Opinion ID: 717843
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: AutoZone's Gag Order

Text: 14 On February 11, 1993, several members of the Union's organizing committee approached Ferguson and Roberts to discuss a problem concerning, in essence, discriminatory practice by AutoZone. Reuben Rice, an AutoZone employee, read to them a short handwritten note protesting a company practice of allowing antiunion employees to walk around the facility during work time making antiunion statements to other employees, while prohibiting union supporters from campaigning for the Union during work time. Two days before this meeting, Supervisor Schlichting told employee Stanley Wilson that he would be discharged if he were caught discussing the Union on the job. 15 Later that day, AutoZone assembled all employees, and Ferguson told them there would be no talking whatsoever either for or against the Union during work time. He further stated that such discussion was hampering production and that violators would be subject to discipline, including discharge. This restriction was not in effect during their personal time at breaks, lunch, and before or after work; employees could discuss any topic during these times. Despite these warnings, AutoZone's policy concerning employee conversation remained in effect. That is, employees were permitted to carry on conversations during work as long as it did not interfere with their work. 16 In mid-February, Supervisor Barbara Cunningham told employees during a meeting that any discussion regarding the Union would lead to their being terminated. 17 Around the same time, Supervisor Marshall Hurley told employees, including employee Robin Delk, who were talking in the rest room line that they should not be talking about the Union. 18 On another occasion in mid-February, housekeeping employee James Andrews, while cleaning lavatories in the women's rest room, stopped two female employees coming in to use the facility. Andrews spoke with the two about Union health benefits, which was an issue in the campaign. As a result of the discussion, the women were delayed from returning to their jobs. Later that day, Supervisor Timothy Schlichting told Andrews that he was not to discuss union issues on company time. Schlichting never spoke with the two female employees involved, and he did not issue Andrews a written warning or make a written note of the incident. 19