Opinion ID: 383024
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Materiality of the Statements

Text: 13 After losing the election, the Company bore the burden of supplying to the NLRB prima facie evidence of substantial and material issues requiring the election to be set aside. NLRB v. Masonic Homes of California, Inc., 624 F.2d 88, 89 (9th Cir. 1980); Alson Mfg. Aerospace Division of Alson Industries, Inc. v. NLRB, 523 F.2d 470, 472 (9th Cir. 1975). To support this burden, the Company presented as its only evidence two employee affidavits discussing the adequacy of the Company's health plan and wage practices. 14 These affidavits merely asserted that the statements made by the Union in its leaflets were incorrect. Absent proof that the challenged statements so deceived the employees as to affect the election process, error in a representation does not determine its materiality. Hollywood Ceramics Co., Inc., 140 N.L.R.B. 221 (1962). See NLRB v. Sauk Valley Mfg. Co., Inc., 486 F.2d 1127, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 1973) (upholding NLRB decision holding immaterial union statements regarding wages and benefits because employer failed to submit any evidence of employee confusion on this issue, and there is no indication that the misrepresentation affected the election outcome). 15 The Company has failed to present prima facie evidence showing that the challenged statements materially or substantially affected the election. Indeed, remarks on wages and health benefits which the employees themselves have received are particularly within the province of topics which they may independently evaluate and are, hence, of minimal significance. See NLRB v. G. K. Turner Associates, 457 F.2d 484, 487 (9th Cir. 1972). 16 Upon considering the evidence, the NLRB characterized the challenged statements as typical campaign propaganda and concluded that they were not material. Those findings are conclusive on review if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole. NLRB v. Heath Tec Division/San Francisco, 566 F.2d 1367, 1369 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 832, 99 S.Ct. 110, 58 L.Ed.2d 127 (1978); Portland Willamette Co. v. NLRB, 534 F.2d 1331, 1334 (9th Cir. 1976). For the reasons outlined above, we affirm the NLRB's conclusion that the Union statements were mere campaign rhetoric. 2