359 NLRB No. 129
800 RIVER ROAD OPERATING COMPANY, LLC D/B/A WOODCREST HEALTH CARE CENTER
359 NLRB No. 129
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the
bound volumes of NLRB decisions. Readers are requested to notify the Ex-
ecutive Secretary, National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D.C.
20570, of any typographical or other formal errors so that corrections can
be included in the bound volumes.
800 River Road Operating Company LLC, d/b/a
Woodcrest Health Care Center and 1199 SEIU
United Healthcare Workers East. Case 22–CA–
097938
July 10, 2013
DECISION AND ORDER
BY CHAIRMAN PEARCE AND MEMBERS GRIFFIN
AND BLOCK
This is a refusal-to-bargain case in which the Re-
spondent is contesting the Union’s certification as bar-
gaining representative in the underlying representation
proceeding. Pursuant to a charge filed by the Union on
February 7, 2013, the Acting General Counsel issued the
complaint on February 19, 2013, alleging that the Re-
spondent has violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act
by refusing the Union’s request to recognize and bargain
and to furnish relevant and necessary information follow-
ing the Union’s certification in Case 22–RC–073078.
(Official notice is taken of the “record” in the representa-
tion proceeding as defined in the Board’s Rules and
Regulations, Secs. 102.68 and 102.69(g). Frontier Ho-
tel, 265 NLRB 343 (1982).) The Respondent filed an
answer admitting in part and denying in part the allega-
tions in the complaint, and asserting affirmative defens-
es.
On March 12, 2013, the Acting General Counsel filed
a Motion for Summary Judgment. On March 13, 2013,
the Board issued an order transferring the proceeding to
the Board and a Notice to Show Cause why the motion
should not be granted. The Respondent filed a response.
Ruling on Motion for Summary Judgment
The Respondent admits its refusal to bargain and to
provide information, but contests the validity of the certi-
fication on the basis of issues raised in the representation
proceeding. The Respondent also argues that the Board
lacks a quorum under NLRB v. Noel Canning, 705 F.3d
490 (D.C. Cir. 2013), cert. granted 81 U.S.L.W. 3695
(U.S. June 24, 2013) (No. 12–1281), that it lacked au-
thority to certify the Union in the underlying representa-
tion proceeding, and that the Regional Director and the
Acting General Counsel were and are without authority
to issue and prosecute the complaint.1
1 For the reasons stated in Bloomingdale’s Inc., 359 NLRB No. 113
(2013), these arguments are rejected. Also based on these arguments,
the Respondent previously moved to vacate the Decision and Certifica-
tion of Representative in the underlying representation case. By un-
All representation issues raised by the Respondent
were or could have been litigated in the prior representa-
tion proceeding. The Respondent does not offer to ad-
duce at a hearing any newly discovered and previously
unavailable evidence, nor does it allege any special cir-
cumstances that would require the Board to reexamine
the decision made in the representation proceeding. We
therefore find that the Respondent has not raised any
representation issue that is properly litigable in this un-
fair labor practice proceeding. See Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Co. v. NLRB, 313 U.S. 146, 162 (1941).
We also find that there are no factual issues warranting
a hearing with respect to the Union’s request for infor-
mation. The complaint alleges, and the Respondent ad-
mits, that by letter dated January 18, 2013, the Union
requested the following information:
1. The names, job title, date of hire, regular hours of
work, hourly rate of pay and home address for all em-
ployees in the collective bargaining unit certified by the
NLRB.
2. Documents showing any and all wage increases
and/or bonuses paid to each bargaining unit employee
since January 1, 2010.
3. Copies of daily work schedules for all nursing units
showing the work schedule of bargaining unit employ-
ees on each unit for all shifts for the period November
1, 2012 to the present.
4. Manuals, employment handbooks and any other
documents describing terms and conditions of em-
ployment for employees in the bargaining unit, includ-
ing but not limited to, any such documents distributed
to employees at any time between January 1, 2011 to
the present.
It is well established that the foregoing type of infor-
mation concerning the terms and conditions of employ-
ment of unit employees is presumptively relevant for
purposes of collective bargaining and must be furnished
on request. See, e.g., Metro Health Foundation, Inc.,
338 NLRB 802 (2003). The Respondent has not asserted
any basis for rebutting the presumptive relevance of the
information. Rather, the Respondent raises as an affirm-
ative defense its contentions, rejected above, that the
Union was improperly certified. We find that the Re-
published Order dated May 10, 2013 we denied that motion. The Re-
spondent further moved to reopen the record in Case 22–RC–073078,
arguing that it has newly discovered evidence of objectionable conduct.
By unpublished Order dated May 31, 2013, we denied that motion. For
the reasons stated here and in those Orders, we continue to reject the
Respondent’s contentions.
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
2
spondent unlawfully refused to furnish the information
sought by the Union.
Accordingly, we grant the Motion for Summary Judg-
ment.
On the entire record, the Board makes the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
At all material times, the Respondent, a Delaware
Limited Liability Company, with an office and place of
business in New Milford, New Jersey, has been engaged
in the operation of a rehabilitation and nursing facility.
During the 12-month period preceding issuance of the
complaint, the Respondent has derived gross revenues in
excess of $100,000, and purchased and received at its
New Milford, New Jersey facility goods and supplies
valued in excess of $50,000 directly from suppliers lo-
cated outside the State of New Jersey.
We find that the Respondent is an employer engaged
in commerce within the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and
(7) of the Act, and a health care institution within the
meaning of Section 2(14) of the Act, and that the Union,
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, is a labor
organization within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the
Act.
II. ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
A. The Certification
Following the representation election held on March 9,
2012, the Union was certified on January 9, 2013, as the
exclusive collective-bargaining representative of the em-
ployees in the following appropriate unit:
All full time and regular part time non-professional
employees including licensed practical nurses, certified
nursing aides, dietary aides, housekeepers, laundry
aides, porters, recreation aides, restorative aides, reha-
bilitation techs, central supply clerks, unit secretaries,
receptionists and building maintenance workers em-
ployed by the Employer at its New Milford, New Jer-
sey facility, but excluding all office clerical employees,
cooks, registered nurses, dietitians, physical therapists,
physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, oc-
cupational therapy assistants, speech therapists, social
workers,
staffing
coordinators/schedulers,
pay-
roll/benefits coordinators, MDS specialists, MDS data
clerks, account payable clerks, account receivable
clerks, all other professional employees, guards and su-
pervisors as defined in the Act.
The Union continues to be the exclusive collective-
bargaining representative of the unit employees under
Section 9(a) of the Act.
B. Refusal to Bargain
About January 18, 2013, the Union, by letter, request-
ed that the Respondent recognize and bargain with it as
the exclusive collective-bargaining representative of the
unit. Since about January 18, 2013, the Respondent has
failed and refused to recognize and bargain with the Un-
ion as the unit employees’ exclusive collective-
bargaining representative.
About January 18, 2013, the Union, by letter, request-
ed that the Respondent furnish it with the information set
forth above that is necessary for, and relevant to, the Un-
ion's performance of its duties as the exclusive collec-
tive-bargaining representative of the unit. Since about
January 18, 2013, the Respondent has failed and refused
to furnish the Union with the requested information.
We find that these failures and refusals constitute an
unlawful failure and refusal to recognize and bargain
with the Union in violation of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of
the Act.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
By failing and refusing since about January 18, 2013,
to recognize and bargain with the Union as the exclusive
collective-bargaining representative of the employees in
the unit, and to furnish the Union with the requested in-
formation regarding the terms and conditions of em-
ployment of unit employees, the Respondent has engaged
in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the
meaning of Section 8(a)(5) and (1) and Section 2(6) and
(7) of the Act.
REMEDY
Having found that the Respondent has violated Section
8(a)(5) and (1) of the Act, we shall order it to cease and
desist, to recognize and bargain on request with the Un-
ion and, if an understanding is reached, to embody the
understanding in a signed agreement. We shall also or-
der the Respondent to furnish the Union with the infor-
mation it requested.
To ensure that the employees are accorded the services
of their selected bargaining agent for the period provided
by law, we shall construe the initial period of the certifi-
cation as beginning the date the Respondent begins to
bargain in good faith with the Union. Mar-Jac Poultry
Co., 136 NLRB 785 (1962); accord: Burnett Construc-
tion Co., 149 NLRB 1419, 1421 (1964), enfd. 350 F.2d
57 (10th Cir. 1965); Lamar Hotel, 140 NLRB 226, 229
(1962), enfd. 328 F.2d 600 (5th Cir. 1964), cert. denied
379 U.S. 817 (1964).
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board orders that the
Respondent, 800 River Road Operating Company LLC,
WOODCREST HEALTH CARE CENTER
3
d/b/a Woodcrest Health Care Center, New Milford, New
Jersey, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall
1. Cease and desist from
(a) Failing and refusing to recognize and bargain with
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East as the exclu-
sive collective-bargaining representative of the employ-
ees in the bargaining unit.
(b) Failing and refusing to furnish the Union with re-
quested information that is relevant and necessary to the
Union’s performance of its functions as the collective-
bargaining representative of the Respondent’s unit em-
ployees.
(c) In any like or related manner interfering with, re-
straining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the
rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to
effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) On request, bargain with the Union as the exclu-
sive collective-bargaining representative of the employ-
ees in the following appropriate unit concerning terms
and conditions of employment and, if an understanding is
reached, embody the understanding in a signed agree-
ment:
All full time and regular part time non-professional
employees including licensed practical nurses, certified
nursing aides, dietary aides, housekeepers, laundry
aides, porters, recreation aides, restorative aides, reha-
bilitation techs, central supply clerks, unit secretaries,
receptionists and building maintenance workers em-
ployed by the Employer at its New Milford, New Jer-
sey facility, but excluding all office clerical employees,
cooks, registered nurses, dietitians, physical therapists,
physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, oc-
cupational therapy assistants, speech therapists, social
workers,
staffing
coordinators/schedulers,
pay-
roll/benefits coordinators, MDS specialists, MDS data
clerks, account payable clerks, account receivable
clerks, all other professional employees, guards and su-
pervisors as defined in the Act.
(b) Furnish to the Union in a timely manner the in-
formation requested by the Union on January 18, 2013.
(c) Within 14 days after service by the Region, post at
its New Milford, New Jersey facility copies of the at-
tached notice marked “Appendix.”2 Copies of the notice,
on forms provided by the Regional Director for Region
22, after being signed by the Respondent's authorized
2 If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court of
appeals, the words in the notice reading “Posted by Order of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board” shall read “Posted Pursuant to a Judg-
ment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of the
National Labor Relations Board.”
representative, shall be posted by the Respondent and
maintained for 60 consecutive days in conspicuous plac-
es including all places where notices to employees are
customarily posted. In addition to physical posting of
paper notices, notices shall be distributed electronically,
such as by email, posting on an intranet or an internet
site, and/or other electronic means, if the Respondent
customarily communicates with its employees by such
means. Reasonable steps shall be taken by the Respond-
ent to ensure that the notices are not altered, defaced, or
covered by any other material. In the event that, during
the pendency of these proceedings, the Respondent has
gone out of business or closed its facility involved in
these proceedings, the Respondent shall duplicate and
mail, at its own expense, a copy of the notice to all cur-
rent employees and former employees employed by the
Respondent at any time since January 18, 2013.
(d) Within 21 days after service by the Region, file
with the Regional Director a sworn certification of a re-
sponsible official on a form provided by the Region at-
testing to the steps that the Respondent has taken to
comply.
Dated, Washington, D.C. July 10, 2013
Mark Gaston Pearce, Chairman
Richard F. Griffin, Jr., Member
Sharon Block, Member
(SEAL) NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we
violated Federal labor law and has ordered us to post and
obey this notice.
FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO
Form, join, or assist a union
Choose representatives to bargain with us on
your behalf
Act together with other employees for your bene-
fit and protection
Choose not to engage in any of these protected
activities.
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
4
WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to recognize and bargain
with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East as the
exclusive collective-bargaining representative of our
employees in the bargaining unit.
WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to furnish the Union with
requested information that is relevant and necessary to
the Union’s performance of its functions as the collec-
tive-bargaining representative of our unit employees.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere
with, restrain, or coerce you in the exercise of the rights
listed above.
WE WILL, on request, bargain with the Union as the
exclusive collective-bargaining representative of our
employees in the following appropriate unit concerning
terms and conditions of employment and, if an under-
standing is reached, embody the understanding in a
signed agreement:
All full time and regular part time non-professional
employees including licensed practical nurses, certified
nursing aides, dietary aides, housekeepers, laundry
aides, porters, recreation aides, restorative aides, reha-
bilitation techs, central supply clerks, unit secretaries,
receptionists and building maintenance workers em-
ployed by us at our New Milford, New Jersey facility,
but excluding all office clerical employees, cooks, reg-
istered nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, physical
therapy assistants, occupational therapists, occupational
therapy assistants, speech therapists, social workers,
staffing coordinators/schedulers, payroll/benefits coor-
dinators, MDS specialists, MDS data clerks, account
payable clerks, account receivable clerks, all other pro-
fessional employees, guards and supervisors as defined
in the Act.
WE WILL furnish to the Union in a timely manner the
information requested by it on January 18, 2013.
800 RIVER ROAD OPERATING CO. LLC, D/B/A
WOODCREST HEALTH CARE CENTER