Opinion ID: 710103
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Occurrence of Vacancies

Text: 28 The Board held that Medite violated the Act by failing to offer reinstatement to Tafoya and Montano in their pre-strike positions or substantially similar provisions. Medite argues that the General Counsel failed to satisfy his burden of proving the existence of such positions. 29 Prior to the strike, Montano worked as a cutoff saw helper. He tendered his unconditional offer to return to work on December 4, 1990. During the strike, Medite hired Richard Martinez as a laborer. He was promoted to cutoff saw helper on November 13, 1990. He was then demoted to the position of laborer, and again promoted to the position of cutoff saw helper on September 20, 1991. Medite did not offer to Montano the cutoff saw helper position filled by Martinez on September 20, 1991, although Medite had received Montano's unconditional offer to return to work. 30 The Board has attempted to balance the rights of employees and employers in strike situations by allowing replacement workers to be kept on permanently (in order to give the replacement workers adequate incentive to take replacement jobs), but by requiring genuine vacancies in the workforce to be given, in line of seniority, to the striking workers after the strike is over. Aqua-Chem, Inc., Cleaver-Brooks Div. v. NLRB, 910 F.2d 1487, 1489 (7th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1238, 111 S.Ct. 2871, 115 L.Ed.2d 1037 (1991); Laidlaw Corp., 171 NLRB 1366 (1968), enf'd, 414 F.2d 99 (7th Cir.1969). A genuine vacancy (also known as a Laidlaw vacancy) arises when the company expands its workforce or discharges a particular employee, or when an employee quits or otherwise leaves the company. NLRB v. Delta-Macon Brick and Tile Co., 943 F.2d 567, 572 (5th Cir.1991). A genuine vacancy does not occur, however, where the company temporarily lays off a replacement worker, as long as the laid-off worker has a reasonable expectancy of recall. Aqua-Chem Inc., 910 F.2d at 1490. 3 The burden is on the General Counsel to first establish a prima facie case that the layoff truly signified [a Laidlaw vacancy]. Aqua-Chem, 288 NLRB at 1109. 31 Medite argues that, under Aqua-Chem, the General Counsel failed to establish that Martinez had no reasonable expectancy of recall. The ALJ and the Board rejected this argument, stating: 32 This case is distinguishable from Aqua-Chem because Martinez was not laid off from a position but was demoted from the cutoff saw helper position to the position of laborer. Further, when the September 20, 1991 vacancy occurred, Martinez was not automatically awarded the job. Instead, [Medite] posted the vacancy for bid by all of the employees. This contradicts [Medite's] contention that Martinez could reasonably expect to be returned to that position and that therefore no real vacancy existed. 33 Medite of New Mexico, Inc., 314 NLRB at 1147. Medite claims there is no support in the record for this finding. 34 This is a factual matter, and we review the Board's conclusion only to see if substantial evidence in the record supports it. It is the primary responsibility of the Board and not of the courts 'to strike the proper balance between the asserted business justification and the invasion of employee rights in light of the Act and its policy.'  Fleetwood Trailer, 389 U.S. at 378, 88 S.Ct. at 546 (quoting NLRB v. Great Dane Trailers, Inc., 388 U.S. 26, 33-34, 87 S.Ct. 1792, 1797, 18 L.Ed.2d 1027 (1967)). After reviewing the record, we find there is substantial evidence in the record supporting the Board's conclusion. 35 Tafoya had worked prior to the strike as a saw forklift operator. He tendered his unconditional offer to return to work on November 14, 1990. On June 6, 1991, and on April 1, 1992, two workers hired as laborers during the strike were promoted to the position of sander forklift operator. The ALJ made the following findings concerning the comparability of the positions of saw forklift operator and sander forklift operator: 36 The forklift used by a saw forklift operator is smaller and its operator handles smaller panels that the forklift operated by the sander forklift operator. I nevertheless find and conclude the controls and operation of the two forklifts is substantially equivalent and note the sander forklift operator services the in-line saw as well as the sander. 37 Medite of New Mexico, Inc., 314 NLRB at 1161. The Board affirmed the ALJ's conclusion that the two positions were substantially equivalent, and Medite therefore violated the Act by failing to reinstate Tafoya into one of the sander forklift vacancies. After reviewing the record, we find that there is substantial evidence to support the Board's conclusion.