Document: 330 U.S. 485 67 S.Ct. 789 91 L.Ed. 1040 PACKARD MOTOR CAR CO.v.NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD. No. 658. Argued Jan. 9, 1947. Decided March 10, Mr. Louis F. Dahling, of Detroit, Mich., for petitioner. Gerhard P. Van Arkel, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion Court. 1 The question presented by this case is whether foremen are entitled as a class to rights self-organization, collective bargaining, and other concerted activities assured employees generally National Labor Relations Act. 29 U.S.C.A. § 151 et seq. grows out c nditions automotive industry, so far they important legal issues here facts simple. 2 Packard Motor Car Company employs about 32,000 rank file workmen. Since 1937 have been represented United Automobile Workers America affiliated with Congress Industrial Organizations. These supervised approximately 1,100 consisting 125 'general foremen,' 643 'foremen,' 273 'assistant 65 'special assignment men.' Each general foreman in charge one or more departments, under him authority their assistant foremen. Special men described 'trouble-shooters.' 3 function these typical duties mass production industry generally. Foremen carry responsibility maintaining quantity quality production, subject, course, overall control supervision management. Hiring done labor relations department, discharging laying off employees. But provided forms detailed lists penalties be applied cases violations discipline, initiate recommendations promotion, demotion discipline. All such subject reviewing procedure concerning grievances collectively-bargained agreement between union. 4 group highly paid and, unlike workmen, justifiable absence holidays, not docked pay when tardy, receive longer vacations, given severance upon release Company. 5 determined organize unit Foremen's Association America, an unaffiliated organization which represents supervisory exclusively. Following usual procedure, after Board had decided that 'all foremen, special employed at its plants Michigan, constitute appropriate purposes bargaining within meaning section 9(b) Act,'1 was certified representative. asserted were 'employees' advantages Act, refused bargain After hearing on unfair practice, issued cease desist order. resisted challenged validity judgment court below decreed enforcement, we granted certiorari. 329 707, 357. 6 issue law power Act simple our only determine order authorized statute. 7 privileges benefits conferred employees, 2(3) relevant, provides 'The term 'employee' shall include any employee * *.' 49 Stat. 450. point both most technical sense common well acceptance term, too obvious labored. Company, however, turns Act's definition employer, it contends reads into employers. Section 2(2) reads: 'employer' includes person acting interest directly indirectly context think, leaves no room construction deny organizational privilege because act employer. Every employee, from very fact employment master's business, required his interest. He owes employer faithful performance service interest, protection mployer's property custody control, all may, third parties, interests extent he liable wrongful acts. A familiar example would truck driver whose negligence might answer. 8 purpose seems obviously render employers responsible practices acts persons performed interests. It adaptation ancient maxim law, respondeat superior, principal made tortious agent master servants. Even without statutory provision, rule apply many relations. creating new known practices, could certain courts tort superior those derelictions. if did, problem proof kind wrongs easily complicated questions scope actor's variance apparent real authority. Hence, administering purposes, should merely individual corporation employing entity, but also others, not, who 'acting employer.' 9 some matters, including standing management manual labor, still own Though representative schedule, properly may adverse comes fixing wages, hours, seniority working conditions. does lose right serve himself respects serves others. And see basis whatever holding forbidden take action protect 10 company's argument really addressed undesirability permitting organize. wants selfless representatives fears combine themselves, will sometimes governed fellow rather than There nothing argument. rooted misconception has wholehearted loyalty contract employment, independent terms itself conditions work. effect otherwise, Congress, us, create exceptions qualifications odds plain terms. 11 Moreover, company concedes What denies statute compels recognize In words, free fight foremen's union way companies fought unions before there indicates intended choose believe better served competition.2 N.L.R.B. v. Skinner & Kennedy Stationery Co., Cir., 113 F.2d 667; Armour 154 570, 574. 12 reason conclude prohibits cl §§ constituting concluding all. confers broad discretion units. reads, decide each whether, insure full benefit self-organization otherwise effectuate policies act, unit, craft plant subdivision thereof.' 453. Our review circumscribed provision findings facts, supported evidence, conclusive. 10(e), 454. So substantial evidence support Board, oversteps law. Link-Belt 311 584, 61 358, 85 368; Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. N.L.R.B., 313 146, 908, 1251. 13 clearly determination themselves equal that, while included different degrees work levels authority, relationship enterprise workmen inclusion grades single appropriate. Hence insofar depends beyond review. what absolute laid down statute, none decision. involves necessity large measure informed decision final, rarely disturbed. While do say representation cannot unreasonable arbitrary exceed Board's power, clear so. That settled, end. 14 We invited make lengthy examination views expressed later legislation pending show exclusion intended. is, ambiguity clarified resort legislative history, either subsequent proposals failed become 15 Counsel persuade us contrary interpretation citing long record inaction, vacillation division applying If obliged depend administrative light finding inconsistency decisions leave dark.3 difficult policy involved which, together changes membership, account contradictory characterize history Board. Whatever determining shows difficulty committed discretion. liberty considerations deciding naked now, case, 16 urged seriously unionization points bad industrial policy, puts position serving two masters, divides makes labor. However appraise force arguments matter, base them. They concern wisdom legislation; alter provisions. enforcement 17 Affirmed. 18 DOUGLAS, whom CHIEF JUSTICE BURTON concur, dissenting. 19 First. Over thirty years ago Brandeis, private citizen, saw need narrowing gap allowing greater participation decisions, developing system cooperation coercion dominant characteristic.1 view, measures therapeutic value dealing problems unrest inefficiency. 20 present step direction. least tends obliterate line ends sanctions federal hierarchy. emphasize basic opposing forces operating hand stockholder bondholder other. defined contest over fair gross receipts groups. struggle becomes secondary growing unity demands ownership. 21 I exaggerated statement underly For vice-presidents, managers, superintendents, superintendents—indeed, payroll company, president; commonly referred management, exception directors. vice-presidents recognition agency, how yet allow application. once unionized, solid phalanx separate factions warring camps. Indeed, thought leaders hierarchy above workers sympathetic claims them, manifestation same idea.2 22 mention matters indicate tremendously My suggest enacted mind change philosophy, left unmistakable trace purpose. find none. 23 Second. 'Employee' 'any' employee. 2(3), 449, 450, U.S.C. 152, stop there, president down. warranted stopping there. must considered Hearst Publications, 322 111, 124, 64 851, 857, 88 1170; Phelps Dodge Corp. 177, 191, 845, 1271, 133 A.L.R. 1217. When appear used all-embracing sense. Rather, opposition 'employer'. An 'any employer'. 2(2). thus personnel face classify classes; excluded 24 answer groups exclusive every duty—whether driving stoking furnace lathe—is interest' then declaring vicarious industry. solely put category acted formulating executing policies.3 25 Foremost among latter Trade arms legs policies. conflicts allied Management indeed through them condemns.4 upheld imposition against frequently relied hostility trade unionism.5 26 Third. evil aimed failure refusal workingmen collectively. noted attitude part led 'to strikes strife unrest' burden obstruct interstate commerce. know decade frustrated efforts workingmen, laborers, strikes, strife, unrest. pointed instances where striking; nor advised doing so.6 27 categories did seem consciousness Congress. refers 'wage rates', earners', 'workers'. phrase entire descriptive exempts laborer'. 'agricultural foreman, strange exempting laborers', foremen'. inference strong since exempted agricultural 'laborers', idea 'foremen' 28 raised—important relating represented. dual status creates serious problems. attributed constitutes practice; foreman's activity event can interfere peril.7 complications strongly planned project, suggestion came consider units bargaining,8 aware conflicting loyalties. Yet conspicuous included. formulate respecting peculiar suggests bring notion hard resist declaration much treatment See collected note Fourth. turn Congressional personnel. reports debates barren reference though replete references protecting 'laborers' 'workers'.9 30 Fifth. rel ted legislation, desired managerial officials expressly. Railway 1926, 44 577, 45 151, defines 'subordinate official'. Merchant Marine 1936, 52 953, 46 1101 seq., deals maritime supplement (see 1252, 1252) 1253(c), 1253(c). Social Security 620, 647, 42 1301, officer employee.10 wrote significance, especially utterly devoid indication concerned 31 Sixth. truth matter passed 1935, legislating behalf. intent association—the collectively—by great workers, enforcing oppressive instrumentalities blocked wage earners' path bargaining. To twelve treated victims anti-labor me distortion history. 32 said majority view.11 am convinced never faced legislation. sure cuts deep life. profound implications throughout economy. fundamental thinking nation legislated unwittingly it. consistent restriction extension 33 synonymously. label important; represent matters. Thus representing respects. called perform substantially skilled laborers. 34 mean recognizes American Steel Foundries Tri-City Council, 257 184, 209, 72, 78, 66 189, 360; Texas N O.R. Brotherhood Steamship Clerks, 281 548, 50 427, 433, 74 1034. States placed machinery behind right.12 read 35 FRANKFURTER agrees except marked 'First' expresses view. 26. vice presidents, presidents others like claiming time enough relevant differences 1100 corporate officers elected board held union, Union Collieries Coal 41 961, 165; Godchaux Sugars, Inc., 874. Then Maryland Drydock 733; Boeing Aircraft 51 67; Murray 94; General Motors Corp., 457; 4, 1212; L. A. Young Spring Wire 298; Jones Laughlin 386, 71 1261; California Packing 1461, re-embraced earlier conclusions progressive boldness shown Sugars cases. series hold supervisors Soss Manufacturing 56 348. productivity attainable, attainable conservation health, enjoyment work, development individual. regard adequately established. task ascertaining proposed conform requirements, laborer part. necessary witness. Likewise distribution gain justice being worker, indispensable inquiry essentially exercise judgment.' Business—A Profession, pp. 52—53. Foreman Abdicates, XXXII Fortune, 3, p. 150, 152; Levenstein, Today Tomorrow (1946) ch. VII. Daykin, Status Supervisory Employees Iowa L.Rev. 297; Rosenfarb, Policy (1940) 54—56, 116—120; Twentieth Century Fund, How Collective Bargaining Works (1942) 512—514, 547, 557 558, 628, 780. op. cit. supra, 298—299. International Machinists, Tool Die Makers 79, 80, 83, 88, 50; H. J. Heinz 514, 520, 521, 320, 323, 309. true Beatrice Sydney Webb, Democracy (1902) 546, fn. 2; Membership Foremen, Department Bull. (1943); Report Panel War Disputes Involving Supervisors (1945) IX; 67, 216; Northrup, Unionization Harv.Bus.Rev. 496. scale last few years. 314; March, Fed.Bar.J. 168; Note, 59 Harv.L.Rev. 606, 607; Comment, 55 Yale L.J. 754, 756; Unions, IX Advanced Quarterly 110. Cf. 146 833; 767—774; cit., 6. provides: Rep. 969, 74th Cong., 1st Sess.; 972, 1147, S. 573, Sess., 6—7; Hearings, Senate Comm. Educ. 2926, 73d 2d House H.R. 6288, 1958, 79 Cong.Rec. 2371, 7365, 7648, 7668, 8537, 9676, 9713, 9736, 10720. Federal Employers Liability 65, amended, 51, carrier' Owens Pac. R. 319 715, 63 87 1683; Ellis 649, 598. 313; 6; Gartenbaus, goes Union, New Republic 563: Comment 754; Military Affairs Bills Full Utilization Manpower, 78th 299; Foreman's 187; cf. Association, Relation Between Industry (1944); Id. Should Unionized? (1945). state laws discussed 187, 199—200.

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