Opinion ID: 771050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the compliance proceedings

Text: 29 Alaska Pulp I and Alaska Pulp II were consolidated for the purpose of compliance proceedings. See C.F.R. S 102.52 et seq. In its initial attempt to implement the Board's will, the Region interpreted the decisions as implying that the merit ranking system was itself inherently discriminatory. Consequently, the Region issued a compliance determination that utilized the seniority-based progression system to determine reinstatement order. When Alaska Pulp objected, the NLRB's General Counsel reversed the Regional Director and ordered recalculation based on Alaska Pulp's merit rankings. 30 The Regional Director published its corrected calculations in an amended compliance determination, which the Employees subsequently appealed to this court. We remanded so that the Board could, as it requested, clarify its prior order and address various issues raised by [the Employees]. April 3, 1992, Motion for Remand at 3. 31 The Board then ordered the Regional Director to present calculations using both departmental seniority and merit ranking as alternatives for the administrative law judge to consider at a compliance hearing. See December 15, 1992, NLRB Order. A third compliance specification consistent with the order was generated. In its answer to this specification, Alaska Pulp reiterated its position that merit rankings should determine recall order. It also challenged the Board's decision to give back-pay to those former strikers who terminated their employment with Alaska Pulp in order to receive the lump sum payment of pension benefits. Finally, it argued that the majority of the 107 discriminatees unequivocally abandoned their jobs, somehow forfeited their right to back-pay, or failed to mitigate their losses. 32 The compliance hearing was held in May 1993. It lasted 18 days, during which Alaska Pulp told the judge that it would close the Sitka pulp mill by September 30, 1993. A fourth compliance specification was propounded to account for the closure. On September 27, 1993, the administrative law judge issued a full supplemental decision. The judge concluded that seniority was the proper method for recall, rejected Alaska Pulp's major objections to the compliance specification, and resolved Alaska Pulp's specific challenges to the back-pay calculations for the 107 strikers. 33 The Board's General Counsel, the Employees, and Alaska Pulp filed exceptions. 34