Opinion ID: 778881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts

Text: 11 The facts are essentially undisputed inasmuch as the parties stipulated to them below. Albertson's has a formal written policy on access and solicitations, which applies to all stores, and which bans any and all solicitations. Local 582 12 Between November 1, 1995 and January 26, 1996, Local 582 engaged in an economic strike against Broadview Dairy, located in Spokane, Washington. Local 582 attempted to distribute handbills at six of Albertson's retail and grocery stores in the Spokane area. The handbills urged customers to refrain from buying Broadview Dairy products, which Albertson's sold, inasmuch as Broadview offered wages and benefits far below the industry standards. The handbills also made clear that the union's dispute was not with Albertson's, but only with Broadview. None of the individuals who sought to disseminate the handbills were employees of Albertson's. Albertson's requested police assistance in order to remove handbillers from its property at several of the stores. 13 On various occasions while the handbillers attempted to pass out their handbills, Albertson's allowed other groups on its property to solicit donations. These included the Camp Fire Girls and Boys, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and area schools. Further, the Salvation Army was allowed to ring bells during Thanksgiving and Christmas at the stores each year. Local 555 14 During May 1995 to February 1996, Albertson's also denied non-employee business representatives of Local 555 access to the interior and immediate exterior of five of its stores located in Clark County, Washington (stores 580 and 581), Bend, Oregon (stores 587 and 588), and Redmond, Oregon (store 589). Local 555 representatives sought access to these stores in order to solicit the company's employees to become members of and/or to request representation by Local 555. 15 In early July 1995, and on October 25, 1995, supervisors at stores 580 and/or 581 denied access to Local 555 representatives and told them to leave the premises. 16 Local 555 began its organizing campaign in April 1995, and as part of that campaign, representatives entered into stores to talk to employees and distribute literature, and placed literature on car windshields in the parking lot. On May 1, 1995, Albertson's notified Local 555 by letter that its conduct violated the store's no-solicitation policy. Local 555 representatives again attempted to distribute materials in July 1995 and were told to leave. In a July 13, 1995 letter, Albertson's again advised the union that its conduct violated the store's no-solicitation policy. Similar letters were sent to the union in November 1995 and February 1996 after Local 555 representatives had again attempted to distribute its materials and solicit members at some of the company's stores. 17 Local 555 already has a CBA with approximately 47 of the company's stores in Oregon and in two stores in Washington. At various times in the past, Albertson's apparently allowed Local 555 representatives or representatives of predecessor unions access to the interior or exterior of its new stores in order to inform employees about the union. According to the CBA, covering stores 587, 588, and 589, Local 555 was allowed store access to investigate the union standing of represented meat department employees. According to Local 555, the clauses in the CBA also provided that Albertson's agreed to recognize Local 555 as the representative of its non-exempt grocery employees in stores 587, 588, and 589 based upon a majority of the employees authorizing such representation, without having an NLRB election. 1 18 The Board points out that Albertson's has allowed charitable and/or civic/educational groups to solicit its customers in the areas immediately surrounding the entrance to the stores. For instance, during the Christmas season, all five stores allow Salvation Army bellringers to solicit the company's customers. Stores 580 and 581 have allowed the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and youth and school groups to solicit its customers. Stores 587, 588 and 589 also have allowed the Girl Scouts, Campfire Groups, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America and youth and school groups to solicit. 19 Generally, these groups are allowed to set up in the area adjacent to the store entrances and exits. However, Albertson's admits that during inclement weather, it has permitted the Girl Scouts and Salvation Army bellringers access to the immediate interior of the store. The Clark County and Bend/Redmond Salvation Army bellringers solicit on store property throughout the month prior to Christmas. The Clark County Girl Scouts are granted access to store property twice a year, during a two-week period each time. Bend/Redmond area Girl Scouts are granted access to sell their cookies once a year, for sixteen continuous days. The Clark County Boy Scouts are granted access to store property to sell products twice a year, during one month in the fall and another month in the spring. The other groups are granted access to property one to three days during the course of the year. At each of the five stores, Albertson's has never allowed another labor organization to distribute literature, to hand-bill, or to solicit customers on the interior or exterior of the premises. 20 Albertson's has rejected requests to solicit donations by other organizations aside from the charitable groups mentioned above, such as political groups, charitable organizations unfamiliar to the community, and all non-charities.