Court Opinion

ID: 9455724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:31:23.947948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:42.644903
License: Public Domain

GERALD McLAUGHLIN, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
The National Labor Relations Board did possess “a wide degree of discretion in establishing and enforcing the procedure and safeguards necessary to insure the fair and free choice by employees of their bargaining representatives.” Palpably, that discretion was abused in this instance. The election here was decided by one vote. The discharge of employee Sharp was admittedly a major issue in the election. He had been discharged more than three weeks prior to the election. He was plainly not eligible to vote but vote he did. There was evidence that his presence during the election influenced many of the employees to vote for the union. Even so the union won by only a single vote. The Regional Director himself some time after the election formally decided that Sharp had no right to vote. Nor did he have the right to throw his weight around at the balloting. The categorical offer of employees’ statements that Sharp did grossly interfere with a fair election was ignored by the Board. Respondent is here simply seeking a hearing as to the integrity of the election. It has never had that. It has been deprived of due process.
I would remand the case to the Board for a conscientious, full hearing as to the election before us.