Opinion ID: 439255
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Emphasis added.)

Text: 7 The Company also argues that its denial of access did not substantially deviate from the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and that it did not effect a material, substantial, and significant change in the existing practices. See Peerless Food Products, Inc., 236 N.L.R.B. 161 (1978). The Board determined otherwise, and our review of the record establishes that this determination was supported by substantial evidence; thus, we decline to disturb it. See 29 U.S.C. Sec. 160(e), supra note 4 8 The Company also asserts that the Union had notice of the Company's intent to institute changes in access and failed to demand bargaining, thus waiving its rights. We find this argument meritless. The record supports the Board's finding that the Company's letter of November 20, see supra part I, merely elaborated on and fleshed out the terms of the collective bargaining agreement with regard to the access provision, and did not alter the terms of the agreement. The November 20 letter did not effect a change in the access provision nor did it provide warning of such a pending change. Similarly, Teague's conversation with a Company representative on November 12 constituted an attempt to vitalize and define the terms of the agreement's access clause, not notice of the Company's subsequent unilateral alteration thereof. Thus, we agree with the Board's finding that the Union did not waive its right to object to the Company's conduct. See, e.g., American Distributing Co. v. NLRB, 715 F.2d 446, 450 (9th Cir.1983) (To assert successfully a waiver-by-inaction defense, an employer must show that the union had clear notice of the employer's intent to institute the change sufficiently in advance of actual implementation so as to allow a reasonable opportunity to bargain about the change); cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 104 S.Ct. 2170, 80 L.Ed.2d 553 (1984); see also NLRB v. Crystal Springs Shirt Corp., 637 F.2d 399, 402 (5th Cir.1981) 9 The Company cites Local Union No. 4-14, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers International Union, AFL-CIO v. NLRB, 721 F.2d 150, (5th Cir.1983), as supporting our jurisdiction over the representation issue. In Local Union No. 4-14, we reviewed the Board's conduct and supervision of an election only after the employer had committed an unfair labor practice in treating as void the collective bargaining agreement in existence prior to the disputed affiliation election. In contrast, the Company in this case committed the unfair labor practices precipitating the present action before the merger of Locals 549 and 588. The policy and practice of the NLRA suggests that dilatory litigation by the employer facing a representation election should not be permitted to frustrate the employee's preferences for representation. In Local Union No. 4-14, the election over, a court could review whether the Board reasonably exercised its discretion. With an election ordered by the Board, an assertion of our jurisdiction in this matter would be improper at this time 10 That part of the Board's order arising from the representation proceeding is exempted from our enforcement because of our lack of jurisdiction. See infra text at note 9