Opinion ID: 752953
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Union recognition2

Text: 20 Diversified also objects to those portions of the Board's order compelling it to recognize the Union. Diversified argues, citing Cooper Thermometer Co. v. NLRB, 376 F.2d 684 (2d Cir.1967), and NLRB v. Rapid Bindery, 293 F.2d 170 (2d Cir.1961), that there should be no presumption that the Union represents Diversified's employees because only a minority of Brush's employees were hired by Diversified and they constitute a minority of Diversified's work force. Although the Board made no specific findings as to the number of people employed by Brush or Diversified, it seems clear that the three Brush workers hired by Diversified did not constitute a majority at either location. Further, Diversified asserts that on two occasions its employees have signed petitions stating that they do not wish to be represented by the Union. At oral argument the Board argued in response that when there is a collective bargaining agreement between the employer and the union, the contract-bar doctrine prevents any change in union status until the expiration of the agreement (but no longer than three years). 21 The Board argues that if we affirm its finding that Diversified is the alter ego of Brush, the contract-bar doctrine requires Diversified at the Union's request to recognize and bargain with it as representative of the employees at the new plant. However, it is not entirely clear when the last collective bargaining agreement signed by Brush is due to expire, or whether it has in fact already expired. It appears from the record (including the terms of the Board's order and the opinion of the Administrative Law Judge) that the most recent agreement expired December 31, 1995. However, at oral argument Board counsel asserted that [t]he contract was at least good for another year at the time of the hearing, which occurred in March 1996. Moreover, we are concerned that Diversified's employees not have a union imposed on them that they do not want. See NLRB v. National Car Rental System, Inc., 672 F.2d 1182, 1191 (3d Cir.1982). We were also informed by Board counsel at oral argument that the incumbent union may have rights to address the employees and encourage them not to decertify. 22 We do not believe the Board's order to recognize and bargain with the Union is supportable on this record, nor do we think the Board adequately considered the wishes of Diversified's employees in reaching its decision. We therefore vacate so much of the Board's order as requires Diversified to recognize and bargain with the Union, and remand to the Board for further proceedings. See Cooper, 376 F.2d at 690. On remand, we expect that all parties who participated in the unfair labor practice proceeding will have an opportunity to supplement the record before the Board. If the last collective bargaining agreement has expired, we expect that the Board will determine through appropriate proceedings whether the employees in the new location wish to be represented by the Union. 23 Order enforced in part. Case remanded to the Board for further proceedings.