Opinion ID: 281097
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the 'impression of surveillance' finding

Text: 59 Harvey's comments to Yockmen concerning a 'list' of union workers was found by the Board to have given the latter the impression that respondent was engaging in 'surveillance' of the union activities of its employees. Although we think it a close matter, we conclude that this finding is supported by substantial evidence. 60 If such an impression was in fact given, it seems clear from past decisions that respondent has violated section 8(a)(1). E.g., NLRB v. Security Plating Co., 356 F.2d 725, 728 (9th Cir. 1966); Filler Prods., Inc. v. NLRB, 376 F.2d 369, 374-375 (4th Cir. 1967). And Harvey's comments may fairly be construed in the fashion in which the Board took them; the nature of the 'list' referred to could have been inferred from the substance of his conversation with Yockmen. The fact that those comments came in response to a question does not seem materially to mitigate their undesirable effect. Nor does Yockmen's jocular response protect respondent-- it may have been, and it is a permissible inference that he was putting up a false front of confidence and defiance, while nonetheless fearing the effect of the list; the Board could in fact reasonably have concluded that a report of such a list is inherently coercive, regardless of the strength of purpose of the employees to whom the report is made known.