Opinion ID: 469365
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Due Process Standards

Text: 10 For the Union's vote in favor of affiliation to meet the Board's standards, it must accurately reflect the sentiments of a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit. See NLRB v. Commercial Letter, Inc., 496 F.2d 35, 42 (1974); Hamilton Tool Co., 190 NLRB 571, 574 (1971). This means that the election must be conducted with adequate 'due process' safeguards, including notice of the election to all members, an adequate opportunity for members to discuss the election, and reasonable precautions to maintain ballot secrecy. Financial Institution, --- U.S. at ----, 106 S.Ct. at 1012. We find substantial evidence supporting the Board's finding that the Union's choice to conduct its business more informally in accordance with the traditions of New England town meeting democracy met the necessary due process standards. 11 First, it appears that members of the Union had adequate notice that an election to decide whether to affiliate with the IUE would be held. Several days after the issue of affiliation was initially discussed at the regular membership meeting on August 5, 1983, Union President Flanagan posted on the Union bulletin board at the plant a notice of the special affiliation election meeting to be held on August 17. In addition, copies of the notice were mailed to all unit members, and copies were also distributed at the plant. All but three of the 32 members of the Union attended the meeting, which was held at the customary time and location of regular Union meetings. 12 Moreover, contrary to Insulfab's contention, there is sufficient evidence from which to conclude that the employees were adequately informed as to the effects of affiliation and that they had sufficient opportunity for discussion before voting. IUE representatives explained the supposed advantages of affiliating. They stated that the officers would remain the same, that the IUE would come in, if requested, to assist in bargaining and in the processing of grievances, that the membership retained the final decision on striking, and that the dues would increase somewhat after affiliation. Before voting, the employees had a chance to discuss the pros and cons of affiliation outside the presence of the IUE spokesmen. While Union members were not informed of every change that would take place, there is substantial evidence in support of the Board's finding that the Union members were adequately informed. 13 The Company charges that there was no impartial party present during the voting and that the voting did not follow proper rules of procedure. But we believe the Board was entitled to find, as it did, that the voting procedures, while informal, met minimal due process standards. Voting was by secret ballot, after the IUE representatives left the room. Employees preserved some measure of privacy by turning their backs to the others or by cupping their hands over their ballots. The ballots were publicly tallied by two employees. When asked if everyone was satisfied with the voting procedure, no one voiced any objection or discontent. Indeed, after the results of the secret ballot were announced, the members voted 28 to 1 to make the affiliation decision unanimous. 14 Insulfab has failed to point to any evidence that the affiliation election did not, in fact, reflect the views of a large majority of the employees. For example, no one in the bargaining unit is shown to have come forward to oppose the results of the affiliation election. Thus we find sufficient support for the Board's determination that the Union's decision to affiliate reflected the considered choice of the majority of the bargaining unit employees.