Opinion ID: 355548
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Granting and Withdrawal of Recognition

Text: 28 The Board found that the Company granted recognition to the union in a telephone conversation on January 28 between the union representative, Fularczyk, and the Company's attorney, Hauer. 29 The Company claims that Hauer has not been shown to have the authority to represent the Company and therefore did not have the authority to recognize the union on behalf of the Company. The Company also argues that the Board should not have credited the testimony of the union representative over the testimony of the Company's witness. We believe the record supports a finding that Attorney Hauer was an agent of the Company. During the period in question, he was acting as attorney for the Company and was the only attorney representing it. He was the person to contact the union in response to the union's letter demanding recognition and represented himself as an agent of the Company, and the union was never informed that he lacked such authority. Under these circumstances, it was proper for the Board to find that he was an agent of the Company. 30 The Company asks this court to disturb the findings of the Board in crediting the testimony of Fularczyk over that of attorney Hauer. We decline to do so on the basis that absent exceptional circumstances, such resolutions are within the province of the trier of fact, and will not be disturbed on review. Sarkes Tarsian, Inc. v. NLRB, 374 F.2d 734, 736 (7th Cir. 1967). However, we intend no adverse reflection upon counsel whatsoever. 31 The Board found that the Company refused to bargain with the union and withdrew recognition of the union, and by this action violated Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act. The Company argues that it was relieved of its obligation to bargain with the union, because a majority of the employees who had signed the union authorization cards in January repudiated their action in April. The Board found that this action did not relieve the Company of its duty to bargain, and that the Company could not use this action as a basis to refuse to recognize the union, since it occurred in the circumstances of, and could not be disassociated from, the Company's unfair labor practices. We agree with this finding by the Board. In NLRB v. Montgomery Ward and Co.,399 F.2d 409 (7th Cir. 1968), this court held that an employer could not withdraw recognition until the union had had a reasonable opportunity to prove itself as the employees bargaining representative. Here the union had no opportunity at all, since the Company never bargained. A particularly important reason for this rule, as noted by the court in Montgomery Ward,supra, at 412, is to preclude the possibility that by stalling the negotiation process (the employer) may be able to undermine the union strength. It is important in the instant case to note that the alleged repudiation came after a period when the employer refused to bargain, and during this very same period the employer committed unfair labor practices, suggesting that its behavior enabled it to undermine the union. Under the circumstances of this case, we feel the Board properly concluded that the Company was not able to rely on the employee's action to excuse its illegal behavior and by its refusal to bargain and its withdrawal of recognition violated Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act. 32 Accordingly we enforce the Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations Board. 33 ENFORCED.