Legal Document

352 U.S. 282 77 Supreme Court Reporter 330 1 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 331 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner,v.LION OIL COMPANY and Monsanto Chemical Company. Number 4. Argued Oct. 8, 1956. Decided Jan. 22, 1957. Mr. Theophil C. Kammholz, Washington, D.C., for the petitioner. Jeff Davis, El Dorado, Ark., respondents. Chief Justice WARREN delivered opinion of Court. In this case we are called upon again to interpret § 8(d) National Labor Relations Act, as amended.1 See Mastro Plastics Corporation versus Board, 350 270, 76 349. particular concerned with s 8(d)(4), which provides that a party who wishes modify or terminate collective bargaining contract must continue 'in full force effect, without resorting strike lockout, all terms conditions existing period sixty days after * notice (of his wish terminate) is given until expiration date such contract, whichever occurs later.' Since defines duty bargain collectively, violation 8(d)(4) constitutes refusal bargain, an unfair labor practice employers, 8(a)(5), unions, 8(b)(3). The last sentence contains additional sanction: employee strikes within specified 60-day loses status purposes §§ 9 10 Act. sole question presented by petition certiorari is: 2 Whether requirement Section satisfied where negotiation adoption modifications at intermediate during its term, in support modification demands on may become effective—and has elapsed—but prior terminal contract. 3 We told Solicitor General major importance administration hundreds agreements throughout country; there decided trend among unions employers execute contracts longer duration than formerly include provisions reopening negotiate changes term.2 Because question, granted certiorari, 986, 471, review decision Appeals Eighth Circuit effect bans obtain action parties terminated. 4 On October 23, 1950, respondent Lion Oil company Workers International Union, CIO, entered into provided: 5 'This agreement shall remain beginning ending 1951, thereafter canceled manner hereinafter Article provided. 6 be terminated Company Union subsequent compliance following procedure: 7 '(a) If either desires amend agreement, it notify other writing desire registered mail. No August 24, 1951. Within 60 days, immediately receipt said so delivered, attempt agree desired amendments agreement. 8 '(b) respect amendment not been reached mentioned sub-section preceding, less day's written other. Any termination state effective.' union served contract.3 Negotiations began contractual proposed union. members voted February 14, 1952, but strike, thrice postponed negotiations continued, did actually begin April 30, 1952. never gave contemplated quoted provision. Therefore, relevant times was effect. 3, new executed, strikers return work day. Certain actions were basis charges complaint issued. Board found guilty practices under 8(a)(1), (3) (5) defended ground because occurred while 8(d)(4). A majority rejected defense, holding 11 'The term 'expiration date' used section two-fold meaning; connotes only also agreed course existence when can provisions.' 12 held since, dispute, 'agreed date,' 24 followed wait more statute. ordered cease desist and, affirmatively, make whole employees have discriminated against. 109 N.L.R.B. 680, 683. 13 company's review, set aside Board's order. Cir., 221 Federal Reporter, 2nd 231. court rights obligations would cease; second required bring about having given, violated therefore lost their entitled protection Act.4 14 supra, had before us another provision 8(d). What ruling out narrowly literal construction words statute equally apropos here. 'If above read complete isolation from context interpretation possible. However, 'In expounding statute, guided single member sentence, look law, object policy.' Boisdore Heirs, How. 113, 122, L.Ed. 1009.' page 285, 359. Moreover, cautioned against accepting 'would produce incongruous results.' Id., 286, 360. 15 That susceptible various apparent whole. Its ambiguity recognized Joint Committee Congress created very act part study operation federal laws.5 Members agency specially charged effectuating national legislation, expressed divergent views proper 8(d)(4); none them taken position adopted below.6 face will do simply say could made itself clearer automatically equate phrase comes end. 16 find our guide general Plastics. 'dual purpose' Taft-Hartley Act—to substitute economic warfare protect right engage concerted activities own benefit. 284, 358. serves neither these aims avoided unless chosen clearly compel it. restriction employees' result placed obvious.7 Too, think discourage development long-term relationships. Unions wary entering machinery time time, if they thought denied entire though imposed no limitations themselves. 17 believe language requires any result. 8(d)(1) 'shall desiring modification—(1) thereof *.' repeated 'whichever later' clause turns. use three 'termination,' 'modification' 'expiration' significant. conceive typically advance subject modification. Notice ordinarily precede come end renewed absence terminate. Therefore conclude meant encompass both situations, same carry meaning. 'Expiration' fixed settled meaning unduly strained reading. 18 Our conclusion buttressed added Conference Committee.8 19 '(T)he duties (by subsections (2), (4)) construed requiring discuss contained period, effective reopened contract.' 20 negative implication seems clear: over contemplates bargaining. It anomalous recognize deprive threat which, together 'the occasional itself, depended facilitate arriving satisfactory settlements.'9 21 Although 1948 committee report legislative history enacted 1947, note Labor-Management Relations, up passed final do: 22 'Reading lead permits notice, middle authorizes wages. Use 'or modify' modification' proviso, 8(d)(1), statement paragraph terms, seem contemplate insist empty one notice.'10 23 contemporary manifests real recognition problem us.11 reading reports floor debates alone well sponsors opponents bill saw means preventing 'quickie' 'cooling-off' circumstances exceed days.12 But goes beyond limited purpose. Significance clause, gives congressional accords purpose Applying facts case, hold waiting requirements fully satisfied. first amendment. advance. occur long afterward. fact became terminable further immaterial. One thing most authoritative gloss 8(d), Senate Committee, makes clear statutory operates wholly independently whatever themselves.13 situation here different, far applicability concerned, fixed-term providing some specific time. 25 Nor accept respondents' alternative contention that, even apart breach reason relief hand Board. Respondents rely Sands Mfg. Co., 306 332, 59 508, 83 682. Sands, contain express nostrike clause. Employees refused accordance 344, 514. midway provide term. This sustained propriety employer's discharging employees. Here Where waiver strike,14 inferred. two-phase terminating contemplation weapons might given. 26 judgment below reversed remanded proceedings conformity opinion. 27 Reversed remanded. 28 BRENNAN took consideration case. 29 FRANKFURTER, concurring dissenting part. 30 Agreeing & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions Court's amended, join phase. should now pass respondent's defense reach view Perhaps open judicial consideration. 10(e) Act that: 31 'No objection urged member, agent, agency, considered court, failure neglect urge excused extraordinary circumstances.'1 32 raised point here, record event, instance construe remanding leave determine: (1) whether complied 10(e); (2) reasonably implied; continued employment relationship account consequences alleged Finally, judge supports findings practices. Universal Camera 340 474, 491, 71 456, 466, 95 456. 33 inherent complications construction, reflected conflicting discussion desirable, entail repetition what employer collectively. proviso treats specifically collective-bargaining entirety: 34 'That covering industry affecting commerce, collectively mean modification— 35 '(1) thereof, event date, modification; 36 '(2) offers meet confer negotiating containing 37 '(3) notifies Mediation Conciliation Service thirty simultaneously therewith State Territorial established mediate conciliate disputes Territory dispute occurred, provided time; 38 '(4) continues lock-out, later: 39 employees, organizations paragraphs (3), (4) inapplicable intervening certification organization individual, superseded ceased representative 9(a), engages sixty-day subsection lose engaged sections 9, loss he reemployed employer.' 40 reasoned efforts five Judges whose task apply us—where contract's pursuant days' notice—have produced four distinct interpretations Appeals, relying privious Wilson 210 325, life comprehends 'an (the contract's) *' prohibits except those Member Peterson adhered former interpretation, see 89 310, striking, does prohibit Murdock argued 'applies around contract,' defined whatsoever. 41 Such diverse interpretations, particularly authorities reflect 8(d)'s obscurity history. reveal 'intention' regarding present problem—the legality ending. thus responsibility fairly embedded sense being harmonious scheme manifested. 42 Appeals—that reopening—seems least tenable. common synonym termination, interchangeably. speaks repeatedly 'termination modification,' embrace events. 43 44 implies affirmative reopening. assumed foreclosed potential conventional factor process. 45 achieve results. For example, two-year year, proposing serve ten months passed, 8(d)(3) require mediating agencies eleven Similarly, loss-of-status applies 'within *,' punish 46 Nothing warrants construction. To sure, debate Senator Taft (sixty days') itself.' Taft's attention directed solely intended merely emphasize extends contract.2 47 affords persuasive evidence reasonable legislated allowed proceded notice. When, 1948, Congress, recommended clarifying order avoid possibility interpreted banning permitting Report stated: 48 better know matter, recommends permit lock-out anticipated clause.' S.Rep.No. 80th Cong., Sess. 63 (1948). 49 1949, himself amendment, 99, 81st 1st 27, (1949), Senate, Cong.Rec. 8717, law. 50 At opposite spectrum Murdock's bars leaving free whatsoever Ignoring introductory states: 'Where rest 'around' date. From inferred regulates conduct period. 51 reopening, claim resolved logical inconsistencies persuasive. difficulty manifest penultimate Ball, leading proponent 'ours mild provision, says 'You your contract',' 93 7530, history, erase doubt operate termination. 52 Even revised artifact. union, effort stop warning length short days. Yet factors lay down elaborate procedures applicable thereto unconcerned ignore them. hand, dominant passing times—to prevent damaging effects allow cooling-off differences discussed, mediated resolved. See, e.g., 3839, 5005, 5014. anything, application appear necessary between periods them, since warned each stoppage latter times. 53 significant S.Rep.No.986, 62 (1948) stated mention designed preclude rejected, fortiori, permitted Counsel shortly Act's passage. He issued nine 317, 54 pointed stated, 301, no-strike something bargained for, 105, 17—18, remove realm argument however, validly non-bargaining matters. render obsolete pledges resort correct, prevails. flimsy frustrating oft-expressed strikes. 55 remains old points toward view—that proscribes forbids change give 'expiration,' thereby implying take place Only 'sixty explicitly 'for (that (1)) And favorable view, subsection,' understood (4).' anticipated, surprising little direct When light sheds reinforces 56 As holds, struck giving erred setting 57 HARLAN, 58 much relates agreeing THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S reasoning FRANKFURTER'S amplification problem. dissent dismisses defense. remand decide instance. Further, unclear likewise dealing sufficiency charge 8(d)—and too, left remand. fourth Term questions reached. Mesarosh States, 1, 1;1 Thompson Coastal 862, 90, 73;2 Gibson Phillips Petroleum 874, 16, 77.3 unfortunate one, depriving Court, does, lower courts. dangers my brother FRANKFURTER out, ever merits unusual atypical nature surely reliable adjudication sharper possible original matter. Indeed, issue referred expert kind litigants expect. offends rules.4 There cases justified manifestly insubstantial. me instances reason, instead proceeding matter expressly sub silentio. procedure tendency instance, represents unsound administration. 'Sec. 8. '(d) section, performance mutual obligation good faith wages, hours, employment, arising thereunder, execution incorporating requested party, proposal making concession: Provided, 61 Statutes-at-Large 140, 142—143, Code KF62 158(d), Annotated KF65 U5 158(d). BNA, Collective Bargaining Contract Service, 36:301. Copies sent Arkansas Commissioner comply 8(d)(2). Courts involving Local Packinghouse etc. 348 822, 75 36, 99 648, Circuit. although reconcilable Final Report, S.Rep. Pt. 62—63. Peterson, view. dissented concurred nemely, Cf. Act: 'Nothing herein, interfere impede diminish way affect qualifications right.' 151, 163, 163. H.R.Conf.Rep. 510, 35. Subcommittee Factors Successful Bargaining, S.Res. 71, 82d (Committee Print). 62. 1949 Taft, introduced 2, (minority report). along group others, 24; id., Pages 21—22; 34—35. 3835, 4036, 4904—4905, 5014, 6385, 6389, 6444, 6503—6504, 7530. minority reported incorporate clauses 'by fiat.' context, tolerably referring ban 22. originated Senate. said, 'It noted (§ 8(d)) inoperative conform periods, provides. Failure with.' 24. 10(f) specifies rule obtained aggrieved person. was: 'We revision procedure, connection mediation process, not, afford bargaining, then intervention Service. itself. If, neglects waits, let say, unlawful so-called illegal, brought So limitation unions.' 3839. defendants trial conviction tainted prosecution suspected perjurious. Neither nor investigation reliability testimony precise bearing 559, plaintiff unseaworthiness signed valid release. 119 F.Supp. 838. reversed, release invalid, reinstated District opportunity defendant appeal, mainly sufficient finding vessel unseaworthy. 232 13, Texas law barred recovery contributory negligence. Again, errors instructing jury, initial appeal. Rule subd. 1(c), Revised Rules,

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