Opinion ID: 235069
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Board's findings of respondent National's refusal to bargain and the resulting strike.

Text: 10 Following the union's certification on March 27, 1951, only three bargaining conferences were held before the strike of August 16th. The testimony is in conflict as to the progress made at the meetings of May 14, June 8, and August 4, the Board contending it shows that National made only minor and illusory concessions, and rendered the consummation of any agreement impossible through its adamant refusal to consider or grant any wage increase or fringe benefits 6 demanded by the union. National, however, while conceding that it has consistently, though justifiably, refused to submit to the union's equally stubborn insistence upon a wage increase and other monetary demands, vigorously protests the validity of the Trial Examiner's conclusion that, by such refusal, it has refused to bargain in good faith, as well as the Board's finding that it approached the conference table with a mind hermetically sealed against reaching agreement. It insists that the testimony as to its attitude throughout bargaining negotiations, viewed fairly and objectively, reveals that it complied with both the letter and spirit of Section 8(a) (5) by making written proposals, counter-proposals, and numerous concessions to union demands, particularly as to seniority, grievance procedure, holiday and reporting pay, etc., but that the impasse in negotiations which precipitated the union's economic strike on August 16th was caused solely by the union's unyielding insistence upon a wage increase, which good faith bargaining could not compel National to grant, particularly in view of the undisputed fact that it could not obtain a commensurate increase on the price of its products because of OPS ceiling prices then in effect. 11 We think the findings of respondent National's refusal to bargain in good faith may not be sustained upon this record. Though admittedly there were contributing irritations, we think the major portion of the testimony, including that of a union negotiator, reveals substantially nothing more than a bona fide impasse and economic strike resulting principally from respondent National's refusal to grant any wage increase and the union's refusal to accept anything less. 7 True, the Board found that National's failure to accept    the Union's proposal of a contingent wage increase  to some extent objectively revealed that the ceiling price on National's products was not the true reason for its unyielding position on wages, and that in advancing that reason National was not dealing with the Union in good faith. However, it seems to us the Board's inference in this respect is without substantial support, for no purely contingent wage increase, as such, appears to have been definitely agreed to by the union, though there is some testimony revealing that the union negotiator, Baker, did suggest that if National would grant an immediate wage increase embodying only a portion of the union's additional 25¢ an hour demand, it would agree to make the remainder contingent upon National's obtaining price relief. 8 12 In any event, National was not bound at its peril to grant a wage increase. The mere fact that a bona fide impasse in negotiations was reached is no convincing evidence of National's unlawful refusal to bargain, for Section 8(a) (5) does not require an employer's involuntary concession on any issue, or retreat from any bargaining position taken in good faith upon penalty of being held guilty of an unfair labor practice. N. L. R. B. v. American National Insurance Co., 343 U.S. 395, 72 S.Ct. 824, 96 L.Ed. 1027, affirming American National Ins. Co. v. N. L. R. B., 5 Cir., 187 F.2d 307; N. L. R. B. v. Corsicana Cotton Mills, 5 Cir., 179 F.2d 234. As this Court recently held in N. L. R. B. v. Mayer, 5 Cir., 196 F.2d 286, 290, Not capitulation, but bona fide effort, is the criterion. See also Texas Foundries v. N. L. R. B., 5 Cir., 211 F.2d 791. Indeed, Section 8(d) of the Act, as amended, specifically provides: 13 (d) For the purposes of this section, to bargain collectively is the performance of the mutual obligation of the employer and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment, or the negotiation of an agreement, or any question arising thereunder, and the execution of a written contract incorporating any agreement reached if requested by either party, but such obligation does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession   . 14 We conclude that the Board's order based on findings that National's unlawful refusal to bargain in good faith precipitated an unfair labor practice strike entitling the employees to reinstatement upon their unconditional application, instead of an economic strike resulting, not from National's refusal to bargain, but from a bona fide stalemate on the wage issue, must be denied enforcement as not supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole. Universal Camera Corp. v. N. L. R. B., 340 U.S. 474, 71 S.Ct. 456, 95 L.Ed. 456. 15