Century Electric Co.

:232 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD However, should the very limited preprint production increase, as appears to be inevitable, the "efficiency" picture is certain to change, and on this aspect of the case the record is silent. The record is also .silent as to what economies, if any, would be realized by the assign- ment of the disputed work to either of the unions. - In the final analysis it appears that this dispute grew out of the Employer's introduction of a new process which prepares its product in a different final form, albeit a form which now has a striking re- .semblance to part of the "raw material" used in producing the prod- uct. Nevertheless, the wrapping, labeling, and shipping functions must still be performed on that product. Those functions have tradi- tionally been the functions of the employees of the Mailers unit. Accordingly, we shall determine the existing jurisdictional dispute by assigning the work of wrapping, labeling, and handling of pre- print to the bargaining unit currently represented by the Mailers. In making this determination, we are assigning the disputed work to employees represented by the Mailers, but not to the Mailers or its members. Our present determination is limited to the particular controversy which gave rise to this proceeding. DETERMINATION OF DISPUTE Upon the basis of the foregoing findings and the entire record in this case, the Board makes the following determination of dispute, pursuant to Section 10 (k) of the Act: Employees classified as mailers, currently represented by Detroit Mailers Union No. 4, International Mailers Union, are entitled to the work of wrapping, labeling, and handling of rolls of printed news- print known as preprint, from the point at which the preprint is de- cored to the point at which it is removed from the floor of the building and related duties at the Employer's plant located in Detroit, Michigan. - Century Electric Company and Century Foundry Company and International Brotherhood of Teamsters , Chauffeurs, Ware- housemen and Helpers of America , Petitioner. Cases Nos. 14-RC-4659 and 14-EC-4664. March 3, 1964 DECISION ON REVIEW AND DIRECTION OF ELECTIONS Upon petitions duly filed under Section 9 (c) of the National Labor Relations Act, a consolidated hearing was held before Hearing Officer Joseph H. Solien. The Hearing Officer's rulings made at the hearing are free from prejudicial error and are hereby affirmed. 146 NLRB No. 25. CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY 233 On October 11, 1963, the Acting Regional Director for the Four- teenth Region issued a Decision and Direction of Election in the above-entitled proceeding. Thereafter, Local 1108, International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO,1 which had intervened in this proceeding on the basis of its contractual interests, filed with the Board a timely request for review of the Decision and Direction of Election; in accordance with Section 102.67 of the Board's Rules and Regulations, Series 8, as amended, alleging that the Regional Director's unit determinations were erroneous and his direction of election improper. With respect to the latter, the Intervenor alleged that a free and fair election could not be held by reason of the pendency of an order of a circuit court of the county of St. Louis forbidding pendente lite the holding of membership meetings of Intervenor without court approval, or expenditure of Intervenor's funds for the purpose of campaigning for votes in a Board-conducted election. The Board by telegraphic order dated November 13, 1963, granted the request for review of the Regional Director's direction of election with respect to the unit findings therein, and stayed the election? The Intervenor and the Employer filed briefs on review. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (b) of the Act, the Board has delegated its powers in connection with this case to a three- member panel [Chairman McCulloch and Members Fanning and Brown]. The Board has considered the entire record in this case with respect to the Regional Director's determination under review, and the posi- tions of the parties as set forth in their briefs on review, and makes the following findings : 1. Century Electric Company and its division, Century Foundry Company, the Employers herein, are incorporated in Missouri with their principal offices located in St. Louis, Missouri. ' Century Electric Company is engaged in the manufacture of electric motors and gen- ierators, and Century Foundry Company is engaged in the business of forging gray iron castings. During the preceding 12-month period, each shipped goods valued in excess of $50,000 from points in the State of Missouri to points located in other States of the United 1 Hereinafter referred to as the Intervenor. 2 The Board's failure specifically to grant review herein with respect to allegations re- lating to the outstanding court order was not intended to foreclose Board consideration of this issue. In considering this issue, however, we find that while there are certain equities which favor the Intervenor, the evidence in this case is not conclusive on the question whether there has been a substantial impediment to the Intervenor 's ability to carry on an election campaign . Furthermore, we are administratively advised that the issues in the civil action may be resolved by the time our decision herein issues. In view of all circumstances in the case , we shall instruct the Regional Director to conduct elections in the units herein found appropriate at such time as, in his judgment, he determines that free, fair, and uncoerced elections can be held. 234 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD States. The parties agree and we find that Century Electric Company and Century Foundry Company are engaged in commerce within the meaning of the Act. 2. The labor organizations involved claim to represent certain em- ployees of the Employers. 3. A question affecting commerce exists concerning the representa- tion of certain employees of the Employers, within Section 9(c) (1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act. 4. The appropriate units: The Petitioner seeks a unit of production and maintenance employees at Century Electric, and a separate pro- duction and maintenance unit at Century Foundry. The units re- quested are the same units which have been covered by collective- bargaining agreements between each Employer and the Intervenor for more than 25 years. While corporately affiliated, Century Electric and Century Foundry are conducted as separate enterprises. There is no interchange of employees 'between Century Electric and Century Foundry; their plants are geographically separate; the products, operations, and terms and conditions of employment of each differ; personnel policies and administration are separately formulated and handled. No party seeks a single, two-plant unit. The parties generally agree that the existing units of production and maintenance employees are appropriate, and have, stipulated to the inclusion of certain currently unrepresented employees within the Century Electric unit.' However, the Intervenor now seeks to add other categories of employees, heretofore excluded, to each unit. Specifically, at Century Electric, the Intervenor would include the following classifications : technicians in the alternators and special apparatus section, fractional horsepower section, and engineering laboratory; lab testers in the engineering laboratory; technical clerks in production engineering'; layout men, detailers, blueprint machine operator, and blueprint clerk in the engineering service section; tool and die designers in the tool and die design section; engineers, die casting, winding, and plant layout in the manufacturing engineers section; process planners and tool layout men in the processing tool' layout section; a methods engineer in sample motors; production planners, tag typists, and office machine operator in the production control department; printing pressmen and counterwoman in the pur- a All the parties agree to the inclusion of a clerk, a shipping clerk, and an assistant shipping clerk in the shipping department of Century Electric who are currently un-' represented. They are hourly paid and share the same work hours and the same time- clock with unit employees. As the record in this regard supports the agreement of the parties, they will be included. The parties further agree to include an employee named Reed, formerly an expediter in the production control department; who now occupies the'newly created position of parking' lot attendant. In agreement with the parties, we'shall include the parking lot attendant' in the unit. I CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY 235 chasing department; mailroom clerks in credit and collection; and payroll clerks in the controller's department. It would also include within the Century Foundry :unit.a purchasing clerk, a payroll clerk, two production control clerks, two laboratory technicians, and a timekeeper. The Intervenor contends that their prior exclusion has resulted from a haphazard development of presently existing bargaining units, but that they nevertheless perform functions similar to those of, and have a community of interests with, the production and main- tenance employees. The Petitioner opposes inclusion of the payroll clerks at Century Electric and the purchasing clerk and payroll clerk at Century Foundry, but takes no position as to the remaining classi- fications. The Employer, however, asserts that the classifications in dispute consist of technical, professional, or office clerical employees, substantially all of whom are salaried employees, and should, there- fore, continue to be excluded. Insofar as we are here concerned with'the unit placement of techni- cal employees, the Board has held that technical employees will not be excluded automatically from production and maintenance units whenever the parties disagree as to their inclusion 4 Nor is the mere difference in method of payment a basis for excluding employees from a unit in which they may otherwise appropriately be included.' Rather, the inclusion or exclusion of employees in the above classi- fications is dependent upon the presence or absence of a community of interests with the production and maintenance employees. Accord- ingly, we shall proceed hereinafter to examine the relevant factors relating to their community of interests. a. Century Electric Company The current production and maintenance unit is composed of ap- proximately 750 weekly paid, hourly rated employees who are en- gaged in the production of electrical motors and generators at the Employer's complex of buildings in St. Louis, Missouri. The em- ployees herein sought to be included by the Intervenor approximate 60 employees. Engineering Department Lab testers, technician, and clerk-engineering laboratory: The five lab testers use meters and hand tools to test and adjust experi- mental motors. They do not possess the specialized knowledge or training necessary to meet the Board's definition of 'a "technical" employee.e They perform work similar to that performed by pro- 4 The Sheffield Corporation, 134 NLRB 1101. 5 Armour and Company, 119 NLRB 122, 123. 0 Litton Industries of Maryland, 125 NLRB 722. 236 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD duction employees in comparable classifications, earnings are gener- ally at the same level as the production employees, and their work requires frequent contacts with bargaining unit employees who are part of and located in the adjacent experimental department. An employee classified as a technician and one as a clerk work with the lab testers. The technician selects and applies heat protective devices to motors undergoing. tests. Like the lab testers, the technician possesses no specialized knowledge or training. The hourly paid clerk schedules the tests, records results thereof, and maintains an inventory of all test apparatus. His duties are essentially those of. a plant clerical employee. We find that the above employees clearly have interests in common with the production employees. Accord- ingly, we shall include the lab testers, the technician, and clerk in the engineering laboratory in the unit 7 Senior and junior layout men, senior and junior detailers, blueprint machine operator, and blueprint clerk-engineering service : All of the employees in these classifications are concerned with the prepara- tion and submission of layouts and drawings of modifications of pro- duction parts in response to requests by the engineering design or production engineering sections. They are stationed in the engineer- ing office and most of their contacts are limited to professional em- ployees. The senior layout men have college certificates in drafting,, work with professional design engineers, and exercise independent judgment; the junior layout men are studying toward a college cer- tificate and possess sufficient experience to work without supervision; and the senior and junior detailers have studied drafting through specialized high school courses or in drafting schools. We find on the above facts that the layout men and detailers are technical em- ployees.' As the record shows that their interests are more closely allied with professional employees, we shall exclude these technical employees from the unit. The blueprint machine operator spends 90, percent of his time operating a machine which copies blueprints onto. sensitized paper by a direct contact process, and the remainder of his time is devoted to filing tracings which have been copied. The blueprint clerk assists the machine operator by sorting requests for copies of tracings, recording each request as it is filled by the blue- print machine operator, and resorting the copied tracings for distri- bution to the plant or office. Both employees work with, and under the same supervision as, the detailers and layout men, primarily han- dling the blueprints prepared by these technical employees. Because of their close association with the layout men and detailers who are 7 Transformer Engineers, 114 NLRB 1325, 1328. 8 Litton Industries of Maryland, supra, at 725; Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Com- pany-Pittsburgh Works, 128 NLRB 87, 89. CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY 237 excluded from the unit, we shall also exclude the blueprint machine, operator and blueprint clerk.' Technical clerks-production engineering section: These seven in- dividuals receive incoming orders for motors for which no single- design identity is filed. Their function and duties are to search- through a computer machine listing of bills of material for existing mechanical and electrical designs which can be "mated" and used by- production departments. Their work is thus related principally to, production work. Their duties are repetitive, requiring neither spe- cialized training nor independent judgment. We find that the -tech- nical clerks are not technical employees.10 In view of the foregoing,. we shall include them in the unit. Technicians-alternators and special apparatus section: There are two technicians in this section. One technician spends approximately 25 percent of his time in production areas performing tests on experi- mental alternators and observing tests performed by other employee testers. The remainder of his time is devoted to gathering data and analyzing and recording test results at his desk in the engineering- office. The other technician performs primarily similar work on special apparatus such as direct-current machines designed to operate machine tools. In minor part he functions as a serviceman, visiting- customer installations to check on and rectify any malfunctioning equipment of the Employer. There is no evidence that these jobs, require specialized training usually acquired in colleges or technical schools. We find in these circumstances that the technicians in the alternators and special apparatus section are not technical employees. Since their work in substantial measure is related to production work, we shall include them in the unit. Technician-fractional horsepower section: The employee in this- classification works in the engineering office under the supervision of a professional engineer. However, his function and duties are to gather data for the mechanical design of special types of mountings. and brackets. The nature of his work is such as to require him periodi- cally to go into production areas to check fittings and mountings. There he comes in frequent contact with production employees. There. is no evidence that this employee must possess or exercise any technical skills. In view of the foregoing, we find that his interests are sub- stantially allied with those of the production employees for which reason we shall include him in the unit. Standards Department Engineers, die casting, winding, and plant layout-manufacturing engineers section: Employed in this section are three employees classi- 0 The Sheffield Corporation, supra, at 1106. 10 See The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, 135 NLRB 926, 933 (planner, special application). 238 DECISIONS -OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD fled as die casting, winding, and plant layout engineers and three graduate engineers. These six employees occupy adjoining desks in the engineering office and work under the supervision of the chief manufacturing engineer. The die casting man designs tools and dies to be used for die casting various products. In determining the size and contours of tools and dies, he is required to exercise judgment based on his knowledge of physical properties of metals under varying conditions of heat and stress. The winding employee designs jigs, fixtures, and motor-winding processes for stator coils and armature coils. _ The function of the plant layout man is to determine the location of machines and the installation of machine mountings and conveyors for production efficiency. Although he goes into produc- tion areas frequently to observe the placement of equipment and flow of production, most of his time is spent at his desk or at a drawing board drafting machine layouts or initiating tool orders. The die casting and winding employees have completed college courses in mathematics and advanced drafting. There is no record evidence of the plant layout employee's formal education. However, the testimony shows that at the time of his hire he was superintendent of an elec- trical motor manufacturing plant and designer of motors, and that he was hired to replace a graduate engineer as plant layout man. Thus, as these three employees are required to possess and exercise specialized knowledge, we find that they are technical employees. As technical employees, their earnings are substantially higher than bargaining unit personnel. Although they occasionally visit produc- tion departments, the purpose of such visits is to consult with super- vision about engineering design problems, and requires little, if any, contact with production employees. Since it is apparent that they possess a greater community of interest with the professional em- ployees, we shall exclude the die casting, winding, and plant layout engineers from the unit. As for the three graduate engineers, the record indicates that each possesses a graduate degree in either electri- cal, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Each. performs functions similar to those of the employees discussed above, except that the graduate engineers are concerned with electric power, heat-treating methods, and manufacturing methods, respectively. It thus appears that their work clearly calls for the exercise of at least technical, if not professional, skills and that their interests are separate and apart from production and maintenance employees. We shall therefore exclude the three graduate engineers from the unit. Tool and die designers-tool and die design section: There are five individuals who design tools, dies, and fixtures for production under the direct supervision of design engineers. On occasion they go into production areas to check on proper functioning of tools and dies, CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY 239 to measure dimensions of machines and parts, and to consult with production supervision concerning necessary modifications in design. In addition to a high school diploma, they are required to have com- pleted courses in college mathematics and drafting, and to have acquired a thorough knowledge of machine design and function in order to qualify for their particular jobs. At present two of the five designers are beginners whose earnings, as beginners, are comparable to production employees, but the remaining designers earn substan- tially higher wages. We find that the tool and die designers are technical employees. As the designers work closely with profes- sionals and under professional supervision while performing a tech- nical engineering function, we find,that their community of interest differs sufficiently from production employees to warrant their ex- clusion from the production and maintenance unit.ll Accordingly, we shall exclude the designers in the tool and die design section from the unit. Process planners, tool layout employees-processing tool layout section: The three process planners issue tool orders, route parts, and otherwise generally plan the work of the machining subassembly, and punch-press departments. The three tool layout men prepare a detailed layout, similar to a blueprint, for the use of production employees, specifying the kinds of tools, holding fixtures, speeds, and feeds which mustbe used. The tool layout men also physically set up production machinery and instruct the production setup men in the use of certain equipment. They spend more than half of their time in production departments checking on tool setups and holding devices, and discussing mutual problems with foremen, setup em- ployees, and machine operators. All of these employees make mathe- matical calculations and exercise independent judgment with respect to speeds, tolerances, setup time, and cost factors. They are required to have the experience equivalent of 2 years of college training, in- cluding college level courses in mathematics and' drafting. We find that they are technical employees.12 However, their duties, as the record shows, are closely related to production and they have sub- stantial contact with production employees. For these reasons we find that although they are technical employees, they are appro- priately a part of 'the production and maintenance unit. Accord- ingly, we shall include the process planners and tool layout employees in the unit. Methods engineer-sample motors section: There is one employee in this classification who works, under supervision, at a desk in the n The Sheffield Corporation, supra. 12 The Budd Company, Automotive Division, Gary Plant, 136 NLRB 1153, 1154 (plant layout draftsmen). 744-670-65-vol. 146-17 240 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD engineering office. However, he spends half the time in the plant expediting production of customer orders for sample motors in order to obtain volume orders from the particular customers. In the per- formance of his duties, he is frequently called upon to utilize tech- nical knowledge such as he acquired from college courses in alternating-current and drafting calculations. Because of the "rush" nature of his job, he must work from hastily drawn engineering sketches and consult with engineers in order to clarify design re- quirements for production employees and to gather the required parts and tooling for them. We find that the methods engineer is a tech- nical employee.13 Since his responsibilities also include assembling, testing, and shipping the sample motors, he frequently physically carries parts between departments, performs tests, and makes adjust- ments on the motors. In view of the similarity of his duties with production employees and his frequent contact with them, we find that his interests are more closely allied with the interests of the production employees for which reason we sha11 include the methods engineer in the unit. Production Control Department (Production planners, tag typists, and o ffiee machine operators- production control department: there are five production .planners. Their main duties are to break down customer orders into their re- quired component parts, and then requisition these parts from pro- duction departments and from inventory. These orders and parts are then sent to assembly departments. They maintain frequent contact with production supervisors to check on production schedules. The two tag typists prepare piece-rate tags to be used by the production employees in the various stages of production and on the basis of which their piece-rate earnings are computed. The office machine operator operates three types of duplicating machines in the same locations as the above employees and is hourly paid. Although all of the production control department employees are located in a general office area, their work is essentially related to production operations. We find for this reason that the production planners, tag typists, and office machine operator are plant clerical employees.14 We shall therefore include them in the unit. Credit and Collection, Controllers, and Purchasing, Departments Printing pressmen and' counterwoman-purchasing department: Two printing pressmen and a counterwoman work in an area desig= 18 Waldorf Instrument Company, 122 NLRB 803 , 808 (shop controllers). 1s Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, 138 NLRB 270, 271-272; FWD Corporation, 138 NLRB 386, 391. CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY -241, nated as the print shop on the sixth floor of Building I. The press- men set type and operate and maintain presses which print the Em- ployer's various forms and publications. The counterwoman keeps an inventory of, and fills requests for, forms, paper, and supplies used in the print shop. These employees are located near, and have frequent contacts with, the production employees. The work of the pressmen is essentially related to work of production employees and the duties of the counterwoman are essentially those of a plant clerical. In view thereof, we shall include them in the unit.i5 Payroll clerks-controller's department: There are four payroll clerks who work under the supervision of the payroll department manager. They work in a general office area, recording and maintain- ing records from data received from timekeepers. We find that their duties are clearly those of office clerical employees. In line with our customary policy, we shall exclude the payroll clerks from the pro- duction and maintenance unit.'6 Mailroom clerks-credit and collection department: The two mail- room clerks work in a general office area receiving and sorting mail which is distributed to the various departments by a mail clerk. As they share similar duties and working conditions and are located with office clerical employees, we shall exclude the mailroom clerks from the unit. In view of the foregoing and on the record as a whole, we find that the following employees 17 at Century Electric Company constitute a unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act :18 All production and maintenance employees including timekeepers, leadmen, group leaders, shipping clerk and assistant shipping clerk, the parking lot attendant, process planners and tool layout employees in the processing tool layout section, all of the employees in the engineering laboratory, the technicians in alternators and special apparatus and fractional horsepower sections, technical clerks in pro- duction engineering section, the methods engineer in the sample motors Is Wilson & Co., Inc., 101 NLRB 1755, 1757 ; Waldorf Instrument Company, 122 NLRB 803,. 807. 18 Weyerhauser Company, 132 NLRB 84, 86. 17 In addition to the foregoing, the record indicates that a shop scheduler ih the press division has been excluded from the contract unit. Although the Intervenor asks for his inclusion in the production and maintenance unit , the record lacks- evidence as to his duties and interests . Since we can make no determination as to his proper placement, we shall permit him to vote, subject to challenge. Is We find, in agreement with the Intervenor , that the above-mentioned employees whom we have included in the unit constitute a previously unrepresented fringe group whom no other union is seeking to represent on a different basis. In our opinion, the previous ex- clusion of these employees appears to have been a historical accident. As they would have been included in the production and maintenance unit if their unit placement had been presented to the Board originally , we find that they may properly be included' now without granting them a self-determination election. D.V. Displays Corp., et al., 134 NLRB 568, 571. Accordingly, we shall direct one election covering all of ,the employees at Century Electric found herein to be appropriately included in the unit. 242 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD section, production planners, tag typists, and the office machine op- erator.in production control, printing pressmen and a counterwoman in the purchasing department, at the Employer's St. Louis, Missouri, plant, but excluding the payroll clerks, mailing clerks and all other office clerical employees, layout men and detailers in the engineering service department, the die casting, winding, plant layout, and grad- uate engineers in the manufacturing engineers section, the tool and die designers in the tool and die design section, professional em- ployees, guards, watchmen, foremen, assistant foremen, subforemen, foreladies, and all other supervisors as defined in the Act. - b. Century Foundry Company Approximately 200 employees are engaged in forging gray iron castings at the Employer's St. Louis, Missouri, plant. The Inter- venor has represented the production, pattern repair, and mainte- nance employees in the foundry for more than 25 years. As at Cen- tury Electric, the bargaining unit employees are hourly paid while other employees, with some exceptions, are salaried. The salaried employees have different pay scales, different hours, separate work locations, and enjoy certain additional fringe benefits. The Intervenor now seeks to include a purchasing clerk, a payroll clerk, a pattern clerk, two production control clerks, two laboratory technicians,, and a timekeeper, heretofore unrepresented, within the bargaining unit. - The Employer would exclude all of the above employees and the Petitioner opposes the inclusion of the purchasing clerk and payroll clerk on the ground that they are office clerical employees, but takes no position as to the remaining classifications.19 Laboratory technicians: These two employees perform routine mechanical and physical tests to analyze samples of the metals cur- rently being poured by production employees. They work in a labora- tory adjacent to the general office but under the supervision of the melting foreman who also supervises production personnel. Although they are high school graduates,'their jobs call for no particular educa- tional requisites.' They are•hourly.paid and their earnings are com- parable to those of production employees. They neither possess nor are required to possess or exercise any technical skills. We find that they are essentially production and not technical employees 20 Accord- ingly, we shall include the laboratory technicians in the foundry production and maintenance unit., Timekeeper: This individual is hourly paid, carried on the factory payroll, and spends most of his time at three work stations in the 10 All parties stipulated to exclude a cost clerk who, they agree , performs an office clerical function. 20 Dewey Portland Cement Company, 137 NLRB 944, 947. CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY 243 production area recording time data from production employees' work tags. He also spends a smaller portion of his time at a fourth work station in the general office collating time records for the use of the payroll clerk. We find that the timekeeper is a plant clerical and we shall include him in the unit 21 Payroll clerk and purchasing clerk: The payroll clerk is a salaried employee who makes payroll calculations at a desk in the general office under the supervision of the personnel director. The purchas- ing clerk is also salaried and works in the general office area under the supervision of the general manager. Her duties are to ascertain whether materials are needed by the factory or the stockroom, to locate a supplier for the materials needed, and to prepare the neces- sary requisitions for the purchasing departments. The payroll clerk and the purchasing clerk are carried on the office payroll. Since it is evident that they perform general office duties, we find that they are office clericals. Accordingly, we shall exclude them from the production and maintenance unit 22 Pattern clerk: This employee is stationed partially in the produc- tion office and partially in the pattern shop, where records of existing casting patterns are filed. His duties are to check on the availability and condition of casting patterns in use in the production area which are needed to fill customer orders, and to maintain proper records thereon. He is in frequent contact with production and maintenance employees. In our view, the work of the pattern clerk is essentially that of a plant clerical. As such he is properly a part of a production and maintenance unit. Accordingly, we shall include him in the unit 23 Production control clerks: Two employees in this classification main- tain production control records and expedite and schedule production under the supervision of the production control manager. Their duties take them into production departments where they discuss and work on production problems. Although salaried and carried on the office payroll, they are located in an area separated from the office clerical employees. It is clear that their clerical functions are intimately related to production and that essentially they are plant clericals. In view thereof, we shall include the production control clerks in the unit 24 As in the case of Century Electric, we find that the employees here- tofore excluded from the production and maintenance unit at Century Foundry were excluded by virtue of historical accident rather than upon the basis of any real difference. in function or interests from those of the production and maintenance employees. In accordance 21 American Beryllium Company, Inc., 142 NLRB 457. 22 Weyerhauser Company, supra. 23 Palmer Manufacturing Corporation, 103 NLRB 336, 338. 2 Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, 103 NLRB 261, 262. 244 DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD with the Board's established policy, such employees are appropriately a part of the production and maintenance unit and on proper request will be included in such unit without being granted a self -determina- tion election.25 In view of the foregoing and upon the entire record in the case, we find that the following employees at Century Foundry Company constitute an appropriate unit for the purpose of collective bargain- ing within the meaning of Section 9 (b) of the Act : All production, pattern repair, and maintenance employees, includ- ing leadmen, group leaders, laboratory technicians, production con- trol clerks, the pattern clerk, and the timekeeper at the Employer's St. Louis, Missouri, plant, but excluding the cost clerk, the payroll clerk, the purchasing clerk, and all other office clerical employees, watchmen, guards, professional employees, assistant foremen, fore- ladies, and all other supervisors as defined in the Act. [Text of Direction of Elections omitted from publication.] 2 D.V. Displays Corp., supra. United Mine Workers of America , Local No. 7244 [Grundy Min- ing Company] and Southern Labor Union. Case No. 10-CB- 1402. March 5, 1964 DECISION AND ORDER On November 1, 1963, Trial Examiner Stanley N. Ohlbaum issued his Decision in the above-entitled case, finding that the Respondent had engaged in certain unfair labor practices and recommending that it cease and desist therefrom and take certain affirmative action, as set forth in his attached Decision. Thereafter, the Respondent filed exceptions to the Decision and a supporting brief. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act, the Board has delegated its powers in connection with this case to a three-member panel [Chairman McCulloch and Members Fanning and Jenkins]. The Board has reviewed the rulings of the Trial Examiner made at the hearing and finds that no prejudicial error was committed. The rulings are hereby affirmed. The Board has considered the De- cision of the Trial Examiner and the entire record in this case includ- ing the exceptions and brief, and hereby adopts the findings, conclu- sions, and recommendations of the Trial Examiner. 146 NLRB No. 29.