Court Opinion

ID: 9442639
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 18:54:35.093454+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:10.233470
License: Public Domain

PICKETT, Circuit Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I concur in the opinion of Judge Huxman except that portion which holds that the statute of limitations is not applicable in this case, from which portion I dissent.
Section 10(b) of the National Labor Relations Act provides: “No complaint shall issue based upon any unfair labor practice occurring more than six months prior to the filing of the charge with the Board and the service of a copy thereof upon the person against whom such charge is made”. The first charge was filed on September 23, 1947, by five employees of the company. It charged the company with unfair labor practices in violation of Section 8(a), Subsections (1, 3 and 5), since June 14, 1947, as follows:
“1. Has interfered with, restrained or coerced employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7.
“2. Has discriminated in regard to hire or tenure of employment or tenure or condition of employment.
“3. Has refused to bargain in good faith with the bargaining representative of all production and maintenance employees, including second millers of the company, excluding executives, supervisory employees, office workers and chemists.”
On November 7, 1947, the union filed what 'it designated as an amended charge. It made no reference whatever to the charge filed by the five employees on September 23rd. This so-called amended charge alleged a violation of Section 8(a) (1 and 3) in the following terms: “The company * * * has, since June 14, 1947, refused to bargain in good faith * * and refused to reinstate upon application (59 named) employees because of their activities in behalf of the undersigned labor organization.”
On April 8, 1948, the union filed another charge designating it as an amended charge. It made no reference to either of the previous charges and was complete in itself. It charged a violation of Section 8(a) (1, 3 and 5) of the Act, in that the company: “has, since on or about August 11, 1947, threatened employees with the loss of their seniority and their jobs if they engaged in a strike; told employees, during the course of the strike which commenced on or about August 11, 1947, that unless they returned to work they would lose their seniority and *422their jobs; told employees to repudiate the Union, and that unless they did so they would 'be discharged; that on or about August 23, 1947, the Company, through its officers and' representatives, discharged (152 named) employees because of having engaged in a strike against the Company, because of their membership in the Union, and because of engaging in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining and other mutual aid and protection, and thereafter- refused to reinstate them for the same reasons as above.”
The complaint filed by the General Counsel was based upon this charge. It seems clear to me that this latter charge fixed the unfair labor practices of the company as of .August 23rd and prior thereto, and unless the latter charges relate back as of the time of the filing of one of the previous charges, the limitation provided for in the Act is applicable. The board held that the April 8th charge contained matters arising out of the conduct set forth in the original charge and the first amended charge, and therefore relates back to- the date of these charges. If we consider the filing on November 7th as an amended charge, then the filing on September 23rd 'is superseded and we have only the November 7th charges. Proctor and Gamble Defense Corp. v. Bean, 5 Cir., 146 F.2d 598, 601. Any subsequent amendment must be germane to this charge. Encyclopedia of Federal Procedure, 2nd, Vol. 5 Sec. 1893. When an amendment introduces different and additional claim o-r charge not included in the pleading or charge amended, it does not relate back to the original filing and if 'in the meantime the statute of limitations has run against the new claim or charge, the same is barred. L. E. Whitham Const. Co. v. Remer, 10 Cir., 105 F.2d 371, 375. The November 7th charge obviously- grew out of the failure of the company to reinstate employees in accordance with the contract of October 18th negotiated between the union and the company. The April 8th charge was entirely different. It referred back to the activities of the company on August 23rd and prior thereto and the evidence relied upon to support the allegations were statements made by officials of the company and letters written by it wherein the employees were advised that if they did not return to-work by August 23rd they would no longer be considered employees of the company. Proof of the November 7th charge would not sustain this charge. I do not think that the claims in this latter charge were at all germane to those of the November 7th filing. It is a complete and separate charge regardless of its designation, and therefore not within the terms of Rule 15(c), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This brings the case within the reasoning of Judge Parker in Joanna Cotton Mills Co. v. N. L. R. B., 4 Cir., 176 F.2d 749, 754, with which I agree and think applicable to this case.
I agree that a charge is not a pleading in the strict sense of the word and a liberal interpretation should be given it. It does, however, have a -purpose. It sets in motion the investigative machinery of the board but the investigation is limited to the specific charge. Its service upon the employer informs him of unfair labor practices of which he is accused. It stays the statute of limitations of all the charges which it contains and no more. The violation occurring more than six months before a charge has been filed may not be made the basis of a complaint by including it in an amendment to a charge already on file to which it is not germane. To hold otherwise nullifies the limitation statute if any kind of a charge has been filed.
I would reverse the order of the board and dismiss the complaint.