Opinion ID: 379143
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Union Agent Lawrence

Text: 38 The Board also sustained objections to the questioning of Union agent Lawrence regarding whether the Union had any records that would disclose it represented an actual majority of the unit employees of the respective respondents. The Board determined that the line of questioning was irrelevant because where union membership was voluntary, as in Nevada, such records provided no correlation to whether a majority of employees desired representation. 39 We affirm the Board's decision, but on a different basis. The Board cited Retired Persons Pharmacy v. NLRB, 519 F.2d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 1975), for the proposition that union membership is irrelevant to the determination of a union's majority status. We do not agree. It is true that in a right-to-work state an employee may choose not to join a union, but, nevertheless, desire union representation. However, this observation does not render union membership irrelevant to a determination of whether an employee had a reasonable doubt of the union's majority or whether the union in fact lacked majority support. Union membership, even in a right-to-work state, is some indication of union support, though it may be only marginally relevant. NLRB v. Tahoe Nugget, 584 F.2d at 307, NLRB v. Vegas Vic, Inc., 546 F.2d 828 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 818, 98 S.Ct. 57, 54 L.Ed.2d 74 (1978), and Terrell Machine Co. v. NLRB, 427 F.2d 1088, 1090 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 398 U.S. 929, 90 S.Ct. 1821, 26 L.Ed.2d 91 (1970), are not to the contrary. 40 The question asked by the respondents was whether the Union could produce any records that would demonstrate that it had the majority support of the employees. Although not dispositive, the question had some relevance to the issues of the Union's majority status and should have been allowed. 41 However, based upon the record before us, we cannot say that reversible error was committed. If the Union had answered the question affirmatively, the Union's position would have been bolstered. If the question had been answered in the negative, that would have presented only slight evidence that the Union in fact did not have the majority support of the employees. Even with the addition of this evidence, the presumption would not have been rebutted. 8 Therefore, we find no error that would require a reversal. 42