American Bread Company v. National Labor Relations Board, and Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America and American Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenors. National Labor Relations Board v. Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, American Bread Company, and American Bakery & Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenor v. National Labor Relations Board

411 F.2d 147, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2243, 1969 U.S. App. LEXIS 12399
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedMay 14, 1969
Docket18650
StatusPublished

This text of 411 F.2d 147 (American Bread Company v. National Labor Relations Board, and Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America and American Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenors. National Labor Relations Board v. Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, American Bread Company, and American Bakery & Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenor v. National Labor Relations Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Bread Company v. National Labor Relations Board, and Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America and American Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenors. National Labor Relations Board v. Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327, Affiliated With International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, American Bread Company, and American Bakery & Confectionery Workers' International Union, Afl-Cio, Intervenor v. National Labor Relations Board, 411 F.2d 147, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2243, 1969 U.S. App. LEXIS 12399 (6th Cir. 1969).

Opinion

411 F.2d 147

71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2243

AMERICAN BREAD COMPANY, Petitioner,
v.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Respondent, and Teamsters,
Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327,
Affiliated with International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America; and
American Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International
Union, AFL-CIO, Intervenors.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner,
v.
TEAMSTERS, CHAUFFEURS, HELPERS AND TAXICAB DRIVERS LOCAL
327, Affiliated with International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and
Helpers of America, Respondent.
AMERICAN BREAD COMPANY, Petitioner, and American Bakery &
Confectionery Workers' International Union,
AFL-CIO, Intervenor,
v.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Respondent.

Nos. 18566, 18650, 18567.

United States Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit.

May 14, 1969.

Charles Hampton White, Nashville, Tenn., Gullett, Steele, Sanford & White, Nashville, Tenn., on brief, for American Bread Co.

Gary Green, N.L.R.B., Washington, D.C., Arnold Ordman, General Counsel, Dominick L. Manoli, Associate General Counsel, Marcel Mallet-Prevost, Asst. General Counsel, Gary Green, Robert A. Giannasi, Attys., N.L.R.B., Washington, D.C., on brief for N.L.R.B.

Hugh C. Howser, Nashville, Tenn., Barrett, Creswell & Mitchell, George E. Barrett, Nashville, Tenn., Larry Helm Spalding, Nashville, Tenn., on brief, for Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers, etc.

George B. Driesen, Washington, D.C., Van Arkel & Kaiser, Henry Kaiser, Ronald Rosenberg, Washington, D.C., Adair, Goldthwaite, Stanford, Daniel & Horn, William A. McHugh, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., on brief, for American Bakery & Confectionery Workers.

Before O'SULLIVAN, CELEBREZZE and COMBS, Circuit Judges.

CELEBREZZE, Circuit Judge.

This appeal relates to two National Labor Relations Board decisions concerning the American Bread Company, Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Taxicab Drivers Local 327 (hereinafter Teamsters), and the American Bakery and Confectionary Workers' International Union (hereinafter ABC).

The complex factual situation and litigational background are fully set forth in the decisions of the Board and the reports of the Trial Examiner.1 Those facts necessary to an understanding of the questions involved may be stated as follows:

Nos. 18,566-18,650

American Bread Company is engaged in the baking, sale and distribution of bread and other bakery products. It employs transport drivers, route salesmen, and production and maintenance workers. The seven transport drivers haul bakery products from Nashville, Tennessee to fifteen warehouses located throughout Tennessee and nearby Kentucky. Once the products reach the warehouses, the driver-salesmen take over and handle the local distribution. In addition to maintenance and production workers, the Company employs thrift store workers, warehouse keepers and some part-time help.

In April of 1965 the Teamsters sought recognition as the bargaining agent for the route salesmen and the production and maintenance workers, but the Company, doubting the majority, refused recognition. Finally, after the Company's refusal of a card check, a strike resulted. The Teamsters filed a charge with the N.L.R.B. concerning the Company's refusal to bargain; but the record is incomplete as to its disposition. The Company filed unfair labor practice charges against the Teamsters, alleging violations of Section 8(b)(1) and (7) (C) of the National Labor Relations Act (hereinafter Act), 29 U.S.C. 158(b)(1) and (7)(C). At the same time the Company petitioned for a representative election. On May 21, 1965 the Regional Director refused issuance of a complaint against the Teamsters, but did direct an expedited election.

The Teamsters objected to the election, demanded a hearing pursuant to Section 102.77(b) of the Board's Rules and Regulations, 29 C.F.R. 102.77(b) and later requested the Board to stay the election. The Board denied numerous Teamster requests to stay the election, but stated that the unit could be challenged by filing objections to conduct affecting the results of the election. Although no such objections were filed, the Teamsters did challenge a substantial number of the ballots cast in the May 28, 1965 election.

The Teamsters continued picketing of the American Bread Company after the expedited election, but did alter the wording on their placards.2 On July 1, 1965 the Teamsters started picketing at E. I. du Pont, Shoney's Big Boy Restaurant and the Flaming Steer Restaurant. The signs used there read something to the effect of: 'To the Customer. Sunbeam Bread is sold here. Local 327.' In these three establishments Sunbeam Bread was used to make sandwiches and toast and also in cooking, but was not sold separately on a retail basis.

In early July, the Regional Director issued a report overruling the Teamsters' challenges to the ballots. However, the Regional Director reopened the case and permitted the Teamsters to submit evidence by treating the Teamsters' request for an appeal as a motion for reconsideration. On July 16, 1965, the Regional Director filed a Supplemental Report permitting the ballots to be opened and counted. The Teamsters then requested special permission to appeal the Supplemental Report and sought to stay the Regional Director from certifying the results. These requests were denied and the election results were certified.3

The Teamsters continued to picket American Bread after certification of the election on the theory that the results were contrary to legal precedent. In July and August the Company filed charges which resulted in the Regional Directer issuing a complaint and charging the Teamsters with violations of Section 8(b)(4)(i) and (ii)(B) and Section 8(b)(7)(B) of the Act.

On December 7, 1965 a consolidated hearing was held concerning National Labor Relations Board cases Nos. 26-CC-94 and 26-CP-19.4 Counsel for the Teamsters stated that since the violations in Case No. 26-CP-19 turned on the question of whether a 'valid' election had taken place on May 28, 1965, the propriety of the unit must be determined. The Trial Examiner excluded any evidence concerning the appropriateness of the unit, for he was satisfied that the question had been thoroughly dealt with in Case No. 26-RM-182.5 He considered himself without authority to overrule the Board's prior determination. He concluded that the Union had violated Section 8(b)(4)(i) and (ii)(B) and Section 8(b)(7)(B) of the Act. The Board disagreed with the Trial Examiner's decision and remanded the consolidated cause to him with directions to take evidence concerning the appropriateness of the unit in the expedited election.

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411 F.2d 147, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2243, 1969 U.S. App. LEXIS 12399, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-bread-company-v-national-labor-relations-board-and-teamsters-ca6-1969.