202 NLRB 841
Warrenton Lumber Co.
WARRENTON LUMBER COMPANY
Warrenton
Lumber
Company
and
International
Woodworkers of America Local Union 3-4,
AFL-CIO. Case 36-CA-2286
April 3, 1973
DECISION AND ORDER
BY MEMBERS JENKINS ,
KENNEDY, AND
PENELLO
On December 20, 1972, Administrative Law Judge
Martin S. Bennett issued the attached Decision in
this proceeding. Thereafter, Respondent filed excep-
tions and a supporting brief.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(b) of the
National
Labor Relations Act, as amended, the
National Labor Relations Board has delegated its
authority in this proceeding to a three-member panel.
The Board has considered the record and the
attached Decision in light of the exceptions and brief
and has decided to affirm the rulings, findings,' and
conclusions of the Administrative Law Judge and to
adopt his recommended Order.2
ORDER
Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor
Relations Board adopts as its Order the recommend-
ed Order of the Administrative Law Judge and
hereby orders that Respondent, Warrenton Lumber
Company, Warrenton, Oregon, its officers, agents,
successors, and assigns, shall take the action set forth
in the said recommended Order, except that the
attached notice is substituted for the notice attached
to the Administrative Law Judge's Decision.
I The Administrative Law Judge found that discriminatee Larry Adams
grieved to Night-shift Supervisor Ernie
Mickle on January 12, 1972,
concerning a large deep hole at the back of the mill, and that such
conversation took place in the presence of witnesses in the mill lunchroom
The record shows that this conversation did take place, but by the stud
edger and not in the lunchroom However, the record does indicate that
Adams also grieved to Night-shift Supervisor Laird Hyde, shortly after the
above conversation with Mickle, concerning the same matter, and that this
conversation took place in the presence of witnesses in the mill lunchroom
This inadvertent error in no way affects the result in this case
2 The Respondent has excepted to certain credibility findings made by
the Administrative Law Judge It is the Board's established policy not to
overrule an
Administrative
Law Judge's resolutions with respect to
credibility unless the clear preponderance of all of the relevant evidence
convinces us that the resolutions were incorrect
Standard Dry
Wall
Products, Inc, 91 NLRB 544, enfd 188 F 2d 362 (C A 3) We have carefully
examined the record and find no basis for reversing his findings
APPENDIX
841
NOTICE TO
EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
WE WILL offer Larry Adams immediate and
full reinstatement to his former job, or, if this job
no longer exists, to a substantially equivalent
position, without prejudice to his seniority and
other rights and privileges , and WE WILL make
him whole for any loss of wages suffered as a
result of our discrimination against him.
WE WILL NOT discourage membership in, or
activity in behalf of, International Woodworkers
of America, Local Union 3-4, AFL-CIO, or any
other labor organization of our employees, by
discharging employees or by discriminating in
any manner in regard to hire or tenure of
employment or any term or condition thereof.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner
interfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees
in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under
Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.
All our employees are free to become or remain, or
refrain from becoming or remaining, members of the
above-named or any other labor organization , except
to the extent such right may be affected by an
agreement requiring membership in a labor organiza-
tion as a condition of employment, as authorized by
Section 8(a)(3) of the Act.
WARRENTON LUMBER
COMPANY
(Employer)
Dated
By
(Representative)
(Title)
We will notify immediately the above-named indi-
vidual, if presently serving in the Armed Forces of
the United States, of the right to full reinstatement,
upon application after discharge from the Armed
Forces, in accordance with the Selective Service Act
and the Universal Military Training and Service Act.
This is an official notice and must not be defaced
by anyone.
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.
Any questions concerning this notice or compli-
ance with its provisions may be directed to the
Board's Office, 310 Six Ten Broadway Building, 610
SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205, Telephone
503-221-3085.
202 NLRB No. 121
842
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
MARTIN S. BENNETT, Administrative Law Judge: This
matter was heard at Astoria, Oregon, on August 30 and 31
and September 21 and 22, 1972. The complaint, issued
June 15 and based upon a charge filed April 17, 1972, by
International Woodworkers of America, Local Union 3-4,
AFL-CIO, herein the Union, alleges that Respondent,
Warrenton Lumber Company, has engaged in unfair labor
practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3) and (1) of
the Act. Briefs have been submitted by the parties.
Upon the entire record in the case, and from my
observation of the witnesses, I make the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. JURISDICTIONAL FINDINGS
Warrenton Lumber Company is an Oregon corporation
maintaining its principal place of business at Warrenton,
Oregon, where it is engaged in the manufacture of lumber
and wood products. During the past year, it shipped
lumber and wood products valued in excess of $100,000 to
purchasers located outside the State of Oregon. I find that
the operations of Respondent affect commerce within the
meaning of Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act.
H. THE LABOR
ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
International Woodworkers of America, Local Union
3-4, AFL-CIO, is a labor organization within the meaning
of Section 2(5) of the Act.
III. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A.
The Issue; Introduction
The Union was certified as the representative of the
employees of Respondent in September 1967. Larry
Adams was in the employ of Respondent for 7 1/2 years
until his discharge on January 14, 1972, the sole issue
herein. He was a job steward on the swing shift and the
record demonstrates that he was an active one. The
General Counsel contends that Adams was discharged
because of an incident 2 days earlier on January 12 when
he
more or less forcefully presented a grievance to
management in his capacity as job steward.
Respondent allegedly has a policy of issuing pink slips
for misfeasance or nonfeasance of duties, with a third pink
slip within 1 year resulting in the mandatory discharge of
the employee. Adams received such a third pink slip on
January 14, and the surrounding facts are discussed below,
as well as those in two prior pink slips. Respondent also
presented considerable evidence concerning Adams' entire
work record.
Respondent's case was initially tailored to Adams
receiving the third and fatal pink slip. The General
Counsel stresses that Respondent, after his discharge, then
placed reliance upon other aspects of his work record
which, it may be noted, was not marked by pink slips.
Adams was well regarded at the time of his initial
employment, and was selected for a temporary transfer of
some months to another operation of Respondent.
A new stud mill of Respondent was opened in September
1970 and a newer random-length mill in July 1971. Adams
was designated as a relief man in the new mill which
admittedly had relatively new equipment of a complex and
highly sophisticated nature. A relief man normally devotes
most of his time to giving a 10-minute break twice a shift to
the respective operators in the two mills. During those
breaks,
he operates the equipment. This assignment
involves approximately 16 operators; the other time of the
relief man is devoted to certain cleanup operations and to
finding tasks that require doing. It takes about 2 1/2 hours
in all to run through a set of reliefs.
The General Counsel stresses Adams' active record as a
shop steward, but, in my judgment, the case ultimately
reduces itself to whether Adams was pretextuously dis-
charged on January 14 because of a grievance concerning
working conditions presented on January 12 in a manner
which was neither respectful nor unduly offensive, but
rather best described as very direct.
The General Counsel points to a grievance filed on
March 17, 1971, against Supervisor Dick Rohr, no longer
in the employ of the Respondent, who, according to
Adams, told him that he would be discharged if he filed
another grievance. I do not rely upon this incident
involving a former supervisor.
Although well prior to the pink slip problem, another
incident is offered to demonstrate the hostility of General
Manager Ted Bellingham to Adams. Significantly, as will
appear, Bellingham was aware of the January 12, 1972,
grievance and concerted activity on the part of Adams. A
regularly scheduled meeting was held on July 21, 1971,
between management and the Union to discuss several
new job classifications and the job descriptions were
written on a blackboard. The words "ability and efficien-
cy" were crossed out by parties unknown and replaced by
the
word "seniority."
Bellingham
accused Adams of
making the change and this was denied by him; there is
evidence that another employee had made the change.
According to Adams, Bellingham told him on this
occasion that Adams had his neck stuck out and that he,
Bellingham, intended to chop it off. Adams is substantially
corroborated by witnesses Yardley, Hillard, and Lane, all
currently in the employ of Respondent, that Bellingham
uttered remarks to this effect. Bellingham vaguely and
generally denied the statements attributed to him by
Adams. In view of the most substantial corroboration of
Adams by the various witnesses designated above, I credit
Adams herein.
The General Counsel and the Charging Party aptly point
out that Respondent's alleged promulgation of the three-
pink slip policy leaves something to be desired. It appears
that Respondent's supervisors variously met at lunch in a
local restaurant in Warrenton and the topic was then
discussed.
Robert Axelson, purchasing agent and safety director,
testified that he attended a meeting at a local tavern in
September 1971, when the supervisors discussed the fact
that three pink slips would result in discharge. Yet, he, too,
conceded, as did others, that a pink slip was to be preceded
WARRENTON LUMBER COMPANY
843
by oral warnings, one or more. He further testified that a
pink slip would not issue prior to at least one oral warning,
although he later stated that, if a breach was serious to
morale, the pink slip would not be preceded by an oral
warning.
Albert Turk, plant superintendent for 4 months and a
most verbose witness, categorically deposed without
reservation that, at this meeting, General Manager Ted
Bellingham spelled out the policy, namely, that a man was
first to be warned and, upon a repeat performance, given a
pink slip. Turk also put it that he was to be given a pink
slip after being warned once or twice, although, if the
offense were grievous, he, Turk, would award a pink slip
upon the first offense.
However, Bellingham was asked if, at this crucial
meeting of supervisors, pink slips were discussed and, more
specifically, if there was any determination as to the
number of pink slips that would cause a discharge. He
replied in the negative and added that a pink slip was to
reflect a second warning on any problem and that no fair
determination could be made as to the number of pink
slips
which
would prove determinative, because the
problem would vary in each case.
I find therefore, on the posture most favorable to
Respondent, that it created a nebulous policy concerning
the issuance of the pink slip as a disciplinary warning.
More particularly, I find that it did not have an established
policy that three pink slips required a discharge. I further
find that a pink slip, absent a most grievous offense, was
not to be awarded without a prior warning. And, it may be
added, as will appear later, three unqualified pink slips did
not exist in the case of Adams.
It is also to be noted that the pink-slip policy was never
officially announced or promulgated to employees, al-
though various employees learned of it by word of mouth.
Adams,
it
is
undisputed, is the only employee ever
discharged because he had received three pink slips. Be
that as it may, the record of his three pink slips is as
follows:
comment that this type of performance, overlooked in
training, could no longer be 'tolerated.
The fact of the matter is that Adams had inserted too
high a slab of timber which knocked out the guide.2 The
regular
operator
on this piece of equipment, Gary
Schaupp, returned to the scene immediately after the
incident, knocked the top guide back into place and
proceeded to resume production without any delay. He
categorically testified
and I find that there was no
downtime, that the guide blocks had not been sawed out,
and, further, that the saw was not stretched and rendered
inoperative.
Hyde queried Schaupp about the incident and Schaupp
informed him that it resulted from the insertion of too wide
a slab. Schaupp testified, and I find, that he told Hyde,
after the issuance of the pink slip, that Adams did not
deserve one. He also testified that Adams, in his observa-
tion, encountered no other problems on this machine. As is
readily apparent, the pink slip was not merited in at least
two of the three particulars set forth. And Hyde realized
this. Adams duly filed a grievance setting forth the facts as
discussed above, admitting knocking out the top guide, but
denying that guide blocks were sawed out or that the saw
was stretched.
Hyde thereafter offered to withdraw the pink slip in its
entirety, but Adams declined, stating that it was a union
record. Hyde thereafter presented a note to Adams stating
that he had deleted two of the three offenses described
above from the pink slip of December 16. To sum up,
Respondent was willing to rescind the second pink slip in
its entirety, this demonstrating its lack of substance. And,
on the posture most favorable to the Respondent, the
second slip was at best one-third of a pink slip, indeed as
acknowledged by Respondent in its subsequent memoran-
dum to Adams. And it is questionable whether this alone
would warrant a pink slip without a prior warning.
C.
The January 12 Incident
B.
The First Two Pink Slips
On October 27, 1971, Adams received a pink slip from
Robert Axelson, purchasing agent and safety director for
Respondent, because he wore low-cut, rather than desig-
nated safety, shoes. There is a conflict as to whether he had
received a prior warning, but the simple answer is that he
did ultimately obtain the shoes and thereafter wore them
on the job without incident and there was no job injury.
The incident is manifestly a minor one.
On December 16, 1971, Swing Shift Supervisor Laird
Hyde 1 issued a second pink slip to Adams because of an
incident which took place while he was on relief on the line
bar resaw. This pink slip was issued as a reprimand for
"inefficient work" in that he had erred in three respects,
namely, (1) he had knocked out the top guide, (2) he had
sawed out the guide blocks, and (3) he had stretched the
saw, this rendering the saw inoperative. Hyde added the
Hyde and Ernie Mickle were the two swing shift supervisors. The
record erroneously identifies the latter as Michel.
There is an area behind the mill which the millwright
then had to traverse in the dark; at a date beyond the time
material herein this was rectified by the installation of
lights.
A washout occurred some days prior to the
discharge of Adams, this leaving a large deep hole, and a 4
inch
by 12 inch plank was placed across this by
Respondent.
Millwright John Thompson complained to Adams that
this created a hazard on a dark rainy night. Adams
investigated the problem and, on Wednesday, January 12,
he grieved to the two night-shift supervisors, Ernie Mickle
and Laird Hyde, in the presence of witnesses in the mill
lunchroom. According to Adams, and I so find, he told
Mickle that the men wanted something done about the
hole because, an employee might fall in and incur serious
injury. He added that if this were not attended to by
Friday, January 14, he, Adams, would notify the appropri-
2 The guides are set at a particular inch height; for example, if a setting is
made at 14 inches, a 16-inch slab will knock out the guide.
844
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
ate state safety inspector. Mickle replied that he would
look into the matter.3
Shortly thereafter, Hyde entered the lunchroom and
Adams made the same statement to him, pointing out that
Millwright Thompson had barely saved someone from
falling into the hole.
Alvin Olson, who observed the
incident, testified, and I find, that Hyde visibly flushed
when Adams so addressed him. Millwright Thompson also
testified that Adams on this occasion told Hyde that he
had 24 hours to repair the hole. Respondent does not
dispute that the incident occurred, challenging only the
breadth of the statements by Adams. The hole was duly
repaired, although the date is not precisely fixed.
Hyde admitted that he took up this complaint with
General Manager Ted Bellingham that same evening,
contradicting the latter who testified that he did not recall
learning of it on the same evening . Mickle was also advised
by Hyde that Adams had grieved to Hyde on this occasion.
On the very next day, January 13, Mickle and Hyde, the
two top supervisors on the shift, commenced an intense
surveillance of Adams' activities. They abandoned their
regular duties and stationed themselves at various locations
throughout the plant so that they could observe Adams at
all times for the entire shift. They proceeded to clock him
as to the length of time he took on his two daily breaks and
lunch period. They followed the same pattern on January
14, although that mission was interrupted for 1 1/2 hours
due to a mill breakdown.
Bellingham allegedly was unaware of this obviously
major undertaking and complete departure from normal
duties by his two subordinates. A note made by the two
officials, which allegedly reflects excessive break and lunch
periods, led to the third pink slip at the end of the shift on
January 14. This decision,
it
is the testimony of the
witnesses for Respondent, was made solely by Mickle
without the knowledge of Bellingham. Nor did Hyde,
Mickle's equal and collaborator on the surveillance,
allegedly participate in the decision to discharge Adams,
although, curiously Hyde, not Mickle, prepared the slip.
Adams was well aware of the surveillance, claiming that
he pointed it out to some of his coworkers. He is
corroborated here by Silas Jones, still an employee, who
was advised by Adams of the 2-day surveillance and Jones
observed that Adams was correct. Another employee, Gary
Schaupp, also noticed the surveillance and directed it to
the attention of Adams, although he also claimed that he
detected it duping the previous week. Similarly, employee
Paul Underhill testified that Adams brought this to his
attention at the time and he, too, observed it.
This bears upon the argument of the General Counsel
that the clocking notes made at the time are unreliable,
urging that it is highly unlikely that Adams would
transgress under these circumstances and open himself to
discipline. Respondent, in turn, argues that the clocking
stems from its dissatisfaction with the way Adams was
either unwilling or unable to follow his prescribed relief
schedule. One immediately notes that he was not clocked
on the time he took at each of his respective 10-minute
3 Respondent adduced testimony, denied by Adams. to the effect that
Adams also announced that he would shut down the plant if the hole was
not filled. I deem this immaterial. This would amount at best to a threat by
relief assignments , but was clocked only as to his nonwork
time.
D.
The Third Pink Slip and Adams' Discharge
At the end of the shift on January 14, Adams was given
his third pink slip by Mickle. The slip stated that Adams
had taken an excessive breaktime on the first half of the
swing shift on both January 13 and 14 and that this would
not be tolerated. Mickle also told him that he was through
and that his timecard was being pulled.
Mickle claimed, and Adams denied, that on two
occasions between September and December 1971, Mickle
had warned Adams about spending too much time in the
lunchroom. Mickle somewhat inconsistently also claimed
that these two warnings were but a month or 6 weeks apart.
The employees of Respondent struck over the discharge of
Adams, but, at Adams' request, they returned to work after
approximately 3 weeks.
According to Mickle, the decision to discharge Adams
was his alone without consultation with anyone else. He
was aware of the two prior pink slips and realized that the
issuance of the third slip required the discharge of Adams.
There is some inconsistency between Mickle and Hyde,
for, according to the latter, he and Mickle discussed the
possibility of issuing this third pink slip and jointly decided
to do so. Hyde proceeded to write it up and Mickle
delivered it to Adams. Despite this joint effort and despite
Mickle's awareness of the fact that this was the third slip, I
am unable to accept Hyde's testimony that the two men
did not discuss the discharge of Adams.
Turning to the underlying data, the memorandum
prepared by the two supervisors discloses that Adams took
his normal 10-minute break from 5:20 to 5:30 p.m. on
January 13. His second break is shown as lasting from 8:22
to 8:44 p.m., i.e., 12 extra minutes. His lunchbreak is
shown as from 9:31 to 10:18 p.m., i.e., 17 extra minutes.
The memorandum discloses that on January 14 Adams
took his first break from 8:30 to 8:45 p.m., namely 5 extra
minutes. His lunchbreak is shown from 9:30 to 10:10 p.m.,
when the two superintendents temporarily left the area,
this reflecting at least 10 extra minutes. Adams is then
shown in the lunchroom from 12:52 a.m. through 1:00
a.m., this not fully explained.
Alvin
Olson recalled that he and Adams lunched
together on January 13 and 14, consistent with their
practice, and that Adams took no more time than Olson on
these occasions. Yet, the record is completely silent as to
any warnings directed at Olson.
E.
Analysis and Conclusions
Respondent has presented a plethora of evidence
concerning Adams' incompetence, neglect of duties, and
negative attitude. I deem it unnecessary to treat with this in
detail because of the following reasons.
(1) None of these derelications or failings on the part of
Adams resulted in a pink slip. This pink-slip policy was the
initial cornerstone of Respondent's case herein, although
the shop steward to strike over a hazardous working condition. manifestly a
protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the Act. I see no assistance
to Respondent herein.
WARRENTON LUMBER COMPANY
845
this was later expanded to include other conduct. Stated
otherwise, alleged derelictions not resulting in a pink slip
are not deemed entitled to substantial weight.
(2) Mickle testified that Adams was an unsatisfactory
employee or incompetent for a period of 4 months,
commencing in September 1971. Yet, despite Mickle's
testimony as to the damage he allegedly inflicted, Respon-
dent saw fit to retain Adams in a job where he came into
contact with and operated much equipment. If Respondent
were to be credited, Mickle sat by and for 4 months
witnessed substantial damage to equipment of Respondent,
something I do not accept.
(3) This is highlighted by the fact that Mickle had
considered transferring Adams from the job as relief man,
but never sought to implement this because he felt that
Adams would not accept it. Mickle conceded that Adams'
work other than on the operation of machinery was
satisfactory. All this is advanced despite the fact that
Adams was on record for some time as seeking a transfer
to the day shift, this requiring bidding down to a lesser
basic classification.
(4) As noted above, the method of operation of the pink-
slip system is clouded, i.e., whether oral warnings were first
given. Moreover, Adams' second pink slip hardly qualifies
as such. Witnesses for Respondent attempted to embellish
the line-bar resaw matter, but the simple answer is that
Hyde offered to retract the entire slip and ultimately
retracted two-thirds of the charge.
(5) The timing of the third slip and its language restricted
to breaktime warrants the inference that the other matters
raised
herein
by
Respondent played no part in the
decision.4
(6)
Adams, as found, was aware of the marked
surveillance by the two supervisors who had apparently
abandoned all other duties and it hardly seems logical for
Adams, manifestly an astute person, to have conducted
himself in the manner attributed to him. Again, Mickle
testified that he made the decision to terminate Adams 1
hour before the end of the shift. This perforce gave him
ample time to prepare the slip and set forth any other
operative factors. Further, the slip was actually prepared
by Hyde, according to the latter.
(7)
Respondent adduced much evidence concerning
Adams' inability to follow the schedule which set forth the
order in which Adams was to relieve workers. Suffice it to
say that it prepared a new schedule as of January 10. A
consideration
of the facts surrounding this schedule
discloses the following.
Adams testified that he was shown a copy of the new
schedule. He claimed that he was permitted to view it
briefly, but was not given a copy thereof. This is disputed
by witnesses for Respondent who contended that Adams
merely gave it a cursory appraisal, put it down, and then
left.5
According to Hyde, Adams was called into the office on
January 10, shown a new relief schedule, and asked if he
+ Indeed, the third pink slip is critical only of Adams' excessive
breaktime during the first half of the shift and is silent as to the second half
`> Adams impressed me as cocky in nature with a tendency to quibble,
although this begs the basic issue herein None of the recommendations
made hereinafter are intended to preclude Respondent from disciplining or
discharging him for any legitimate shortcomings on his part as an employee
could live with it. Adams inspected it for not over 2
minutes, said nothing, put it down, and left. Hyde claimed
that, because of Adams' ostensible indifference to the new
schedule, management decided to check out the time he
spent on breaks and at lunch, although Hyde, as he
conceded, had not previously charged Adams with taking
any excessive breaktimes.
Mickle testified that Adams relieved personnel consistent
with the new schedule on January 10. On the second night,
he asked Hyde if he was to relieve in the same manner.
Hyde instructed him to comply therewith and Adams duly
relieved in the prescribed manner until his discharge and,
according to Mickle, "It wasn't a problem any more."
Thus, it is readily apparent that from January 10 on, on
the face of Mickle's testimony and it was he who allegedly
decided on the discharge, that Adams complied with the
new schedule. This perforce lends strong support to the
claim
of the General Counsel that it was Adams'
presentation of the grievance on January 12, fervent or
otherwise, which manifestly was resented by Hyde, that
triggered management's supervision of Adams on January
13 and 14 and its decision to discharge him.
There is still other evidence in this record, strongly and
lengthily litigated, as to the pros and cons of Adams'
ability. Be that as it may, I am convinced upon a strong
preponderance of the evidence that, but for Adams'
advocacy in his role of shop steward of the repair of a
dangerous facility, he would not have been discharged on
January 14. Stated otherwise, assuming other cause existed
to warrant his discipline or discharge, he would not have
been discharged but for his protected Section 7 activity on
January 12.
As I have previously indicated, it is perhaps true that
Adams regarded his status as a shop steward as an
insurance policy against discipline for surliness toward his
superiors, and I believe that his conduct to some extent was
so marked. But a more basic issue is involved. Adams,
tactfully or otherwise, presented a genuine grievance and
did not become so insubordinate as to warrant discipline.
On a strong preponderance of the evidence, he was
discharged 2 days later on, at best, a pretextual basis.
And, as noted, Adams had received a prior warning from
Bellingham that his vigorous presentation of grievances
could result in his discharge. Furthermore, Adams was the
only employee ever discharged for the receipt of three pink
slips. Also reflecting upon Respondent's expansion of the
three-pink slip reason to other nebulous causes is the
testimony of Plant Superintendent Albert Turk that Mickle
informed him that he had discharged Adams because he
had received three pink slips. Here again, Turk in effect
deprecated the pink-slip policy, admitting that when an
employee took 8 or 10 minutes longer than allowed on a
smoke break, a pink slip would not be issued.
In view of all the foregoing considerations, I find that
Respondent, by discharging Larry Adams, has engaged in
Differently stated, his role as shop steward does not insulate him with a
license to act as he chooses or to become insubordinate The fact is that he
is an employee of Respondent and under its control. As for the instant issue,
in my view, Respondent approached the problem in a different and
unlawful manner and chose to censure him for engaging in a protected
Section 7 activity
846
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3)
and (1) 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.
Warrenton Lumber Company is an employer within
the meaning of Section 2(2) of the Act
2.
International Woodworkers of America , Local Un-
ion 3-4, AFL-CIO, is a labor organization within the
meaning of Section 2(5) of the Act.
3.
By discharging Larry Adams for engaging in union
and concerted activities , Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(3) of the
Act.
4.
By the foregoing, Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices within the meaning of Section 8(a)(1) of the
Act.
5.
The aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices
affecting
commerce within the meaning of
Section 2(6) and (7) of the Act
THE REMEDY
Having found that Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices, I shall recommend that it cease and desist
therefrom and take certain affirmative action designed to
effectuate the policies of the Act.
It has been found that Respondent has violated Section
8(a)(3) and (1) of the Act by discriminatorily discharging
Larry Adams. I shall, therefore, recommend that Respon-
dent offer him immediate and full reinstatement to his
former job or, if thisjob no longer exists, to a substantially
equivalent position, without prejudice to his seniority or
other rights and privileges. See The Chase National Bank of
the City of New York, San Juan, Puerto Rico Branch, 65
NLRB 827.
I shall further recommend that Respondent make him
whole for any loss of earnings he may have suffered as a
result of his discharge by payment of a sum of money
equal to that he normally would have earned from said
date to the date of Respondent's offer of reinstatement,
less net earnings, with backpay and interest thereon to be
computed in the manner prescribed by the Board in F. W
Woolworth Co, 90 NLRB 289, and Isis Plumbing Co., 138
NLRB 716.
Upon the foregoing findings of fact, conclusions of law,
6 In the event no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec 102 46 of the
Rules and Regulations of the National Labor Relations Board, the findings,
conclusions, and recommended Order herein shall, as provided in Sec
102 48 of the Rules and Regulations, be adopted by the Board and become
its findings, conclusions, and Order, and all objections thereto shall be
deemed waived for all purposes
and the entire record, and pursuant to Section 10(c) of the
Act, I hereby issue the following recommended:
ORDER6
Respondent, Warrenton Lumber Company, Warrenton,
Oregon, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall:
1.
Cease and desist from:
(a) Discouraging membership in, or activity in behalf of,
International Woodworkers of America, Local Union 3-4,
AFL-CIO, or any other labor organization of its employ-
ees, by discriminating in regard to hire or tenure of
employment, or any term or condition thereof.
(b) In any like or related manner interfering with,
restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the National Labor
Relations Act, except to the extent such rights may be
affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor
organization as a condition of employment, as authorized
by Section 8(a)(3) of the Act.
2.
Take the following affirmative action which is
deemed necessary to effectuate the policies of the Act:
(a) Offer Larry Adams immediate and full reinstatement
to his former job or, if this job no longer exists, to a
substantially
equivalent position, without prejudice to
seniority or other rights and privileges, and make him
whole for any loss of pay suffered by reason of the
discrimination against him in the manner provided above
in the section entitled "The Remedy."
(b) Preserve and make available to the National Labor
Relations Board and its agents, upon request, for examina-
tion
and copying, all payroll records, social security
payment records, timecards, personnel records and reports,
and all other records necessary to determine the amount of
backpay due under the terms of this Order.
(c) Post at its mills at Warrenton, Oregon, copies of the
notice attached hereto and marked "Appendix." 7 Copies
of said notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director
for Region 19 shall, after being duly signed by Respondent,
be posted by it immediately upon receipt thereof and
maintained for a period of 60 consecutive days thereafter
in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to
employees 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.
(d) Notify the Regional Director for Region 19, in
writing, within 20 days from the date of receipt of this
Decision, what steps it has taken to comply herewith.
7 In the event the Board's Order is enforced by a Judgment of a United
States Court of Appeals, the words in the notice reading "Posted by Order
of the National Labor Relations Board" shall read "Posted Pursuant to a
Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the
National Labor Relations Board "