Opinion ID: 1484593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Suspension and Resumption of Interim Wage Changes.

Text: There is a provision in the collective bargaining contract as follows: In accordance with past practice, the Company will approve interim individual increases when justified, after consulting the Foreman and the Union Committeeman of the Department concerned. In the latter part of 1941 the Company, without consultation with the Union, gave notice that no further interim increases would be granted until April, 1942. The union regarded this as violating the contract, whereupon the Company withdrew the notice. Perhaps there was room here for difference of opinion as to whether or not the Company's action in giving the notice was within the contract. If it may be so held, it typically illustrates an ordinary difference between the parties to the contract upon the meaning of the contract and comes under the announced policy of the Board that it will not attempt to resolve such differences. On the other hand it cannot be that the employer may violate the terms of the collective agreement either through intention or carelessness with impunity relying upon the ready excuse of interpretation. Whether or not an action by the employer is to be regarded as a violation of the statute or merely as the employer's interpretation of the contract in good faith and upon reasonable ground is within the determination of the Board. We can disturb such determination only in case the Board has acted arbitrarily and without substantial evidence to support its action. If the matter of interim wage increases had not been further complicated, the Board might have held that the notice of suspension of wage increases was the result of misinterpretation of the contract and have declined to hold it a violation of § 7. It was, however, further complicated by Company action shortly after the withdrawal of the notice by the granting of wage increases without consultation with Union officials. This matter was adjusted. But the right of collective bargaining is wholly inconsistent with unilateral company action affecting matters within the scope of the agreement and adjustments following repeated violations do not satisfy the intent of the Statute. We hold the situation as above revealed supports a finding that employee rights as provided in § 7 as to collective bargaining have been interfered with.