Opinion ID: 360904
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Ally Doctrine

Text: 38 The Union's contention that Pickens lost its neutral secondary employer status by entangling itself in the Union's dispute with Morris is without merit. 39 The ally doctrine concerns employers who are so interrelated that neither can be considered a neutral third party in the labor disputes of the other. Carpet Layers, Local 419 v. NLRB, 139 U.S.App.D.C. 68, 429 F.2d 747 (1970). Common ownership or management, centralized control of labor relations, and interrelationship of operations, are controlling factors. Newspaper Production Co. v. NLRB, 503 F.2d 821 (5th Cir. 1974). A contractor/subcontractor relationship is generally considered insufficient. NLRB v. Denver Building & Construction Trades Council, 341 U.S. 675, 71 S.Ct. 943, 95 L.Ed. 1284 (1951). 40 The Union claims Pickens went beyond a mere contractor/subcontractor relationship with Morris by (1) urging Morris to get a Union contract for the First National job; (2) providing Scott with free legal service; and (3) urging the Union to sign a one-job contract with Morris. The argument misinterprets the facts. Pickens and Morris were, and remained, independent contractors. Morris contacted the Union only because of a local understanding that Pickens worked union, not because Pickens insisted he do so. There were no prior dealings between Pickens and Morris and Pickens had no economic or managerial control over Morris. The attempt by Pickens to negotiate a settlement of the Morris problem, amounted to no more than what any general contractor would do to avoid a disruptive and expensive strike on a major construction project. 41 In summary, we find no error in the trial court's findings, in its determination that the Union engaged, with the required secondary intent, in acts of threat, coercion or inducement, within the meaning of § 303, or in its view that Pickens did not lose its neutral secondary employer status.