Court Opinion

ID: 9651644
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 16:29:57.229236+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:37.097364
License: Public Domain

xREANOR, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I am of the opinion that the order appealed from should be enforced, with the exception of the requirement of a refund of the check-off dues.
I believe that there was substantial evidence to support a finding of interference in the formation of the Independent Union of Gear Workers. There was substantial evidence that the Employee Representation Plan, which functioned for a period of three years prior to the formation of the Independent, was a company controlled arrangement which was utilized by the company to prevent the formation of an outside union by the men rather than to afford an instrumentality for the promotion of the interests of the employees. The Employee Representation Plan could not function as an independent bargaining agency of the employees.
The testimony respecting the situation at the time of the transition from the old Representation Plan to the Independent Union furnished substantial evidence to support a conclusion by the Board that there was not a complete cessation of interference and domination by the employer. The decisions of the Supreme Court have construed the National Labor Relations Act to require that old organizations, which do not conform to the requirements of the Act, be abolished both in form and in substance; that the employees must be afforded an opportunity “to start afresh in organizing” (National Labor Relations Board v. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., 308 U.S. 241, 60 S.Ct. 203, 208, 84 L.Ed. 219) ; and that the employer thereafter must refrain from any participation in the organization and administration of bargaining agencies.
I believe that there was substantial evidence to support the Board’s conclusion that the petitioner in the instant case did not disassociate itself from the organization activities of the Independent Union to the extent required by the Act as construed by the Supreme Court in National Labor Relations Board v. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., supra; National Labor Relations Board v. Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines, 303 U.S. 261, 58 S.Ct. 571, 82 L.Ed. 831, 115 A.L.R. 307; and National Labor Relations Board v. Pacific Greyhound Lines, 303 U.S. 272, 275, 58 S.Ct. 577, 82 L.Ed. 838.
*624The Board found that two employees, Rakowski and Matoska, had been discharged for union activities. Rakowski took the lead iti the organization of S. T. B. A. and solicited 24 of the 33 original members. It is clear from the testimony that he was known to be active in his support of the outside union. When he was discharged he was told that the reason for such action was a slump in business; it was necessary, however, to have someone to perform Rakowski’s work. Rakowski remonstrated on the basis of his record as an employee and was told that “in addition” to getting put a good day’s work “the company expected their employees to be loyal.” In response to Rakowski’s statement that he did not know what was meant by “loyalty” he was told “you think it over” and that he “would understand after giving it some thought.” Rakowski’s efficiency as an employee was not questioned; he had received seven salary increases during the period of his employment. Since there was evidence which indicated a hostile attitude on the part of the management of the petitioner toward outside unions, the Board reasonably could have concluded that Rakowski’s disloyalty consisted of his support of the outside union.
Matoska was active in organizing the shop employees, and during the period of the existence of the old Employee Representation Plan had voiced opposition to it and had resigned as a shop committeeman. He was active in opposing the Independent and in soliciting membership for the Amalgamated. Matoska was elected vice-president of the Amalgamated four days before his discharge. The reason given to Matoska for his discharge was “insubordination.” The alleged insubordination centered around an incident in respect to which the evidence was such that the Board cannot be said to have acted unreasonably in drawing the inference that the incident was utilized as a pretext for the discharge of Matoska.
The majority opinion suggests that the fact that the president of the Amalgamated was not discharged indicates that union activity was not the reason for the discharge of Matoska. But, perhaps, the testimony of Mr. Barr,' petitioner’s vice-president, who personally discharged Ma-toska, throws some light on the question. At least such testimony was not without probative value. Barr testified that Stout, the president of the Amalgamated, had told him that he, Stout, was “all fed up on this C. I. O. stuff,” and-that he, Stout, did not “want to have anything more to do with it.” Certainly the testimony of Barr was sufficient to justify an inference by the Board that failure to discharge Stout, the president of the Amalgamated, did not indicate an approval of union activities, either of Stout or Matoska.
In making its findings of fact the Board was required to appraise conflicting testimony, determine questions of credibility, and to rely upon inferences of fact which properly could be drawn from the testimony which the Board considered worthy of belief. If we resolve conflicts in favor of the findings of the Board,' and attribute credibility to the witnesses whose testimony supports the findings, and recognize the reasonable inference which the Board was entitled to draw therefrom, I believe that the findings are supported by substantial evidence.
I believe the order of the. Board should be affirmed except as to that portion which requires the employer to refund the checkoff dues.