166 NLRB 117
Bricklayers and Masons Local No. 2
BRICKLAYERS AND MASONS LOCAL NO. 2
117
Bricklayers and Masons Local No. 2, affiliated with
Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers' International'
Union of America, AFL-CIO (Robert L. Willis,
Masonry Contractor) and Roger Weidman, d/b/a
Weidman Metal Masters. Case 17-CC-267
June 28, 1967
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN MCCULLOCH AND MEMBERS
FANNING AND BROWN
On February 2, 1967, Trial Examiner Arthur M.
Goldberg issued his Decision in the above-entitled
proceeding, finding that the Respondent had en-
gaged in and was engaging in certain unfair labor
practices and recommending that it cease and desist
therefrom and take certain affirmative action, as set
forth in the attached Trial Examiner's Decision.
Thereafter, the General Counsel and Respondent
filed exceptions to the Decision and supporting
briefs.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the
National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board has delegated its
powers in connection with this case to a three-
member panel.
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
Trial Examiner's Decision, the exceptions and
briefs, and the entire record in the case, and hereby
adopts the findings,' conclusions, and recommenda-
tions of the Trial Examiner, with the following
modification:
The Trial Examiner has found, and we agree, that
the
Respondent
Union
unlawfully
induced
bricklayers employed by Willis to engage in a
secondary work stoppage. In part, the unlawful in-
ducement took the form of union disciplinary ac-
tion, resulting in $25 fines, against Richard Howe,
Arthur L. Gould, and Lucian Doll for working be-
hind a picket line at the jobsite. To remedy this un-
lawful conduct, the Trial Examiner provided only
the cease-and-desist order customary in Section
8(b)(4) cases. The General Counsel excepts to this,
contending that the order should also require
refunding the fines paid by the three employees. We
find merit in this exception. In our opinion, a
remedy of this nature is essential to eliminate this
particular form of inducement and encouragement
which the Board unanimously agrees is in violation
of Section 8(b)(4)(i)(B). If we were to permit the
Union in this case to retain the moneys exacted
from employees for an unlawful object, effectuation
of the purposes of the Act would be diminished to
that extent and the impact of our Decision lost. It is
important,
we believe, to distinguish between
economic losses which are merely an "incident" of
secondary boycotts and the imposition of a fine,
which in itself constitutes the unlawful pressure.
We do not order the reimbursement of these fines
only to "compensate" the employees or even to
reimburse them for damages which they incurred as
a consequence of the Union's attempt to prevent
them and others from working. Our order is
directed primarily to the undoing of the Union's un-
lawful inducement in the form of a fine to force a
cessation of business between Rex Robertson and
Roger Weidman.
ORDER
Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board adopts as its Order the Recom-
mended Order of the Trial Examiner, and hereby
orders that the Respondent, Bricklayers and
Masons Local No. 2, affiliated with Bricklayers,
Masons and Plasterers' International Union of
America, AFL-CIO, its officers, agents, and
representatives, shall take the action set forth in the
Trial Examiner's Recommended Order, as herein
modified:
1. Insert the following as paragraph 2(a) of the
Recommended Order:
"(a) Rescind the disciplinary action taken
against Richard Howe, Arthur Gould, and Lucian
Doll by refunding the fines assessed against them."
2. Renumber the paragraphs in the Recom-
mended Order as "2(b)," "2(c)," and "2(d),"
respectively.
3. Add the following as the second indented
paragraph in Appendix C:
WE WILL rescind the disciplinary action
taken against Richard Howe, Arthur L. Gould,
and Lucian Doll by refunding the fines as-
sessed against them.
MEMBER BROWN , dissenting:
In Section 8(b) of the Act, Congress set forth
specific, sharply delimited categories proscribing
union infringement upon the rights and interests of
both employees and employers. Section 8(b)(1)(A),
for example, protects the Section 7 rights of em-
ployees, while the legislative purpose of Section
8(b)(4)(B) is the protection of secondary or neutral
employers. Consideration for these different rights
and interests is reflected in the remedies devised for
violations of each section. In 8(b)(1)(A) cases, the
Board enjoins further violations of that section and,
in appropriate circumstances, makes employees
whole for the losses sustained as a result of the un-
lawful conduct directed against them. To remedy an
8(b)(4)(B) violation, the Board has ordered the
1 In adopting the Examiner's findings that Respondent violated the Act,
we do not rely on Business Agent Kenyon's reading the letter from Hoist-
166 NLRB No. 26
ing and Portable Local No. 101, Operating Engineers, to the employees
on May 11, 1966.
308-926 0-70-9
118
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
cessation of the secondary activity; but has never
sought to restore or make whole any economic
losses sustained from such secondary activity.
Thus, even the neutral employer, whose interests
are principally protected by Section 8(b)(4)(B), is
not reimbursed in Board proceedings for the loss in
business suffered as a result of unlawful secondary
boycott. Congress was aware of the economic inju-
ries inflicted upon employers by unlawful boycotts,
but decided, in Section 303 of the Act, to conferju-
risdiction over damage claims to the Federal district
courts, not the Board.2 If, therefore, we are without
power to assess damages in favor of the employer,
for whom Section 8(b)(4)(B) was devised and
against whom the unlawful secondary activity is
directed, I can conceive of no justification for mak-
ing Section 8(b)(4)(B) the vehicle for compensating
employees for economic losses they may incur as
an incident of a union's unlawful pressure directed
at a neutral employer. And it is immaterial that the
boycott's side effects are loss of wages and benefits
from a forced work stoppage, or medical expenses
for physical injuries received during picketing or
forceful inducement, or union fines to secure a walk-
out. Clear and effective implementation of the
Act, as well as congressional intent, requires that
we not inject the extraneous element of employee
consequential
damages into Section 8(b)(4)(B)
remedies, which have heretofore been concerned
solely with ending the unlawful secondary activity.
Of course this does not mean that the employee has
no recourse for infringements upon his rights under
Section 8(a)(1)(A) of the Act. But such wrongs are
not germane to this proceeding, which is limited by
complaint and by findings to Section 8(b)(4)(B).3
My colleagues assert, in effect, that the reim-
bursement herein is only a means of remedying the
8(b)(4)(B) conduct by undoing the Union's unlawful
inducement. But this reasoning would appear to jus-
tify the restoration of the myriad other types of em-
ployee losses sustained in the course of secondary
activity. For, the offending union surely gains as
much towards its secondary objective by causing
lost employment as from the imposition of a fine.
And lost wages or medical expenses may represent
a more substantial employee outlay attributable to
secondary activity than the payment of a $25 fine.
Reimbursement of these employee losses is equally
validated by the majority's "undoing" argument,
and cannot be avoided merely on grounds that they
are more difficult to ascertain than lump sum fine.
But even assuming quick, easy determination, it
must be evident that any compensation of employee
losses serves only to complicate and confuse the is-
sues in an 8(b)(4)(B) case.
I would enter the traditional cease-and-desist
order in this case. Such an order is directed to the
very conduct found unlawful in the case and will ef-
fectively remedy the 8(b)(4)(B) violation.
2 See National Maritime Union ofAmerica, 78 NLRB 971, 989-991
3 In this regard, I find it quite significant that the original charge in this
case, alleging a violation of Section 8(b)(I)(A) as well as Section
8(b)(4)(B), was dismissed by the Regional Director, upon appeal to the
General Counsel, only the alleged 8(b)(4)(B) violation was included in the
complaint
TRIAL EXAMINER'S DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
ARTHUR M. GOLDBERG ,
Trial
Examiner:
Upon a
charge filed on May 20 , 1966,1 by Roger Weidman, the
complaint herein issued on September 13, alleging that
Bricklayers and
Masons Local No. 2, affiliated with
Bricklayers , Masons and Plasterers' International Union
of America, AFL-CIO (herein called the Bricklayers or
Respondent), violated Section 8(b)(4)(i )(B) of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Act , as amended (herein called the
Act). It was alleged that Respondent unlawfully induced
and encouraged certain of its members employed by
Robert L. Willis , Masonry Contractor (herein called Wil-
lis), to honor the picket of another union , Sheet Metal
Workers Local No. 29 , AFL-CIO (herein called Sheet
Metal Workers), and to cease performing services for
Willis, thereby to bring pressure on Roger Weidman,
d/b/a Weidman Metal Masters (herein called Weidman),
the object of the Sheet Metal Workers picket. The alleged
unlawful conduct consisted of acts of inducement at the
jobsite by the Bricklayers business agent and of charges
and fines against employees of Willis. Respondent ad-
mitted that its business agent had visited the jobsite but
denied that he there induced or encouraged employees to
strike or refuse to perform services for Willis. Answering
further, the Bricklayers admitted that charges, upon
which fines were levied , were brought against employees
but averred that these charges were based on acts by the
employees against their union and its business agent and
were protected by the first proviso to Section 8(b)(1)(A)
of the Act.
At the opening of the hearing General Counsel
amended the complaint to allege violations of Section
8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the Act by Respondent. The asserted
misconduct consisted of threats on two occasions by the
Bricklayers business agent directed to Willis. These as-
serted violations were in turn denied by Respondent.
All parties participated in the hearing conducted by
Trial Examiner Arthur M. Goldberg , at Wichita, Kansas,
on October 31 and November 1, 1966, and were afforded
full opportunity to be heard, to introduce evidence, to ex-
amine and cross-examine witnesses , and to present oral
argument. Oral argument was waived , General Counsel
filed a brief, and the Respondent filed proposed findings
of fact and a brief in support thereof.2
Based upon the entire record in the case, my reading of
the briefs , and proposed findings of fact, and from my ob-
servation of the witnesses and their demeanor, I make the
following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I
THE BUSINESS OF THE EMPLOYERS
The complaint alleged, the parties stipulated, and I find
that:
1 Unless otherwise noted all uates were in 1966
' Respondent's proposed findings 1, 2, 5-10, 12 , and 13 are accepted,
proposed findings 3 , 4, and I 1 are accepted in part and rejected in part, an
as found in the instant Decision
BRICKLAYERS AND MASONS LOCAL NO. 2
119
a. Construction and Development, Inc. (herein called
C & D), was at all times material herein engaged in the
building and construction industry in Wichita, Kansas,
where it was the general contractor for the construction
of the Sweetbriar Shopping Center (herein called Sweet-
briar). The cost of Sweetbriar was $925,000, of which
$100,000 was land cost.
b. Robert L.
Willis, Masonry Contractor (herein
called Willis), was at all times material herein engaged in
the building and construction industry in Wichita, Kan-
sas, where, pursuant to a contract with C & D, Willis was
engaged in the installation of certain brick and masonry
work at Sweetbriar. The cost of that brick and masonry
work was no less than $47,000.
c. Rex Robertson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. (herein
called Robertson), was at all times material herein en-
gaged in the building and construction industry in
Wichita, Kansas, where, pursuant to a contract with C &
D in the amount of $120,000, Robertson was engaged in
installing heating and air-conditioning equipment at
Sweetbriar,
a
The complaint alleges and I find that Roger Weidman,
d/b/a Weidman Metal Masters (herein called Weidman),
is a sheet metal contractor engaged in the building and
construction industry in Wichita, Kansas. At all times
material herein, Weidman was engaged in the installation
of duct work at Sweetbriar pursuant to a contract with
Robertson. In the conduct of his business Weidman an-
nually purchases goods or services valued in excess of
$50,000 from sources outside the State of Kansas.
I find that C & D, Robertson, Willis, and Weidman are
each, and at all times material herein have been, a person
engaged in commerce or in an industry affecting com-
merce within the meaning of Section 8(b)(4)(B) of the
Act.3
I find that Weidman was at all times material herein an
employer engaged in commerce and in an industry affect-
ing commerce within the meaning of Section 2(6) and (7)
of the Act.
II.
THE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Bricklayers and Masons Local No. 2, affiliated with
Bricklayers , Masons and Plasterers' International Union
of America, AFL-CIO, and Sheet Metal Workers Local
No. 29, AFL-CIO, are each a labor organization within
the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
III.
THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. Background- Events Prior to May 11
Work on the Sweetbriar project began in late 1965. By
the time of the events herein, Willis had completed a sub-
stantial part of the masonry work for which he had con-
tracted with C & D. For the work at Sweetbriar, Willis,
a member of the Bricklayers himself, employed a crew of
union brickmasons. It appears that three men, Richard
Howe, who was the foreman, Arthur L. Gould, and Lu-
cian Doll, were employed steadily at Sweetbriar and
other bricklayers were brought onto the job as their ser-
vices were needed. On Monday, April 3, Weidman, who
did not maintain contractual relations with a labor or-
ganization, commenced work at Sweetbriar on his sheet
metal subcontract from Robertson.
The first picket appeared at Sweetbriar during the af-
ternoon of Friday,April 8, 4John J. Kenyon, the Respond-
ent's business agent, was visiting the jobsite at the time
to check on job conditions and to complain to Howe that
his use of the forklift was an invasion of the work jurisdic-
tion of Hoisting and Portable Local No. 101 of the Inter-
national Union of Operating Engineers (herein called the
Operating Engineers). Howe rejected Kenyon's protests
saying he would do any work he was big enough to per-
form. When the picket appeared Kenyon opined it was
from the Sheet Metal Workers but that he would have to
check to make sure.5 Kenyon then left the jobsite, Howe
confirmed the picket was from the Sheet Metal Workers,
and the bricklayers worked out the day using mortar
previously prepared.
The following week the picket appeared at various
times on April 12, 13, and 14, but on none of these occa-
sions was Sweetbriar picketed for the entire day. At vari-
ous times during that week Howe or the job steward for
the Bricklayers at Sweetbriar called Kenyon from a
public telephone in C & D's office at the jobsite. The em-
ployees tried to determine whether the picketing was
legal and what action they should take on the picketing.
Kenyon would reply that "it was everybody's moral
obligation to get behind the picket who had a union card
in his pocket."6
Weidman worked through the picketing until Friday,
April 15, when Robertson, saying he was under great
pressure from C & D and from the Plumbers Union, told
Weidman to take some action to remove the picket or
Robertson would be forced to cancel their agreement.
Weidman suggested that he have his men at Sweetbriar at
night and switched to evening hours on Monday, April
18.
At a Bricklayers meeting on Tuesday, April 19, Lucian
Doll asked for a union ruling as to whether the men
should leave as soon as the picket appeared or were to
first use already mixed mortar. The local union approved
use of the mortar.
During the days that followed the local Roofers Union
placed a picket on Sweetbriar directed against Best Roof-
ing Company (herein called Best). Gould, one of the
brickmasons employed by Willis, spoke to Best's em-
ployees urging them to affiliate with the Roofers Union.
On April 28, Kenyon mailed letters to Howe, Gould,
3 Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local Union No
299 (S M
Kisner (deceased), d/b/a S M. Kisner & Sons), 131 NLRB
1196.
4 Howe, Doll, Gould, and Weidman all testified that April 8 was the
date of the first picketing John J. Kenyon, the Bricklayers business agent,
and Ronnie R. Weems, business manager of the Sheet Metal Workers,
stated that the picketing commenced on April 12, the following Tuesday
Kenyon was sure it could not have been on April 8, because he was away
from Wichita on that day. While it is entirely immaterial to the issues in
this case, the proponents of the April 8 date were more credible witnesses
in their appearance before me. Accordingly, I credit their recollection on
this point.
5 The picket sign read:
WEIDMAN
METAL MASTERS
is tearing down Conditions of
SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL NO. 29 AFL-CIO
Local 29 Does Not Intend
to Induce or Encourage
Employees or Employers
Not to Work On this Job!
6 Howe credibly testified to such a conversation with Kenyon
Moreover, this statement is similar to that made by Kenyon on thejobsite
on May 11, infra.
120
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL
and Doll, ordering them to present themselves for trial
before Respondent's investigating committee on charges
brought by Kenyon that the three masons had violated ar-
ticle XVIII, section 13, of the constitution and rules of
order of the Bricklayers. The letter specified that the
violations had begun on April 12 at 3 p.m. and continued
intermittently through April 15. The cited section of the
Bricklayers constitution provides:
No member of this I.U. [International Union], or
of any subordinate union , shall be allowed to injure
the interest of any other member or union, such as
undermining in the price of wages, or putting up the
line more than one course at a time, except in cases
of obstruction (the line to be used on both sides of a
wall exceeding nine inches in thickness), or do any
underhanded act by which the situation of any
member may be placed in jeopardy.7
Although at the regular Bricklayers meeting on May 3
the three accused members asked for explication of the
charges against them, Kenyon would only recite the sec-
tion of the Union's constitution already referred to in the
April 28 letter.
B.
The Events of May 11
Finding that nightwork was leading to a loss on his con-
tract with Robertson, Weidman returned his men to
daywork after May 10.
The brickmasons, who had not worked at Sweetbriar
on May 9 or 10, returned to the project on May 11. The
same day the Sheet Metal Workers picket reappeared.
Thereupon, the job steward, Cletus
Mertes, called
Kenyon and asked that he come to the jobsite. About 1 I
a.m. that day the picket left and Kenyon drove onto a
corner of the jobsite. Kenyon first showed to Howe a
letter from the Operating Engineers business agent com-
plaining about Howe's use of the forklift. Thereafter the
bricklayers assembled around Kenyon's car and he read
them the letter from the Operating Engineers as well as
one from Weems of the Sheet Metal Workers." I find that
these letters are ill-concealed references to the continued
presence of the bricklayers behind the Sheet Metal Work-
ers picket and that Kenyon's reading these letters to the
members on the jobsite was inducement and encourage-
ment within the meaning of Section 8(b)(4)(i) of the Act.
"Kenyon also told the Bricklayers that it was the moral
obligation of every person who carries a card to leave the
job when it is picketed."9 This statement by Kenyon con-
stituted unlawful inducement and encouragement of the
employees to cease working and thus violated Section
8(b)(4)(i)(B). Northeastern Washington-Northern Idaho
Building
and
Construction
Trades
Council
7 Two other paragraphs of this clause do not appear to have any bearing
on these proceedings.
" See Appendix A and B
Respondent's proposed finding of fact 8.
° Both Kenyon and Weems followed Gould on the witness stand.
Kenyon did not deny making the calls nor did Weems deny receipt of the
call to him I credit Gould and accept Kenyon's words as evidence of
Respondent's object in its conduct toward the brickmasons employed on
the Sweetbriar project ; namely, to cause them to strike as long as the
Sheet Metal Workers were picketing Weidman.
In this regard I note that Sheet Metal Workers picketed Sweetbriar until
Weidman removed his employees from daywork and only had them per-
form their services at the jobsite after normal working hours This change
was brought about directly by Robertson's warning to Weidman that if the
picket were not removed , Robertson, because of the pressure on him from
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Northwestern Construction of Washington, Inc.), 152
NLRB 975, 980-981.
After Kenyon left the jobsite, the brickmasons deter-
mined to work out their mortar and leave the job. Gould
and Cletus Mertes left Sweetbriar about 2 p.m. and went
to Respondent's office where they informed Kenyon that
the men had walked off the job and asked that he pass this
information on to the other business agents who had been
complaining about the brickmasons. Mertes asked that
the other business agents now be asked to get their men
from behind the picket. With Gould and Mertes present,
Kenyon called a number of the other union representa-
tives. One call was to Weems of the Sheet Metal Work-
ers. Kenyon told Weems that the bricklayers had left the
job, a little bit late, but they had left and Kenyon wanted
Weems to know that they had done so.10
The bricklayers stayed off the Sweetbriar project on
May 12, and on May 13 all trades were off the project
because on that day, for the only time during the picket-
ing, the picket was at the jobsite before work began in the
morning.
0
C. The Trial
On May 14 trial was had before Respondent's in-
vestigating committee on the charges brought by Kenyon
on April 28 against Howe, Gould, and Doll.
The charges, the trial, and the fines which were levied
on the employees as a result thereof are material herein
only to the extent that they were occasioned by the men
having worked behind the Sheet Metal Workers picket,
as alleged by General Counsel. If on the other hand the
facts support Respondent's contention that the intraunion
proceedings were brought about by the three employees
having harassed Kenyon and threatened his position and
their having engaged in organizational activities among
the unorganized on the Sweetbriar project, this conduct
falls outside the purview of the Act.
As noted, the charges mailed to the employees
specified that their misconduct had begun on April 12, at
3 p.m., and continued intermittently through April 15.
This time period is consistent with Respondent's position
that the Sheet Metal Workers picket first appeared at
Sweetbriar during the afternoon of April 12 and Weid-
man's credited testimony that he took his men off
daywork at Sweetbriar after April 15. In discrediting
Kenyon's testimony that the charges were brought in part
because the men had jeopardized the legality of a sister
union's informational picketing , I note that the charges,
which are dated April 28, do not encompass the period of
the Roofers picketing on April 20 through 25, at which
the general contractor and the Plumbers Union, would be forced to cancel
his subcontract to Weidman. Thus, Weidman ceased doing business with
Robertson on the basis of their original arrangement , a disruption of an ex-
isting business relationship within the purview of Section 8(b)(4)(B) of the
Act
Local 3 ,
International
Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers,
AFL-CIO (New York Telephone Company), 140 NLRB 729, 730, enfd.
325 F.2d 561 (C.A 2)
Moreover, Respondent's object to add to this pressure on Willis, C & D,
and Robertson to cease doing business with each other and with Weidman
maybe inferred from its acts New York Mailers' Union No 6, 1T U (N.Y.
Herald Tribune) v. N.L.R.B, 316 F.2d 371, 372 (C A.D.C.). Thus,
Respondent's encouragement and inducement of Willis employees to en-
gage in a work stoppage and the work stoppage itself had as a necessary
object forcing or requiring Willis to cease doing business with C & D for
the object of forcing Robertson to cease doing business with Weidman
BRICKLAYERS AND MASONS LOCAL NO. 2
121
time Gould testified he urged the nonunion roofers on the
job to join the Roofers Union.
At the trial the accused insisted on tape recording the
proceedings. It was agreed by Respondent and the three
accused men that the tapes would remain in Respondent's
possession under seal to be available for use in an appeal
from an adverse decision by Respondent's investigating
committee. However, Kenyon destroyed the tapes after
the Board's Regional Director dismissed the instant
charges and an accompanying charge that the Respond-
ent had coerced or restrained the employees by charging
and fining them. Kenyon stated that he first played the
tapes and finding them replete with obscenities received
permission from the chairman of the investigating com-
mittee to destroy the recordings to maintain the purity of
the Bricklayers archives. I do not credit Kenyon's ex-
planation for his having eliminated this evidence.
Rather, I conclude that Kenyon's destruction of the
tapes gives rise to an inference" that had the recordings
been made available by Respondent they would have sup-
ported the testimony of the three accused union members
that they were told by Healy, the chairman of the in-
vestigating committee, at the opening of the trial that they
were accused of working behind a picket. And further,
the destroyed evidence would have buttressed their
testimony that Kenyon, in presenting the case against
them, spoke of a time when the Respondent had used a
picket similar to that at Sweetbriar to secure recognition
from a recalcitrant employer and had done so only
because the other crafts honored the Bricklayers picket.
Accordingly, I find that the entire intraunion proceed-
ing against Howe, Doll, and Gould, including the charges,
the trial, and the fines of $25, was occasioned by their
having worked behind the Sheet Metal Workers picket.
In a number of cases12 decided subsequent to its decision
in Local 248, UAW (Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing
Company), 149 NLRB 67, enforcement denied 358 F.2d
656 (C.A. 7), cert. granted 385 U.S. 810, the Board,
without explication, has adopted Trial Examiners' Deci-
sions holding the threat to fine members for working be-
hind the picket line of a sister union was unlawful ind'ice-
ment or encouragement within the meaning of Section
8(b)(4)(i)(B) where the object of that threat of intraunion
discipline was to cause the threatened employee to cease
performing services for his own employer so as to apply
pressure to the picketed employer. If it be so for the
threat is it not more so for the act. I am bound by the cited
decisions
and find that the intraunion disciplinary
proceedings violated Section 8(b)(4)(i)(B).
D. The Alleged Coercion of Willis
In support of his amendment to the complaint alleging
violation of Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the Act, General
Counsel presented the testimony of Robert L. Willis, the
mason contractor.
Willis told of having received a call on April 13 from
Kenyon. Kenyon asked Willis to come to Respondent's
office. Willis went first to Sweetbriar where he learned of
the picketing from Howe and then went on to Kenyon's
office. Kenyon told Willis of the trouble at Sweetbriar and
asked if Willis could get the bricklayers off the job until
Kenyon straightened out the situation. Willis explained
that his was a performance contract and he couldn't
possibly pull any bricklayers off.
I do not find that Kenyon's request was a threat.
Rather, this was an appeal that Willis exercise his
managerial discretion and remove his employees from the
job. As such, no finding of violation can be based thereon.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local
11 (L.G. Electric Contractors, Inc.), 154 NLRB 766,
776; cf. Warehouse Employees Union, Local 730, Team-
sters (C.R. Sheaffer and Son), 136 NLRB 968, 974.
Willis further testified that on June 8 Kenyon again
called Willis at home and this time warned that if Willis
put the bricklayers back on Sweetbriar "he'd fine the hell
out of LWillis] and the brick masons ." Were I to credit
this testimony by Willis it would support the allegations
of the amended complaint. However, I find it impossible
to give credence to this evidence.
At the time Kenyon is alleged to have made this threat
there had been no picketing for a considerable period of
time. Moreover, subsequent to their walkout on May 11,
Willis' brickmasons had worked on Sweetbriar during the
month of May and had been on the job on June 6 and 7 as
well. Thus, the statement attributed to Kenyon bears no
relationship to the facts of the situation and lacking cor-
roboration I assign no probative value to it.
However, I have found" that Kenyon on May 11 in-
duced and encouraged Willis' employees to engage in a
strike. This inducement was successful. As stated in
Respondent's proposed finding of facts 9 , which I accept:
On May 11, after Kenyon left [,] the Sheet Metal
Workers picket returned and the Bricklayers on the
job got together and decided to leave the job. The
Bricklayers left the job about 3:00 o'clock p.m. on
May 11, 1966.
The Board has consistently held that a strike against a
secondary employer constitutes restraint and coercion
within the meaning of Section 8(b)(4)(ii) of the Act.14
Accordingly, I find that by the work stoppage starting on
May 11, Respondent violated Section 8(b)(4)(ii)(B) of the
Act.
IV.
THE EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON
COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent set forth in section
III, above, occurring in connection with the operations of
C & D, Robertson, Weidman, and Willis set forth in sec-
tion I, above, have a close, intimate, and substantial rela-
tion to trade, traffic, and commerce among the several
States, and tend to lead to labor disputes burdening and
obstructing commerce and the free flow thereof.
V.
THE REMEDY
Having found that Respondent engaged in certain un-
11 N.L R.B v. Sam Wallick, d(bla Wallick and Schwalm Company, 198
F.2d 477, 483 (C A 3); Bechtel Corporation, 141 NLRB 844, 852, fn. 9.
12 United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America,
AFL-CIO, Local 1389 (Kroeter Construction Company), 160 NLRB 1,
Salem Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO (Lantz Construction Com-
pany), 153 N LRB 531, Lane-Coos-Curry-Douglas Counties Building &
Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO (Ramsey-Waite Co., Inc.), 151
NLRB 547 , The Columbus Building and Construction Trades Council,
AFL-CIO (Merchandise Properties , Inc.), 149 NLRB 82
13 Section III, B, supra.
14 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 313 (James
Julian, Inc.), 147 N LRB 137, 142, International Brotherhood of Electri-
cal Workers, Local I I (L.G. Electric Contractors, Inc.), 154 NLRB 766,
777.
-
122
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
fair labor practices , I will recommend that it cease and de-
sist
therefrom and take certain affirmative action
designed to effectuate the policies of the Act.
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact, and
upon the entire record in the case , I make the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Construction and Development, Inc., Robert L.
Willis, Masonry Contractor, Rex Robertson Plumbing
and Heating, Inc., and Roger Weidman, d/b/a Weidman
Metal Masters, are , each of them, engaged in commerce
within the meaning of the Act.
2. Respondent Bricklayers and Masons Local No. 2,
affiliated with Bricklayers , Masons and Plasterers' Inter-
national Union of America, AFL-CIO, and Sheet Metal
Workers Local No. 29, AFL-CIO, are labor organiza-
tions within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
3.
By inducing and encouraging employees of Willis to
strike, with an object of causing Robertson to cease doing
business
with Weidman, the Respondent Bricklayers
have engaged in unfair labor practices within the meaning
of Section 2(6) and (7) and Section 8(b)(4)(i ) and (ii)(B) of
the Act.
RECOMMENDED ORDER
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of fact and
conclusions of law , it is recommended that Respondent,
Bricklayers and Masons Local No. 2, affiliated with
Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers ' International Union
of America, AFL-CIO, its officers , agents, and repre-
sentatives, shall:
1. Cease and desist from engaging in, or inducing or
encouraging individuals employed by Robert L . Willis,
Masonry Contractor, or any other person engaged in
commerce or in an industry affecting commerce to engage
in, a strike or refusal in the course of their employment to
use, manufacture , process, transport, or otherwise handle
or work on materials , or to perform any services; and
from threatening , coercing , or restraining Willis or any
other person, where an object in either case is to force or
require Rex Robertson Plumbing and Heating, Inc., or
any other person , to cease doing business with Roger
Weidman, d/b/a Weidman Metal Masters.
2. Take the following affirmative action which is
necessary to effectuate the policies of the Act:
(a) Post at its business offices and meeting halls in
Wichita, Kansas, copies of the attached notice marked
"Appendix C."15 Copies of said notice, to be furnished by
the Regional Director for Region 17, after being signed
by a duly authorized representative of the Respondent,
shall be posted by Respondent immediately upon receipt
thereof, and be maintained by it for 60 consecutive days
thereafter, in such conspicuous places, including all
places where notices to members are customarily posted.
Reasonable steps shall be taken by Respondent to insure
that said notices are not altered , defaced, or covered by
any other material.
(b)
Sign and mail copies of said notice to the Regional
Director for Region 17 for posting by Construction and
Development, Inc., Rex Robertson Plumbing and Heat-
ing, Inc., Robert L. Willis, Masonry Contractor, and
Roger Weidman, d/b/a Weidman Metal Masters, these
companies willing, at all locations where notices to their
respective employees are customarily posted.
(c) Notify the Regional Director for Region 17, in writ-
ing, within 20 days from the date of receipt of this Deci-
sion,
what steps Respondent has taken to comply
herewith.16
15 In the event that this Recommended Order is adopted by the Board,
the words "a Decision and Order" shall be substituted for the words "the
Recommended Order of a Trial Examiner " in the notice In the further
event that the Board's Order is enforced by a decree of a United States
Court of Appeals , the words "a Decree of the United States Court of Ap-
peals Enforcing an Order" shall be substituted for the words "a Decision
and Order "
16 In the event that this Recommended Order is adopted by the Board,
this provision shall be modified to read "Notify the Regional Director for
Region 17 , in writing, within 10 days from the date of this Order, what
steps Respondent has taken to comply herewith."
APPENDIX A
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
Affiliated With The AFL-CIO
Hoisting And Portable Local No. 101
101 East Armour
Kansas City , Mo. 64111
Logan 1-3552
606 Burton
Wichita, Kansas
May 10, 1966
Mr. John Kenyon, Business Representative
Bricklayers Local Union No. 2
604 Burton St.
Wichita, Kansas
Dear Mr. Kenyon:
I have noticed on different occasions one of your
members has continuously operated a forklift on a
construction job at 22nd and Amidon Sts. Time after
time I have observed this member of yours doing the
engineer's work. He not only was satisfied with this
but was hoisting and lowering materials for non-
union crafts working on the job behind a picket.
Mr. Kenyon , if you will note on page 76 in the green
book "Plan for Settling Jurisdictional Disputes of the
Building and Construction Trades Dept. AFL-CIO"
that the Operating Engineers have jurisdiction over
the motive power of all derricks , cement-mixers,
hod-hoists , pumps, and other machines used on con-
struction work.
Surely, you have more control over your member-
ship than this ! In the future , I will have only one al-
ternative if this is to continue-the Bricklayers Local
No. 2 can expect no support from the Operating En-
gineers Local 101. 1 don 't believe that you can say
that you have had any problem with our people re-
garding your work. If you do, I assure you something
will be done about it.
BRICKLAYERS AND MASONS LOCAL NO.2
Trusting that you and your Local Union will do
something about this terrible situation at once and
thanking you in advance, I remain
123
Ronnie Weems
Business Agent
Sheet Metal Local
Union #29
Fraternally yours,
/s/ Olin Miles
Olin Miles
Business Agent
Hoisting & Portable En-
gineers
Local No. 101
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS OF BRICKLAYERS AND
MASONS
LOCAL
NO. 2,
AFFILIATED
WITH
BRICKLAYERS, MASONS AND PLASTERERS' INTERNA-
TIONAL UNION OF AMERICA, AFL-CIO, AND EM-
PLOYEES OF ROBERT L. WILLIS, MASONRY CONTRAC-
TOR
Bricklayers Union # 2
c/o John Kenyon
604 Burton Ave.
Wichita, Kansas
May 12, 1966
Dear Sirs:
In years past the success of organized labor, espe-
cially the building trades industry, has depended lar-
gely on the fact that all crafts supported each other.
When the cry echoed, help was received. In recent
years anti-union laws designed to tear down your
union have been passed. These laws make it virtually
impossible for one craft to support another on a
unified basis. The support must come from each and
every craftsman on an individual basis, it is quite
necessary that each individual grant this support.
Without this support the end result, in the near
future, shall be that the force of your union will
be weakened to the point that the thin walls of your
stomach may feel pain.
Sheet Metal Workers, Local #29 pledges its full
support to all other crafts. This pledge may become
hard to fulfill because of a small percentage of our
members with weak knees and limber spines who
have used, and will in the future use the fact that
union bricklayers did not give their individual sup-
port to the Sheet Metal Workers when help was
needed.
I ask that Union Bricklayers Local #2 support
the Sheet Metal Workers Local #29 so that the
members of Local #29 will be able to support you
when the time comes.
Sincerely,
/s/ Ronnie Weems
Pursuant to the Recommended Order of a Trial Ex-
aminer of the National Labor Relations Board, and in
order to effectuate the policies of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, we hereby notify you that:
WE WILL NOT engage in, or induce or encourage
the individuals employed by Robert L.
Willis,
Masonry Contractor, or any other person,to engage
in, a strike or refusal in the course of their employ-
ment to use, manufacture, process, transport, or
otherwise handle or work on any goods, articles,
materials, or commodities, or to perform any serv-
ices; or threaten, coerce, or restrain Willis or any
other person, where an object is to force or require
Rex Robertson Plumbing and Heating, Inc., or
any other person, to cease doing business with
Roger Weidman, d/b/a Weidman Metal Masters.
BRICKLAYERS AND MASONS LOCAL
NO. 2, AFFILIATED WITH
BRICKLAYERS, MASONS AND
PLASTERERS' INTERNATIONAL
UNION OF AMERICA, AFL-CIO
(Labor Organization)
Dated
By
(Representative)
(Title)
This notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive
days from the date of posting, and must not be altered,
defaced, or covered by any other material.
If members have any question concerning this notice
or compliance with its provisions, they may communicate
directly with the Board's Regional Office, 610 Federal
Building, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64106, Telephone FR 4-5181.