Opinion ID: 1281454
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Charges and Board Order

Text: The case at bench is a separate although similar case arising out of alleged incidents at the Lakeview camp in November 1981 and incidents in the Imperial Valley in December 1981 and January 1982. ( Sam Andrews' Sons (Mar. 13, 1984, mod. July 20, 1984) 10 ALRB No. 11, referred to for convenience hereafter as 10 ALRB 11.) The specific charges against the grower in the instant case were: Two instances of denying UFW representatives access to the Lakeview labor camp on November 10 and 11, 1981, a separate violation for forcibly ejecting UFW representatives from the Lakeview camp on November 10, 1981, two instances of denying UFW representatives access to the grower's Imperial Valley labor camp on December 7 and 8, 1981, and two instances of denying UFW representatives postcertification access to the grower's Imperial Valley fields on December 17, 1981, and January 6, 1982. On November 10, at approximately 7 or 8 p.m., UFW representative David Villarino and two or three other persons went to the Lakeview camp. According to Villarino's version of events, the grower's security guards confronted them at the front gate and asked Villarino if he was going into the camp. Villarino replied yes, and entered the barracks with his companions. One of the security personnel, Steve Rodriguez, testified that a camp resident informed him and two other security guards that nonresident UFW organizers were inside the barracks. Rodriguez and another security guard went inside the barracks where they saw Villarino, whom Rodriguez knew, and two other nonresidents. Rodriguez asked Villarino and his companions to leave. When they refused, Rodriguez escorted them out of the camp. On November 11, Villarino and several companions attempted to gain access to the camp pursuant to a temporary restraining order (TRO) served on the grower that day. The TRO permitted access by six UFW organizers between 6 and 8:30 p.m. Villarino and three others whom Rodriguez had not seen before approached the camp gate. Rodriguez admitted Villarino, who was known to be a representative, so that Villarino could make a phone call. Villarino's companions were denied entry to the camp, however, assertedly because they did not have proper identification. Villarino and his companions eventually left sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.m. With regard to the forcible ejection of Villarino from the Lakeview camp on November 10, the evidence showed that security guard Rodriguez physically grabbed Villarino's arm, possibly twisting it behind his back, and at least placed the other hand around Villarino's shoulder while walking him out of the room. Villarino testified he was pushed and shoved out of the barracks. The grower conceded that it had denied union representatives access to the Imperial Valley labor camp on December 8, 1981. The grower also conceded it had denied union representatives access to its Imperial Valley fields on December 17, 1981, and January 6, 1982. On December 17, the grower denied field access to a UFW representative. On January 6, a UFW field office director notified the grower, pursuant to the requirements of O.P. Murphy Produce Co., Inc. (Dec. 27, 1978) 4 ALRB No. 106 (the leading ALRB case on field access), of the UFW's intent to take field access. The grower stated he would call the UFW representative back, but never returned the call. The UFW representative also contacted the grower's attorney regarding the intended access, but the attorney merely stated that he was unsure of the grower's position with regard to field access in the Imperial Valley. The ALJ found the denials of access at the Lakeview camp on November 10 and 11, 1981, and at the Imperial Valley camp on December 7 or 8, 1981, were in all respects similar to the denials of access found in 8 ALRB No. 87, and therefore incorporated by reference the Board's decision and order in that case in concluding the grower's conduct violated Labor Code section 1153, subdivision (a). In addition, the ALJ concluded the ejection of Villarino from the bunkhouse on November 10 was forcible and constituted a separate unfair labor practice. The ALJ further concluded the denials of field access were in violation of Labor Code section 1153, subdivision (a). The ALJ therefore recommended a cease and desist order and an order requiring certain affirmative actions by the grower. The Board affirmed (approved and adopted) the findings of the ALJ that the grower had committed unfair labor practices by denying access to the Lakeview camp on November 10 and 11, and to the Imperial Valley camp on December 7 and 8, [6] by forcibly ejecting union representatives from the Lakeview camp on November 10, and by denying access to the Imperial Valley fields on December 17 and January 6. The Board ordered the grower to Cease and desist from: [¶] (a) Preventing, limiting, or restraining any union organizers or agents from entering and remaining on the premises of Respondent's labor camps for the purpose of contacting, visiting, or talking to any agricultural employee on the premises. [¶] (b) Denying [union] representatives access to bargaining unit employees, at reasonable times, on the property or premises where they are employed, for purposes related to collective bargaining between Respondent and the UFW. [¶] (c) In any like or related manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing any agricultural employee in the exercise of the rights guaranteed by section 1151 of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act (Act). (Italics added.) In addition, the Board ... also direct [ ed ] the Regional Director to seek contempt citations against Respondent for any on-going or further violations of our access orders. (Italics added.) The grower was ordered to take affirmative actions, including: At a time to be determined by the Regional Director, provide the UFW with access to its employees for one hour during regularly scheduled work time, for the purpose of talking with the employees about matters related to collective bargaining between Respondent and the UFW. Access may be taken by two UFW representatives for every fifteen employees in each of Respondent's work crews. After conferring with both the UFW and Respondent, the Regional Director shall determine the manner and most suitable time for the special access. During the one-hour access period, no employee shall be required to be involved in the access activities. All employees shall receive their regular pay for the time away from work. The Regional Director shall determine an equitable payment to be made to nonhourly wage earners for their lost productivity. Finally, in an expansive order the Board required the grower to pay the union's attorney fees and costs. The Board, citing recent NLRB precedent in Autoprod, Inc. (1982) 265 NLRB 331 [111 Lab.Rel.Ref. Manual (Bur.Nat.Affairs) p. 1521], purported to require the grower to reimburse the union for an extensive array of costs, stating: On the authority of Autoprod, Inc., we shall attempt to restore the status quo ante by ordering Respondent to reimburse the Charging Party [UFW] for: [¶] `... its costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation, presentation, and conduct of this proceeding, including salaries, witness fees, transcript and record costs, printing costs, travel expenses and per diem, and such other reasonable costs and expenses as are found appropriate.' 265 NLRB No. 42 at p. 7. (Italics added.)