Black Diamond Steamship Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Sep 24, 1936

2 N.L.R.B. 241 (N.L.R.B. 1936)

In the Matter of BLACK DIAMOND STEAMSHIP CORPORATION and
MARINE ENGINEERS BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION, LOCAL No. 33.
Case No. B-107.-Decided September 24, 1936
Water Transportation Industry-Election Ordered: controversy concerning
representation of employees-refusal by employer to recognize union as exclu-
sive representative ; rival organizations ; request by substantial number in
appropriate unit-question affecting commerce : confusion and unrest among
employees-prior collective agreement with rival organization no bar to hold-
ing-Unit Appropriate for Collective Bargaining : occupational differences;
craft; licensed personnel ; established labor organizations in industry-Certifi-
cation of Representatives.
Mr. David A. Moscovitz for the Board.
Hunt, Hill & Betts, by Mr. John W. Crandall, of New York City,
for the Company.
Mr. Edward Patrick Trainor, of New York City, for Marine Engi-
neers' Beneficial Association.
Mr. Herbert DeVarco, of New York City, for United Licensed
Officers of the United States of America.
Mr. William Gallagher, of New York City, for International Union
of Operating Engineers.
Mr. I. S. Dorfman, of counsel to the Board.
DECISION
STATEMENT OF CASE
On July 2, 1936, Local No. 33 of, the Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association, hereinafter called Local No. 33, filed with the Regional
Director for the Second Region a petition alleging that a question
affecting commerce had arisen concerning the representation of the
licensed engineers employed on the vessels of the Black Diamond
Steamship Corporation, New York City, New York, and requesting
an investigation and certification of representatives pursuant to Sec-
tion 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, approved July 5,
1935. On July 18, 1936, the National Labor Relations Board, herein-
after called the Board, authorized the Regional Director for the
Second Region to conduct an investigation and provide for an ap-
propriate hearing upon due notice. On July 23, 1936, the Regional
Director issued a notice setting the hearing for August 20, 1936.
241
242 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Notice of hearing was duly served on the Black Diamond Steamship
Corporation, hereinafter called the Company, Local No. 33, and the
United Licensed Officers of the United States of America, herein-
after called the United. Pursuant to notice, hearings were held in
New York City, New York, on August 20, 21, and 24, 1936, before
Benedict Wolf, Trial Examiner duly designated by order of the
Board. All who were served with notice participated in the hearing.
In the course of the hearing, the International Union of Operating
Engineers, Marine Local Union No. 3, was given leave to, and did,
file a brief in the capacity of arnicus curiae. Full opportunity to be
heard, to examine and to cross-examine witnesses and to introduce
evidence bearing upon the issues was afforded to all parties.
Upon the evidence adduced at the hearing and from the entire
record now before it, the Board makes the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT
Black Diamond Steamship Corporation is a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is, and has
been at all times hereinafter mentioned, engaged in the general cargo
and passenger business with general offices in New York City, New
York. It owns and operates eight vessels which sail according to a
fixed posted schedule from New York City, New York to Rotterdam,
Holland; Antwerp, Belgium; Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Baltimore, ' Maryland; Norfolk, Virginia ; Newport,
Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; and return.' Each of the vessels is
regularly engaged in both out-port and foreign sailings, transport-
ing primarily freight and mail, and affording a limited passenger
service.
We find, therefore, that the Company is engaged in traffic and
commerce among the several States and between the United States
and foreign countries, and that the deck officers and engineers em-
ployed on the vessels of the Company are directly engaged in such
traffic and commerce.
I. QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION AND ITS EFFECT ON COMMERCE
In September , 1934, and again in September , 1935, Local No. 33, a
labor organization claiming to represent a majority of the engineers
employed on the vessels of the Company , endeavored without success
to induce the Company to enter into an agreement covering wages,
hours and working conditions of the engineers employed by it. Dur-
1 The names of the vessels are as follows • Black Eagle, Black Gull, Black Hawk,
Black Falcon, Black Tern, Black Heron, Black Condor, Black Osprey.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 243
ing the 1935 negotiations, a representative of Local No. 33 read to an
officer of the Company the names of those engineers employed by the
Company whom Local No. 33 claimed as members. Neither in 1934
or 1935, however, did the Company have any intention of negotiating
an agreement with Local No. 33, and none was consummated.
During approximately the same periods, negotiations looking
toward an agreement were carried on between the Company and the
United Licensed Officers of the United States of America, a labor
organization, which claimed to represent a majority of the deck offi-
cers and of the engineers employed by the Company. Despite the
contradictory nature of the claims presented by the rival organiza-
tions, the Company, on November 26, 1935, entered into an agreement
with the United in respect to wages, hours and working conditions
of all its deck officers and engineers, effective December 1, 1935, and
to remain in force for one year, and from year to year thereafter
unless notice of desired amendment or abrogation is given by either
party within 30 days prior to the end of any year. The Company
made no effort to determine the validity of the claims of either labor
organization. After November 26, 1935, the Company, in reply to
the requests of Local No. 33 for an agreement, protested that it would
not violate its contract with the United.
At the hearing documents were introduced in evidence signed by a
majority of the engineers of the Company authorizing Local No. 33 to
bargain collectively on their behalf. Carbon copies of receipts issued
by Local No. 33 to engineers of the Company on payment of dues were
also introduced in evidence. The United, in support of its mem-
bership claims, presented applications for membership signed by a
number of the engineers employed by the Company. We find the
proof presented on this issue inconclusive for the following reasons :
(1) The authorizations as well as some of the applications for mem-
bership are undated; (2) some of the applications for membership
and some of the carbon copies of receipts are dated 1934; and (3) a
few engineers signed applications for membership in the United
as well as the authorization of Local No. 33.
The confusion manifest here may best be resolved, and the free
choice of representatives for purposes of collective bargaining-assured
and ascertained, by means of an election by secret ballot.
We find that a question concerning the representation of the engi-
neers employed by the Company has arisen. This question tends to
lead, to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the
free flow. of commerce between the States and between the United
States and foreign countries.
5727-37-vol 11-17
244 NATIONAL' LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
H. THE APPROPRIATE UNIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,
AND EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TEIE ELECTION
In its petition Local No. 33 avers that the unit should consist of
approximately 37 engineers employed on the vessels of the Company.
The United contends that licensed deck officers as well as engineers
should be included in the unit. The company is in agreement with
the latter view. The International Union of Operating Engineers,
Marine Local Union No. 3, though not a party to this matter, filed
a brief setting forth its interest in the determination of the issue,
and urged that the unit in question should embrace engineers only
and not deck officers.
In previous cases we have held that licensed engineers constitute
an appropriate unit for purposes of collective bargaining, and should
not be bracketed in one unit with deck officers .2 We so held for the
following reasons :
(a) The qualifications, responsibilities and duties of the licensed
engineers differ in kind from those of licensed deck officers. The
United States Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection, as
a prerequisite to the issuance of a license to an engineer, requires
of the applicant education and experience substantially different
from that of an applicant for a deck officer's license.3 Deck officers
navigate the ship, stand deck watches and check cargo in and out
of the vessel,. while engineers confine their activities almost wholly
!'' 11 in
to the operation and maintenance of the engine department. The
chief engineer is subordinate to, takes orders from, and receives a
wage rate lower than the master;
(b) ". . . there are already in this field two well-established
labor organizations (Local•No. 33, and the International Union of
Operating Engineers, Local No. 3), whose membership is limited to
engineers, and a third established labor organization, the Masters,
Mates & Pilots, restricted to deck officers. In the light of this situa-
tion; in the absence of proof of a present desire on the part of engi-
neers and deck officers to combine in one unit . . . , we are of
the opinion that the policy of the Act would be best served here' by
2 In the Matter of Delaware-New Jersey Ferry Co and M E B A , No 14, Case No
C-4, decided December 30, 1935 (1 N L R B 85) ; In the Matter of International
Mercantile Marine Co , et at, and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local
No 3, Case No R-24, decided March 21 , 1936 (1 N L R B. 384 ) ; and In the Matter
of Lykes Brothers Steamship Co , Inc. et at . and National Marine Engineers' Bene-
ficial Association et at., Cases Nos. R-36, R-37, and R-38 , decided July 8, 1936 ( supra,
p. 102).
$ As to qualifications for service as a licensed deck officer see R S. § 4131 ; U. S C.
Title 46, § 221 ; R. S. § 4439 ; U. S. C. Title 46, § 226; R. S § 4440; U. S . C. Title
46, § 228.
Minimum requirements for licensed engineers are cited in R. S. § 4441; U. S. C.
Title 46, § 229
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 245
not requiring that deck officers and engineers be combined in one
unit for the purposes of collective bargaining."'
The case at hand presents no facts which would warrant recon-
sideration of our previous decisions on this point.
We therefore find that all chief, assistant and licensed junior engi-
neers employed as engineers on the vessels operated by the Company
constitute a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bar-
gaining.
This does not mean that the United will be precluded from rep-
resenting the engineers of the company. The names of both the
United and Local No. 33 will appear on the ballot of the projected
election. The engineers will then be free to choose.
THE CONTRACT
The mere holding of the election will in no way affect the rights
and duties, if any, arising out of the contract entered into between
the, Company and the United. Morever, since that contract is shortly
subject to termination (December 1, 1936), and the representatives
of the engineers, who will have been ascertained prior to that date,
may elect'to terminate it; we deem it unnecessary to determine what
would otherwise be the effect of the contract on the petition before us_
THE ELECTION
In the conduct of this election we take into consideration' the fol-
lowing factors : that separate ships' articles are signed for every
round trip voyage; that in some instances the names of the personnel
of a given vessel are not known sufficiently in advance of sailing time-
to permit a well ordered election prior to that time; and that between
voyages the employees may be in port for very short periods.
In these circumstances, notice of the election will be posted as soon
as is convenient on each vessel of the Company before it leaves the
port of New York on the first trip, if possible, nest ' following the
date of the issuance of this decision, and remain in view until the
election has been, held. Such notice of election will be accompanied
by a sample ballot and a list of engineers eligible to vote in the
election. The ballots will be cast in the presence of a representa-
tive of this Board upon the return of each vessel to, the port of
New York either from any, of the out-ports or from. Antwerp or
Rotterdam.
4In the Matter of International Mercantile Maine Co , et al. and International Union
of Operating Engineers , Local 'No. 3, Case No R-24, decided March 21, 1936 ( 1 'N. L.
R B. 384, 390)
246 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Due to the special circumstances of this, case we find it necessary
to limit the right to vote to those licensed engineers within the unit
above described who are employed on the round trip voyage of the
respective vessels of the Company on which notices of election have
been posted, and who also were employed as engineers on any vessel
operated by the Company at any time between July 2, 1936, the date
of the filing of the petition herein, and the date of the 'ditecti'on of
election in this matter.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Upon the basis of the above findings, the following conclusions of
law are made by the Board :
1. The chief engineers, assistants and licensed junior engineers
employed as engineers on the vessels of the Black Diamond Steam-
ship Corporation operating out of the port of New York, constitute
a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining, within
the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act.
2. A question affecting commerce has arisen concerning the repre-
sentation of chief engineers, assistants and licensed junior engineers
employed on the vessels of the Black Diamond Steamship Corpora-
tion, within the meaning of Section 9 (c) of the Act.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National
Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Re-
lations Act, approved July 5, 1935, and pursuant to Article III,
Section 8, of National Labor Relations Board Rules and Regula-
tions-Series 1, as amended, it is
DIRECTED that, as part of the investigation authorized by the Board
to ascertain representatives for collective bargaining with the Black
Diamond Steamship Corporation, New York City, an election by
secret ballot shall be conducted as soon as convenient, and beginning
as promptly as is practicable after the date of this Direction, based
on sailing dates of vessels, subject to the suggestions for the admin-
istration of this election contained hereinabove, under the direction
and supervision of the Acting Regional Director for the Second Re-
gion, acting in this matter as agent of the National Labor Relations
Board, and subject to Article III,' Section 9 of said Rules and Regu-
lations-Series 1, as amended, among the chief engineers, assistant
engineers and licensed junior engineers employed as engineers on the
vessels of the Black Diamond Steamship Corporations operating out
,of the port of New York, to determine whether they desire to be rep-
DECISIONS AND ORDERS 247
resented by the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, Local No.
33, or by the United Licensed Officers of the United States of
America.
MR. DONALD WAKEFIELD SMITH took no part in the consideration of_
the above Decision and Direction of Election.
[ SAME TITLE]
CERTIFICATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 1936
A petition for an investigation and certification of representatives
pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, 49
Stat. 449, having been duly filed, and an investigation and hearing
having been duly authorized and conducted, and an election by secret
ballot having been conducted beginning on October 3 and ending on
December 3, 1936, among the licensed chief, first assistant, second as-
sistant and third assistant engineers employed as engineers on the
vessels-of the Black Diamond Steamship Corporation operating out;
of the port of New York, and an Intermediate Report upon the secret
ballot finding that the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Lo-
cal No. 33, had been selected by a majority of the engineers in the
appropriate unit, having been prepared by Elinore Morehouse Her-
rick, the agent of the Board designated to conduct the election, and
duly served upon the parties, and no objections to the ballot and to
the Intermediate Report having been filed with the Board by the
parties pursuant to Article III, Section 8 of National Labor Relations,
Board Rules and Regulations-Series 1, as amended,
THEREFORE, by virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the
National Labor Relations Board by Section 9 (c) of the said Act, and
pursuant to Article III, Section 8 of the said Rules and Regulations,
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that Marine Engineers' Beneficial Associa-
tion, Local No. 33, has been designated by a majority of the licensed
chief, first assistant, second assistant and third assistant engineers
employed as engineers on the vessels of the Black Diamond Steam-
ship Corporation operating out of the port of New York, as their
representative for the purposes of collective bargaining, and that
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 (a) of the National Labor
Relations Act, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Local No.
33, is the exclusive representative of all such engineers for the pur-
poses of collective bargaining in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours
of employment and other conditions of employment.