Opinion ID: 427313
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Original Decision

Text: 38 In Seafarers, supra, we held that certain cab drivers in Chicago and environs, who operated under a parent corporation of Suburban, were independent contractors and not employees subject to the Act. As the Board concedes, Brief for Respondent at 22, Suburban's lease is virtually identical to the lease at issue in Seafarers. Tr. 23 (JA 86). However, notwithstanding that the ALJ found the facts here to be not materially distinguishable from those presented in Seafarers, he concluded that Suburban's drivers are employees. In a two-to-one decision, the panel affirmed the ALJ's decision. 249 N.L.R.B. 265 (1980) (JA 2). In that decision, without undertaking any substantial analysis of its own, the panel majority stated: 39 We agree with the Administrative Law Judge's analysis and finding that the taxi cab drivers herein are employees within the meaning of the Act. As additional support, see our recently issued decision in Air Transit, Inc. 248 NLRB No. 140 (1980). 25 40 249 N.L.R.B. at 265 n. 2 (JA 3). 41 As a result, the majority also held that Suburban had committed unfair labor practices in violation of section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act. The Board ordered Suburban to 42 recognize and bargain with the Union as the exclusive collective-bargaining representative of the lessee drivers employed at its Suburban facility in Richfield, Minnesota, ... and that it apply ... such terms of its governing collective-bargaining agreements as may be relevant to the lessees. Respondent will also be required to bargain with the Union concerning any other terms and conditions of the lessees' employment deemed pertinent, and to embody in a signed understanding any agreement reached with the Union. 43 Id. at 266 (JA 5-6) (emphasis added). 44 Member Panello dissented from the majority's disposition 45 on the ground that the lessee drivers are independent contractors rather than statutory employees. Both my colleagues and [Suburban], in its brief, agree that the facts here are not materially distinguishable from those present in [Seafarers ], in which I dissented from the Board's decision to find certain taxi drivers to be employees within the meaning of the Act. My review of the record confirms their assessment [that the facts here are not materially distinguishable from those present in Seafarers ]. Therefore, I dissent in this case for the same reasons I dissented in Yellow Cab. 46 Id. at 267 (Panello, dissenting in part) (JA 10-11) (emphasis added). 47