Document: 475 U.S. 192 106 S.Ct. 1007 89 L.Ed.2d 151 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner,v. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES OF AMERICA, LOCAL 1182, CHARTERED BY UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO et al. SEATTLE-FIRST BANK, Petitioner, v. etc., Nos. 84-1493, 84-1509. Argued Dec. 4, 1985. Decided Feb. 26, 1986. Syllabus In 1970, the National Labor Relations Board (Board) certified Firstbank Independent Employees Association (Firstbank) as collective-bargaining representative of a bargaining unit consisting employees Seattle-First Bank (SeaFirst), and successive agreements were negotiated. 1978, in an election which only union members allowed to vote, voted affiliate with international changed its name Financial Institution America, Local 1182 (FIEA). FIEA then petitioned amend certification reflect this change. After initially granting petition holding that SeaFirst had committed unfair labor practice by refusing recognize amended or bargain FIEA, Board, on reconsideration, held that, because nonunion not vote affiliation election, did meet minimal "due process" standards therefore was invalid. Accordingly, dismissed FIEA's charge vacated certification. The Court Appeals granted for review Board's decision remanded case, requirement be questions irrational inconsistent Act (Act). Held: exceeded authority under requiring before it would order employer affiliated union. Pp. 198-209. (a) Such dramatically changes scheme has been grant independent union's change resulting from national if found adequate opportunity there substantial "continuity" between preaffiliation postaffiliation 198-201. (b) Under Act, must recognized exclusive all unit, cannot discontinue recognition without determining another raises question representation and, so, conducting decide whether is still choice majority unit. Here, either bargain, effectively circumvented decertification procedures provided Act. Moreover, non-union violated policy Congress incorporated into against outside interference decisionmaking. 201-204. (c) Employees' dissatisfaction reason allow matters like affiliation. Rather, allows control shape direction Dissatisfaction make may tested Board-conducted unclear retains support. Any distinction other organization structure does justify meddling internal affairs. 205-208. (d) new rule contravenes Act's assumption stable relationships are best maintained allowing continue representing unless finds representation. gives power veto affiliate, thereby interfere directly decisionmaking intended insulate interference. 208-209. 752 F.2d 356 (CA 9 1984), affirmed remanded. BRENNAN, J., delivered opinion Court, WHITE, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, POWELL, REHNQUIST, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, JJ., joined. BURGER, C.J., filed concurring judgment, post, p. 210. Norton J. Come, Washington, D.C., petitioner No. 84-1493. Mark A. Hutcheson, Seattle, Wash., Laurence Gold, respondents both cases. Justice BRENNAN Court. 1 these cases requires permitted consistent 2 * (SeaFirst). subsequently negotiated agreements, most recent expired 1977. Retail Clerks International Union, AFL-CIO. Firstbank's constitution, good standing could election. favor margin 1,206-774. Upon affiliation, (FIEA), chartered challenged petition, arguing substantially union, should have followed own constitution establishing voter eligibility standards. rejected arguments employees' representative. Bank, 241 N.L.R.B. 751 (1979).1 3 refused FIEA. sustained charges violation §§ 8(a)(1) 8(a)(5) 29 U.S.C. 158(a)(1) 158(a)(5), ordered bargain.2 245 700 (1979). Ninth Circuit order, cross-applied enforcement. Before rendered decision, moved remand case it, court motion. NLRB, 79-7515, 80-7004 (June 27, 1980); see n. infra. 4 On remand, notified parties motion reconsider earlier decision. standards, 265 426 (1982). 5 Appeals, 2-1 case. (1984). three reasons. First, intruded upon affairs here totally unjustified intrusion determined eroded support—and "longstanding federal avoiding unnecessary affairs." Id., at 362. Second, "inconsistent strong maintaining stability representative." 364. Pursuant policy, restricted opportunities employers challenge status representative,3 further but breached since decertified determination undermined Finally, irrational, interests adequately protected existing procedures, reasoning support rule. 6 conflicts contrary holdings Courts Fifth Seventh Circuits upholding Union 4-14 721 150, 152-153 (CA5 1983); United Workers 881 774 (CA7 1985).4 We petitions resolve conflict. 471 1098, 105 2318, 85 838 (1985). affirm. II 7 Section guarantees right "to collectively through representatives their choosing," § 157, empowered determine employer. 159(c)(1)(A)(i), 159(c)(1)(B). investigates holds hearing reasonable cause believe "question representation" exists, 159(c), directs secret ballot settle question. Ibid. certifies winning commits 158(a)(5). 8 recognizes employee circumstances. such cases, alleging no longer enjoys 159(c)(1)(A)(ii); CFR 101.17, 102.60(a) Similarly, who 159(c)(1)(B); (1985); C. Morris, Developing Law 349 (2d ed. 1983). employer, however, "demonstrate objective considerations some grounds believing lost status." States Gypsum Co., 157 652, 656 (1966); 101.17 supra. Again, determines, after investigation hearing, result. 159(c). One circumstances is, here, where decides organization.5 many also will 102.60(b) satisfied two conditions. North Electric 165 942, 943 (1967). ordinarily required conducted safeguards, including notice members, discuss precautions maintain secrecy. E.g., Newspapers Inc., 210 8, (1974), enf'd, 515 334 1975).6 pre- post-affiliation focus inquiry union; considered factors retained local autonomy officers, continued follow established procedures. See Note, supra 5, 445, nn. 74-82.7 If organizational accompanying enough create different entity, raised concerning resolved procedure. supra, 690; However, long continuity due process satisfied, matter affect representative, obligated reorganized 690-691; Universal Tool & Stamping 182 254, 259 (1970).8 10 scheme.9 now takes position unit—not merely members—must participate Amoco Production 262 1240, 1241 Unless they do require applies even though raise Brief NLRB 16-17. contend nonunion, expressly authorizes impose requirements. defend grounds. assert means protecting select argue minimizes industrial strife. address each argument turn. III 11 Petitioners afforded "a wide degree discretion procedure safeguards necessary insure fair free employees," A.J. Tower 329 324, 330, 67 328, 91 L.Ed. 322 (1946); 156; Wyman-Gordon 394 759, 767, 1426, 1430, 22 709 (1969); Waterman S.S. Corp. 309 206, 226, 60 493, 503, 84 704 (1940), insuring consent ultimately Our previously broad construe provisions deferred decisions Ford Motor Co. 441 488, 495, 497, 99 1842, 1848, 1849, 420 (1979); Beth Israel Hospital 437 483, 501, 98 2463, 2473, 57 370 (1978); Iron Workers, 434 335, 350, 651, 660, 54 586 (1978). exceeds statutory authority. Cf. Longshoremen, 473 61, 3045, 87 47 Bildisco Bildisco, 465 513, 104 1188, 79 482 Deference "cannot slip judicial inertia results unauthorized . major properly made Congress." American Ship Building 380 300, 318, 955, 967, 13 855 (1965); Insurance Agents, 361 477, 499, 80 419, 432, 454 (1960). hold 12 Of course, any structural change, relationship represents. These turn representation," Thus, situations, implicates protect interests, situation exercise conduct 159(c)(1). take account "[t]he sought unnecessarily disrupted every adjustment result displacement employer-bargaining relationship." Canton Sign 174 906, 909 (1969), enf. denied grounds, 457 832 (CA6 1972). despite precipitated affiliation.10 necessarily implicate "selection" legitimately claim succeed duly selected legitimate interest continuing balances competing concerns authorizing Conversely, representation, statute act. upsets accommodation drawn decertifying Turning record revoked relieved obligation fact, acknowledges, sufficient Absent function, entitled do, it. By statute. This Steelworkers Sadlowski, 102, 117, 102 2339, 2348, 72 707 (1982); Boeing 412 67, 71, 93 1952, 1955, 36 (1973); Scofield 423, 428, 1154, 1157, 385 Allis-Chalmers Mfg. 388 175, 195, 2001, 2014, 18 1123 give way Pattern Makers 95, 3064, 68 (1985) (union barring resignations during strike voluntary unionism); Marine 391 418, 88 1717, 20 706 (1968) exhaustion grievance preclude review). But establishes specific desire status. While charged responsibility administer procedure, unions adopting changes.11 B 14 employees, justifies They overlooks fact makes "affect" nonmember employees. It call strike, ratify agreement, officers representatives. dissatisfied effects complained event, organization, "[n]on-union voice union." Allis-Chalmers, U.S., 191, S.Ct., 2012. repeat, 15 concede affairs, identity, initiation seeking approval amendment Neither persuasive. 16 petitioners differs being represented organization. Hamilton 190 571, 576 (1971) (Miller, concurring). operate alter "identity." amends bylaws, restructures financial obligations resources, alters jurisdiction. often accompanied formal serve distinguish developments. As recognized, "an nor dissolution already organization." 239 1195 "whether administrative affiliating sufficiently dramatic Otherwise, 17 next involves asking bargain.12 placing imprimatur mischaracterizes nature relevant amending ordering "sanction" signifies continues ongoing entity recognize. analogy, mean "sanctioned" constitutional amendment. integrity empower adopt measures exceeding "undermining procedures," N.L.R.B., 1241, can refuse consider charge, authorized condone employer's refusal absence prescribe invoke protections. IV basic purpose preserve peace. 151. includes several designed encourage relationships, e.g., 8(b)(7)(A), 158(b)(7)(A) (prohibiting recognitional picketing union); 8(b)(7)(B), 158(b)(7)(B) one year election); 9(c)(3), 159(c)(3) second within year), devised rules achieve same ends. 3, furthers introducing measure certainty protects having so goes, avoids possibility represent submit benefits disruption occur eventually determines confidence, less likely find incumbent forgo 19 framework, might well rational preserving stability. noted, "as principle limit timing challenges representative's F.2d, 366. assumes assumption, perceived procedural defect cease succeeds chose, effort decertify presents evidence uncertainty part relieve him his collectively. "If doubts about duty bargaining, relief. To rely rights formally designated conducive [industrial peace]." Brooks 348 96, 103, 75 176, 181, 125 (1954). union.13 judgment affirmed. proceedings opinion. 21 ordered. Chief judgment. I write separately note Court's action today striking down those rare departures history special deference selection See, 327, Action Automotive, 469 490, 984, 83 986 certification, merged Amalgamated Meat Cutters Butcher Workmen America become Food Commercial charging party 700, 8(a) set forth 158(a), "[i]t shall employer— "(1) with, restrain, coerce guaranteed section title; "(5) subject 159(a) title." cited examples relationships. 365. presumption For first irrebuttable. "decertifying" least 30% present "extreme cases." 101.18 R. Gorman, Basic Text 49-50 (1976). Third, contract-bar rule, refuses elections certain period time while agreement remains effect. 361-376 Circuit's closely intertwined bargain. 220 861 (1975), aff'd, relied when originally appealed Circuit, 613 107, 112 (1980). light similarity asked well. reversed itself concluded invalid vote. 1240 dismissing revoking A seek larger variety provide expertise support, compensate lack leadership 1195; Hale, Affiliations: Examination Governing NLRA Standards, 1983 Det.C.L.Rev. 709. Affiliation "is ways organizations structures alignments response changing economic political conditions." Affiliations Collective Bargaining, 128 U.Pa.L.Rev. 430, 431 "must remain largely unfettered quest aid negotiating process." Williamson 244 953, 955 suggests inappropriate respect members. 28-29. we specified deciding affiliations, need assess propriety past disagree over 2; 4. simply declined issue. 356, 359, decline instead wait file Board. past, two-pronged test. words, used examine affiliations issue arose defense Drug Store Owners Santa Clara County, 211 701, 528 1225 (CA9 1975); 710, 8; 432. assertion actually adopted "new" Jasper Seating 231 1025 (1977), questioned. 3-2 took elections. suggesting he circumstances, member Penello concurred "based application [different] principles." 1026. He 1027. "affiliation involve employment relation. wages, working conditions, benefits, unaffected vote; effective until stated expiration date." 1195. "has probative value [union] collective Range Lines, 139, 154 (1939); 16, ("The general destroy representation"). When Management 1947, House passed proposal regulated electing assessing dues, disciplining strike. H.R. 3020, 8(c), 80th Cong., 1st Sess. (1947), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 135, Legislative History pp. 179-183 (Legis.Hist.). deleted final legislation. Cong.Rec. 6443 Legis.Hist. 1540 Senate conferees felt unwise authorize [the NLRB] undertake elaborate policing unions"). 1959, Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure officers. 411-415, 481. Senators Knowland McClellan advanced proposals regulate sorts decisions. 11184 (1958) (constitutional amendments recall officers); id., 11461 (waiver strike); S.1137, 102(5), 86th (1959), 272-273 (1959) (creation funds), 103(4), 277 (mergers transfers unions). None (1982) ("Congress guided left 'operate far possible.' believed essential imposed legislation." (citation omitted)). amicus brief, Chamber Commerce notes explicitly argues requests. request mere formality, additional police ask charge. broaden suggest, determination, exceed Respondents absent indication significantly Because conclude statute,

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