Opinion ID: 470969
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Adjudicative Interpretations of Sec. 302

Text: 53 We are aware of only two cases, one a district court case and one a Board case, that have dealt with the lawfulness of no-docking provisions under Sec. 302. In each case, the no-docking provision was held not to violate Sec. 302. See Employees' Independent Union v. Wyman Gordon Co., 314 F.Supp. 458, 460-61 (N.D.Ill.1970); BASF Wyandotte Corp., 274 N.L.R.B. No. 147, slip op. at 5-6 (Mar. 15, 1985). See also United States v. Motzell, 199 F.Supp. 192, 197-98 (D.N.J.1961) (acquitting union official of criminal charges under Sec. 302(b) on the ground that he was an employee of the paying company, received only wages and travel reimbursement, and performed services for the company by securing workers to meet its production needs). 54 We note also that the courts and the Board have repeatedly held that no-docking provisions such as the one at issue here--negotiated on an arm's-length basis and authorizing pay for time that is spent on union business--do not constitute unfair labor practices under Sec. 8(a)(2) of the NLRA. See, e.g., NLRB v. Homemaker Shops, Inc., 724 F.2d 535, 546-47 (6th Cir.1984); NLRB v. Northeastern University, 601 F.2d 1208, 1214 (1st Cir.1979); Chicago Rawhide Mfg. Co., 221 F.2d 165, 170 (7th Cir.1955); NLRB v. Valentine Sugars, Inc., 211 F.2d 317, 324-25 (5th Cir.1954); Wayside Press, Inc. v. NLRB, 206 F.2d 862, 866 (9th Cir.1953); Sunnen Products, Inc., 189 N.L.R.B. 826, 828 (1971); Ladish Co., 180 N.L.R.B. 582, 584-85 (1970); Hesston Corp., 175 N.L.R.B. 96, 96 (1969). 55 We see no merit in BASF's reliance on cases such as Reinforcing Iron Workers Local Union 426 v. Bechtel Power Corp., 634 F.2d 258 (6th Cir.1981) (Bechtel ), which found Sec. 302 violated by an employer's payments to persons or entities who were not its employees. As discussed in Part II.A. above, Sec. 302(c)(1) focuses only on union officials who are employees of the paying employer. We note that the Board adopted this rationale in BASF Wyandotte Corp., 274 N.L.R.B. No. 147, which involved BASF's unilateral repudiation of no-docking provision similar to that at issue here. The Board concluded that Sec. 302 did not provide BASF a defense to the ensuing unfair labor practice charges, distinguishing Bechtel as follows: 56 That case is significantly different from the one before us, in that here the recipients of the various privileges extended by BASF were employees of BASF who served as union stewards, committeemen, or chairman. These individuals would not have received these privileges, such as paid time to attend to grievances of unit employees, but for the fact that they were employees of BASF. Accordingly, we conclude that the money or other things of value that BASF provided in the way of privileges are encompassed within the exception set forth in Section 302(c)(1) for payments made as compensation for, or by reason of, the services of union officers as employees of the employer. 57 Slip op. at 5-6. It concluded that a contrary holding, finding violative of Section 302 the provision by an employer of privileges such as paid time for stewards to discuss grievances with employees, would be inimical to the statutory goal of encouraging cooperative labor relations. Id. at 6.