Opinion ID: 186589
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Backdrop of the Discharge

Text: 36 To support its contention that the acrimonious backdrop of the discharge was evidence of discriminatory motive, the Board referenced the prolonged and bitter strike and the antiunion sentiments allegedly expressed by a Company supervisor. Without more, however, these claims are virtually meaningless. The strike ended over two and a half years prior to Hydorn's return, and there is nothing in the record to indicate that there was reason for the Company to single out Hydorn for negative treatment. The only evidence offered was that Hydorn had picketed along with many other striking Union members. It was never alleged, however, that he was a Union leader or that he had any exceptional run-in with the Company as part of his Union activity. Nothing indicates that he was singled out for bad treatment when he returned to work. And there is not one iota of evidence relied upon by the Board in its first-prong Wright Line analysis to suggest that the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of negative treatment aimed at returning strikers. 37 The alleged antiunion statements made by supervisor Monroig also offer little to the Board's case. First, it is unclear whether Monroig actually uttered those statements, as the lone testimony supporting this claim came from Union Steward Harold Sorenson, who the ALJ found to be very lacking in credibility. See Decision, slip op. at 8, J.A. 12. And while the Board notes that the ALJ credited Sorenson's testimony where it was not contradicted by other witnesses, see Detroit News, 2004 WL 2203014, at  n. 7, it failed to note that the ALJ did not rely on Sorenson's Monroig testimony to support his finding of antiunion animus. Second, it appears that those alleged statements were made only to Sorenson. See Trial Tr. at 203 (3/14/00), J.A. 355. Monroig's alleged passing comments to Sorenson hardly constructed a viable backdrop against which to assess the Company's discipline of Hydorn. Finally, Monroig was not directly involved in the final decision to terminate Hydorn, so any potential impact he had on that decision was necessarily circumscribed. 38