American Fruit Growers, Inc.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Apr 2, 1945

61 N.L.R.B. 286 (N.L.R.B. 1945)

In the Matter of AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS , INC., L. V. BROWN-
ESTATE, AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS, INC., ANDREWS BROS. CO.,
BREAK ALLEN PACKING HOUSE, BRYN MAUR FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCI-
ATION , CHEROKEE CITRUS CO., INC., CRAFTON ORANGE GROWERS Asso-
CIATION , EAST HIGHLANDS CITRUS ASSOCIATION , EAST HIGHLANDS
ORANGE Co ., ELEPHANT ORCHARDS , EVANS BROS. PACKING CO., GAVI-
LAN CITRUS ASSOCIATION , GOLD BANNER ASSOCIATION ,* GOLD BUCKLE
ASSOCIATION , HIGHGROVEs FRUIT ASSOCIATION , HIGHLAND FRUIT
GROWERS ASSOCIATION , HIGHLAND MUTUAL GRO«s, INC., HILLSIDE
CITRUS CO., INC., KRINARD PACKING Co., I. L . LYONS & SONS PACK-
ING HOUSE , MCDERMOTT FRUIT CO.,* MISSION CITRUS ASSOCIATION,
MONTE VISTA CITRUS ASSOCIATION , MUTUAL ORANGE DISTRIBUTORS,
NATIONAL ORANGE CO., RANDOLPH MARKETING CO.,* REDLANDS CO-
OPERATIVE FRUIT ASSOCIATION ,' REDLANDS ORANGEDALE ASSOCIATION,
REDLANDS ORANGE GROWERS ASSOCIATION , REDLANDS FOOTHILL
GROVES, REDLANDS HEIGHTS GROVES , REDLANDS MUTUAL ORANGE
ASSOCIATION , REDLANDS SELECT GROVES , RIALTO CITRUS ASSOCIATION,
RIALTO HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION , RIALTO ORANGE CO ., RIVERSIDE-
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS FRUIT EXCHANGE, RIVERSIDE CITRUS ASSOCIA-
TION, RIVERSIDE GROWERS, INC., RIVERSIDE HEIGHTS ORANGE GROW-
ERS ASSOCIATION , SIERRA VISTA PACKING ASSOCIATION, SIGNAL FRUIT
ASSOCIATION , SOUTHERN CITRUS ASSOCIATION , UNITED CITRUS GROW-
ERS,* VICTORIA AVENUE CITRUS ASSOCIATION , E. T. WALL, GROWER-
SHIPPER , WESTERN FRUIT GROWERS , INC., MUTUAL ORANGE DIS-
TRIBUTORS , AND/OR MUTUAL ORANGE ASSOCIATION and CITRUS
WORKERS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE., FTA-CIO
Cases Nos. :?1-R-2729 through f 1-R-776 and 21-R-2780 .-Decided
April 2, 1945
Mr. George C. Lyon, of Los Angeles , Calif., for the Companies,
with the exception of Elephant Orchards Association , Zilen Citrus
Co., Fred Hill , and McDermott Fruit Co.
Mr. L. T. Cunningham , of Los Angeles, Calif ., for the Citrus
Workers. .
* The record indicates that these are the correct names of the employers involved.
61 N. L . R. B., No. 33.
286
AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS, INC. 287
Messrs. H. C. Torreano, Archie Neal, and Thomas Cooper, all of
Los Angeles, Calif., and Mr. Earl Wilson,' of San Bernardino, Calif.,
for the Teamsters.
Mr. David V. Easton, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
DIRECTION OF ELECTIONS
AND
ORDER
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Upon 49 separate petitions duly filed by Citrus Workers Organizing
Committee, FTA-CIO, herein called the Citrus Workers, alleging that
questions affecting commerce had arisen concerning the representation
of employees of American Fruit Growers, Inc., Riverside, California;
L. V. Brown-Estate, Highgrove, California; American Fruit Grow-
ers, Inc., Redlands and Highland, California; Andrews Bros. Co.,
Riverside, California; Break Allen Packing House, Bryn Maur, Cali-
fornia; Bryn Maur Fruit Growers Association, Bryn Maur, Cali-
fornia; Cherokee Citrus Co., Inc., Highland, California; Crafton
Orange Growers Association, Mentone, California; East Highlands
'Citrus Association, East Highland, California; Evans Bros. Pack-
ing Co., Riverside, California ; Gavilan Citrus Association, Riverside,
California; Gold Banner Association, Redlands, California; Gold
Buckle Association, Highland and East Highland, California; High-
groves Fruit Association, Highgrove, California ; Highland Fruit
Growers Association, Highland, California; Highland Mutual Groves,
Inc., Highland, California; Krinard Packing Co., Riverside, Cali-
fornia; McDermott Fruit Co., Riverside, California; Mission Citrus
Association, Bryn Maur, California; Monte Vista Citrus Association,
Riverside, California ; National Orange Co., Riverside, California;
Randolph Marketing Co., Bryn Maur, California; Redlands Cooper-
ative Fruit Association, Redlands, California; Redlands Orangedale
Association, Redlands, California; Redlands Orange Growers Asso-
ciation, Redlands, California; Redlands Foothill Groves, Redlands,
California; Redlands Heights Groves, Redlands, California; Red-
lands Mutual Orange Association, Redlands, California; Redlands
Select Groves, Redlands, California; Rialto Citrus Association, Ri-
alto, California; Rialto Heights Association, Rialto, California; Ri-
Air Wilson appeared on behalf of the Central Labor Council of the American Federation
of Labor. Both the Teamsters and the Central Labor Council are affiliated with the same
parent organization.
288 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
alto Orange Co., Rialto, California; Riverside Citrus Association,
Riverside, California; Riverside Growers, Inc., Riverside, California;
Riverside Heights Orange Growers Association, Riverside, Cali-
fornia; Sierra Vista Packing Association, Riverside, California; Sig-
nal Fruit Association, Highland, California; Southern Citrus Asso-
ciation, Redlands, California; United Citrus Growers, Colton,
California; Victoria Avenue Citrus Association, Casa Blanca, Cali-
fornia; E. T. Wall, Grower-Shipper, Riverside, California ; and
Western Fruit Growers, Inc., Redlands, California, herein collectively
called the Companies, the National Labor Relations Board, by an
order dated March 16, 1945, consolidated the cases and provided for
an appropriate hearing upon due notice before Maurice J. Nicoson,
Trial Examiner. Said hearing was held at Redlands, California, on
March 23, 1945. The Companies, the Citrus Workers, Western Ware-
house and Produce Council of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America,
A. F. L., herein called the Teamsters, and Central Labor Council
appeared, participated, and were afforded full opportunity to be
heard, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce
evidence bearing on the issues. The record indicates that East High-
land Orange Co., Elephant Orchards, Mutual Orange Distributors,
Riverside-Arlington Heights Fruit Exchange, and Mutual Orange
Distributors and/or Mutual Orange Association do not operate pack-
ing sheds. Since, as hereinafter indicated, the Citrus Workers seeks
units of employees engaged in packing sheds, the petitions in Cases
Nos. 21-R-2738, 21- R-2739, 21-R-2753, 21-R-2766, and 21-R-2780
will be dismissed. The record indicates that, with respect to Cases
Nos. 21-R-2747 and 21-R-2749, Hillside Citrus Co., Inc., and I. L.
Lyons & Sons Packing House, the employers mentioned therein, are
no longer in existence. The petitions as to these two will also be
dismissed.2 , The Trial Examiner's rulings made at the hearing are
free from prejudicial error, and are hereby affirmed. All parties were
afforded an opportunity to file briefs with the Board.
Upon the entire record in these consolidated proceedings, the Board
makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANIES
The Companies are engaged in the business of packing citrus fruits
in California. They employ persons for handling, sorting, and pack-
ing the fruit during the packing seasons. During the year 1944, the
2
The Trial Examiner reserved for the Board the question of whether or not McDermott
Fruit Co. was properly served, since notice was sent to McDernsott Fruit Co. We find that
the variation in name is not substantial , and that the proper party was duly notified.
AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS , INC. 289
following Companies packed and shipped in interstate commerce the
following number of carloads of either Valencia or Naval oranges :
American Fruit Growers, Inc. (Redlands), 235; L. V. Brown-Estate,
328; American Fruit Growers, Inc. (Riverside), 174; Andrews Bros.
Co., 505; Break Allen Packing House, 81; Bryn Maur Fruit Growers
Association, 299; Cherokee Citrus Co., Inc., 363; Crafton Orange
Growers Association, 535; East Highlands Citrus Association, 152;
Evans Bros. Packing Co., 364; Gavilan Citrus Association, 465; Gold
Banner Association, 608; Gold Buckle Association, 1055; Highgroves
Fruit Association, 108; Highland Fruit Growers Association, 119;
Highland Mutual Groves, Inc., 114; Krinard Packing Co., 448;
McDermott Fruit Co., 360; Mission Citrus Association, 172; Monte
Vista Citrus Association, 282; National Orange Co., 147; Randolph
Marketing Co., 89; Redlands Cooperative Fruit Association, 557; Red-
lands Orangedale Association, 427; Redlands Orange Growers Asso-
ciation, 428; Redlands Foothill Groves, 733; Redlands Heights Groves,
291; Redlands Mutual Orange Association, 283; Redlands Select
Groves, 193; Rialto Citrus Association, 220; Rialto Heights Associa-
tion, 71; Rialto Orange Co., 111; Riverside Citrus Association, 128;
Riverside Growers, Inc., 505; Riverside Heights Orange Growers Asso-
ciation, 314; Sierra Vista Packing Association, 166; Signal Fruit
Association, 223; Southern Citrus Association, 279; United Citrus
Growers, 114; Victoria Avenue Citrus Association, 623; E. T. Wall,
Grower Shipper, 329; Western Fruit Growers, Inc., 495.
We find that the above-named Companies are engaged in commerce
within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.3
II. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Citrus Workers Organizing Committee, Food, Tobacco, Agricul-
tural and Allied Workers Union of America, is a labor organization
affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, admitting to
membership employees of the Companies.
Western Warehouse and Produce Council, International Brother-
hood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America;
and Central Labor Council, are labor organizations affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, admitting to membership employees
of the Companies.
III. THE QUESTIONS CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
The Companies are unwilling to recognize the Citrus Workers as
the collective bargaining representative of certain of their employees
in the absence of certification by the Board.
3 Matter of Allen and Sandaland8 , et at, 59 N . L. R, $, 729,
290 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
The Citrus Workers adduced testimony concerning the extent of
its membership among the persons who work in the fruit packing
industry in the area in which the Companies conduct packing opera-
tions. This testimony indicates that the Union represents a substantial
number of those persons who are or who will be , employed by the
Companies.
We find that questions affecting commerce have arisen concerning
the representation of employees of the Companies within the meaning
of Section 9 (c) and Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act. -
IV. THE APPROPRIATE UNITS
Substantially in accordance with a stipulation of the parties made
at the hearing, we find that all employees at the packing sheds of each
of the Companies, excluding clerical employees, officials, and all super-
visory employees with authority to hire, promote, discharge, discipline,
or otherwise effect changes in the status of employees, or effectively
recommend such action, constitute units appropriate for the purposes
of collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of
the Act. '
V. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
We shall direct that the question concerning representation which
has arisen be resolved by 42 separate elections by secret ballot among
the employees in the appropriate units who were, employed during the
pay-roll period immediately preceding the date of the Direction of
Elections herein, subject to the limitations and additions set forth
in the Direction.4
DIRECTION OF ELECTIONS
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National Labor
Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations
Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 9, National Labor Relations
Board Rules and Regulations-Series 3, as amended, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation to ascertain representa-
tives for the purposes of collective bargaining with American Fruit
Growers, Inc., Riverside, California; L. V. Brown-Estate, High-
grove, California; American Fruit Growers, Inc., Redlands and High-
land, California; Andrews Bros. Co., Riverside, California; Break
Allen Packing House, Bryn Maur, California ; Bryn Maur Fruit
Growers Association, Bryn Maur, California; Cherokee Citrus Co.,
Inc., Highland, California; Crafton Orange Growers Association, Men-
tone, California ; East Highlands Citrus Association, East Highland,
6 The record indicates that the Teamsters 4re entitled to a place on the ballots . We shall
so provide,
AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS, INC. 291
California; Evans Bros. Packing Co., Riverside, California; Gavilan
Citrus Association, Riverside, California; Gold Banner Association,
Redlands, California ; Gold Buckle Association, Highland and East
Highland, California; Highgroves Fruit Association, Highgrove, Cal-
ifornia; Highland Fruit Growers Association, Highland, California;
Highland Mutual Groves, Inc., Highland, California; Krinard Pack-
ing Co., Riverside, California; McDermott Fruit Co., Riverside, Cali-
fornia; Mission Citrus Association, Bryn Maur, California; Monte
Vista Citrus Association, Riverside, California; National Orange
Co., Riverside, California; Randolph Marketing Co., Bryn Maur, Cal-
ifornia; Redlands Cooperative Fruit Association, Redlands, Cali-
fornia; Redlands Orangedale Association, Redlands, California; Red-
lands Orange Growers Association, Redlands, California; Redlands
Foothill Groves, Redlands, California; Redlands Heights Groves, Red-
lands, California ; Redlands Mutual Orange Association, Redlands,
California; Redlands Select Groves, Redlands, California; Rialto
Citrus Association, Rialto, California; Rialto Heights Association,
Rialto, California; Rialto Orange Co., Rialto, California; Riverside
Citrus Association, Riverside, California; Riverside Growers, Inc.,
Riverside, California; Riverside Heights Orange Growers Associa-
tion, Riverside, California; Sierra Vista Packing Association, River-
side, California; Signal Fruit Association, Highland, California;
Southern Citrus Association, Redlands, California; United Citrus
Growers, Colton, California; Victoria Avenue Citrus Association,
Casa Blanca, California; E. T. Wall, Grower-Shipper, Riverside, Cal-
ifornia; and Western Fruit Growers, Inc., Redlands, California, 42
separate elections by secret ballot shall be conducted as early as possi-
ble, but not later than sixty (60) days from the date of this Direction,
under the direction and supervision of the Regional Director for the
Twenty-first Region, acting in this matter as agent for the National
Labor Relations Board, and subject to Article III, Section 10, of said
Rules and Regulations, among the employees in the units found appro-
priate in Section IV, above, who were employed during the pay-roll
period immediately preceding the date of this Direction, including
employees who did not work during said pay-roll period because they
were ill or on vacation or temporarily laid off, and including employees
in the armed forces of the United States who present themselves in
person at the polls, but excluding those employees who have since quit
or been discharged for, cause, to determine whether they desire to be
represented by Citrus Workers Organizing Committee, Food, Tobacco,
Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of America, affiliated with the
Congress of Industrial Organizations, or by Western Warehouse and
Produce Council, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs,
Warehousemen & Helpers of America, affiliated with the American
292 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Federation of Labor, for the purposes of collective bargaining, or by
neither.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petition filed by Citrus Workers Or-
ganizing Committee, FTA-CIO, for investigation and certification of
representatives of the employees of East Highlands Orange Co., Case
No. 21-R-2738; Elephant Orchards, Case No. 21-R-2739; Hillside
Citrus Co., Inc., 21-R-2747; I. L. Lyons & Sons Packing House, Case
No. 21-R-2749; Mutual Orange Distributors, Case No. 21-R-2753;
Riverside-Arlington Heights Fruit Exchange, Case No. 21-R-2766;
and Mutual Orange Distributors and/or Mutual Orange Association,
Case No. 21-R-2780, be, and they hereby are, dismissed.
CHAIRMAN MILms took no part in the consideration of the above
Decision, Direction of Elections, and Order.