Opinion ID: 686689
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Centrality of Control of Labor Relations

Text: 10 As to the first factor, centrality of control over the VA project in Dayton and the projects in the Mason area, the Regional Director, affirmed by the Board, found the labor policies and day-to-day control for all the projects were set by petitioner's vice president Jon Small and the Mason area general field superintendent Cliff Stacey. The record, however, does not support this finding as to the VA project. Stacey testified without contradiction that he had no involvement in or knowledge of the VA project. In fact, Rhett Stayer was assigned as superintendent to oversee this project. Stayer, himself, hired and fired employees, and also handled billing, scheduling, and quality control. The record shows Stayer supervised no other projects within the Mason area while working at the VA project. 11 The Board points to two statements in Stayer's testimony to the effect that he did report to Jon Small, who oversaw several projects within the Mason area, and whose field superintendents had responsibility for hiring and firing employees at those projects. True, these statements, taken out of context, would seem to support a finding that some common control existed between the VA project and the others. But, for the centrality of control test to have any useful content, it must require something more than a joining of corporate lines of responsibility at some point higher than the immediate supervisors of the components of the multi-site unit under consideration. It would be a useless formula if it could be met for example simply by the fact, presumably present in every case, that the labor supervisors of each component part reported ultimately to the employer's chief operating officer or chief executive officer. The more specific evidence in this case is not consistent with a conclusion that Jon Small represented a centrality of control over labor matters--such as hiring, firing, grievances, etc.--over both the Mason area and VA projects. 12 First, Stayer never explained the exact nature of his communications with Jon Small. In fact, Jon Small, himself, testified he had no responsibility for overseeing the VA project. Rather, he stated Stayer directly reported to Mark Small who oversaw the project. Jon Small explained Mark Small oversaw the project because It's a very large job force and it's being handled out of our Mentor office. In addition, Stayer, himself, testified he also reported to Mark Small, and that Mark Small handled grievance procedures concerning the VA project. In contrast, Stayer never discussed Jon Small's actual relationship with the project. In any event, Stayer asserted he rarely even reported to either Small. Thus, there is insufficient evidence of central control over the projects to provide any support for the Board's decision.