e Bo ard ’s de ci si on

. See

NLRB v. Dom se y Trad in g Co rp ., Nos

. 10 -3 35 6- ag , 08 -5 16 5- ag , 08 -4 84 5- ag , 20 11

W L 56 36 88 (2d Cir . Feb . 18 , 20 11 ).

In th e pr io r act io n, th e on ly qu es t i o n pr es en te d was whe th er to en fo rce th e

NLRB’s or de r. Rel y in g on th e New Pro ces s de ci si on , we de ni ed th e ap pl ic at io n fo r

e nf or cem en t be cau se th e pr io r NLRB de ci si on , reac he d whi le th ere were on ly tw o

m em be rs of th e Bo ard

, w a s i n v al id

. On th at is su e, ou r de ci si on is fin al

. See 29

U.S.C. § 1 60 (e).

- 8

-W e ha ve y et to d e t e r mi n e whe th er W hi te se ll vi ol at ed th e NLRA. Our pr io r

de ni al do es no t pr ecl ud e th e Bo ard

, no w pr op erl y co ns ti tu te d, fro m co ns id eri ng th is

m at te r an ew an d is su in g it s fir st va li d de ci si on

. As th e Seco nd Ci rcu it ack no wled ge d

in Dom se y Trad in g, we ex pe ct ed th at th e B o a r d wou ld vi si t th e m eri ts of th is cas e

ag ai n. Had we ex pe ct ed ot he rwis e, we wou ld ha ve li ke ly gr an te d W hi te se ll ’s pe ti ti on

fo r m an da m

us

. The Bo ard pr op erl y read ou r de ni al of th e ap pl ic at io n fo r en fo rcem en t

a s b a s e d so le ly on th e New Pro ces s de ci si on

. W e no w ad dr es s th e m eri ts of t h e

Bo ard ’s dec is io n fo r th e fi rs t t im e.

III.

Fi rs t, we ad dr es s th e i s s ue of whe th er su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e

NLRB’s fin di ng s th at W hi te se ll fai le d to ne go ti at e to a va li d im pa ss e. Sect io n 8( a)(5 )

of th e NLRA m ak es it an un fai r la bo r pr act ic e fo r an em pl oyer “ to refu se to ba rg ai n

co ll ect iv el y wit h th e rep res en ta ti ve s of hi s em pl oyees.” 2 9 U

. S

. C

. § 15 8( a)(5 ).

“ Man da to ry area s of co ll ect iv e ba rg ai ni ng in cl ud e ‘w ag es , ho ur s, an d ot he r te rm s an d

co nd it io ns of em

pl oym en t.’” TruS erv Co rp

. v. NLRB, 25 4 F.3 d 11 05

, 11 13 (D.C.

Ci r. 20 01 ) (q uo ti ng 29 U.S.C. § 15 8( d) ). The du ty to ba rg ai n in go od fai th un de r

se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) i n c l ud es bo th th e du ty to ba rg ai n to im pa ss e an d th e “ affi rm at iv e

o b l i g at io n to fu rn is h th e reco gn iz ed em pl oyee rep res en ta ti ve wit h in fo rm at io n i t

ne ed s.” NLRB v. St

. Cl ai r Die Cas ti ng , L.L.C., 42 3 F.3 d 84 3, 84 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 )
(ci ti ng NLRB v. Acm e In du s. Co ., 38 5 U.S. 4 32 , 43 5- 36 (19 67 )).

W e rev ie w th e NLRB’s fact ua l fin di ng s un de r th e de fere nt ia l “s u b s t an ti al

ev id en ce” st an da rd of rev ie w. See 29 U.S.C. § 16 0( e); U n i v e r s a l Cam era Co rp

. v.
NLRB, 34 0 U.S. 47 4, 47 7- 78 (1 95 1)

. “ W e wil l en fo rce th e NLRB’s or de r as lo ng as

th e B o a rd ha s co rrec tl y ap pl ie d th e la w an d it s fact ua l fin di ng s are su pp or te d by

su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce on th e reco rd as a who le .” Ci nt as Co rp

. v. NLRB, 58 9 F.3 d 90 5,

91 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (ci t i n g N LR B v. Ro ck li ne In du s., In c., 41 2 F.3 d 96 2, 96 6 (8 th

Ci r. 20 05 )). “ To m eet th e re q u i r em en t of ‘sub st an ti al ev id en ce,’ th e Bo ard m us t

- 9

-p r o d u c e mo r e th an a m ere sc in ti ll a of ev id en ce; it m us t pr es en t on th e reco rd su c h

rel ev an t ev id en ce as a reas on ab le m in d mi g h t a c cep t as ad eq ua te to su pp or t a

co nc lu si on , ta ki ng in to co ns id erat io n th e reco rd in it s en ti ret y in cl ud in g th e bo dy of

ev id en ce op po se d t o th e Bo ard ’s vi ew.” Pac. Mic ro ne si a Co rp

. v. NLRB, 21 9 F.3d

66 1, 66 5 (D.C. Ci r. 2 00 0) (ci ta ti on s an d qu ot at io ns om it te d)

. Co ur ts ha ve lo ng

reco gn iz ed th at “ in th e who le co m pl ex of in du st ria l rel at io ns few is su es are le ss

su it ed to ap pe ll at e jud ic ia l ap pr ai sa l th an ev al ua ti on of ba rg ai ni ng pr oc es se s or be tt er

su it ed to th e ex pe rt ex pe rie nc e o f a bo ard whi ch de al s co ns ta nt ly wit h su ch

pr ob le m s.” Dall as Gen

. Driv ers , W areh ou se m en & Help ers v. NLRB, 35 5 F.2 d 84 2,

84 4- 45 (D.C. Cir . 19 66 ).

I n NLRB v. Katz

, 36 9 U.S. 73 6 (1 96 2)

, th e Su pr em e Co ur t he ld th a t a n

em pl oyer vi ol at es se ct io ns 8( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5) of th e NLRA whe n th e em pl oyer m ak es

a un il at eral ch an ge in a te rm or co nd it io n of em pl oym en t wit ho ut fir st ba rg ai ni ng to

an im pa ss e on th at te rm

. Id

. at 74 3. An im pa ss e oc cu r s whe n “ go od fai th

ne go ti at io ns ha ve ex ha us te d th e pr os pe ct s of co nc lu di ng an ag reem en t, le ad in g bo th

pa rti es to be li ev e th at th ey are at th e en d of th ei r ro pe .” TruS erv , 25 4 F .3d at 11 14
(q uo ta ti on s an d c it at io n o m it te d)

. “ W he th er t he pa rti es ha ve reac he d t hi s p oi nt is a

cas e-s pe ci fic in qu iry; th ere is no fix ed de fin it io n of an im pa ss e or de ad lo ck whi ch can

be ap pl ie d m ech an ic al ly to al l fact ua l si tu at io ns .” Id

. (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

. “ Am on g

th e fact or s th at th e [NLRB] c on si de rs in ev al ua ti ng th e ex is te nc e o f an im pa ss e are

‘the ba rg ai ni ng hi st or y , th e go od fai th of th e pa rti es in ne go ti at io n, th e le ng th of th e

ne go ti at io ns , th e im

po rta nc e of th e is su e or is su es as to whi ch th ere is di sa gr eem en t,
[an d] th e co nt em

po ran eo us un de rs ta nd in g of th e pa rti es as to t h e st at e of

ne go ti at io ns .” Id . (qu ot in g Taf t Br oa d. Co ., 16 3 N.L.R.B. 4 75 , 47 8 (1 96 7) ).

The NLRB’s fin di ng th at W hi te se ll di d no t ne go ti at e to a va li d i mp as se is

su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. The NLRB ba se d it s de ci si on , in pa rti cu la r, on th e

fact th at “ al th ou gh [Whit es el l] so ug ht su bs ta nt ia l ch an ge s fro m th e pa rti es ’ ex is ti ng

ag reem en t, it im

po se d an arb it rary de a d li ne on th e ne go ti at io ns by st at in g th at it

- 1 0

-in te nd ed to pr es en t it s fin al of fer by a sp eci fic d a t e an d en ga ge d in on ly a li m it ed

nu m be r of ba rg ai ni ng se ss io ns be fo re de cl ari ng im pa ss e[,]

. . . [ a n d W hi te se ll ]

d e cl ared im

pa ss e ev en th ou gh th e pa rti es ex ch an ge d pr op os al s an d rea c h e d

ag reem en ts th e da y be fo re an d th e da y of th e im pa ss e de cl arat io n.” W hi te se ll Co rp ., 35 2 N.L.R.B. 1 19 6, 1 19 7 (2 00 8)

.

Th e r e c or d cl earl y su pp or ts th e NLRB’s fin di ng s. W hi te se ll ’s ne go ti at or , J a n owi tz

, in fo rm ed th e Uni on of W hi te se ll ’s in te nt io n no t to ne go ti at e be y on d t h e

ex pi rat io n of th e ex is ti ng CBA whe n he se nt th e co m pa n y’ s in it ia l pr op os al s to th e

Uni on , an d he rei te rat ed th i s in te nt io n at th e fir st ba rg ai ni ng se ss io n. W hi te se ll

ack no wled ge s th at it de si red to im pl em en t su bs ta nt ia l ch an ge s to th e ex is ti ng CBA

an d th at it wan te d “ to ne go ti at e a ne w a gr eem en t fr om st art to fin is h.” W hi le th ere

were ei gh t ba rg ai ni ng se ss io ns , th e pa rti e s sp en t m uc h of th e ti m e cau cu si ng wit h

th ei r res pe ct iv e si de s, an d two of th es e se ss io ns d i d n o t i nv ol ve an y su bs ta nt iv e

ba rg ai ni ng

. W hi te se ll fir st pr es en te d it s pr op os al to rep la ce th e Uni on ’s syste m of

an nu al wag e in crea se s with a m eri t-b as ed syste m at t he th ird m eet in g. Se e Newco r Bay Ci ty Div

. of Newco r, In c., 34 5 N.L.R.B. 12 29

, 12 39 (2 00 5) (fi nd in g th at a pa rty

fai le d to ba rg ai n in go od fai th whe n th at pa rty so ug ht ex te ns iv e ch an ge s to an ex is ti ng

ag reem en t, bu t im

po se d “ an art ifi ci al

, rel at iv el y sh or t, de ad li ne fo r co nc lu di ng a ne w

ag reem en t an d th en de cl ared im pa ss e whe n th at de ad li ne co ul d no t be m et ”); se e al so

Ead Mo to rs E. Air Dev ic es , Inc ., 34 6 N.L.R.B. 1 06 0, 1 06 3- 64 (20 06 ).

More ove r, de spi te W

hit es el l’s cl ai m s of im

pa ss e, th e pa rti es cam e to ag reem en t

on 30 is su es an d were co nt in ui ng to co m e to ag reem en t on im po rta nt is su es up un ti l

th e fin al m eet in g o n J un e 1 2. Fo r in st an ce, o n J un e 1 0, t he Uni on co m pr om is ed on

so m e of it s wag e de m an ds

, de crea si ng it s pr op os ed wag e in crea se s fo r th e se co nd an d

th ird y ears of th e co nt ract an d in di cat in g it s wil li ng ne ss to acce pt a m od ifi ed ve rs io n

- 1 1

-of W hi te se ll ’s pr op os ed m eri t-p ay syste m

. At th e ne xt -to -la st ba rg ai ni ng se ss io n on 4

Ju ne 11

, W hi te se ll ag reed to th e Uni on ’s du es -ch eck of f pr op os al

, an d th e Uni on

acce pt ed th e c o mp a n y’s pr op os al s on ho li da y , va cat io n, an d fu ne ral le av e. The

pa rti es al so cam e t o a n a g reem en t on th e sa fet y eq ui pm en t, st rik e an d lo ck ou t, an d

be reav em en t pa y pr ov is io ns

. On th e fin al da y , th e Uni on acce pt ed W hi te se ll ’s gr ou p

he al th in su ran ce p la n.

W hi te se ll cl ai m s th at th e pa rti es were de ad lo ck ed on a nu m be r of i mpo rta nt

is su es on th e fin al da y , i n pa rti cu la r th e st an da rd fo r di sc ip li na ry a c t i o n, ret ire m en t
pl an , wag e inc re as es , the co m pa ny ’ s ins ur an ce pl an , va cat io n, se ni or it y , ov ert im e, an d

th e le av e of ab se nc e an d si ck le av e pr ov is io ns

. Howev er, th e di sa gr eem en ts ov er th e

st an da rd fo r di sc ip li na ry act io n an d ov ert im e are th e on ly is su es ov er w hi ch th e

pa rti es were cl earl y de ad lo ck ed

. Co nc ern in g th e ret ire m en t pl an , Je te r te st ifi ed th at 5

he di d no t un de rs ta nd th e pa rti es to be “ at th e en d of th ei r ro pe ” be cau se th ey ha d no t

y et fu ll y di sc us se d th e di ffer en ces be twee n th e Uni on ’s ex is ti ng de fin ed co nt rib ut io n

pe ns io n an d W hi te se ll ’s 40 1( k)

, or ho w th e co m pa ny’ s pl an wou ld affe ct th e be ne fit s

accr ue d un de r th e ex is ti ng pl an

. Not hi ng in th e reco rd co nt rad ic ts Je te r’s be li ef th at

th e pa rti es were no t at an im pa ss e ov er th e ret ire m en t pl an

. W hi te se ll ’s cl ai m th at th e

pa rti es were de ad lo ck ed ov er wag e in crea se s is be li ed by th e fact

, al read y di sc us se d

ab ov e, th at th e Uni on red uc ed it s p ro po se d wag e in crea se s fo r th e se co nd an d t hi rd

y ear of th e CBA an d ag reed to acce pt a m od ifi ed ve rs io n of th e co m pa ny’ s pr op os ed

m eri t-p ay syste m two da y s be fo re W hi te se ll de cl ared im pa ss e. Si m il arl y , al th ou gh

6

The Uni on ha d in it ia ll y req ue st ed $1 pe r ho ur wag e in crea se s for th e se co nd 4

an d t hi rd y ears of t he CBA b ut red uc ed th is to $0 .50 pe r ho ur

.

Uni on rep res en ta ti ve Je te r st at ed at hi s de po si ti on th at th e Uni on wou ld ne ve r 5

h a v e acce pt ed W hi te se ll ’s pr op os ed “ arb it rary act io n” st an da rd fo r em pl o ye e d i s c i p li ne an d th at he un de rs to od th e pa rti es to be de ad lo ck ed wit h reg ard to t h e

ov ert im e is su e b y

th e ti m e Whit es el l d ecl ared im pa ss e.

The fact th at th e pa rti es were no t de ad lo ck ed ov er th e wag e pr ov is io n is al so 6

su pp or te d by th e NLRB’s fin di ng , whi ch W hi te s e l l d oe s no t co nt es t, th at th e

- 1 2

-th e pa rti es ha d no t reac he d an ag reem en t on th e ti m e fram e wit hi n whi ch to in tro du ce

th e in crea se s in em

pl oyee in su ran ce pr em iu m s, at th ei r fin al m eet in g th e pa rti es cam e

to th e m or e fu nd am en ta l ag reem en t th at th e Uni on wou ld acce pt W hi te se ll ’s g ro up

he al th in su ran ce pr op os al

. Mo reo ve r, W hi te se ll co m pr om is ed on it s pr op os al to us e

pe rfo rm an ce ev al ua ti on s in ad di ti on to se ni or it y to de te rm in e la y of fs an d reca ll

, a fact

th at un de rm in es W hi te se ll ’s co nt en ti on th at th e pa rti es were de ad lo ck ed co nc ern in g

se ni or it y

. Fi n al ly, W hi te se ll co nc ed es th at th e pr ov is io n co nc ern in g le av es of

7

ab se nc e an d si ck le av e was rel at iv el y un im po rta nt to th e pa rti es , th ereb y di m in is hi ng

th e rel ev an ce of an y di sa gr eem en t ov er th is pr ov is io n to th e qu es ti on of whe th er th e

en ti re barg ai ni ng pr oc es s ha d br ok en do wn. See TruS erv , 25 4 F.3 d at 11 14 (n ot in g

th at “ th e im

po rta nc e of th e is su e or is su es to whi ch th ere is di sa gr eem en t” is a fact or

us ed in de te rm in in g wh et he r an im pa ss e ex is ts (qu ot at io n o m it te d) ).

Fu rth er, t he cas es cit ed by W hi te se ll do no t su pp or t its cl ai m s of im pa ss e. In

TruS erv , th e co ur t rev ers ed th e NLRB’s fin di ng th at th e pa rti es ha d no t ba rg ai ne d to

a va l i d im

pa ss e. 25 4 F.3 d at 11 15 -1 7. Howev er, un li ke th e co m pa ny in TruS erv , W hi te se ll ha s m ad e no de m on st rat io n of eco no m ic ex ig en ci es th at jus ti fie d th e ha st e

wit h whi ch it wan te d to co nc lu de th e ba rg ai ni ng pr oc es s. See 25 4 F.3 d at 11 15 ; se e

al so Pu b. Serv

. Co

. of Okl a. v. NLRB, 31 8 F.3 d 11 73

, 11 81 (1 0t h Ci r. 20 03 ) (n ot in g

t ha t de m on st rat io n of eco no m ic ex ig en cy jus ti fie s pr om pt im pl em en ta ti on of a

co m pa ny’ s pr op os al s) ; RBE Elec s. of S.D., In c., 32 0 N.L.R.B. 80

, 81 -8 2 (1 99 5)
(d is cu ss in g eco no m ic -ex ig en cy ex cep ti on to du ty to ba rg ai n to im pa ss e). Mo reo ve r,

th e pa rti es in TruS erv ha d an ex te ns iv e ba rg ai ni ng hi st or y wit h on e an ot he r, whe reas

co m pa ny vi ol at ed se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) by no t pr ov id in g in fo rm at io n co nc ern in g th e im pl em en ta ti on of th e m eri t-p ay syste m at W hi te se ll ’s ot he r faci li ti es whi ch Je te r

req u e s t e d o n J ul y 17

, m or e th an a m on th aft er W hi te se ll de cl ared im pa ss e. See

W hi te se ll Co rp ., 35 2 N.L.R.B. at 11 97 , n.8

.

W hi te se ll m ad e a co un te rp ro po sa l at th e Ju ne 11 ba rg ai ni ng se ss io n of feri ng 7

to us e pe rfo rm an ce-b as ed cri te ria to de te rm in e la y of fs an d reca ll on ly as a ti e-b reak er be twee n e m

pl oyees o f co m

pa rab le sen io rit y

.

- 1 3

-th e pa rti es he re were ne go ti at in g fo r th e fir st ti m e. See 25 4 F.3 d at 11 16 (n ot in g

im po rta nc e of th e pa rti e s ’ b arg ai ni ng hi st or y ). Si m il arl y , in AMF Bo wli ng Co

. v.
NLRB, 63 F.3 d 12 93 (4 th Ci r. 19 95 ), th e co ur t he ld th at th e pa rti es ha d reac he d a

ge nu in e im

pa ss e whe re th e un io n ha d twi ce vo te d on an d reject ed th e co m pa ny’ s fin al

of fer wit ho ut m ak in g an y co un te ro ffer s th at wou ld in di cat e a wil li ng ne ss to

co m pr om is e. Id

. at 13 00

. The re is no su ch in di cat io n of ob st in acy on th e pa rt of th e

Uni on he re.

W hi te se ll ’s cl a im th at th e pa rti es were at a go od -fai th im pa ss e is fu rth er

un de rm in ed by th e NLRB’s findi ng th at W hi te se ll fai le d to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n ab ou t

th e va cat io n pl an as req ui red by se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) of th e NLRA. NLRB v. Acm e In du s. 8

Co

., 38 5 U.S. 43 2, 43 5- 36 (1 96 7) (rec og ni zi ng “ th e ge ne ral ob li ga ti on of an em pl oyer

to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n th at is ne ed ed by th e ba rg ai ni ng rep res en ta ti ve fo r th e pr op er

pe rfo rm an ce o f i t s du ti es ”). Alt ho ug h th e Uni on ul ti m at el y acce pt ed W hi te se ll ’s

va cat io n pr op os al

, th e pa rti es co nt in ue d to di sa gr ee ov er whe th er, an d to wha t ex te nt

, th e co m pa ny’ s pl an wou ld de pr iv e em pl oyees of th e va cat ion be ne fit s th ey ha d earn ed

un de r th e ex pi rin g CBA. Thi s di sa gr eem en t was pr ol on ge d by W hi te se ll ’s fai lu re to

pr ov id e th e in fo rm at io n re qu es te d b y th e Uni on

.

W hi te se ll ch al le ng es th is fin di ng on th e gr ou nd th at it pr ov id ed s u f fic ie nt 8

in fo rm at io n to th e Uni on

. W hi te se ll ’s pr op os ed va cat io n pl an in crea se d th e y ears of

se rv ic e req ui red fo r an em pl oyee to be co m e en ti tl ed to a d d i ti on al va cat io n le av e. W hi te se ll ha d pr ov id ed th e U n i o n wit h a se ni or it y li st th at st at ed each em pl oyee’s
da te of hi re. Bas ed on th is se ni or it y li st

, Je te r es ti m at ed th at on e-t hi rd of it s m em be rs

wou ld lo se va cat io n ti m e un de r th e ne w pl an

. W he n W hi te se ll ’s ne go ti at or re spon de d

th at th is es ti m at e was in co rr e c t at th ei r se co nd ba rg ai ni ng se ss io n on Ju ne 6, th e Uni on req ue st ed th e in fo rm at io n on whi ch W hi te se ll ba se d it s di sa gr eem en t. The

Uni on ren ewed th is req ue s t on Ju ne 9. W hi te se ll ne ve r pr ov id ed an y ad di ti on al

in fo rm at io n an d in si st ed th at th e se ni or it y li st it ha d al read y su bm it te d was su ffi ci en t.
Th e fact th at W hi te se ll di sa gr eed wit h th e Uni on ’s es ti m at es pr ov id es su bs ta n t i a l

ev id en ce fo r th e NLRB’s fin di ng th at W hi te se ll fai le d t o b a rg ai n in go od fai th in

vi ol at io n o f se ct io n 8 (a)( 5) by not acco un ti ng for th e b as is of i ts di sa gr eem en t.

- 1 4

-Fi na ll y , W hi te se ll al so can cel le d th e vo lu nt ary su pp l e men t al acci de nt fu nd

wit ho ut ba rg ai ni ng fo r th e is su e or in cl ud in g su ch a pr ov is io n in it s fin al of fer. See

Uni te d Pap erwo rk ers In t’l Uni on v. Ch am pi on In t’l Co rp ., 81 F.3 d 79 8, 80 2 (8 th Ci r.

1 9 9 6 ) (“ [W] he n th e pa rti es ha ve ba rg ai ne d to an im pa ss e, th e em

pl oyer may

un il at eral ly ch an ge te rm s an d co nd it io ns of em pl oy, so lo ng as th es e ch an g e s are

co ns is te nt wit h of

fers th at th e un io n ha s reject ed .”); Em ha r t In du s. v. NLRB, 90 7

F.2 d 37 2, 37 6 ( 2 d Ci r. 19 90 ) (“ It is se tt le d la w th at whe re an em pl oyer ba rg ai ns in

go od fai th to im

pa ss e,

. . . it m ay im

pl em en t un il at eral ch an ge s in wor ki ng co nd it io ns

so lo ng as th e ch an ge s are reas on ab ly co m pr eh en de d wit hi n it s pr e-i m pa ss e pr op os al s

to th e u ni on .”).

In co nc lu si on , th e reco rd pr ov id es su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce fo r th e NLRB’s

de te rm in at io n th at W hi te se ll fai le d to ba rg ai n i n go od fai th in vi ol at io n of se ct io ns 8( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5) whe n it te rm in at ed th e ex is ti ng CBA an d im pl em en te d it s pr op os al s

wit ho ut ba rg ai ni ng to a va li d i m pa ss e.

IV.

W hi te se ll al so co nt es ts th e NLRB’s fi nd in g t ha t i t fai le d to pr ov id e no ti ce to

th e FMC S as req ui red by se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) of th e NLRA, 29 U.S.C. § 15 8( d) (3 ). Thi s

fi ndi ng re sul te d in th e req ui rem en t th at W hi te se ll rei m bu rs e th e Uni on fo r un co ll ect ed

du es fro m Ju ly 13

, 20 06 (th e da y aft er th e CBA exp ire d) to Sep te m be r 30

, 20 06 (3 0

da y s af te r W hi te se ll pro vi de d t he pro pe r no ti ce t o t he FMCS ).

Rel y in g on Pet ro le um Mai nt en an ce Co

., 29 0 N.L.R.B. 46 2 (1 98 8)

, th e NLRB

fo un d th at th e fai lu re to pr ov id e th e req u is it e se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) no ti ce co ns ti tu te d a

se pa rat e vi ol at io n of th e du ty to ba rg ai n un de r se ct io n 8( a)(5 ) an d th at th e rem ed y fo r

th is vi ol at io n was to ex te nd th e du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n un ti l 30 da y s aft er th e FMC S

rece iv ed th e pr op e r no ti ce fro m W hi te se ll

. See W hi te se ll Co rp ., 35 2 N.L.R.B. at

11 98 (ci ti ng Pet ro le um Mai nt

., 29 0 N.L

. R

. B

. a t 46 2- 63 (h ol di ng th at th e fai lu re to

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-pr ov id e n ot ic e to th e FMC S as req ui red by s ect io n 8( d) (3 ) vi ol at es se ct io ns 8(a )(1 )

an d (a)( 5) an d th at

, in su ch ci rcu m st an ces , a du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n ex te nd s be y on d

th e CBA u nt il 30 da y s af te r th e p ro pe r no ti ce i s u lt im at el y de li ve red )).

W hi te se ll ob

jects to th is ru li ng on a nu m be r of gr ou nd s. Fi rs t, W hi te se ll arg ue s

th at

, un de r NLRB pr eced en t, it su ffi ci en tl y de m on st rat ed th at it m ai le d ti m el y no ti ce

to th e FMC S. Seco nd

, W hi te se ll al te rn at iv el y arg ue s th at th e rem ed i a l pe rio d fo r

rei m bu rs in g th e Uni on sh ou ld en d 30 da y s aft er th e Uni on co nt act ed th e FMC S

req ue st in g a fed eral m ed ia to r on Ju ly 10

, cl ai m in g th at

, at th is po in t, th e FMC S was

effe ct iv el y pu t on no ti ce of th e d is pu te

. Thi rd , Whi te se ll arg ue s “ th ere is no so un d

reas on ” fo r Pet ro le um Mai nt e n a n c e ’s rem ed y of ex te nd in g th e du es -ch eck of f

pr ov is io n th ro ug h 30 da y s aft er n o t i c e i s r ecei ve d be cau se , ci ti ng to a nu m be r of

ca se s, a vi ol at io n of th e no ti ce req ui rem en t of se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) do es no t ex te nd th e

9

te rm s o f a CBA b ey on d t he ex pi rat io n.

W e reject each of th es e arg um en ts

. As to th e fi rs t and se co nd arg um en ts

, th e

ob li ga ti on is on “ th e pa rty de si rin g su ch te rm in at io n or m od ifi cat io n” to “ no ti f[y ] th e [FM CS] wit hi n th irt y da y s aft er su ch no ti ce of th e ex is te nc e of a di sp ut e.” 29 U.S.C.

§ 15 8( d) (3 ). W hi te se ll be ars th e bu rd en of sh owi ng th at th e FMC S rece iv ed th e

no ti ce th at a di sp ut e ha d ari se n be twee n W hi te se ll an d th e Uni on

. Mer el y st at in g th at

See New Eng la nd Cl ean in g Serv s., In c. v. SEIU, Loc al 25 4, 19 9 F.3 d 53 7 (1 st 9

Ci r. 19 99 ); Co m

m c’ns W or ke rs v. Sw. Bel l Tel. Co

., 71 3 F.2 d 11 18 (5 th Ci r. 19 83 );

Pro ct or & Gamb l e I n d e p

. Uni on v. Pro ct or & Gam bl e Mfg . C o., 31 2 F.2 d 18 1 (2 d.

Ci r. 1 9 6 2 ) ; Lon e St ar Pro du ci ng Co

., 85 N.L.R.B. 11 37

, 11 38 n.2 (1 94 9)

. The se

cas es are no t qu it e on po in t fo r W hi te se ll

, ho wev er, be cau se th ey ex pl ic it ly no te th at
th ey are no t de al in g wit h cl ai m s th at fai li ng to pr ov id e no ti ce in vi ol at io n of se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) al so co ns ti tu te s an un fai r l a b o r p ract ic e in vi ol at io n of se ct io ns 8( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5)

. See, e.g ., New Eng la nd Cl ean in g, 19 9 F.3 d at 54 0 (“ W hi le a fai lu re to no ti fy

m ed ia ti on se rv ic es m ig ht ha ve ram ifi cat io ns fo r an un fai r la bo r pr act ic e cl ai m , it do es

no t se rv e to ex te nd a co nt ract th at co ul d be te r mi n a t e d vi a no ti ce un de r se ct io n 8( d) (1 ).”).

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-th e no ti ce was m ai le d do es no t sh ow th at no ti ce was rece iv ed b y t h e F M C S

. See

Ch au ffeu rs , Sal es m en an d Help ers , Loc al 57 2, 22 3 N.L.R.B

. 1 0 03

, 10 08 (1 97 6)
(h ol di ng th at th e no ti ce pr ov is io n of se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) req ui res “ act ua l no ti ce,” or pr oo f

th at th e FMC S rece iv ed th e no ti ce). Fu rth er, be cau se W hi te se ll was th e pa rty se ek in g

to m od ify th e CBA, th e ob li ga ti on res te d wit h W hi te se ll to pe rfec t th e no ti ce. Thu s,

th e Uni on ’s co m

m un ic at io n wit h th e FMC S on Ju ly 10 to req ue st a m ed ia to r do es no t

m eet th e cl ear m an da te of se ct io n 8( d) (3 ) th at W hi te se ll se rv e as th e no ti fy in g pa rty.

W hi te se ll ch al le ng es th e N LR B ’s rel ia nc e on Pet ro le um Mai nt en an ce in

im po s i n g t he rem ed y fo r th e vi ol at io n of se ct io n 8( d) (3 ). As th e NLRB fo un d in

Pet ro le um Mai nt en an ce, du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io ns are no t t e r ms or co nd it io ns of

em pl oym en t th at wil l co nt in ue to be in effe ct un ti l th e pa rti es reac h a ne w ag reem en t

or ba rg ai n to a ge nu in e im pa ss e. The refo re, W hi te se ll is on ly req ui red to rei m bu rs e

un co ll ect ed du es fo r th e pe rio d en di ng 30 da y s aft er it gi ve s th e no ti ce it is st at ut or il y

ob li ga te d to pr ov id e. See Pet ro le um Mai nt

., 29 0 N.L.R.B. a t 4 6 2 -6 3 & n.4 (ru li ng

th at th e te rm in at io n of a du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n wit ho ut pr ov id in g pr op er no ti ce to

th e FMC S co ns ti tu te s a vi ol at io n of th e du ty to ba rg ai n co ll ec t i v el y un de r se ct io ns 8( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5) th at is rem ed ie d by rei m bu rs in g un co ll ect ed du es un ti l 30 da y s aft er

su ch no ti ce is g i ve n)

. If th e du es -ch eck of f pr ov is io n was a te rm or co nd it io n of

em pl oym en t, W hi t e s e l l w o ul d be ex pe ct ed to co m pl y wit h th e pr ov is io n un ti l it

reac he d a ba rg ai n or im pa ss e, rat he r th an fo r th e f in it e pe rio d en di ng 30 da y s

fo ll owi ng pr op er no ti ce. W hi te se ll

, of co ur se , co ul d ha ve av oi d ed th is ob li ga ti on

al to ge th er h ad it in su red th at th e p ro pe r no ti ce was ti m el y gi ve n t o t he FMCS

.

V.

Fi na ll y , we ad dr es s th e cl ai m th at W hi te se ll fai le d to ba rg ai n in go od fai th by

no t pr ov id in g in fo rm at io n reg ard in g cha ng es in W hi te se ll ’s pr op os ed va cat io n pl an

as req ue st ed by th e Uni on du rin g th e ne go ti at io n of th e ne w CBA in vi ol at io n of 29

U.S.C. § 15 8( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5)

. “ The re can be no qu es ti on of th e ge ne ral ob li ga ti on of

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-an em

pl oyer to pr ov id e in fo rm at io n th at is ne ed ed by t he ba rg ai ni ng rep res en ta ti ve

fo r th e pr op er pe rfo rm a n c e o f i t s d ut ie s.” Acm e In du s. Co

., 38 5 U.S. at 43 5- 36

.

“ Si m il arl y , th e du ty to ba rg ai n un qu es ti on ab ly ex te nd s be y on d th e pe rio d of co nt ract

ne go ti at io ns an d ap pl ie s to la bo r-m an ag em en t rel at io ns du rin g th e te rm of an

ag reem en t.” Id

. at 43 6; se e al so W CCO Rad io

, In c. v. NLRB, 84 4 F.2 d 51 1, 51 4 (8 th

Ci r. 19 88 ) (“ The du ty ext en ds to da ta req ue st ed in or de r pr op erl y to ad m in is te r an d

po li ce a co ll ect iv e ba rg ai ni ng ag reem en t as well as to req ue st s ad va nc ed to faci li ta te

th e ne go ti at io n of su ch co nt ract s.” (q uo ta ti on om it te d) ). W he re a pa rty req ue st s su ch

in fo rm at io n, th e req ue st sh ou ld be ev al ua te d un de r a “ m or e li be ral st an d ard ” of

rel ev an cy si m il ar to th at ap pl ic ab le to th e di sc ov ery st ag e of li ti ga ti on

. Acm e In du s.

Co ., 38 5 U.S. at 43 7 n .6.

W e ag ree w ith the N L RB ’ s fi ndi ngs th at W hi te se ll vi ol at ed se ct io ns 8( a)(1 ) an d
(a)( 5) by no t pr ov id in g th e req ue st ed in fo rm at io n co nc ern in g ho w it s va cat io n

pr op os al wou ld im

pa ct th e em

pl oyees. Pri or to th e ne go ti at io ns , W hi te se ll pr ov id ed

th e Uni on wit h a se ni or it y li st an d i nd ic at ed th e Uni on wou ld be ab le to de te rm in e,

us in g th e li st

, ho w th e va cat io n pr op os al wou ld im pa ct th e em

pl oyees. W he n th e

Uni on st at ed it cal cu la te d th at on e-t hi rd of th e em pl oyees wou ld be ad ve rs el y

im pa ct ed by th e va cat io n pr op os al

, W hi te se ll res po nd ed th at th e Uni on ’s cal cu la ti on

was cl os e bu t no t accu rat e. Thi s res po ns e res ul te d in th e Uni on ’s req ue st fo r a

co m pl et e li st of e m

pl oyees a lo ng wit h a n e xp la na ti on of h ow t he va cat io n p ro po sa l

wou ld affe ct each em

pl oyee.

W hi te se ll arg ue s we sh ou ld no t en fo rce th is pa rt of th e NLRB ’s f in di ng s

be cau se W hi te se ll pr ov id ed th e Uni on wit h a se ni or it y l i s t a n d t he Uni on “ was as

fu ll y cap ab le as [Whit es el l] of de te rm in in g who wou ld be affe ct ed im m ed ia te ly an d

in th e fu tu re by [Whit es el l]’ s va cat io n pr op os al .” Thi s arg um en t is be li ed by

W hi te se ll ’s res po ns e th a t th e Uni on ’s cal cu la ti on was cl os e bu t no t accu rat e. The

Uni on was en ti tl ed to th e in fo rm at io n up on whi ch W hi te se ll was ba si ng it s in di vi du al

va cat io n cal cu la ti on

. Acco rd in gl y , we fin d su bs ta nt ia l ev ide nc e supp or ts th e NLRB’s

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-fin di ng th at W hi te se ll vi ol at ed se c t i o n s 8 ( a)(1 ) an d (a)( 5) whe n it fai le d to pr ov id e

th e req ue st ed in fo rm at io n.

VI.

Acco rd in gl y , we en fo rce th e NLRB’s or de r as su pp or te d by s u b st an ti al

ev id en ce.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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