Opinion ID: 431101
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bias of the Board Agent

Text: 11 The Company argues that three incidents demonstrated a prima facie case of bias of the Board's agent, Lee Corbett, requiring an evidentiary hearing. We find none of the incidents persuasive of bias. 12 In the first incident, a Union observer asked agent Corbett what would happen to the ballots that had been challenged. Corbett replied that the Union could prove the challenges individually or by groups, and that he thought it would be very easy for the Union to prove its challenges. The Company's observer stated that employees came up to vote between the comments. 13 It is unlikely that this allegedly offending conduct interfered with or inhibited the free choice of the employees in selecting their bargaining representative, or with the employee's actions at the polls. See Valley Rock Products, Inc. v. NLRB, 590 F.2d 300, 302 (9th Cir.1979) (per curiam). There is no indication that the statements were heard by any employee other than the Company's observer. Other circuits have found similar comments harmless. See NLRB v. Allen's IGA Foodliner, 652 F.2d 594, 595-96 (6th Cir.1980) (Board agent's comment that if the employees had been treated right she would not be there holding the election); NLRB v. Computer Science Corp., 589 F.2d 232, 235 (5th Cir.1979) (per curiam) (Board agent's comment that the Company's challenges were frivolous did not demonstrate partiality). We affirm the Board's rejection of this objection. 14 We also find no indication that the Board agent's method of informing employees that their ballots were challenged was biased. Initially, the Board agent told voters that the Union had challenged their votes. Challenged voters repeatedly became indignant or upset when so informed, and the Union expressed concern over the voters' reactions. Consequently, throughout the afternoon voting session the Board agent simply informed employees that their votes were being challenged without identifying the Union as the challenger. It is unclear precisely how the agent's procedure evidenced bias, and Sonoma cites no authority supporting its objection. It seems unlikely the agent's procedures affected the outcome of the election. The Board did not abuse its discretion in overruling this objection without a hearing. 15 The Company also alleges that the Board agent violated 29 C.F.R. Sec. 102.119 2 by obtaining employment with the Union as a business representative subsequent to the election. The election was held on December 8, 1978. The Board's agent began working for the Union three years later, in 1981. We agree with the Board that the agent's employment three years after the election did not affect the impartiality of the election. Nor did the former Board agent represent the Union before the Board in this case in violation of 29 C.F.R. Sec. 102.119.