SANDS CASINO RESORT BETHLEHEM

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Nov 12, 2014

361 N.L.R.B. 916 (N.L.R.B. 2014)

916 DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Sands Bethworks Gaming, LLC d/b/a Sands Casino
Resort Bethlehem and Law Enforcement Em-
ployees Benevolent Association. Cases 04–CA–
076289 and 04–RC–021833
November 12, 2014
DECISION, CERTIFICATION OF
REPRESENTATIVE, AND NOTICE TO
SHOW CAUSE
BY CHAIRMAN PEARCE AND MEMBERS HIROZAWA
AND JOHNSON
On May 30, 2012, the National Labor Relations Board
issued a Decision and Order in this proceeding, which is
reported at 358 NLRB 405. Thereafter, the Respondent
filed a petition for review in the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the
General Counsel filed a cross-application for enforce-
ment.
At the time of the Decision and Order, the composition
of the Board included two persons whose appointments
to the Board had been challenged as constitutionally in-
firm. On June 26, 2014, the United States Supreme
Court issued its decision in NLRB v. Noel Canning, 134
S.Ct. 2550 (2014), holding that the challenged appoint-
ments to the Board were not valid. Thereafter, the court
of appeals remanded this case for further proceedings
consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision.
The National Labor Relations Board has consolidated
the underlying representation proceeding with this unfair
labor practice proceeding and has delegated its authority
in both proceedings to a three-member panel.
This is a refusal-to-bargain case in which the Re-
spondent is contesting the Union’s February 10, 2012
certification as bargaining representative in the underly-
ing representation proceeding. The Board’s May 30,
2012 decision states that the Respondent is precluded
from litigating any representation issues because, in rele-
vant part, they were or could have been litigated in the
prior representation proceedings. The 2012 representa-
tion proceeding, however, also occurred at a time when
the composition of the Board included two persons
whose appointments to the Board had been challenged as
constitutionally infirm, and we do not give it preclusive
effect. Accordingly, we consider below the representa-
tion issues from the 2012 proceeding that the Respondent
has raised in this proceeding.
In its response to the Notice to Show Cause, the Re-
spondent reiterates its objections to the election alleging
(1) that the Petitioner is disqualified from representing a
unit of security guards because it is indirectly affiliated
with a union representing nonguard employees, and (2)
that the Petitioner provided employees with valuable
gifts during the preelection campaign to influence the
outcome of the election.
In view of the decision of the Supreme Court in NLRB
v. Noel Canning, supra, we have considered de novo the
Respondent’s objections to the election held July 21,
2011, and the hearing officer’s report recommending
disposition of them. The election was conducted pursu-
ant to a Decision and Direction of Election. The correct-
ed tally of ballots shows 51 for and 35 against the Peti-
tioner, with no challenged ballots.
The Board has reviewed the hearing officer’s report
and the record in light of the exceptions and briefs. We
have also considered the Decision and Certification of
Representative issued on February 10, 2012, and we
agree with the rationale set forth therein. Accordingly,
we adopt the hearing officer’s findings and recommenda-
tions to the extent and for the reasons set forth in the
February 10, 2012 Decision and Certification of Repre-
sentative, which is incorporated herein by reference, and
we find that a certification of representative should be
issued.1
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVE
IT IS CERTIFIED that a majority of the valid ballots have
been cast for Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent
Association, and that it is the exclusive collective-
bargaining representative of the employees in the follow-
ing appropriate unit:

1 Member Johnson concurs with his colleagues that there is no basis
in the record for reversing the hearing officer’s credibility findings.
Stretch-Tex Co., 118 NLRB 1359, 1361 (1957). He also agrees that the
hearing officer properly rejected the Employer’s proffer of evidence
regarding the Petitioner’s alleged affiliation with another union. This
issue was fully litigated in a preelection hearing, and the Board, in an
unpublished order issued July 20, 2011, denied the Employer’s request
for review of the Regional Director’s decision. Moreover, the Regional
Director granted the Employer’s request for special permission to ap-
peal the hearing officer’s ruling, and denied the appeal on the merits.
The Employer’s assertion that it has been denied its procedural right to
properly and fully litigate this matter is thus without basis. In any case,
Member Johnson agrees with his colleagues that the rejected evidence
would not have established that the Petitioner was disqualified from
representing a unit of guards under Sec. 9(b)(3), because the proffered
evidence, taken in the light most favorable to the Employer, would not
establish that the Petitioner “lack[ed] freedom and independence in
formulating its own policies and deciding its own course of action.”
Wells Fargo Guard Services, 236 NLRB 1196, 1197 (1978) (quoting
Magnavox Co., 97 NLRB 1111, 1113 (1952)).
Member Johnson also agrees to adopt the hearing officer’s recom-
mendation to overrule the Employer’s Objection 3, because, taking the
facts as alleged by the Employer, at most three employees in a unit of
92 received benefits from the union (two baseball tickets and the elec-
tion observer’s dinner), while the Petitioner prevailed in the election by
16 votes. The Petitioner’s alleged conduct here falls within a range that
the Board has found does not require setting aside the results of an
election. See Lamar Advertising of Janesville, 340 NLRB 979 (2003).
361 NLRB No. 102

SANDS CASINO RESORT BETHLEHEM 917
All full-time and regular part-time security guards em-
ployed by the Employer at its 77 Sands Boulevard fa-
cility, excluding the locksmith, all other employees,
and supervisors as defined in the Act.
NOTICE TO SHOW CAUSE
As noted above, the Respondent has refused to bargain
for the purpose of testing the validity of the certification
of representative in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Al-
though the Respondent’s legal position may remain un-
changed, it is possible that the Respondent has or intends
to commence bargaining at this time. It is also possible
that other events may have occurred during the pendency
of this litigation that the parties may wish to bring to our
attention.
Having duly considered the matter, The General Coun-
sel is granted leave to amend the complaint on or before
November 24, 2014, to conform with the current state of
the evidence.
The Respondent’s answer to the amended complaint is
due on or before December 8, 2014.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that cause be shown, in writ-
ing, on or before December 29, 2014 (with affidavit of
service on the parties to this proceeding), as to why the
Board should not grant the General Counsel’s motion for
summary judgment. Any briefs or statements in support
of the motion shall be filed by the same date.