Opinion ID: 185442
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Provocation by unfair labor practice

Text: 18 The Board, interpreting Petrillo's comment that he was tired of carrying Yonta as convey[ing] at least an implicit threat that Yonta could lose his job for having engaged in the protected activity, found that Petrillo committed an unfair labor practice, which in turn provoked Yonta's obscenities. 331 NLRB No. 12, slip op. at 2. Felix challenges those factual determinations. First, Felix argues there is no evidence in the record that shows Petrillo's carrying comment preceded rather than followed Yonta's vulgar outburst. Actually, there is substantial and uncontradicted evidence to that effect: Yonta testified that the conversation unfolded in that order, whereas Petrillo could not recall the sequence. 19 Second, Felix objects to the Board's characterization of Petrillo's carrying remark about Yonta as an implied threat. The ALJ and the dissenting Member thought Petrillo's remark referred to Yonta's sub-par performance, not to his claim to the night differential. Id. at 4, 7. There is evidence in the record both that Yonta's performance was indeed subpar and that Petrillo tried to mollify Yonta, not to meet his demand for the differential with a threat. Still, the record as a whole contains substantial evidence to support the Board's characterization. The Board reasonably found that Petrillo's remark was angrily made in response to Yonta's pressing his right to extra pay under the contract. Although Petrillo credibly testified that he had previously received supervisory complaints about Yonta's work, Petrillo did not testify that he mentioned these complaints in the phone discussion. Id. at 2. And, as the Board points out, Petrillo's statement must be evaluated from Yonta's perspective: Petrillo's intent in making the remark about carrying Yonta does not necessarily mirror the impression it reasonably could have made upon Yonta. See NLRB v. Gissel Packing Co., 395 U.S. 575, 617 (1969). Therefore, we find no reason to disturb the Board's treatment of this factor.