Court Opinion

ID: 9725055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:27:19.245146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:09.460200
License: Public Domain

*667Concurring Opinion
Achor, C. J.
A decision in this case rests upon two primary considerations. One: The judicial review by the Appellate Court and this court is from the Employment Security Board which denied compensation to the claimants, and not from the opposite conclusion of the referee. Two: Our decision, in review of the action of the Employment Security Board, must uphold the decision of that administrative board, unless the evidence in the case leads inescapably to a contrary conclusion. Warren v. Indiana Telephone Co. (1940), 217 Ind. 93, 118, 26 N. E. 2d 399, 409; Merkle v. Review Bd. Emp. Sec. Div. (1950), 120 Ind. App. 108, 111, 90 N. E. 2d 524, 525; Hollingsworth Tool Works v. Rev. Bd. Emp. Sec. Div. (1949), 119 Ind. App. 191, 193, 84 N. E. 2d 895, 896; Wabash Valley Electric Co. v. Young (1932), 53 S. Ct. 234, 237, 238, 287 U. S. 488, 499-500, 501, 77 L. Ed. 447, 455, 456.
Does the evidence lead to the conclusions as a matter of law that appellants were barred from their employment by threat or fear of violence? In determining this question, the board was entitled to take into consideration the following facts which were in evidence: (1) Prior to, and in anticipation of the strike, the president of the striking union and the presidents of the non-striking unions met in conference. At this meeting it was orally stated that the non-striking union employees would not be permitted to cross the picket line. (2) Also, prior to, and in anticipation of the strike, a meeting of the union of which appellants are members, was called and the members of the union were “all aware” that in order to make themselves eligible for unemployment benefits they should “approach” the picket line. (3) On the first day of the strike there was considerable con*668gestión about the entrance to the plant by members of the striking union, non-union members appearing for work, and general spectators. It is estimated that on two or three days there may have been 100 to 200 strikers and perhaps 15 or 20 at another time. There is no evidence of “mass picketing,” except on these two or three days. (4) At the outset of the strike several of the appellants did “approach” the pickets and asked if they could cross the picket line. Although they were answered in the negative, at no time does it appear that appellants insisted upon their right to cross the picket line, nor did they inquire as to whether their entrance would be resisted by force. (5) Although police officers were present for the purpose of directing traffic, their assistance was not requested for the purpose of their peaceful admission to the plant. (6) Neither did appellants ask any assistance from their employer in obtaining entrance for the purpose of resuming their employment. (7) Although the strike continued for a period of more than nine weeks, there is no evidence that any attempt was actually made thereafter by appellants to cross the picket line and report for work, except that an officer of their union, on about seven occasions, inquired of the pickets and the president of the striking union as to the status of the negotiations and whether members of the non-striking union employees would be admitted to the plant. (8) Throughout the strike there was no evidence of threats of violence, nor were there any acts of actual violence related to the strike itself. The only incident which might be described as violence involved contact by an automobile with a picket which could be characterized as an act of negligence.
The above circumstances presented an issue of fact as to the voluntary or involuntary character of ap*669pellants’ employment, the decision of which was the responsibility of the Employment Security Board. I submit that under the facts presented, although some persons might conclude that appellants were barred from their employment by fear of violence, the evidence does not lead inescapably to this conclusion as a matter of law. Other persons might with equal reason conclude from the same evidence, as did the board, that (1) the pickets merely engaged in the normal and peaceful practice of persuading the claimants not to enter upon their employer’s premises; (2) that appellants did not make a reasonable effort, personally or with the aid of law enforcement officers or of the courts, to gain access to their jobs and as responsible individuals earn the compensation for which they now seek payment from their employer, and that under these circumstances their employment was not involuntary, within the meaning of the law.
The legislature has placed the responsibility of resolving the issue before us with the Employment Security Board. Acts 1957, ch. 355, §3, p. 1033 [§63-3010, Burns’ 1960 Cum. Supp.].
Under the circumstances here present, we cannot say that the decision of the board was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion and that a contrary conclusion is required as a matter of law, under the provisions of the controlling statute. Acts 1947, ch. 365, §18, p. 1451 [§63-3018, Burns’ 1951 Repl.].
It occurs to me that the evidence in this case does not lead inescapably to a conclusion contrary to that of the board. Cf. Wabash Valley Electric Co. v. Young (1932), 53 S. Ct. 234, 237, 238, 287 U. S. 488, 499-500, 501, 77 L. Ed. 447, 455, 456, supra.
Therefore, in my opinion the decision of the board must be affirmed.