Opinion ID: 496585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: loading up

Text: 2 For many years, Boston Deliveries, Inc. (Bodeli), an intervenor herein, has been engaged in the business of providing transportation and freight handling services in the vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts. Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Sears) was Bodeli's sole customer. In addition to furnishing drivers to Sears, Bodeli also obligated itself contractually to supply platform men and helpers, i.e., dock workers, if requested by Sears. The agreement bound Bodeli to provide the described services, including dock work, in accordance with [Sears'] requests. That portion of Bodeli's work force which toiled in Sears' vineyards was covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Bodeli and Local 25. The latest installment of this pact ran from April 1985 through March 1988, and was in full force and effect at all times material hereto. 3 Despite the fact that the freight handling contract was terminable by either party at will (on thirty days written notice), Bodeli and Sears worked hand in glove under it for over fifteen years. In November 1984, however, Sears inaugurated a new warehouse operation. It began to reserve dock work for its own staff. The following spring, six of Bodeli's employees were laid off and thereafter prosecuted grievances pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The sextet, claiming to have been sidelined while Sears' employees took over the platform work, sought backpay and an order requiring Bodeli to refrain from its supposed violations of the union contract. The matter was arbitrated in the predetermined manner by reference to a regional panel--NEJAC--comprised of representatives of some sixteen Teamsters' locals and an equal number of management designees. NEJAC held a hearing on July 17, 1985. Bodeli took the position that Sears had decided to use its own personnel for platform work, that Sears was entitled to do so, and that Bodeli was powerless to deter its customer. Nevertheless, NEJAC sustained the grievances. 4 On June 28, while the initial grievances were hanging fire, Sears sent formal written notice that it no longer needed Bodeli to perform any loading or unloading services, and that it was cancelling the contract for those services as at August 1, 1985. Bodeli informed its crew of this development. The NEJAC decision resolving the half-dozen original grievances intervened at this point, and Bodeli did not immediately respond to it. On the August 1 changeover date, however, the pot began to boil. The union struck and commenced picketing, albeit briefly. Bodeli then paid the six May/June grievants under protest, and sued in federal district court to vacate the arbitral award. Local 25 counterclaimed to enforce the award. That suit remains pending. 5 Subsequent to August 1, 1985, the union presented and processed a host of additional grievances, averring in substance that Sears' takeover of the platform work, and Bodeli's acquiescence in that maneuver, had caused further losses to affected union members and comprised a breach of the collective bargaining pact. NEJAC deadlocked on these remonstrances, and further arbitral proceedings have thus far proven inconclusive. On September 4, 1985, the intervenor, qua charging party, filed a complaint with the NLRB. And that fall, the union presented and processed eighteen additional grievances.