Bendix Products Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Oct 7, 1939

15 N.L.R.B. 965 (N.L.R.B. 1939)

In the Matter of BENDIX PRODUCTS CORP. and PArr. MK Rs. ASSN. OF
So. BEND
In the Matter of BENDIX PRODUCTS CORPORATION and BENDIX
INDUSTRIAL POLICE ASSOCIATION
Cases Nos. R1127 and R-11f8, respectively .Decided October 7,
1939
Automobile and Aircraft Parts Manufacturing Industry Investigation of
Representatives: controversy concerning representation of employees: company
refuses to recognize union formed since previous certification of another union-
Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining: determined in previous proceeding;
no controversy as-to; policemen constitute-Employee Status: policemen-Elec-
tion Ordered-Order: dismissing petition for investigation of representatives
filed by one union where no question concerning the representation of employees
in an appropriate unit has arisen.
Mr. Jack G. Evans, for the Board.
Cassels, Potter & Bentley, by Mr. Robert B. Johnstone, of Chicago,
Ill., for the Company.
Mr. Roy E. Rogers, of South Bend, Ind., for the P. M. A.
Mr. Oliver M. Loomis, of South Bend, Ind., for the B. I. P. A.
Mr. Joseph M. Jacobs, of Chicago, Ill., for the U. A. W. A.
.M'. Abraham J. Harris, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
ORDER
AND
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On August 13, 1938, Pattern Makers' Association of South Bend,'
herein called the P. M. A., filed with the Regional Director- for the
Thirteenth Region (Chicago, Illinois), a petition alleging that a
question affecting commerce had arisen concerning the representation
of employees of Bendix Products Corporation, herein called the Com-
pany, and requesting an investigation and certification of representa-
tives pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act,
49 Stat. 449, herein called the Act. On October 21, 1938, the National
Labor Relations Board, herein called the Board, acting pursuant to
' Incorrectly designated in the petition as Patt. Mkrs. Assn . of So. Bend.
15 N. L. R. B., No. 107.
965
199549-39-vol. 15--62
966 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Section 9 (c) of the Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended,
ordered an investigation and authorized the Regional Director to con-
duct it and to provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice.
On August 20, 1938, Bendix Industrial Police Association, herein
called the B. I. P. A., filed with the Regional Director a petition
:alleging that a question had arisen concerning the representation of
employees of the Company and requesting an investigation and cer-
tification of representatives pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Act. On
October 21, 1938, the Board, acting pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the
Act and Article III, Section 3, of National Labor Relations -Board
Rules and Regulations-Series 1,, as amended, ordered an investiga-
tion and authorized the Regional Director to conduct it and to pro.
vide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice.
On October 28, 1938, pursuant to Article III, Section 10 (c) (2),
of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regulations- Series 1,
as amended, the Board issued an order consolidating the two cases
for the purpose of hearing and for all other purposes. On the same
day, the Regional Director issued a notice of consolidated hearing,
copies of which were duly served upon the Company, the B. I. P. A.,
the P. M. A., and upon International Union, United Automobile
Workers of America, Bendix Local No. 9, herein called the U. A.
W. A., a labor organization claiming to represent employees directly
affected by the investigation. - Thereafter, upon motion of the U. A.
W. A., the Regional Director ordered the hearing postponed from
November 5 to November 17, 1938, and served copies of his order upon
.all parties. Pursuant thereto, a hearing was held on November 17,
1938, at South Bend, Indiana, before Mapes Davidson, the Trial
Examiner duly designated by the Board. The Board, the Company,
the U. A. W. A., and the B. I. P. A. were represented by counsel, and
the P. M. A. was represented by an authorized representative. All
participated in the hearing. Opportunity to be heard, to examine
:and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce evidence bearing on
the issues was afforded all parties. During the course of the hearing
the Trial Examiner made several rulings on motions and. on objec-
tions to the admission of evidence. The Board has reviewed the
rulings of the Trial Examiner and finds that no prejudicial errors
were committed. The rulings are hereby affirmed. The Trial Exam-
iner reserved ruling on a motion by the U. A. W. A. to dismiss the
petitions. As to the petition filed by the B. I. P. A., the motion is
hereby deified. As to the petition filed by the P. M. A., the motion
is hereby granted, in accordance with the Decision and Order here-
inbelow set forth. Pursuant to leave granted by the Trial Examiner,
the Company and the U. A. W. A. filed memoranda. The Board has
considered the arguments presented therein.
I-ENDIX PRODUCTS CORP. 967
Upon the entire record in this consolidated proceeding, the Board
makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
Bendix Products Corporation is a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Indiana. Its principal office and plant is in
South Bend, Indiana. It is engaged in the manufacture, sale, and
distribution of automobile and aircraft parts consisting principally
of carburetors, brakes, and parts therefor. Between January 1 and
October 1, 1938, the Company purchased raw materials, consisting of
steel, zinc, brass, aluminum, scrap iron, coal, oil, salt, acid, sand, brick,
and lumber, in an aggregate amount of approximately 52,232,000
pounds, of which approximately 13,952,000 pounds were obtained
outside the State of Indiana. During the same period, the Company
manufactured, sold, and distributed finished products which weighed
approximately 29,274,000 pounds. The Company's products are sold
mainly to the aircraft and automobile industries, and, of its total
products sold and distributed during the period mentioned, approxi-
mately 22,486,000 pounds were shipped outside the State of Indiana.
11. THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Pattern Makers' Association of South Bend is a labor organization
affiliated with the Pattern Makers' League of North America, which,
in turn, is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. The
P. M. A. admits to its membership the pattern makers employed by
the Company.
Bendix Industrial Police Association is in unaffiliated labor organ-
ization admitting to its membership the policemen employed by the
Company.
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America, Ben-
dix Local No. 9, is a labor organization affiliated with the Congress
of Industrial Organizations, admitting to its membership all em-
ployees of the Company except those having the authority to hire and
discharge.
III. THE QUESTION' CONCERNING REPRESENTATION
A. The Pattern Makers
On September 16, 1937, the Board issued its Decision and Certifica-
tion of Representatives 2 by which the Board certified the U. A. W. A.
as the exclusive representative of the employees of the Company in a
unit consisting of all the Company's employees paid on an hourly
2 3 N. L. R. B. 682.
Q
968 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
basis, including apprentices, factory clerks, and time checkers, and
excluding other clerical workers and supervisory employees. The:
U. A. W. A. contends that all such employees, including the pattern
makers, constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective
bargaining. The P. M. A. claims that the pattern makers employed
by the Company constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of
collective bargaining. In Section V, A, below, we find that the bar-
gaining unit sought to be established by the P. Al. A. is inappropriate
for the purposes of collective bargaining with the Company.
We therefore find that no question has arisen concerning representa-'
tion of the pattern makers employed by the Company.
B. The Policemen
By its Decision and Certification of September 16, 1937, the Board
found that the policemen employed by the Company constituted a
separate appropriate bargaining unit and certified the U. A. W. A.
as the exclusive representative of such employees. Thereafter, the
B. I. P. A. was formed and sought to bargain with the Company on
behalf of its policemen. The Company, however, refused to do so.
Following the certification, the U. A. W. A. sought to. bargain,
on behalf of the policemen, with the Company. At its suggestion,
however, this bargaining was postponed pending negotiation of a
contract between the Company and the U. A. W. A. respecting the
hourly paid employees. The B. I. P. A. thereafter filed its petition
herein, claiming to represent a majority of the policemen employed
by the Company. The B. I. P. A. also alleged that the certification
of the U. A. W. A. as the exclusive collective bargaining representa.
tive of the policemen had been procured by the U. A. W. A. by fraud.
We find no basis for such an allegation either in the record in the
earlier proceeding or in this proceeding.
As in the earlier proceeding, it is the Company's position in the
present proceeding that the policemen are not employees within the
meaning of the Act and are not entitled to have a labor organization
certified as their exclusive representative for the purposes of collec-
tive bargaining. This contention is based mainly upon the fact that
the Company's policemen hold commissions as Special Officers from
the City of South Bend, Indiana. However, the policemen are hired
by the Company and are paid by it. There is no basis for finding
that they are anything other than employees of the Company.
We find that a question has arisen concerning representation , of
the policemen employed by the Company.
0
BENDIX PRODUCTS CORP. 969
TV. THE EFFECT OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION UPON
COMMERCE
We find that the question concerning representation which has
.arisen, occurring in connection with the operations of the Company
described in Section I above, has a close, intimate, and substantial
relation to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several States,
and tends to lead to labor disputes burdening and obstructing com-
merce and the free flow of commerce.
V. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT
A. The Pattern Makers
As stated above, by its Decision of September 16, 1937, the Board
determined that the employees of the Company who are paid on an
hourly basis, including apprentices, factory clerks, and time checkers,
and excluding other clerical workers and supervisory employees, con-
stitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining.
This unit includes the pattern makers employed by the Company.
No claim was made at the hearing upon which the Board's Decision
was based that the pattern makers employed by the Company consti-
tute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Moreover, despite the fact that the P. M. A. had been formed prior
to the hearing, it had never attempted to bargain collectively with
the Company. The P. M. A. now claims that a unit composed of the
Company's pattern makers is appropriate.
Both prior to and since the Board's Certification of September 16,
1937, the U. A. W. A. has bargained with the Company on behalf of
all its hourly paid employees, including the pattern makers. Nothing
has occurred since the Board's Decision and Certification to indicate
the inappropriateness' of the unit there determined to be appropriate.
Under such circumstances we see no reason to disturb the bargaining
unit heretofore determined by us to be appropriate.
We therefore find that the separate bargaining unit sought to be
established by the P. M. A. is not appropriate for the purposes of
collective bargaining.
B. The Policemen
As stated above, by its Decision of September 16, 1937, the Board
determined that the company policemen constitute a unit appropriate
for the purposes of collective bargaining." We find that, in order to
insure to the employees of the Company designated as policemen the
6 Cf. Matter of Willys Overland Motors, Inc. and International Union, United Automobile
Workers of America, Local No. 12, 9 N. L. R. B. 924. In the instant case, neither the
U. A. W. A., the B. I. P. A ., nor the Company has raised any question concerning the appro-
priateness of a separate unit for the police and we shall not, therefore , disturb the unit of
policemen determined to be appropriate in our earlier Decision.
97O DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
full benefit of their right to self-organization and to collective bar-
gaining, and otherwise to effectuate the policies of the Act, all the
company policemen constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes
of collective bargaining.
VI. THE DETERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
The B. I. P. A. claims to represent a majority of the policemen
employed by the Company. No evidence was introduced at the hear-
ing, however, upon the basis of which we can make a finding that a
majority of the policemen had designated and selected that organi-
zation as their representative for the purposes of collective bargain-
ing. We therefore find that an election by secret ballot is necessary
to resolve this question concerning representation.
We shall direct that the policemen employed by the Company
during the last pay-roll period next preceding the date of the Direc-
tion of Election, including those who did not work during such pay-
roll period because they were ill or on vacation, and those who were
then or have since been temporarily laid off, but excluding those who
have since quit or been discharged for cause, shall be eligible to vote
in the election.
On the basis of the above findings of fact and upon the. entire
record in the case, the Board makes the following :
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
. 1. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of the policemen employed by Bendix Products Corpora-
tion, South Bend, Indiana, within the meaning of Section 9 - (c) and
Section 2 (6) and (7) of the Act.
2. No question has arisen concerning the representation of the
pattern makers employed by Bendix Products Corporation, South
Bend, Indiana, in a unit which is appropriate for the purposes of
collective bargaining, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) of the
Act.
3. The policemen employed by the Company are employees, within
the meaning of Section 2 (3) and Section 9 of the Act.
4. The policemen employed by the Company constitute a unit ap-
propriate for the purposes of collective bargaining, within the mean-
ing of Section 9 (b) of the Act. -
ORDER
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of
law, the National Labor Relations Board hereby orders that the peti-
tion for investigation and certification filed by Pattern Makers' Asso-
ciation of South Bend be, and it hereby is, dismissed.
13ENDIX PRODUCTS CORP.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
97.1
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, and pursuant to Article III, Section 8, of National Labor
Relations Board Rules and Regulations-Series 2, it is hereby
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation authorized by the
Board to ascertain representatives for collective bargaining with
Bendix Products Corporation, South Bend, Indiana, an election
by secret ballot shall be conducted as early as possible but not later
than thirty (30) days from the date of this Direction of Election,
under the direction and supervision of the Regional Director for the
Thirteenth Region, acting in this matter as agent for the National
Labor Relations Board and subject to Article III, Section 9, of said
Rules and Regulations, among the policemen employed by Bendix
Products Corporation during the last pay-roll period next preceding
the date of this Direction, including those who did not work during
such pay-roll period because they were ill or on vacation, and those
who were then or have since been temporarily laid off, but excluding
those who have since quit or been discharged for cause, to determine
whether they desire to be represented by International Union, United-
Automobile Workers of America, Bendix Local No. 9, or Bendix
Industrial Police Association, for the purposes of collective bargain-
ing, or by neither.
MR. WILLIAM M. LEISERsoN, concurring in part and dissenting in
part:
In -wprevious decision involving the same company and employees
as in the present case the Board made a definite finding that "all
of the employees of the Company who are paid on an hourly basis,
including apprentices, factory clerks, and time checkers, but exclud-
ing other clerical workers and supervisory employees, constitute a
unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining." In the
same decision the Board also found that all the company policemen
constitute another separate unit for purposes of collective bargaining.
In accordance with these findings the Board certified the Interna-
tional Union, United Automobile Workers of America, Bendix Local
No. 9, as the exclusive representative designated and selected by
separate majorities of the employees of both units.'
I agree.that the petition filed by the Pattern Makers' Association
should be dismissed. When the Board, after due investigation and
hearing, has determined that all the hourly paid production employees
of the Company constitute an appropriate unit, I am of the opinion
that it is not free in subsequent proceedings to find the same unit
4 3 N. L. R . B. 682.
972 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
inappropriate or to disregard it. I think such changes in succeeding
opinions make stable collective bargaining impossible. The collective
bargaining that follows certification of a representative of an appro-
priate unit establishes- rights and privileges for the employees con-
stituting the ' unit which would be adversely affected by the Board
changing its mind as to the appropriateness of a unit. It seems to
me arbitrary and capricious to make different findings as to the
appropriateness of a bargaining unit in two successive cases involv-
ing the same production employees.
With respect to the policemen, the representative certified by the
Board in the first case has not yet had the opportunity to enjoy the
benefit of the certification. The Company has not bargained with
the certified representative because of an injunction that was secured
by the Bendix Industrial Police Association and for other reasons.
I am of the opinion that a proceeding for a new certification should
not be entertained until the first certification has been honored.
For the reasons stated, I think that both petitions in the present
case should be dismissed.
CHAIRMAN MADDEN, concurring in part and dissenting in part :
I concur in so much of the decision in this case as relates to the
policemen and in the Direction of Election.
I am unable, however, to concur in so much of the decision as
relates to the pattern makers. The only distinction between this
case and cases in which the Globe principle 5 has been applied seems
to be that in the present case an industrial unit in the plant in ques-
tion has heretofore been determined by the Board to be an appro-
priate unit for the purposes of collective bargaining with the Com-
pany. This attempted distinction seems to me unsound. For the
reasons stated in my dissenting opinion in Matter of American Can
Co.,6 I believe that the Globe Doctrine should be applied= in the
present case.
6 The reference is to the doctrine whereby the Board has , in cases in which a union that
has historically bargained on a craft basis has shown substantial membership among a
group of craft employees and has requested the establishment of a craft unit, either estab.
lished the craft group as a separate unit or permitted the craft employees to vote sepa-
rately as to whether they wished to be represented by the craft union in a separate unit or
to merge with the other employees in a broader unit. See Matter of The Globe Machine
and Stamping Co. and Metal Polishers Union, Local No. 3; International Association of
Machinists, District No. 54; Federal Labor Union 18788, and United Automobile Workers of
America, 3 N. L. R. B. 294, and subsequent cases.
6 13 N. L . R. B. 1252.