Opinion ID: 466131
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of the NLRB's Dismissal of the Petition for Election.

Text: 14 In two letters, both dated December 14, 1983, the Region 21 Acting Regional Director of the NLRB dismissed the petitions for election in both the Carpenters case and the Cement Masons case by stating: 15 The above-captioned case, petitioning for an investigation and determination of representative [sic] under Section 9(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, has been carefully investigated and considered. 16 As a result of the investigation, it appears, that because the employer does not currently employ any employees, nor has it employed employees during a representative period of time, further proceedings are not warranted at this time. I am, therefore, dismissing the petition in this matter. 17 Letter from Michael J. Fogerty, Region 21 Acting Regional Director, to Wayne A. Hersh (Dec. 14, 1983), reprinted in Brief of Appellant app. C. This cryptic response from the Board stems from its long-standing policy of refusing to decide representational issues involving employee units of less than two members. See Operating Engineers Pension Trust v. Beck Engineering & Surveying Co., 746 F.2d 557, 565 (9th Cir.1984). 18 At issue is how these letters should be regarded in applying the doctrine of primary jurisdiction. Two interpretations of the Board's dismissal are possible. The first is that further proceedings are not warranted at this time because, if the employer did not have any employees, the bargaining unit could never have attained majority status. This is what might be called the no majority status interpretation. The second is that further proceedings, including a determination of majority status, are not warranted at this time. This is the no decision interpretation. 19 If the no majority status interpretation is correct, the district court clearly had jurisdiction to decide if Griffith's repudiation letter to Carpenters was effective. See Northwest Administrators, Inc. v. Con Iverson Trucking, Inc., 749 F.2d 1338, 1340 (9th Cir.1984); Beck, 746 F.2d at 564-65. 20 The no decision interpretation, which is a better description of the Board's action, presents a more difficult question, however. The NLRB explicitly found only that Griffith had no employees during the relevant period. It did not find that no majority status existed. Although there can be no majority of a non-existent group, it is also true that there cannot be a minority of such a group. Thus, it is not logical to say that the Board found that there existed no majority status. Because any finding of no majority status would involve a determination of a representational issue, the district court, as a general rule, would not have jurisdiction. See, e.g., Glaziers & Glassworkers Local Union # 767 v. Custom Auto Glass Distributors, 689 F.2d 1339, 1343 (9th Cir.1982). But see El Paso Building & Construction Trades Council v. El Paso Chapter Associated General Contractors of America, 376 F.2d 797, 799-800 (5th Cir.1967) (district court has jurisdiction to rule on a declaratory judgment petition under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 185 even in the absence of allegations of contract violations). Therefore, the conclusion could be said to follow that the district court properly refused jurisdiction. But the issue is more complicated than this. 21