Legal Document

346 U.S. 464 74 Supreme Court Reporter 172 98 L.Ed. 195 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARDv. LOCAL UNION NO. 1229, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS. Number 15. Argued Oct. 12, 1953. Decided Dec. 7, Mr. Dominic L. Manoli, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Louis Sherman, respondent. Justice BURTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The issue before us is whether discharge certain employees by their employer constituted an unfair labor practice, within meaning §§ 8(a)(1) and 7 Taft-Hartley Act,1 justifying reinstatement National Labor Relations Board. For reason that was 'for cause' § 10(c) Act,2 we sustain Board in not requiring reinstatement. 2 In 1949, Jefferson Standard Broadcasting Company (here called company) a North Carolina corporation engaged interstate commerce. Under license from Federal Communications Commission, it operated, at Charlotte, Carolina, 50,000-watt radio station, with call letters WBT. It broadcast 10 to 12 hours daily television. television service, which started July 14, representing investment about $500,000, only such service area. Less than 50% station's programs originated Charlotte. others were piped over leased wires, generally New York, California or Illinois several different networks. Its annual gross revenue broadcasting operations exceeded $100,000 but its enterprise caused monthly loss $10,000 during first four months operation, including period here involved. rates advertising geared number receiving sets Local dealers had large inventories ready meet anticipated demands. 3 company employed 22 technicians. December 1948, negotiations settle terms employment after January 31, begun between representatives respondent Union International Brotherhood Electrical Workers, American Federation union). reached impasse existing contract expired 31. technicians, nevertheless, continued work collective-bargaining resumed July,3 break down again 8. main point disagreement arose union's demand renewal provision all discharges be subject arbitration company's counter-proposal limited facts material each discharge, leaving determine those gave adequate cause discharge. 4 9, union began peaceful picketing station. Placards handbills on picket line charged unfairness technicians emphasized refusal renew discharges. placards named as representative WBT did strike. They confined respective tours off-duty draw full pay. There no violence threat one has taken exception any above conduct. 5 But August 24, new procedure made appearance. Without warning, launched vitriolic attack quality broadcasts. Five thousand printed designation 'WBT Technicians.' These distributed line, public square two three blocks premises, barber shops, restaurants busses. Some mailed local businessmen. reference union, controversy collective bargaining. read: 6 'Is Charlotte A Second-Class City? 'You might think so kind Television being presented WBTV. Have you seen lately? Did know WBTV are film may day five years old. You cannot receive baseball games, football games other events because does have proper equipment make these pickups. Cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Washington nightly. Why doesn't purchase needed bring same type enjoyed leading cities? Could they consider second-class community entitled pictures now them? 8 Technicians' 9 This until September 3, when discharged ten whom sponsoring distributing handbills. letter discharging them tells side story.4 4, original tenor and, 13, filed charge company, above-mentioned practice. General Counsel complaint based charges hearing, trial examiner detailed findings recommendation reinstated back pay.5 94 N.L.R.B. 1507, 1527. found men neither sponsored nor 'Second-Class City' handbill ordered his then nine held conduct, Board, accordingly, order One member dissented. Id., 1507 et seq. 10(f) Act,6 petitioned Appeals District Colubmia Circuit review Board's modification would reinstate That court remanded further consideration finding 'unlawfulness' conduct led 91 U.S.App.D.C. 333, 202 Reporter, 2nd Series 186.7 We granted certiorari importance case administration Act. 345 947, 73 865. 11 essence, simple. employees, whose contracts expired, cause.' solely because, critical time initiation 5,000 making sharp, public, disparaging upon product business policies, manner reasonably calculated harm reputation reduce income. expressly days without indication abatement. that— 'It (the handbill) occasioned widespread comment community, Respondent apprehend due dissatisfaction service. 13 'In short, this deliberately undertook alienate employer's customers impugning technical product. As Trial Examiner found, misrepresent, least wilfully, cited support report. And ultimate purpose—to extract concession respect employment—was lawful. purpose, however, undisclosed; purported speak experts, interest consumers large. indicate sought secure benefit themselves, casting discredit employer.' N.L.R.B., 1511. 14 shows interpreted demonstration detrimental disloyalty provide 'cause' continue employ perpetrators attack. agree. 15 Section Act provides 'No shall require individual employee who been suspended discharged, payment him pay, if cause.'8 more elemental employer. equally seeks strengthen, rather weaken, cooperation, continuity cordial contractual relation born loyalty common enterprise.9 16 Congress, while safeguarding, right engage 'concerted activities purpose bargaining mutual aid protection,'10 weaken underlying bonds loyalties employee. conference report enactment law said: 17 '(T)he courts firmly established rule under provisions section Act, given unlawful improper 18 '* * Furthermore, amended act, proposed agreement, specifically provided pay cause, this, course, applies equal force acts constituting committed connection concerted activity.' H.R.Rep.No. 510, 80th Cong., 1st Sess. 38—39. 19 clear since early Wagner Act.11 1937, Chief Hughes, writing Court, 20 'The act interfere normal exercise select them. not, cover right, intimidate coerce self-or-ganization representation, hand, authority pretext interference exercised reasons intimidation coercion.' versus Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 1, 45—46, 57 615, 628, 81 893. See also, Fansteel Metallurgical 306 240, 252—258, 59 490, 494—497, 83 627; Union, U.A.W., A.F. L., 232 Wisconsin Employment 336 245, 260—263, 69 516, 524 526, 93 651. 21 Many cases reaching final disposition Courts furnish examples emphasizing enforcing industrial plant discipline maintaining well rights activities. refused consisting insubordination, disobedience disloyalty. cases, often necessary identify somewhat comparable case, recognize causes separable come protection 7. important tenth man instant participated simultaneous refrained joining latter instances, sometimes inquiry carried See, e.g., Hoover Cir., 191 380; Maryland Drydock 183 538; Albrecht 181 652; Kelco 178 578; Joanna Cotton Mills 176 749; Reynolds Pen Co., 162 679, 680; Home Beneficial Life insurance 159 280; Montgomery Ward 157 486; Draper 145 199, 156 Law Reports 989; Aintree 135 395; United Biscuit 128 771; Condenser 67; Hazel-Atlas Glass 127 109; Conn, Ltd., 108 390 illustrate responsibility falls find decisions. legal principle plain enough. difficulty arises determining whether, fact, some Cf. Peter Cailler Kohler Swiss Chocolates 130 503. 23 offenders resulted 24—September issued name Assuming there pending controversy, 24 through unquestionably disciplinary 10(c). Their related itself practice company. wages, working conditions. policies attacked finance relations management, must responsible. asked sympathy support. continuing attack, initiated off duty, very interests attackers paid conserve develop. Nothing could contribute less Act's declared promoting peace stability.12 fortuity coexistence dispute affords substantial defense. While also leaders took pains separate categories. contrast claims omitted it. diverted attention controversy. discernible undisclosed motive part sponsors that, hoped-for financial pressure, future concession. disclosure lost gained, character coercion Referring said our judgment, tactics, circumstances hardly 'indefensible' physical sabotage.' event, effectively treat experts such, pending. handled thus 25 stated 'We do decide disparagement involved justified responsible it, uttered context conventional appeal dispute.' 1512, n. 18. underscored factual conclusion dispute. purporting employees. 26 occasion remand specificity findings. Even treated, treated activity wholly partly scope mentioned means used conducting deprived section, read light Act.13 27 Accordingly, remanding set aside, instructions dismiss respondent's petition modify ordered. 28 Order aside instructions. 29 FRANKFURTER, BLACK DOUGLAS join, dissenting. 30 sustained been, 'with primary granting denying enforcement orders.' Pittsburgh S.S. 340 498, 502, 71 453, 456, 95 479. should reverse Appeals, charged, withheld immediate decision light. standard basis decision. judged 'indefensible.' 'giving vague content 'unlawful,' misconceived rule.' 186, 188. Within 'unlawful' included 'contravene Act'. judgment protected what deemed 'the 31 On central issue—whether rightly wrongly applied criterion—this silent. using litmus reject Appeals' rejection test. presumably disagree assumption colloquial loose adjective, yet 32 Instead, relying permits cause,' points 'disloyalty' finds sufficient regardless activity' disloyalty.' If Congress written overturned much developed twelve preceding legislative history makes expressing approval construction activities' adopted courts.1 legally recognized tactics weapons readily condemned friendly personal relations. significant ground insofar derived relating invoked justification order. 33 To suggest actions absence 'cause'—or, use words commonly agreements, 'just cause'—for unprotected, even undertaken bargaining', misconstrue legislation designed put fair footing management. disregard rough tumble strikes, course reckless language properly discounted. 34 'Concerted dismissal employers dissociated criteria halves pair shears. Of Conference Report said, strike guilty 'in constitutes bars reinstatement.2 obviate necessity determination distribution legitimate tool 'improper,' denied constitute instance, evaluations, appeals travel beyond bounds asking greater explicitness correct standards judgment. 35 will guidance Court's reversal specific afford. More float imprecise notions 'discipline' 'loyalty' controversies, open door wide members judges. anticipate needlessly stimulate litigation. 36 protects labor. offensive though circulated interloping outsiders unreal way looking Certainly nothing handbills, headed trite phrase 'Unfair Labor,' protected. leave doubt were, far tell, frolic own tactic, however unorthodox, behavior previously protection. 37 follows reversed. 'Sec. Employees self-organization, form, assist organizations, bargain collectively choosing, protection, refrain except extent affected agreement membership organization condition authorized 8(a)(3). (a) employer— '(1) with, restrain, guaranteed *.' Management 1947, 61 Statutes-at-Large 140, U.S.C.(Supp. V) 157, 158(a)(1), States Code Annotated KF65 U5 158(a)(1). 10. '(c) preponderance testimony person engaging state fact served cease desist take affirmative action effectuate Act: Provided, where directs employee, required organization, be, discrimination suffered him: *. dismissing complaint. No cause. *' (Emphasis supplied last sentence.) 146, 147, KF62 (Supp. 160(c), 160(c). Pursuant proceedings October election May supervision (by vote participating) chosen exclusive certified 1529. 'Dear *, 'When commenced against Company, felt your ill-considered. paying salary per week, say benefits time-and-a-half eight day, weeks vacation year unlimited sick liberal life hospitalization, family, retirement pension unexcelled anywhere. Yet unable agree denounce publicly 'unfair.' 'And ever walking up street literature attacking us, hold job referred above. 'Even out propaganda contained many untruths great deal abuse slander, still exactly before. understanding laws, latitude trying believe you. 'Now, turned persuade give inferior struggling expand into develop field, incidentally losing sums money process, busy turn thepublic every possible way, handing leaflets streets 'second-class,' endeavoring various ways hamper totally destroy business. sense keep best tear bankrupt hereby employment. Although so, certainly doing enclosing check payable weeks' advance severance 'Very truly yours, 'Jefferson 'By: Charles Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 Crutchfield 'Vice President 'Enclosure' Allegations charging violations 8(a)(3) (5) discussion here. 148—149, 160(f), 160(f). 'Protection withdrawn contravene either basic federal statutes, (b) rules incompatible governing statute. failed essential unprotected. Sound judicial administrative orders precludes prior Board.' U.S.App.D.C., pages 335, 336, 188, 189. note 2, supra. declaration policy says: 'Section 1. '(b) Industrial strife interferes flow commerce production articles commodities commerce, can avoided substantially minimized employers, organizations another's other, party practices jeopardize health, safety, interest. promote prescribe both affecting orderly procedures preventing protect affect define proscribe management inimical general welfare, disputes commerce.' 136, 141(b), 141(b). 5, 1935, 49 449, 151 seq., An time. He openly secretly refuse work. collect wages employment, time, injure business.' 380, 389, see 486, 496; America 771. Rockaway News Supply 71, 519, Reports, 511 (discharge, violation obligation deliveries, crossing sustained); 255—263, 522—526, 651 (arbitrary unannounced interruptions work, 7); Southern 316 62 886, 86 1246 (discharge seamen, shipboard away home port, Allen-Bradley 1111, Radio Machine Workers 315 740, 820, 1154 (mass picketing, unprotected); Hotel Restaurant Employees' Alliance, 122 437, 706, 946 (violence, Sands Manufacturing 332, 508, 682 repudiation employee's 627 tortious sit-down strike, Associated Press 103, 132, 650, 655, 953; Cox, Right Engage Concerted Activities, Ind.L.J. 319 (1951); Recent Cases, 66 Harv.L.Rev. 1321 (1953). H.R.Rep.No.245, 27—28; H.R.Rep.No.510, 39.

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