241 NLRB 310
Norwalk Typographical Union 529
Norwalk
and Tbe
21,
MEMBERS
PENELLO,
TRUESDALE
Erhployer
herein.2
1qc)
Nonvalk
Norwalk,
1.
I(d):
In
abvncc
Penello
forma,
Judge's decision
matter
p n i a ' pkvance
procedure.
dissenting
Grmrml American Tramprtafion Corp.,
80% (1977).
Judge
alia,
Respondent
merced
restrained the employees
Scc. B(b)(Ij(A)
inadvcrtantly
cease
enwging
ncommendcd
accordingly.
We alw
Law
Decision,
his
section entitled
10,
bottom,
inadvertently spoke
"eqloy-
su' righl~ reIec1 qwenirors" when k obvimu& infendnl 10 w 1k word
"emy~loyerr: "
SCHWARZBART,
1978,'
Norwalk
8@)(I)(A)
8(b)(3)
commission
8(b)(3)
collec-
8(b)(l)(A)
composing
8@)(I)(B)
All
cr
-examine
g
BUSlNESS
Norwalk,
Norwalk
December
above-
I
hminaner
1978 unl*rs
310
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Typographical Union No. 529
Hour
Publishing Co. Case 2-CB-7164
March
1979
DECISION AND ORDER
BY
MURPHY, AND
On July 24, 1978, Administrative Law Judge Rob-
ert M. Schwarzbart issued the attached Decision in
this proceeding. Thereafter, Respondent filed excep-
tions and a supporting brief, the General Counsel and
the
both filed briefs in support of the Ad-
ministrative Law Judge's Decision, and the General
Counsel also filed a brief in answer to Respondent's
exceptions.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3@) of the
National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board has delegated its au-
thority in this proceeding to a three-member panel.
The Board has considered the record and the at-
tached Decision in light of the exceptions and briefs
and has decided to affirm the rulings, findings, and
conclusions1 of the Administrative Law Judge and to
adopt his recommended Order, as modified
ORDER
Pursuant to Section
of the National Labor
Relations Act, as amended, the National Labor Rela-
tions Board adopts as its Order the recommended Or-
der of the Administrative Law Judge as modified be-
low and hereby orders that the Respondent,
Typographical Union, Local No. 529,
Con-
necticut, its officers, agents, and representatives, shall
take the action set forth in the said recommended
Order, as so modified.
Insert the following as paragraph
"(d) In any like or related manner restraining or
coercing employees in the exercise of rights guaran-
teed by Section 7 of the Act."
the
of exceptions, Member
adopts, pro
the
Administrative Law
and arbitration
declining to defer this
See the
lo the
opinion in
228 NLRB
While the Administrative Law
found, infer
that
and
in violation of
of the
Act. he
failed to order Respondent to
and desist from
in any l i e or related activity. We shall modify the
Order
note that in the Administrative
Judge's
under
"Analysis and Concluding Findings," par.
third line from
the
the Administrative Law Judge
of
lo
DECISION
ROBERT M.
Administrative Law Judge:
This case was heard in New York, New York, on July 24,
pursuant to a charge filed on March 13 by The Hour
Publishing Co., herein the Employer, and a complaint
which issued May 4. The complaint alleges that
Typographical Union No. 529, herein the Respondent, af-
filiated with the International Typographical Union of
North America, herein ITU, committed certain violations
of Sections
and (B) and
of the Act. The
Respondent's answer denied the
of the alleged
unfair labor practices.
Issues
1. Whether the Respondent, by amending its bylaws to
provide for the cancellation of overtime and enforcing
same, violated Section
of the Act by unilaterally
changing terms and conditions of employment in its
tive-bargaining agreement with the Employer.
2. Whether the Respondent, in violation of Section
of the Act, restrained and coerced employees in
the performance of their overtime and regular work sched-
ules by amending and enforcing its above-referred bylaw,
which, by its terms, subjected employees to fines for non-
compliance.
3. Whether the Respondent, by including in and enforc-
ing the above rule against the supervisory
room
foreman and assistant foreman, as unit members, violated
Section
of the Act in interfering with the right of
the Employer to designate its representatives for purposes
of collective bargaining or adjustment of grievances.
parties were given full opportunity to participate, to
introduce relevant evidence, to examine and
witnesses, and to file briefs. Briefs filed by
e General
Counsel, the Respondent, and the Employer have been
carefully considered
Upon the entire record of the case and my observation of
the witnesses and their demeanor, I make the following:
I. THE
OF THE EMPLOYER
At all times material herein, the Employer, a Connecticut
corporation, has maintained its principal office and place of
business in
Connecticut. The Employer is, and
has been at all times material herein, engaged in the publi-
cation, circulation, and distribution of The Hour, a newspa-
per in the
area.
During the calendar year, which ended
31,
1977, The Hour, in the course and conduct of its
described business operations, derived gross revenues in ex-
cess of $200,000 and held membership in or subscribed to
various interstate news services, including United Press In-
ternational, published various nationally syndicated fea-
tures, and advertised various nationally sold products.
All dates
refer lo
otherwise noted
241 NLRB No. 41
NORWALK
1
find
2(2), (6).
11.
2(5)
Norwalk,
enumerated
ITU's
"[l]ocal
Whitton,
Employer's
Ingersoll,
president.5
Whitton
day.* lngersoll
(posted)
Zimmer-
foreman.' Whitton answer@
2Tbe composing
where
is
comprchaivc
set
cumnt collcctiva
barpining agreement. S e
Exh. 2.
sef.
IV, e.
provision
ban carried
between
partied
'Ari. m.
9 lngcnoH w e d
prnidcnt
1966
except
brid
hearing, he
longer
thir oRia and
regular aitlutim typesetter with
When
moved
prcscnt
di-
hued use
proass
typactting
aU+lstronic
miat
and
regular
holden were bein8
new
man
the
regularly
three
stituta
Substiturn
title implies, do
reauhr
each
&y arc required
prcmila
kast
minuta
the
arc
for bow &ys
parties stipulated,
find
Zimmerrmn
Rokn
Muro, rapeetivdy
forcnun
perviaon
meanin8 ofthe
Under the ternu the
ITU's General Lawa,
mcmben
the
Zimmennan's
Whitton
composing
Zimmerman
VII
off'
to'work
cancel
31
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. 529
The complaint alleges, the answer admits, and I
that
the Employer is now and has been at all times material
herein an employer engaged in commerce within the mean-
ing of Section
and (7) of the Act.
THE LABOR ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
The Respondent is, and has been at all times material
herein, a labor organization within the meaning of Section
of the Act.
The Employer, which, except Sundays, publishes a daily
newspaper at its
Connecticut, plant, for many
years has had a series of collective-bargaining agreements
with the Respondent Union covering a unit of the Employ-
er's composing room employees,' which, including the fore-
man and assistant foreman, consists of 30 persons. The cur-
rent contract, effective January l, 1977, to December 3 l,
1978, provides that "The Employer will have the right to
require that Employees work such reasonable amounts of
overtime as may be necessary to meet production require-
ments."' The Agreement also specifies that ". . . the General
Laws of The International Typographical Union in effect at
the time of the signing of this agreement, shall govern rela-
tions between the parties and conditions not specifically
herein."'
Article VI, section 5, of
General Laws, thus incor-
porated into the contract, provided when the most recent
contract was signed in 1977 that
unions shall have
full authority and the responsibility to adopt regulations for
the complete government of overtime."
On December 30, 1977, Walter
the
president and publisher, met with John
then the
Respondent's
At this time
told Ingersoll
that the three substitute employees the Company had been
regularly scheduling for work in its composing room would
no longer be hired each
replied that the fore-
man. Gus Zimmerman, was working too much overtime,
that it did not look good for other employees to see all this
overtime
on the bulletin board, and that
man should not be a working
room is
copy sent to be set into type. The
unit description is fully
forth in the
G.C.
art. I,
3.
'Art.
2. This
has
in the various contracts
the
since at least 1964.
1,
8.
as union
from
until March 1978,
for a
hiatus. At the time of the
no
held
was a
the Employer.
the Employer
to its
facility in June 1976, it
of the linotype "hot metal"
in
and installed an
operation. To
during this transition
training period,
while its
situation
familiarized with the
com-
posing
equipment
Employer
employed
to four sub-
in its composing room to help put out the paper.
as their
not hold
situations and to obtain employment
to report to the Employer's
at
10
before the start of
shin, which commences at 7 a.m. They
paid only
when they are hired.
'The
and I
that Gus
and
composing room
and assistant foreman, are su-
within the
Act.
of
contract and
the
both arc
of
Union.
that it was necessary to have a working foreman in a small
shop to direct the work flow, as
strictly su-
pervisory duties, such as assigning work, would not be suf-
ficient to fill his workday.
In the first week of January,
learned from a
room employee that the Union had amended its
bylaws with respect to the accumulation of overtime. At
Whitton's request,
obtained a copy of the fol-
lowing bylaws, which became effective on January 6, hav-
ing been posted in the plant 1 day earlier:
ARTICLE
Accumulative Overtime
Section I. When any situation holder accumulates
overtime equal to the unit of hours established for a
regular shift he shall engage a competent substitute as
soon as one becomes available for the purpose of can-
celing such overtime. Provided, it shall not be manda-
tory that any situation holder cancel more than one
day's accumulated overtime in any one financial week
nor shall it be mandatory that any situation holder
cancel accumulated overtime on a holiday which falls
within the five-day work week and for which premium
pay is provided for by contract. Holidays or time lost
through "begging
shall not cancel overtime. When
more than on substitute is available, the one with the
most accumulated shifts of overtime must be regarded
as unavailable unless there is enough work to be given
out by the office or situation holders to employ all sub-
stitutes. Provided, no substitute shall be restricted on
either of the first two shifts for which he accepts work
during a financial week, nor shall premium shifts be
included in this calculation. A substitute cancels a shift
of overtime on any day, up to five days, he does not
work in a financial week. Any days worked in that
week shall be deducted from said five days.
Section 2. Overtime shall be cumulative for a period
of sixty days, provided however, ALL overtime shall
accumulate indefinitely until it shall have accumulated
to the extent of the unit of hours established for a regu-
lar shift unless canceled prior to such accumulation by
the employment of a substitute.
Section 3. Any member having accumulated over-
time to give out who fails or refuses to employ an
available competent substitute, or who attempts to
evade the overtime laws, shall be punished by a fine of
not less than one day's pay for each offense. Where the
records show violation or evasion the fine may be arbi-
trarily assessed.
As applied, the new rule means that employees covered
by the agreement who have accumulated overtime equal to
one shift, which was established at 7-1/2 hours, must en-
gage a substitute to be paid by the employer, within 30 days
of having accumulated such overtime,
in his stead
until the overtime is canceled. The purpose of the rule is to
provide work for substitutes, who, in cancelling the over-
time of others, receive the opportunity to work full shifts.
As noted in section 3 of the above-quoted rule, unit mem-
bers who do not comply by employing substitutes to
uncoop
shom9
~- ~
overtime.10
accumulates
week"
7-1/2
pay.12
acquired
Foreman
tutified that
wcrtime canalla-
tion
a 3-y
grace period, and employen
had accumulated 7-112 houn
replaced
~ u b a t i t u t ~
workday.
a
h
certain
regular dtuation
subtitutes appured
enable canahtion
wertime
days
redua d u s i o n and make
chapel chairman
also instrumental
designating
employees
foreman has
that
required
i d o m
chapel chairman
nceded.
chapel chairman
then
approach
dctcnnine
availability.
finally dcsig-
nates
lo Zimmerman explnined that
wertiw time spent
produc-
tion-related
perfonned
aRer
relates
working at
preparation
and payroll,
generally
t m
regular-working
'I
newspaper
Sundays.
12Although,
contract
ia permitted
ovcrtime
as required
pnrties agree that
not
forced overtime
years
at thu late
reluctant
try.
that
has been cooperative
obtain-
employees
and
cornpos-
cance1lation.l)
Whitton
overtime.14
Bedell,
untiI
Whitton,
Froland,
Whitton
estab
lished
working.l6
i
occuion about months
Whitton, having
informed
that
anyone
work overtime,
I n g c d s campmation
aolving
lJAlthough
doa
appear
-d
ch.1
mat
in c o m ~ t i m
has.
incrrvad
implementation
wmime canallation
M
h i d to replsa
d v e Iua than
regubr situation holders wodd have bem
thcy
shifts, from
rule was
January
a
56,815.30
poten-
L 1 earnin@ bccawc
replacemenb
substiturn
cancellation
Included in the foregoing
L
$1,063.50
Zimwrman
nnd $778.80
potential earnings
Mwo.
rcplaccmenb
u e
dtuation Mdm and thae
fortmaa and
the assistant foreman d v e pay rate
thas
whas plaa t h y
14Mur0,
Respondent
paat 16 yeam h u
arsktant foreman
yews, having
desipted
Zimmaman
Employer's approval. Mum regularly pcrfonned
work
composing
pay stub and opcrnting
computer, arsum-
foreman'# dutin
Zimmamao's a h - .
mid-Jan~mry, when
initially bumpa&
WM
acting foreman, M Zimmaman
vacation.
l5 BedcU,
WM f-n
about
mid-1960'8,
uti-
l i d ur
rcplaament
Zimmcrmnn and Mum
pasible in
cancellation
Bodell bns ban
health
approximately
w e b before
this matter, Bill Selke, an
wrrcqmding s u p ~ s o l y
w u selamd
fill
'6
Bedell and Scke,
replncing Zimmemun and
hnd
stedd and
rame pay 88
have
312
DECISIONS O F NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
their accumulated overtime are subject to penalties of fines
of not less than I day's pay for each offense, and, in prac-
tice, the chapel chairman, the union official who represents
the unit employees, may independently obtain replace-
ments for employees who have not complied with the rule
within the allotted time, while still subjecting the
erative unit members to the aforementioned fines.' As be-
fore promulgation of the new overtime rule, employees re-
port hours of overtime worked to the chapel chairman, who
then posts these hours on the union bulletin board in the
The new overtime cancellation rule reduced the earnings
of supervisors Zimmerman and Muro and the composing
room employees and adversely affected the willingness of
employees to work additional hours of overtime. Before the
rule was implemented, supervisors and employees could
work all available overtime with no need to cancel same.
Although the foreman previously reported his hours of pro-
ductive overtime for posting, since the effectuation of this
rule, he additionally has been required to report for cancel-
lation purposes his nonproductive
As a result of
now having to report for cancellation purposes his nonpro-
ductive overtime as well as the productive, Zimmerman,
under the new procedure,
overtime more rap-
idly than before and is rendered even more susceptible to
replacement in cancellation thereof than he would have
been under the former reporting procedures. As matters de-
veloped, instead of working his normal 5-day
plus
such overtime as might be needed to put out the paper,
Zimmerman, because of accumulated overtime, is bumped
on an average of 1 to 2 days a week. This, he testified,
disrupts his workweek and has caused him to lose control of
the workflow, although he attempts to plan work for a week
in advance. This is particularly true when the paper is is-
sued in larger editions or carries special sections.
As a result of the new rule, employees, as noted, also
became less interested in working overtime, as they are
aware that if they accumulate
hours overtime they
will lose a day's work through the cancellation system, and,
accordingly, prefer to avoid overtime in favor of a straight
week's
In addition, certain employees have
Assistant
Muro
when the new
ruk WM written it did not provide
who
of overtime were bumped
by
on the next
However,
incidenb when nei-
ther
holders nor their
for work, the
rule was modified to
of
within 30
in order
to
the rule more effective.
9 The
is
in
the
who will work overtime. Under existing procedures, when the
determined
overtime work is
he
the
of the number of overtime hours
The
will
given employees to
their
He
which employees will work overtime.
productive
is
in
work
in the plant
the 3 p.m. quitting time. Non-
productive overtime
to periods spent
home on supervisory
functions, including
of work schedules
which, he
testified he
was
busy to do during
hours.
As noted, the
did not publish on
under the
the Employer
to compel
work
the
the Employer has
in 8
and, as Muro testified.
date is
to
It is undisputed
the Respondent
in
ing
to work overtime when requested by the Employer,
on
special skills in the operation of the sophisticated
ing room equipment and are more adept than various sub-
stitutes retained to replace them in overtime
In mid-January, Assistant Foreman Muro reported to
that he was going to be bumped by a replaament
for the first time under the new rule in cancellation of his
accumulated
Muro was replaced that day by
Clifford (Irish)
a journeyman composing room em-
ployee who, years earlier, had served the Employer as gen-
eral foreman.'' Zimmerman was not actually replaced in
cancellation of his overtime by anyone but Muro
June
21, as, except for illness or vacation, the two supervisors
attempted to be mutually available by taking different days
off.
It is clear that the Union implemented the new rule with-
out specifically discussing the matter in advance with the
Employer. During negotiations which led to the current col-
lective-bargaining agreement, the corresponding relevant
language in the earlier agreement was marked "same as
before" by the parties.
On March 10,
meeting with Ingersoll and
chapel chairman Richard
gave these union offi-
cials a copy of the unfair labor practice charge in this case
and stated that the Union was depriving the Company of
the services of its foreman, that he did not believe that the
Respondent had the right to do this, and that the Company
had to do something about the matter. Ingersoll replied that
the charge was a lot of nonsense.
then questioned whether the new bylaw had
been validly adopted in accordance with the Union's
procedures for amending its bylaws, which require
that before acceptance amendments must have the voted
approval of a 75-percent majority and be posted for a pe-
riod of 30 days. Ingersoll denied that the new bylaw had
been posted for the 30-day interval, and the parties stipu-
lated that the measure had passed by a majority vote of less
than 75 percent. The men discussed the amount of overtime
that the foreman had been
one
2
before the hearing, when
been
by Muro
he could not find
to
obtained
in
this problem.
it
not
from the
the net
to the
Employer
been
by the
of the
new
rule,
substitutes
journeymen
the
paid had
worked their own
the time the
implemented in
until the date of the hearing unit members lost total of
in
of
by
in
of over-
time.
figure
the
lost by
in reduced
to
Only
who
regular
who substitute for the
the
of
in
work.
employed by the
for the
been
for 5
been
by
with
the
production
in the
room, working on
the
ing the
in
In
Mum in fact
the
was
on
who
for
4 years in the
was
the
for
whenever
of their overtime. However, as
in poor
for
6
the hearing of
employee with no
experience,
to
in.
Although
while
Muro,
authority to act in their
received the
would
been
NORWALK
testified
pres-
bem
these
prcmieea
employas
op
eration
a
three,
Whitton
intolerable,
an
becaw
replacement. Whit.
Ingmll
n d a p
Whitton
place
performed
agreement,
succeeded
Zimmerrnan
1
supervisor
the
agreement
Zimmcnnan's
pre
never Ned
Ingersoll denied
position
d s r
elapsed sin?
perfonnanw
between
Ingersoll
Whitton
ITU
avrilbk
regular supamkcas, neither Bedcll
Selke were pndcally
situated
rttle disputer arising
while replacing mpmSron,
their aupavilay sutw hd llcver b m formally
Ule
Aceordia Jy,
pmUgm and ability
rr( drtivdy
hampered
t h o i r ~ ~ ~ u L b C ' ? d k k o c ~ o f b m p a v i K n Y , u o p p o w d t o ~
reptr mpmiron delrctsd
lop I n l M ~ t .
Althou#h Lbc
lhows
tht Zimmennra and Muto wsn
i~nuoontd p m d n g written
griwanca, which ue subjoct
dml
mdutim
sundlng
u n n m i t l c r d w h i r b t b a y ~ n o t m m b a 4 m d t h . t ~ w r i t t s n ~ ~
bad kcn submitted m
Zlmmsnnrn hu bmn a l l d
d
w
dbputa aririy
1' lnyndl explained
dthae changa mlkd
the duntion
pnee
overtime
k tir~ly a n w l d
cmplqmh
v d a u tima~, n n Rom
60 &y&
w u interested
bendtiw the subrtitutm,
ita avn plupaa, encow
aga
up
&He
morntng but
uo
&ya
h i d .
noncan-
incorporation
Union."
violated
8(bX3)
steking
itr
collective-bar-
agreement,
effectunting unilateral
thus imposed under
intorfcres
mslning
8@XlXA), and that
enforcement
rule
foreman and srristant
op
eration
Employer
8@)(I)(B).
argua
enforcement
againat
foreman
agreement
agreement
context
asserted
prtviou
left
overtime
assert8
impla
unlawflrl
tennn
rulemaking fbnction,
coer-
'1 Ingamll expLined
histoy
him rule
fdluwa:
ovatime w u b i q can-
pmblcm had uim~ getting employ-
ser
w o k wmima,
dturlioa h o l h then, u pnrcnt, wwe mluctmt
toaaaptnrtn wcslrhounforfarofbaing~ffomtharnormrlwork
lifk.
wlve thb ditUculty, the
propimod
system,
udsr
cmployta
tsRusd
nquated
tbmugh
chrpol chavmrn were mbject
baing dnd.
fora him pmvisian
adopted
Rslpondcnt's Ssplombsr
1974
minutea
that meetin& whicb wt forth
Lnglrr~ of thc
fora him prmifion. n
d
In#cnoll's mpmenlntion
thc adon tht
"mmapment acU acapt language m w d m e
bylaw
lieu
wrting
amtna." Thh rrfurnce
thc Employw'r paition appcm
conlndict
Rmpudmt'a contention tht It hidoridly
f
d
~
d
a
mume
unilatet1y dstennini~~
overtime poliaa without regard
man-
apment.
I* The
q u m that
f o r e r ~ ~ ,
Zimm-
h mtrJect
rhc -
w d m e umehtion rula
other
mcmben.
313
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. 529
Ingersoll
that during his tenure as union
ident, during moat of the past 12 years, the bylaws affecting
cancellation of overtime have
changed at least four
times, each change having been initiated at a local union
meeting and adopted by a vote of the Respondent's mem-
bership. He asserted that management had nothing to do
with
actions."
Prior to the institution of the 1978 amendment,overtime
had last been cancelled at the Respondent's
dur-
ing a 6-month period in 1971. In July of that year, another
shop had been closed down, and
from that
were bumping onto the instant Employer's payroll
substitutes for regular situation holders in tho cancella-
tion of their overtime. Accordingly, at that time, six substi-
tutes, rather than the customary
wore bumping the
regular situation holders and foreman.
that month
told Ingersoll that the situation was becoming
the foreman, then Stanley Wilmot, could not properly
schedule work
of his frequent
ton asked the Union for relief.
replied that if the
Company designated Wilmot to be a nonworking supervi-
sory foreman, the overtime cancellation rule would
ply to him and he would not be bumped. Accordingly, the
following written agreement was executed by the parties on
June 4, 1971,
signing for the Employer:
It is agreed, that the Foreman, as a nonworking
Foreman, may take Copy from the Editorial Room,
Classified Department or Tuber. May sort it and mark
it, classify it and
it on the Hook to be set, and it
is further agreed that he would perform no other work
generally
by Journeyman. [sic]
As a result of this
Wilmot, until
as
foreman by
approximately
year later, be-
came and remained a nonworking
and no longer
was required to cancel his overtime. However, although
June 1971
was never formally superseded, it is
undisputed that during
6 years as foreman he
always performed unit work in addition to his supervisory
duties and that although the Respondent often orally
tested this change in the foreman's status to the Employer,
it
a written grievance.
that it
was still the Union's
that
time
the foreman had returned to
of unit work
there still was an effective agreement
the parties
that the foreman shall be nonworking.
On about July 10, 1971,
advised
that
he recently had returned from an
convention where he
to the
nor
to
on the job
u
approved by
Employer.
their
to
wu
by
by
record
not
in
to
for
to a joint
any went,
on to
work
on the job.
that mat
to
of
the
period in which
might
by
which, at
5 to
The Union
in
whom the Employer, for
to show
f a
work acb
who
paid only f a
the
when
had learned that under the General Laws, each local union
could control its own overtime and, accordingly, he would
have the Respondent's bylaws changed so that there would
be no cancellation of overtime. With Whitton's consent, the
Respondent's bylaws were so modified. No document was
executed by the parties to indicate the new agreement con-
cerning the end of overtime cancellation. From July 1971
until the January 1978 amendment, overtime was
cellable, and there was no provision for its cancellation in
the contracts or the Respondent's bylaws.
The Union, agreeing that it did not discuss the imple-
mentation of the new overtime cancellation rule with man-
agement before adopting it, contends that the parties' bar-
gaining history and the
of the General Laws
into the contract had put wntrol of overtime completely in
the hands of the
Analysis and Concluding Findings
The General Counsel and the Employer assert that the
Respondent
Section
of the Act by
to substitute
amended bylaws providing for cancellation
of overtime for the relevant provision of the
gaining
thereby
a
change
of that contract; that the unlawful overtime cancellation
rule,
threat of penalty,
with
and coerces employees within the
of Section
tho
of the
as to the
composing room
foreman, also under
penalty of fines, has seriously affected the Employer's
and interfered with the
in the selection of
its representatives in collective bargaining an adjustment of
grievances in violation of Section
The Respondent
that
of the rule
the
was precipitated by the Employee in
having unilaterally abandoned its 1971
with the
Union that the foreman be a nonworking
that
incorporation of the Union's bylaws into the collective-bar-
gaining
in the
of the
bargaining
history, which includes
overtime cancellation
changes at the Union's instance,
control of
solely with the Union. The Respondent
that
mentation of the new rule therefore did not constitute an
unilateral change of the
of the contract and
that, as the disputed rule change was a valid exercise of the
Union's
there was no unlawful
the
of the form
u
In 1970.
while
a
in
to
u
at
To
Union
the force hire
which
who
to perform overtime work
by
the Company
the
to
The
wu
in the
28.
The
of
the
at
in the
in
of in-
it in the
to
to
the
had
of
to
Union
u a waking
to
u
unit
compel
/2
ITU's
Counsel
0vertime.m
determine
~onsent.~'
Union's
tenns
- -
the
Respondent
be
"
consider
dctenninc
cancellation
overtime
3 14
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
cion of employees. The Respondent further asserts that the
rule has caused no substantive loss to the Employer, as
under the existing force hire rule, which enables the Em-
ployer to
employees to work overtime as required,
sufficient overtime assistance has always been available.
The Respondent's position is not supported by the rec-
ord. From 1971 until the 1978 enforcement of the amended
bylaw, it is undisputed that neither the composing room
supervisors nor the employees were required to cancel over-
time and were free to work their normal shifts without in-
terruption, regardless of accumulated overtime. Further,
continuation of this arrangement had been intended by the
parties while negotiating the present agreement when they
specifically agreed to retain the language of the prior con-
tract, which also did not require that overtime be cancelled.
Nevertheless, after the present agreement was signed, the
Union unilaterally enforced the terms of its newly-amended
bylaw- contrary to the provisions of the contract by requir-
ing that overtime be canceled under penalty of fines. The
record shows that by the implementation of this rule the
composing room foreman, assistant foreman, and regular
situation holders were deprived by the bumping process of
hours of work and earnings for which they otherwise were
eligible. The Employer also was prejudiced in that it did not
have the regular accustomed services of its composing room
supervisors, now recurrently displaced. The new rule re-
duced the effectiveness of its foreman by increasing his dif-
ficulties in controlling and scheduling the work flow and
settling job disputes and by compelling him to contend with
the new unwillingness of regular situation holders to work
overtime when asked and with the increased utilization of
substitutes, who, in cases, are less skilled than the regular
situation holders. The Respondent's argument that the Em-
ployer was not practically affected because, under the force
hire provision, it can command performance of overtime is
not substantive for the above reasons and because this pro-
vision historically has not been enforced by the Employer,
who, at this late time, is reluctant to intitiate such a prac-
tice.
Similarly, no merit is found in the Respondent's assertion
that its action in forcing the foreman and assistant foreman
to cancel overtime was precipitated solely by the Employ-
er's unilateral abandonment of its signed 1971 agreement
that the foreman would be a nonworking supervisor.
Whether or not the Employer was justified in repudiating
this agreement, the record shows that the Employer did so
in 1972 when Zimmerman became foreman, that since that
time the foreman and assistant foreman have been working
supervisors, that no grievance was filed by the Union on
this matter, and that overtime continued noncancellable
thereafter for approximately 5-1
years. Noting Ingersoll's
denial at the hearing that the 1971 agreement establishing
the foreman as a nonworking supervisor was still effective,
and the evidence concerning the background of the current
dispute, I find that the Union, by January 1978, had effec-
tively relinquished its rights under this accord and that the
Respondent's efforts to reinstitute overtime cancellation
was a response to the Employer's notice in December 1977
that it would no longer provide as much work for substi-
tutes as before.
A closer question than is conceded by the General Coun-
sel and Employer is raised by the Respondent's contention
that when the Employer and Union incorporated the terms
of the
General Laws into the collective-bargaining
agreement control of overtime became vested in the Union.
The relevant General Law specifies that "Local Unions
shall have full authority and responsibility for the complete
government of overtime." However, the contract incorpo-
rated only the General Laws of the ITU "in effect at the
time of signing of the agreement, not in conflict with the
law or the agreement . . ." but makes no reference to also
incorporating the bylaws of ITU-affiliated local unions,
such as the Respondent. There is no evidence that the rel-
evant ITU General Laws have changed since the contract
was signed. Accordingly, the argument of the General
Counsel and the Employer that the disputed rule, stemming
from a bylaw amendment, conflicting with the contract,
and arising after its execution, should not be binding upon
the Employer might arguably be more properly addressed
to a subsequently enacted ITU General Law than to a local
union's bylaw. Under this approach, the Respondent, in
implementing its disputed rule, might be considered to have
exercised a right duly derived from a contractually incorpo-
rated, constant General Law. On the other hand, more fa-
vorable to the position of the General
and the Em-
ployer, the General Laws, as they relate to the contract
terms between the parties, might conceivably be construed
as also comprehending the bylaws of subordinate local
unions and, therefore, not provide the Respondent with a
blank check concerning
To
whether
the Employer had so clearly waived its important right to
bargain about overtime as to warrant such an inference, as
contended by the Respondent, it is necessary to examine
the parties' practices. However, the adduced bargaining his-
tory indicates that the Union has reorganized the Employ-
er's continuing exercise of its right to bargain concerning
overtime. As noted, the Union's minutes of the September
28, 1970, meeting noted Ingersoll's statement that "manage-
ment will accept language re overtime in the bylaws in lieu
of inserting it into the contract," and in 1971, when the
then-existing requirement that overtime be canceled was
ended by amendment of the Union's bylaws, this was done
at the Employer's request and with its
It further
is noted that it was mutually decided not to cancel overtime
at the most recent contract negotiations and that overtime,
in fact, had not been canceled for approximately 6-1/2
years by the Employer's employees.
In these circumstances, the Respondent unilaterally
brought about changes in the contractual overtime provi-
sion which affected the work schedule, the persons to be
employed, the earnings of unit members, and supervision,
none of which had been accepted by the Employer, and, by
its action during the term of the current agreement, the
Union sought to secure without bargaining what it had not
sought to do during the most recent contract negotiations.
Therefore, the
unilateral implementation of its
overtime cancellation rule constituted a change in
and conditions of employment sufficient to require the Em-
Reasons for not deferring this matter to arbitration as moved by
will
given below.
Contrary to the Employer, 1 do not
it valid to
in this
proceeding whether the 1978 bylaw amendment reinstituting
of
was properly adopted in conformity with the Union's regulations
governing same.
NORWALK
ployer's
8(b)(3)
Act.=
8(b)(3),
compelled
8(b)(l)(A)
8(b)(I)(A).n
8(b)(l)(B)
Locals
15-P
Photwnnravers
8(b)(I)(B).
8(b)(I)(B)
Act.=
Co.%
collective-
Corp~ration,~~
8(a)(3)
Then-
concurring
Company, Znc.),a
2(11)
8(b)(I)(B),
"
To-
8(a)(5)
8(b)(3)
adjust-
8(a)(3). (a)(]), (b)(l)(A),
(bX2)
Brotherhood
Pqerhangers
A m e h AFL-
CIO.
Council
City (Westgate Paikfing
Corp.),
(1970),
F.2d
(2d
Workerr ofAmenc@ Local1122
(1976).
F.2d
(2d Cir.
"S k
Worken
h a 1
Tele-
prkm Conpany), srqm; Sco$eId
N.L.R.B..
(1%9),
Supreme
enforcement
rule
neces-
d
y
Sec. 8(bXIXA)
Lbor
shown,"
distinguished
Westgate
New Y a k T e l q h e C o q m y ,
cited above,
b
crse
like grounds. la Wedgage
that
ScqieId thrc
8(b)(3)
implmentation
Telqhone,
that
intraunion
imp&
Scc. B(bX3)
enforce
"
(1%9),
F.2d
Cir.
8(b)(I)(A)
Man 8(b)(3),
A h B
Son
18, l n t e r ~ t i o ~ l
7)pographical
(Norfhwest Acblications, Ine.),
prerequisite
imp&
ha
then
the supervisor8
repremtativa
purpa~m
grievanws
free
l%e T d a h BIcdc
srqra
1081; San Fmirco-
Oaklad Mailers, srqm
a "
315
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. 529
agreement prerequisite to its continued imposition.
Accordingly, under the circumstances noted above, it is
concluded that the Union's unilateral enforcement of its
rule requiring cancellation of overtime on and after January
6, 1978, violated Section
of the
Pursuant to the finding that the Respondent's unilaterally
imposed rule is in violation of Section
I conclude
that its enforcement with respect to unit members who are
to comply lest they be fined and, in any event,
involuntarily bumped from their shifts at the initiative of
the chapel chairman is also violative of Section
of the Act. The overtime cancellation rule thus established
is an attempt to enforce unlawful conduct against employ-
ees and as such also is violative of Section
Finally, it is concluded that by seeking to enforce the
disputed rule against Zimmerman and Muro, as supervi-
sors, the Union interfered with the Employer's selection of
its representatives for purposes of collective bargaining and
adjusting grievances in violation of Section
of the
Act. Although the Respondent argues, with some effect,
that Zimmerman and Muro did not actually adjust written
grievances or engage in contract negotiations on behalf of
the Employer, the record does show with respect to griev-
ances that both were supervisors within the meaning of the
Act, that Zimmerman and, in his absence, Muro had au-
thority to hear and resolve employee problems and com-
plaints in the pre-grievance stage, and that Zimmerman, in
fact, had resolved work-related disputes.
Although conceding the supervisory status of the fore-
man and assistant foreman, the Respondent argues that the
only grievances they adjusted were complaints or "personal
grievancesv--not "contractual grievances." However, in
Toledo
Nos.
and 272 of the Lithographers and
International Union, AFL-CZO (The Toledo
Blade
the Board noted that thk distinction
between contractual grievances and personal grievances
"has no relevance to the construction of the broad term
'grievances' as used .. . in Sections
and
and
that . . . it must be uniformly construed as including both
'personal grievances' and 'contractual grievances.'
In
ledo Blade the Administrative Law Judge, with Board ap-
proval, concluded that if shift foremen could or, at times,
did adjust either personal or contractual grievances they
were employer representatives for the purposes of
of Painters. Decorators and
of
District
No. 9 of New York
and Deco-
rating
186 NLRB 964
enfd. 453
783
Cir. 1971);
Communications
(New York Telephone Com-
pany), 226 NLRB 97
enfd. 562
37
1976).
Communication
of America
1122 (New York
v.
394 U.S. 423
where the
Court ruled that
by a union of an internal work
limitation may be handled as an internal union matter and docs not
violate
of the Act "unless impairment of the statutory
policy can be
was factually
in
Painting
and
both
and
distinguishable
from the instant
on
Painting the Board noted
in fn. 6
in
was no
charge and the Supreme Court
had found that the employer had virtually acquiesced and cooperated in the
application and
of the rule. In New York
it was
found
the
charge fled against an employer in enforcement of
a rule unilaterally
in violation of
of the Act did not stem
from "the violation of the lawful union rule dealing with internal union
affairs, but rather ... is an attempt to
conduct violative of the Act."
175 NLRB 1072. 1078
enfd. 437
55 (6th
1971).
ment of grievances within the meaning of Section
In addition, it was there found that even where
supervisors do not exercise authority to adjust grievances
their substantial supervisory responsibilities and day-to-day
contact with and supervision of employees made them
natural possible future choices of the Employer to handle
grievances on its behalf as occasion might arise. Therefore,
to open such supervisory personnel to such discipline by the
Union would restrict the Employer's freedom in making
future selection of its grievance representatives. The same
reasoning was also there found to be equally applicable to
preserving employees' rights to select supervisors as future
collective-bargaining representatives, although such super-
visors might not yet have been involved in such responsibil-
ities.
According, I conclude, in agreement with the General
Counsel and the Employer, that the enforcement of the new
bylaw against the foreman and assistant foreman contrary
to the terms of the collective-bargaining agreement re-
strained and coerced the Employer in its selection of repre-
sentatives for purposes of collective bargaining and the-ad-
justment of grievances and therefore was in violation of
Section
of the
I further find no merit in the Respondent's argument that
this matter should be deferred to arbitration pursuant to the
Board's decision in Collyer Insulated Wire, A Gulf and
Western System
and the provision of the
bargaining agreement providing for same. In General
American Transportation
the Board, in decid-
ing not to defer to arbitration certain alleged violations of
Section
and (I) of the Act, contracted its policy of
prearbitral deferral, first enunciated in Collyer, supra.
Chairman Murphy, in her
opinion in General
American Transvortation, held that:
. . . the Board should stay its processes in favor of the
parties' grievance arbitration machinery only in those
situations where the dispute is essentially between the
contracting parties and where there is no alleged inter-
ference with individual employees' basic rights under
Section 7 of the Act. Complaints alleging violations of
Section
and
fall squarely into this cate-
gory, while complaints alleging violations of Section
and
clearly do not. (228
NLRB, supra, at 8 10)
In agreement with the Employer, it also does not appear
that the affected employees herein would be served by de-
ferral, as the interest of the Respondent in enforcing the
disputed rule conflicts with that of unit members who have
lost income through overtime cancellation. Accordingly,
noting that the complaint herein alleges violations of Sec-
tion
and (B) as well as
that the
Francisco-Oakland Mailer's Union No.
Union
172 NLRB 2173 (1968).
It is not
to this finding of violation that the Union must actually
have
or
other punitive action against
herein. The Employer is entitled to have as its
for
of
collective bargaining and adjustment of
supervisors entirely
from threat of union discipline in connection with their activitiaon behalf of
the Employer.
Co., Inc.,
at
192 NLRB 837 (1971).
228 NLRB 808 (1977).
1
Collyer
1V. THE
111,
several'States
8(b)(3),
(l)(A),
(IXB)
ernp1oyees.u
Backpay,
F.
Woolworth
Sfeel corporation^
2(5)
Co.
2(6)
Zimmennan
reford doa not rcvd that
Respondent hu Alcd intra-
chrrga
otherwile dilcipW
unit employee
viol.lcd
overtime unccllation rule u c~olkry
h d i w herein, should
appear during
wmpllnct stage
ado11 h s
been
d m ,
Rnpondent should be required
expuqe
refor& dl
actionr taken a w t unit mcmbm
NLe
cancel,
rcrind, and make reimbursemat,
interat
the nuoncr act
forrh ibrq
pendtia which may h v e bkn uvrvd
a
(19%). See, genarlly, I a i ~ P M n g & Heating
138
(1962).
"231
2(11)
8(b)(IXB)
1,
9(b)
bylaws
which prbvisi&
8(d)
Anes
8(bX3)
pmalties
8(b)(lXA)
Co.
80(1)(B)
8.The
2(6)
findings
lqc)
Norwalk
I.
wl-
lective-bargaining
employees'
agreement
Co.
confonn
essence,
m e m h
accumulated
collective
agreement
abovenamed
'1
went
uesprim ur fled u providsd k
102.46
R t h
Rquktiom ofthr NrUond hbor Rd.Uom Board, the
conelurion* rad mwmmmdcd Orda hasdn
u prodded
S e
102.48
of the Rulea and R@acloN b rdopted
Boud .nd beema ia
hdinga, ooncluricmt,
Orda,
dl objdom thereto shall k domed
waived
purpola.
316
DECISIONS OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
alleged violations are not entirely centered on the contract,
and that a conflict exists, as noted, between the position of
the Respondent and the unit regular situation holders it
represents with respect to the efficacy of maintaining this
rule, conclude that the deferral under
is not war-
ranted.
EFFECT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES UPON
COMMERCE
The activities of the Respondent, Nonvalk Typographi-
cal Union No. 529, which have been set forth in section
above, occurring in connection with the operations of The
Hour Publishing Co.,described in section I, above, have a
close relationship to trade, traffic, and commerce among the
and tend to lead to labor disputes burdening
and obstructing commerce and the free flow of commerce.
Having found that the Respondent has engaged in cer-
tain unfair labor practices in violation of Section
and
of the Act, I shall recommend that the
Respondent be ordered to cease and desist therefrom and to
take certain affirmative action designed to effectuate the
purposes of the Act, including cessation of enforcement
against members of the unit herein of the rule effectuated
on or about January 6 establishing cancellation of overtime
and to require the Respondent to bargain, upon request,
with the Employer prior to enforcement of any such rule
against unit
The Respondent should also be
compelled to make whole all unit members, including the
foreman and assistant foreman, who have been compelled
to engage substitutes in cancellation of their overtime since
January 6.
with interest, shall be computed in the
manner described in
W.
Companyn and Flor-
ida
On the basis of the foregoing find-
ings of fact and upon the entire record in this case, I make
the following:
I. The Respondent, Nonvalk Typographical Union No.
529, is a labor organization within the meaning of Section
of the Act.
2. The Hour Publishing
is an employer engaged in
commerce within the meaning of Section
and (7) of the
Act.
3. Gus
and Robert Muro at all times mate-
rial herein have been supervisors and representatives of the
Although the
union
or
the
any
the
to tbe
for having
it
the
that punitive
in fact
the
to
from its
for violating the
and to
withdraw,
with
in
for my
90 NLRB 289
Ca,
NLRB 716
NLRB 651 (1977).
Employer within the meaning of Section
and
of the Act.
4. At all times material herein, the unit of the Employ-
er's composing room employees, as described in article I.
section 3 of the collective-bargaining agreement between
the Employer and Respondent, effective January
1977,
through December 31, 1978, constitutes a unit appropriate
for the purposes of collective bargaining within the mean-
ing of Section
of the Act.
5. By imposing as part of the collective-bargaining agree-
ment a subsequent amendment to its
reauirinn can-
cellation of overtime by unit members,
had
not been a part of the contract, without affording the Em-
ployer a timely opportunity to bargain within the meaning
of Section
of the Act and by threatening
to unit
members for noncompliance with this rule, the Respondent
unilaterally changed the overtime provisions of the collec-
tive-bargaining agreement and thereby refused to bargain
collectively in violation of Section
of the Act.
6. By instituting, maintaining, and enforcing against unit
employees the above unlawfully imposed requirement that
overtime be cancelled by threat of
for noncompli-
ance, the Respondent Union has engaged in, and is engag-
ing in, unfair labor practices within the meaning of Section
of the Act.
7. By restraining and coercing The Hour Publishing
in the selection of representatives for the purpose of collec-
tive bargaining or adjustment of grievances by engaging in
the conduct set forth in 5 and 6, above, the Respondent has
engaged in, and is engaging in, unfair labor practices within
the meaning of Section
of the Act.
aforesaid unfair labor practices are unfair labor
practices affecting commerce within the meaning of Section
and (7) of the Act.
Upon the foregoing
of fact, conclusions of law,
and the entire record, and pursuant to Section
of the
Act, I hereby issue the following recommended:
The Respondent.
Typographical Union, Local
No. 529, its officers, agents, and representatives, shall:
Cease and desist from:
(a) Refusing to bargain collectively, as the exclusive
representative of employees in the com-
posing room
unit referred to below, concerning
rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other terms
and conditions of employment by attempting to unilaterally
change the terms of its collective-bargaining
with The Hour Publishing
to
that contract
with amended article VII, sections 1 through 3 of its by-
laws, effective January 6, 1978, which required, in
that unit
engage work replacements for them-
selves to cancel their
overtime. The appropri-
ate unit is set forth in article I, section 3 of the
bargaining
between the
Union
In the
no
by
of the
a d
19,
in
by the
and
and
for 9
NORWALK TYPOGRAP
(b)
8(d)
Co.
a h a t i v e
Make
"Appendix."J= Copies
shall
members
Furnish
Notifj
n
event that
Order b enforced
judgment
Stata
Appala,
a&
notia d q
Order
N a t i d
Rohliona Boudw dull read
Punurnt
JudgmentL
the
Stata
Appalr Enforeins
the Natiod
Relatlonr Boud."
NOTICE TO
MEMBERS
By
m~
&~LATIONS
WIU
collective-
Co.
matters.
wru
wa wu
cwent
wu
wu
ot
employees
6,
'HICAL UNION NO. 529
and The Hour Publishing Co., effective January 1, 1977,
through December 31, 1978.
Instituting, maintaining, or enforcing any rule requir-
ing that members of the above unit, including supervisors
who are unit members, engage work substitutes for them-
selves to cancel their accumulated overtime, without afford-
ing the above-named Employer a timely opportunity to
bargain within the meaning of Section
of the Act.
(c) Restraining or coercing The Hour Publishing
in
the selection of representatives for the purpose of collective
bargaining or adjustment of grievances by engaging in the
conduct set forth in (a) and (b), above.
2. Take the following
action, which is neces-
sary to effectuate the policies of the Act:
(a)
whole all members of the above unit, including
the composing room foreman and assistant foreman, who
have been forced to engage work substitutes to replace
them in cancellation of overtime, under threat of imposition
of penalty for noncompliance. Such supervisors and em-
ployees shall be made whole in the manner set forth in the
section of this Decision entitled "The Remedy."
(b) Post at its business office and the meeting hall copies
of the attached notice marked
of said
notice, on forms provided by the Regional Director for Re-
gion 2, after being duly signed by Respondent's authorized
representative,
be posted by Respondent immediately
upon receipt thereof, and be maintained by it for 60 con-
secutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all
places where notices to
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.
(c)
the Regional Director for Region 2 with
signed copies of said notia for posting by The Hour Pub-
lishing Co., if willing, in places where notices to employees
are customarily posted.
(d)
the Regional Director for Region 2, in writ-
ing, within 20 days from the date of this Order, what steps
the Respondent has taken to comply herewith.
In the
this
by a
of a United
Court of
the
in the
"Pated by
of the
Labor
'Pated
to a
of
United
Court of
an Order of
Labor
APPENDIX
EMPLOYEES AND
POSTED
ORDER OF
NATIONAL LABOR
BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
After a hearing in which we were represented by our attor-
ney and presented evidence, it has been found that we have
violated the National Labor Relations Act in certain re-
spects. To correct and remedy these violations, we have
been directed to take certain actions and to post this notice.
WE
NOT make or attempt to make unilateral
changes in the terms and conditions of our
bargaining agreement with The Hour Publishing
for an appropriate unit of that Employer's composing
room employees, including the foreman and assistant
foreman of the composing room, in derogation of our
statutory obligation to bargain about such
WE
NOT institute, maintain, or enforce any rule
requiring members of the above unit of composing
room employees, including the composing room fore-
man and assistant foreman, to engage substitutes or
work replacements for themselves in cancellation of
accumulated overtime without first giving the Com-
pany a timely opportunity to bargain on this matter.
and
immediately cease to enforce or give ef-
fect to the
rule requiring such overtime cancel-
lation, which has been effective since on or about Janu-
ary 6, 1978, as to members of the above unit.
WE
NOT restrain or coerce the above-named
Employer in the selection of its representatives for pur-
poses of collective bargaining or the adjustment of
grievances.
WB
NOT in any like
related manner restrain
or coerce
in the exercise of rights guaran-
teed by Section 7 of the Act.
WE WILL make whole, with interest, the composing
room foreman and assistant foreman and those em-
ployees in the above unit of composing room employ-
ees who have been forced to engage work replacements
for themselves in cancellation of their overtime for any
loss of earnings they may have suffered since January
1978, as a result of our unlawful conduct.