Document: 373 U.S. 221 83 S.Ct. 1139 10 L.Ed.2d 308 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner,v.ERIE RESISTOR CORPORATION et al. No. 288. Argued Feb. 18 and 19, 1963. Decided May 13, Norton J. Come, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. John G. Wayman, Pittsburgh, Pa., respondents. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The question before us is whether an employer commits unfair labor practice under § 8(a)1 National Labor Relations Act, 61 Stat. 136, 29 U.S.C. 158, when he extends a 20-year seniority credit to strike replacements strikers who leave return work. Court Appeals Third Circuit in this case joined Ninth Circuit, Board v. Potlatch Forests, Inc., 189 F.2d 82 (and see Lewin-Mathes Co., 285 329, from Seventh Circuit), hold that such super-seniority awards are not unlawful absent showing illegal motive on part employer. 303 359. Sixth Swarco, Board, 668, conduct can be even asserts these additional benefits necessary continue his operations during strike. To resolve conflicting views upon important administration we brought here. 371 810, 48, 9 53. 2 Erie Resistor Corporation Local 613 International Union Electrical Radio Machine Workers were bound by collective bargaining agreement which was due expire March 31, 1959. In January 1959, both parties met negotiate new terms but, after extensive bargaining, they unable reach agreement. Upon expiration contract, union, support its contract demands, called all 478 employees unit.2 3 company, intense competition subject insistent demands customers maintain deliveries, decided production operations. Transferring clerks, engineers other nonunit jobs, company managed keep at about 15% 30% normal month April. On 3, however, notified union members it intended begin hiring would retain their jobs until replaced. plant located area classified United States Department as one severe unemployment had fact received applications employment early week or two began. 4 Replacements told laid off discharged end implement assurance, particularly view 450 already accord some form super-seniority. At regular sessions between made clear that, view, no matter what plan might take, necessarily work discrimination against strikers. As negotiations advanced issues, became evident fast becoming focal point disagreement. 28, informed award 20 years'3 returned work, available only future layoffs could used employee based years service. strikers, meeting next day, unanimously resolved striking now protest proposed well. 5 first official announcement June 10, 14, 34 employees, 47 recalled layoff status 23 returning accepted jobs. great pressure, offered give up if abandon go arbitration question, but refused. following week, 64 21 took bringing total 102 workers 87 When number went 125 capitulated. A remaining economic issues executed July 17, accompanying settlement signed providing company's replacement job assurance policy should federal courts remain effect pending final disposition. 6 Following strike's termination, reinstated those whose been filled (all 129 jobs). same time, 173 resignations membership. By September unit force reached high 442 1960, gradually slipped back 240. Many cut period insufficient consequence policy. 7 filed charge with alleging awarding course constituted subsequent pursuant unlawful. Trial Examiner found promulgated legitimate reasons,4 discriminatory purposes, recommended union's complaint dismissed. agree Examiner's conclusion specific evidence subjective intent discriminate finding granted practice. Its consistent said, always super-seniority, circumstances these, rejected argument corollary employer's right Mackay & Tel. 304 333, 58 904, L.Ed. 1381, detailed length factors indicated 'superseniority extending far beyond sanctioned Mackay, is, moreover, direct conflict express provisions Act prohibiting discrimination.' Having put aside deny 'that Respondent's motivation required establish alleged violations Act,' relying Officers Commercial Telegraphers Union, A.F.L. 347 74 323, 98 455; Republic Aviation Corp. 324 793, 65 982, 89 1372, 357, Brotherhood Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen Helpers America 365 667, 81 835, 11. Moreover, Board's judgment, insistence overriding purpose granting open business necessity justified unacceptable since 'to excuse greatly diminish, destroy, guaranteed run directly counter guarantees Sections 8(a)(1) (3) shall discriminated engaging protected concerted activities.'5 Accordingly, declined make findings 8 unsupportable rationale preferential however motivated. 'We inherent replace concomitant adopt will assure tenure, provided adopted SOLELY protect We find nothing proscribes Whether Company instant illegally motivated do decide. decision Board.' F.2d, 364. It consequently denied petition enforcement remanded further findings. 11 think erred absence intent, defense charge. Cases dealing practices have recognized relevance importance interfere rights. But 'not indispensable element proof violation.' Union,A.F.L. 44, 455. 'Some may very nature contain implications intent; natural foreseeable consequences certain action warrant inference. * existence times inferred 'it permissible draw experience factual inquiries." 675, 839, 12 Though shown different ways, proving manner weight than another. encourage discourage membership shown, found, many otherwise innocent ambiguous actions normally incident may, without more, converted into practices. Jones Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 1, 46, 57 615, 628, 893 (discharging employees); Associated Press 103, 132, 650, 655, 953 Phelps Dodge 313 177, 845, 85 1271 (hiring employees). Compare Brown-Dunkin Cir., 287 Houston Chronicle Publishing 211 848 (subcontracting work); Fiss 43 N.L.R.B. 125, Jacob H. Klotz, 13 746 (movement another town). Such itself sufficient destroy claim purpose, made, provides strong there interference rights discouraged. Conduct face appears serve ends cases wholly impeached encroach legitimacy totally dispelled.6 outcome well founded inherently destructive itself. must held intend foreseeably inescapably flow fails explain away, justify characterize something appear face, out. supra. But, often happens, claiming taken pursuit dominant invade accomplish objectives acceptable Act. Nevertheless, does speak itself—it whatever claimed justification be, carries unavoidable foresaw intended. uncommon human experience, situations present complex motives preferring reality more delicate task, reflected decisions Court,7 weighing interests activity interest operating particular balancing light served conduct.8 This essentially teaching Court's prior problem and, our did depart it. 14 assessment experienced eye, characteristics: 15 (1) Super-seniority affects tenure whereas permanent replacement, proper are, actuality, thing say striker loss quite addition threat best inferior left 16 (2) operates detriment participated compared nonstrikers. 17 offering individual induce them (4) Extending benedfits deals crippling blow effort. stroke, low opportunity obtain security ordinarily long service bring, while conversely, accumulated older seriously diluted. combination promise expected undermine strikers' mutual place entire effort jeopardy. history virtual collapse emphasize grave repercussions 19 (5) renders difficult, impossible, representative. Unlike ceases issue once over, here creates cleavage continuing ended. Employees henceforth divided camps: stayed thereby gained extra seniority. breach reemphasized each stands ever-present reminder dangers connected activities general. analysis, non-strikers, strike, impact cannot doubted. origin plan, respondent insists, going offer attact true, accomplishment respondent's inexorably contingent attracting inducements worked opposed struck. entitled treat involving carried own indicia barred unless saved illegality justifying invasion concluded asserted insulate 8(a)(3), turn review conclusion. rely precluding result persuaded. Under operate need discharge order way 'such obviously tend membership.' deal effects replaced not, powerful Because deemed outweigh damage caused permanently replacing mean also outweighs greater encroachment resulting replacement. 22 intention questioning vitality rule, prepared extend situation so require set considered judgment underlying require, context, giving harm wrought utilizing means replacements. legislative indicate method resisting nor anything inconsistent reached. contrary, sources wholy with, lend full to, Board. Section 79 guarantees, protects engage activities, which, Congress indicated, H.R.Rep. 245, 80th Cong., 1st Sess. 26, include 'membership any organization,' includes discouraging participation 39—40, 335, 455, Wheeling Pipe Line, 229 391; 114 820. 1310 makes although weapon unqualified right, except specifically construed redress, H.R.Conf.Rep. 510, 59, U.S.Code Congressional Service 1947, p. 1135, 2(3)11 preserves unfilled positions pendency S.Rep. 573, 74th 6.12 repeated solicitude predicated legitimately employed measure implements supports principles system.13 24 While has time revamped redirected national policy, concern integrity remained constant. Thus chose qualify use prescribing limits conditions abridgment exacting detail, e.g., §§ 8(b)(4), 8(d), indicating precise procedures followed effecting interference, 10(j), (k), (l); 206—210, Management preserving positive command given generous interpretation within scope likewise repeatedly effectuated Automobile, Aircraft Agr. Implement America, CIO O'Brien, 339 454, 70 781, 94 978; Amalgamated Ass'n St. Elec. Ry. Motor Coach Division 998 Wisconsin Employment Rel. Bd., 340 383, 71 359, 95 364; Remington Rand, 130 919; Cusano 190 898; cf. Sinclair Ref. Co. Atkinson, 370 195, 1328, 440. 25 deference paid laws devastating precipitated balance struck Although immune attack amply illustrate, Babcock Wilcox 351 105, 76 679, 100 975; Steelworkers, 357 78 1268, 1383; Insurance Agents, 361 477, 80 419, supported substantial evidence, Universal Camera 474, 456, explication inadequate, irrational arbitrary, compare 196—197, 853—854, 1271; supra, exceed powers venture statute. lay mainstream duties. attempting placed hands '(w)here statute answer, respect answer.' 499, 433. Here, cases, recognize special function applying general complexities industrial life. 798, 985, 1372; 194, 852, '(appraising) carefully sides labormanagement controversy diverse cases' understanding 'the actualities relations.' 362 363, 1271. 'The ultimate interests. effectuate difficult responsibility, committed primarily limited judicial review.' Truck Drivers 353 87, 96, 77 643, 648, 676. 26 Consequently, because rights—a sustain—it properly decline prompted purpose. reverse remand court questions it, including propriety remedy least turns construction being barrier reinstatement pay well.14 27 Reversed remanded. 28 HARLAN, concurring. I conclusions respecting 'superseniority' inquiry respondents' motives. However, true circumstances, example much shorter Being unsure intends power outlaw plans, irrespective sustain case, concur judgment. 'Sec. 8(a). employer— '(1) restrain, coerce exercise section 7; '(3) regard hire term condition organization; '(5) refuse bargain collectively representatives 9(a).' status. figure developed projection, basis orders, beginning male needed seven years' avoid female nine years'. relied records program ineffective awards. General Counsel, show pointed facts 300 unprocessed ended, declared communicate well-publicized hired addition, continued similar proposal negotiating refusal good faith 8(a)(5). See Wooster Borg-Warner 356 342, 718, 823. 29, voted superseniority All date, held, date unconditional abandonment regardless Pecheur Lozenge 209 393. holding desire penalize Ballas Egg Products 283 871; California Date Growers Ass'n, 259 587; Olin Mathieson Chem. 232 aff'd per curiam, 352 1020, 587, explainable reaching considerations See, 1381; variety situations, lower dealt approach urged automatically excused exigencies. Thus, ground rival remove picket line permit resumption business, Star 97 465, rearrange adverse production, Allis-Chalmers Mfg. 162 435, defend prevails dire follow, Harris, 200 656, exclusive recognition fear bring reprisals unions. McQuay-Norris 116 748, cert. denied, 565, 843, 1524; Broadcasting 150 895, unions affiliation solely peace disruption Wilson Inc. 123 411; Hudson Car 128 528; Gluek Brewing 144 847; Oertel 197 59; McCatron, 216 212, 348 943, 75 365, 99 738; Richards, 265 855. Idaho Potato 295; Industrial Cotton Mills, 208 45 A.L.R.2d 880, 935, 630, 1086. Indeed, employers doubtless conscientiously assert malicious business. good-faith itself, absolute 'Employees self-organization, form, join, assist organizations, through choosing, aid protection, refrain extent affected requiring organization authorized 8(a)(3).' 'Nothing herein, either impede diminish affect limitations qualifications right.' 'employee' ceased of, connection current dispute practice, obtained substantially equivalent *.' maintenance prevailing most recent manifestation 1959 amendments withdrew ban inserted Taft-Hartley amendment disqualifying voting elections. Now, can, regulations pre-strike 9(c) (3); 187, 86th 32—33, Administrative News 2318. 'Labor organized out necessities situation. single helpless He dependent daily wage himself family. If refused him wages thought fair, nevertheless employ resist arbitrary treatment. essential laborers equality They united exert influence body inconvenience better them. withholding value worth. combine lawful court. instrument struggle share division joint product capital.' American Foundries Tri-City Central Trades Council, 257 184, 209, 42 72, 78, 66 189, quoted Staff Report Senate Committee Education Labor, Sess., Comparison S. 2926 (73d Cong.) 1958 (74th 20. also, Remarks Senator Wagner 73d 2d Hearings 2926, 10—11: 'It bill places premium discord declaring none impair alienate cooperation promote unrest law working become redress.' Ramarks Taft, 93 Cong.Rec. 3835 (1947): 'That freedom involved improvement wages, hours, conditions, expired neither side contract. spite inconvenience, perhaps danger, people right. modified. modified involve basic prices, conditions. So concerned, proceeded theory free bargaining. done strikes mediation.' contention waived employees. provided, inter alia: Company's NLRB Federal Courts disposition.' merely interim legal determination employees' event, discretion honor private purported Cf. Corporation, 121 1492, 1495.' 132 621, 631 n. 31.

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