National Labor Relations Bd. v. American Furnace Co.

• Decision Date: 04 December 1946
• Docket Number: No. 9074.,9074.
• Citation: 158 F.2d 376
• Parties: NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD v. AMERICAN FURNACE CO.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

158 F.2d 376 (1946)

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD v. AMERICAN FURNACE CO.

No. 9074.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.

December 4, 1946.

Gerhard P. Van Arkel, Gen. Counsel, Morris P. Glushien, Associate Gen. Counsel, Dominick L. Manoli, and Leslie J. Capek, Attys., N. L. R. B., A. Norman Somers, Asst. Gen. Counsel, N. L. R. B., all of Washington, D. C., and Herman J. De Koven, N. L. R. B., of Chicago, Ill., for petitioner.

T. Jackson Case, Clarence T. Case and D. W. Voyles, all of St. Louis, Mo. (Case, Voyles & Case, of St. Louis, Mo., of counsel), for respondent.

Before KERNER, and MINTON, Circuit Judges, and LINDLEY, District Judge.

MINTON, Circuit Judge.

The National Labor Relations Board, as the petitioner, seeks the enforcement of its order directing the respondent to cease and desist from interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of the right of self-organization, from interfering with and dominating the American Furnace Labor Organization or any other labor organization of its employees, and from recognizing the American Furnace Labor Organization as bargaining representative for its employees, all of which practices the Board found were in violation of Sections 8(1) and (2) of the National Labor Relations Act¹, and to take certain affirmative action to effectuate the policies of the Act.

The only questions presented are whether the Board's order is sustained by substantial evidence, and whether the order is valid.

In February 1942 the respondent opened a plant in Red Bud, Illinois, to engage in war work. The businessmen of Red Bud provided the respondent with a factory building by popular subscription, the title to which building later passed to the respondent. The town issued bonds for the enlargement of its municipally-owned plant to provide utility services to the respondent's plant. The businessmen's committee was very much opposed to unionization of the respondent's plant because of a fear of labor trouble that might cause the plant to be closed or moved. Labor for the plant was recruited from the town of Red Bud and the surrounding rural community. The businessmen were active in recruiting labor, although they had no legal interest in the plant or its operation nor had they any authorization to represent the respondent in any manner whatsoever.

It is unnecessary to recite at length the facts in this cause. The Board made several findings that are not supported by any substantial evidence, but there is substantial evidence to support some of the Board's findings that the respondent had violated Sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Act. It was admitted by the respondent on argument that if the committees hereafter referred to were labor organizations within the meaning of the Act, the respondent had dominated and financially supported such organizations.

There were three of these committees, and for the sake of convenience all of them had used the name American Furnace Company Labor Organization or American Furnace Labor Organization. The First Committee was selected by the employees themselves by ballot vote. This committee, consisting of one foreman and two non-supervisory employees, was elected for the purpose of presenting a petition to the respondent for an increase in wages. The petition was presented, the increase was granted and approved by the War Labor Board, and the committee went out of existence.

The members of the Second and Third committees were appointed by the superintendent of the respondent. The Second Committee, consisting of three employees, was appointed for the purpose of having it present to the respondent and then follow through to the War Labor Board a petition which the employees themselves had drawn up for an increase in wages for a limited group in the plant.

The Third Committee, composed of nine foremen and four non-supervisory employees, was appointed for the purpose of continued consideration with the management of plans to improve working conditions. This committee represented the employees in obtaining the approval of both the respondent and the War Labor Board of a plan for vacations with pay. At the time of the hearing, this committee was still in existence and had under consideration a profit-sharing plan.

There was no formal organization or continuity of organization from one committee to another. The committees had no constitutions or bylaws, and, with the exception of the First Committee which had been elected by ballot vote of the employees, had no membership aside from that selected by Superintendent Koch. The committees had no revenues for any purpose, and any expenses incurred were paid by the respondent. All meetings were held on the company's time and on the company's premises.

The definition of a labor organization is found in Section 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.A. § 152(5). This section is worded in very broad and general terms and defines a labor organization as follows: "* * * any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work."

From this statutory definition it is plain that at least two of these committees existed for the purpose of representing employees and participating in their behalf with the management of the respondent in whole or in part in matters concerning wages, conditions of work, and grievances. Such loosely-formed committees, in our opinion, constitute labor organizations within the meaning of the Act, and the admitted establishment, domination, and support thereof by the respondent constitute a violation of Section 8(2) of the Act. National Labor Relations Board v. National Licorice Co....