Opinion ID: 50975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Regular Employee

Text: Strand also seeks review of the Board's decision that it violated the Act by eliminating the Regular Employee position held by Stephen Palmer on the theory that he was a statutory supervisor unprotected by the NLRA. However, Strand waived this argument by failing to raise it before filing its post-hearing brief to the ALJ. See Trident Seafoods, Inc. v. NLRB, 101 F.3d 111, 116 (D.C.Cir.1996) (citing Anthony Motor Co., Inc., 314 NLRB 443, 449 (1994)). Although Strand points to record evidence indicating Palmer was a supervisor, it does not contend that it properly raised the issue of Palmer's status before its post-hearing brief. This failure deprived the Board of a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue before the ALJ. See id. ; see also NLRB v. George Koch Sons, Inc., 950 F.2d 1324, 1336-37 (7th Cir.1991); Local 594, Int'l Union, United Auto., Aerospace & Agric. Implement Workers of Am., UAW v. NLRB, 776 F.2d 1310, 1314 (6th Cir.1985); Union Elec. Co., 196 NLRB 830, 837 n. 34 (1972). Strand finally contends that the Union consented during negotiations to eliminate the Regular-Employee position before the agreement expired. This concession, however, followed after Strand unilaterally informed the Union that the position had already been eliminated. See NLRB v. Katz, 369 U.S. 736, 743, 82 S.Ct. 1107, 1111, 8 L.Ed.2d 230 (1962) (unilateral change in conditions of employment violates § 8(a)(5)). The ALJ correctly found that the Union was presented with a fait accompli, and the Board reasonably concluded that Strand violated the Act by eliminating the Regular-Employee position.