Holland Custard & Ice Cream, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 21, 1961

134 N.L.R.B. 563 (N.L.R.B. 1961)

HOLLAND CUSTARD & ICE CREAM, INC. 563
Holland Custard & Ice Cream , Inc. and Chauffeurs and Team-
sters . Local Union No. 215 , International Brotherhood of Team-
sters, Chauffeurs , Warehousemen and Helpers of America.
Case No. 25-CA-1355. November 21, 1961
DECISION AND ORDER
On June 30, 1961, Trial Examiner C. W. Whittemore issued his
Intermediate Report in the above-entitled proceeding, finding that the
Respondent had engaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices and recommending that it cease, and desist therefrom and
take certain affirmative action, as set forth in the Intermediate Report
attached hereto. Thereafter, the Respondent filed exceptions and a
supporting brief.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the' National Labor
Relations Act, the Board has delegated its powers in connection with
this case to a three-member panel [Members Rodgers, Fanning, and
Brown].
The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner at the
hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was committed. The
rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered the Interme-
diate Report, the Respondent's exceptions and brief, and the entire
record in the case, and hereby adopts the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of the Trial Examiner.'
ORDER
Upon the entire record in the case, and pursuant to Section 10(c)
of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board hereby orders that the Respondent, Holland Custard
& Ice Cream, Inc., its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall:
1. Cease and desist from :
(a) Discouraging membership in,Chauffeurs and Teamsters Local
Union No. 215, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs,
Warehousemen and Helpers of America, or in any other labor organi-
zation of its employees, by discharging, laying off, reducing hours of
employment, or in any other manner discriminating in regard to their
hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment.
(b) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing
employees in the exercise of the right to self-organization, to form
' We find without merit the Respondent 's allegations of bias and prejudice on the part
of the Trial Examiner We are satisfied, on the basis of our scrutiny of the entire record,
that he conducted the hearing fairly , that his credibility findings are not clearly erroneous,
and that his factual findings , as well as his ultimate conclusions , are supported by the
record. See Standard Dry Wall Products , Inc, 91 NLRB 544, enfd 188 F 2,d sae
(CA 1)
134 NLRB No. 45.
564 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives
of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities or to
refrain from any or all such activities.
2. Take the following affirmative action which the Board finds will
effectuate the policies of the Act :
(a) Offer employee Donald Blesch immediate and full reinstate-
ment to his former or substantially equivalent position, without preju-
dice to his seniority or other rights and privileges, and make him
whole for any loss of earnings he may have suffered by reason of the
discrimination against him, in the manner set out in the section of the
Intermediate Report entitled "The Remedy."
(b) Preserve and, upon request, make available to the National
Labor Relations Board or its agents, for examination and copying, all
payroll records, social security payment records, timecards, personnel
records and reports, and all other records necessary for the determi-
nation of the amount of backpay due and the right of reinstatement
under the terms of this Order.
(c) Post at its Holland, Indiana, plant, copies of the notice attached
hereto marked "Appendix." 2 Copies of said notice, to be furnished
by the Regional Director for the Twenty-fifth Region, shall, after
being duly signed by the Respondent, be posted immediately upon
receipt thereof, and be maintained-for a period of 60 consecutive days
thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to
employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to
insure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any
other material.
(d) Notify the Regional Director for the Twenty-fifth Region, in
writing, within 10 days from the date of this Order, what steps it has
taken to comply herewith.
2 In the event that this Order is enforced by a decree of a United States Court of
Appeals, there shall be substituted for the words "Pursuant-to a Decision and Order" the
words "Pursuant to a Decree of the United States Court of Appeals, Enforcing an Order "
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to a Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations
Board, and in order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, we hereby notify you that:
WE WILL NOT discourage membership in Chauffeurs and
Teamsters Local Union No. 215, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America,
or in any other labor organization of our employees, by discharg-
ing, laying off, reducing hours of employment, or in any other
HOLLAND CUSTARD & ICE CREAM, INC. 565
manner discriminating in regard to their hire or tenure of employ-
ment or any term or condition of employment.
WE WILL NOT in any other manner interfere with, restrain, or
coerce employees in the exercise of their right to self-organization,
to form labor organizations, to join or assist the above-named or
any other labor organization, to bargain collectively through rep-
resentatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other con-
certed activities, or to refrain from any or all such activities.
WE WILL offer Donald Blesch immediate and full reinstatement
to his former or substantially equivalent position, without preju-
dice to his seniority or other rights and privileges, and make him
whole for any loss of earnings he may have suffered by reason of
the discrimination against him.
HOLLAND CUSTARD & ICE CREAM, INC.,
Employer.
Dated---------------- By-------------------------------------
(Representative) (Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 days from the date hereof,
and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
INTERMEDIATE REPORT
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
A charge in the above-entitled case having been filed and served, a complaint and
notice of hearing thereon having been issued and served by the General Counsel of
the National Labor Relations Board, and an answer having been filed by the above-
named Respondent, a•hearing involving allegations of unfair labor practices in
violation of Section 8(a)(1) and (3) of the National Labor Relations Act, as
amended, was held in Jasper, Indiana, on May 25, 1961, before the duly designated
Trial Examiner.
At the hearing the parties were represented and afforded full opportunity to
present evidence pertinent to the issues, to argue orally, and to file briefs. A brief
has been received from the Respondent.
Disposition,of the Respondent's motion to dismiss, upon which ruling was reserved
at the hearing, is made by the following findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Upon the record thus made, and from the observation of the witnesses, the Trial
Examiner makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE RESPONDENT
Holland Custard & Ice Cream, Inc., is an Indiana corporation with place of
business at Holland, Indiana, where it is engaged in making, processing, and selling
dairy products and other foods and drinks.
During the 12 months before issuance of the complaint the Respondent made,
sold, and shipped from this plant products valued at more than $50,000 to points
outside Indiana. During the same period it purchased, transferred, and delivered
to its Holland plant supplies, machinery, and other materials valued at more than
$50,000 from points outside Indiana.
The Respondent concedes, and it is found, that it is engaged in commerce within
the meaning of the Act.
II. THE CHARGING UNION
Chauffeurs and Teamsters Local Union No. 215, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, is a labor organiza-
tion within the meaning of the Act.
,566 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Setting and issues
The chief question requiring answer here is whether the Respondent violated the
.Act by depriving employee Donald Blesch , on and after February 18, 1961, of
work which had been regularly assigned to him for some 31/2 years before that date.
'The fact of such deprivation is in effect conceded . The legal issue arises from
,General Counsel 's allegations that the reduction in employment constituted dis-
,crimination to discourage membership in the Charging Union and more specifically
because Blesch had joined and assisted the Union and because a majority of the
Respondent 's eight drivers on February 17 had , at a Board -conducted election,
chosen the Union as their bargaining agent.
Subsidiary issues include allegations of interference , restraint , and coercion of
employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed by Section 7 of the Act.
B. Events before the election
At a representation hearing in Case No . 25-RC-1936 ( not published in NLRB
volumes ), held in November 1960 , the chief controversy between the Union and
the Employer involved the same employee, Donald Blesch , who testified at the hear-
ing. The Employer maintained that Blesch should not be included in the appropriate
unit.
Briefly stated , Blesch , hired in 1956 , for the first year and and a half of employment
had worked full time as an over-the-road driver . Upon a doctor 's advice he then
requested and was granted a "combination" job, working on the loading and receiving
locations part of the time and serving as relief driver whenever needed . He con-
tinued on this combination job, receiving about 45 hours of work each week, until
the day after the election . He signed a union card.
On February 12, a few days before the election , Blesch was informed by his
brother, Derris, the company comptroller , that it "looked" as if he, Donald, would
be "holding the bag" whichever way the election went, and that the Company figured
his would be a "yes" vote. The comptroller also told him that if "they" could find
out who voted "no" such drivers would receive company assistance in financing the
purchase of tractors , because "if the Union got in they were going to lease hauling."
Two days before the election the Respondent 's eight drivers attended a luncheon
called by Vice President Henke, who had charge of them , and President Byron
Caldemeyer . Credible testimony of several drivers establishes , and it is found, that
at this meeting Caldemeyer: (1) Asked them why they wanted the Union ; ( 2) told
them they would benefit more by voting "no"; ( 3) told one driver, Smith , that he
was getting old and if the Union was voted in he would be out , of a job; (4) told
them that if the Union won Donald Blesch would be allowed no more dockwork and
would be restricted to relief and "over-load" driving ; and (5 ) asked them to decide
then to vote the Union "out."
The day after this meeting Caldemeyer and Henke picked up driver Simpson and
went to the home of another employee, Daugherty , where Caldemeyer asked them
and two other drivers present to vote "no " and told them they would benefit by
doing so and possibly get more money. Caldemeyer repeated „that Blesch would be
restricted to relief driving if the Union was voted in.
C. Action against Blesch
As noted , the election was held on February 17. The Union won : 5 to 3. When
Blesch returned from a "run" late that day he found a note on his timecard from
his dock foreman , Ring, instructing him not to come in the next day unless called.
He was called in, however , to take out an "over-load ." Upon his return he was
informed by Ring that he would have no more work on the dock-he would only
do relief and overload driving.
Since the day of the election Blesch has not been given any dockwork , and his
customary workweek of 45 hours has been cut approximately in half 1
Caldemeyer did not , as a witness , dispute the fact that he had told Blesch and
other employees , at the luncheon and elsewhere , that Blesch would be restricted to
driving if the Union won. This fact detracts from any weight which might other-
1 His testimony , undisputed , is to the effect that since February 17 he has worked from
18 to 29 hours weekly
HOLLAND CUSTARD & ICE CREAM, INC. 567
wise be accorded to the official' s claim , apparently made for the first time at the
hearing, that because of a new conveyor system which went into operation at about
the same time, Blesch was no longer needed at the dock.
Furthermore, the defense of no work available falls completely in view of the
undisputed fact that a new employee, Powell, has been hired since the election who
performs work in the receiving warehouse formerly performed by Blesch.
D. Summary conclusions
From the preponderance of credible evidence, a good part of which is either
admitted or undisputed, the Trial Examiner concludes and finds that: (1) employee
Donald Blesch has been discriminatorily deprived of rightful employment since
the date of the Board election because of his own union adherence and because a
majority of the employees selected the Union as their bargaining representative,
and (2) by such discriminatory action and by the above-described threats of re-
taliatory measures and promises of benefit uttered by company officials Caldemeyer
and Derris Blesch, the Respondent has interfered with, restrained, and coerced
employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed by the Act.
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section III, above, occurring in
connection with the operations of the Respondent described in section I, above,
have a close, intimate, and substantial relation to trade, traffic, and commerce
among the several States, and tend to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstruct-
ing commerce and,the free flow of commerce.
V. THE REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in unfair labor practices, the
Trial Examiner will recommend that it cease and desist therefrom and take certain
affirmative action to effectuate the policies of the Act.
It will be recommended that the Respondent offer Donald Blesch immediate and
full reinstatement to his former or substantially equivalent position, without preju-
dice to his rights and privileges, and make him whole for any loss of pay suffered
by reason of the discrimination against him, by payment to him of a sum of money
equal to that he would normally have earned, absent the discrimination from
February 18, 1961, to the date of the offer of reinstatement to his former position,
less his net earnings during said period and in a manner consistent with Board
policy set out in F. W. Woolworth Company, 90 NLRB, 289, and Crossett Lumber
Company, 8 NLRB 440.
Since the violations of the Act which the Respondent committed are related to
other unfair labor practices proscribed by the Act, and the danger of their commis-
sion in the future is reasonably to be anticipated from its past conduct, the pre-
ventive purposes of the Act may be thwarted unless the recommendations are co-
extensive with the threat. To effectuate the policies of the Act, therefore, it will
be recommended that the Respondent cease and desist from infringing in any
manner upon the rights guaranteed employees by the Act.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and upon the entire record in
the case, the Trial Examiner makes the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Chauffeurs and Teamsters Local Union No. 215, International Brotherhood
of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, is a labor organ-
ization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
2. By discriminating in regard to the hire and tenure of employment of Donald
Blesch, thereby discouraging membership in the above-named labor organization,
the Respondent has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the
meaning of Section 8(a).(3) of the Act.
3. By interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of
rights guaranteed by Section 7 of the Act, the Respondent has engaged in and is
engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a) (1) of the Act.
4. The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor practices affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
[Recommendations omitted from publication.]