Central Contractors Ass'n v. Local Union No. 46, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

312 F. Supp. 1388, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9596, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,111, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 189
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedSeptember 30, 1969
Docket8533
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 312 F. Supp. 1388 (Central Contractors Ass'n v. Local Union No. 46, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Central Contractors Ass'n v. Local Union No. 46, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 312 F. Supp. 1388, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9596, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,111, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 189 (W.D. Wash. 1969).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT and CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

LINDBERG, Chief Judge.

This matter having duly come on pursuant to Order to Show Cause at 2:00 p. m., Monday, September 22, 1969, plaintiffs appearing by Lembhard Howell and defendants Local Union 46, of IBEW, Local Union 32 of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local 86 of the Ironworkers Union, Local Union 99 of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local Union 2 of the Brick Masons and Painters District Council No. 5 of Seattle and King County appearing by Bassett, Donaldson & Hafer (Hugh Hafer) and Local 302 of the International Union of Operating Engineers appearing by Duane Vance, each of which defendants had been served with said Order to Show Cause by the United States Marshal, and

The court having granted the petition of Ferguson & Burdell (Donald McL. Davidson) to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of Cawdrey & Vemo, Inc., and John H. Sellen Construction Company, being persons named in the complaint, subject to reconsideration by the Court at any time, and said amicus curiae having been present throughout the hearing but not participating therein except upon legal arguments, and

The Court, after hearing counsel, having granted oral leave to correct the caption and body of the complaint and leave to file an amended complaint, and having denied the motion to dismiss filed on behalf of Local Union 302 of the Operating Engineers in which the other defendants orally joined, and having granted defendants’ motion for a continuance to 11:00 a. m., Wednesday, September 24, 1969, at which evidence in addition to the affidavits submitted upon an amended complaint might be heard, and

The Court having heard evidence September 24, September 25 and September 29, and

The Court having considered the files and proceedings heretofore had herein, *1390 the amended complaint and the affidavits filed herein, and the testimony and exhibits presented upon the hearing, and being fully advised in the premises, does hereby make the following:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The plaintiff Central Contractors Association is a nonprofit Washington corporation organized to involve inner city contractors and craftsmen in more construction jobs.

Tyree E. Scott is a black contractor and Chairman of the Central Contractors Association.

The other plaintiffs are black workers who were employed on construction jobs at the King County Administration Building site and the Harborview Hospital project in Seattle.

2. Defendants are labor organizations representing employees engaged in the construction industry, an industry affecting commerce.

3. On or about August 29, 1969, persons demonstrated at the Harborview Hospital job site in an effort to obtain more jobs in the construction industry for black workers. The job was closed down for approximately six hours for fear that the demonstration might lead to injury.

4. On September 2, 1969, both the Harborview and ' the King County Administration Building jobs were closed down due to pressure exerted by persons demanding more jobs for minority workers in the construction industry and on these two jobs.

On that date, during demonstrations led by the Central Contractors Association, acts of intimidation occurred, involving, among others, the driving of a truck through a locked gate into the construction site, creating a condition of hazard to life and property from the confrontation created.

5. Various state, county, city, federal and other contracting agencies have required “affirmative action programs” for the purpose of increasing employment opportunities for minority, nonwhite employees. King County, as well as many other agencies, are obligated under Executive Order 11246, § 301 “to assist and cooperate actively * * * in obtaining * * * compliance * * * with these contract provisions.” According to the evidence, there appears to be a disproportionate ratio of such employees by each of the defendant unions actually employed on construction sites.

6. On September 6, 1969, King County Executive John D. Spellman- — pursuant to negotiations between city, county, federal officials, Associated General Contractors and the Central Contractors Association — required and directed Cawdrey & Vemo, Inc., and Sellen Construction Company, by change orders under and within the scope of their respective construction contracts with such County for construction and additions to Harborview Hospital and the King County Administration Building, to:

Hire one trainee or apprentice for each four journeymen employed in each trade union craft jurisdiction on this job and to institute an approprial. program for training persons so -hired in conformance with the contract between King County and Seattle Model City Program dated September 5, 1969.

Such change orders were not signed by the contractors.

7. Pursuant to such change orders, said contractors or their subcontractors, hired persons, some of whom are plaintiffs herein, each of whom after being hired presented his written notice of employment (in the form attached as Exhibit 2 to the amended complaint) to the appropriate defendant union, excepting Local 302 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, in which craft no trainee was hired.

8. On September 8, 1969, both the Harborview and King County jobs reopened. Thereafter, commencing on or about September 9, 1969, each of defendant unions, with the exception of the *1391 Painters Locals, caused its membership to leave such construction sites, as a result of which the Harborview Hospital project was forced to close on September 10, 1969, and the King County Administration Building was forced to close on September 11, 1969.

9. Each of the defendant unions is a party to a collective bargaining agreement with Cawdrey & Vemo, Inc., and Sellen Construction Company, or their respective subcontractors, each of which contains a no-strike, no-lockout provision and arbitration procedures for the resolution of disputes. None of the defendant unions have presented any grievance and there is no labor dispute between defendant unions and any employer.

10. The appropriate bargaining agents for Cawdrey & Vemo, Inc., and Sellen Construction Company and their respective subcontractors have since at least September 5, 1969, sought to bargain in good faith to amend, alter or otherwise change existing collective bargaining agreements, if necessary, to accommodate trainees.

11. This controversy arises out of allegations of discrimination on the part of defendant unions in that they have not cooperated in the past in attempts to place black workers on jobs under their agreements and that their present efforts are still not sufficient. The labor walk-offs of September 10 and 11, were at least in part motivated by the presence of black trainees employed by the contractors and subcontractors as referred to in Finding 7 herein.

12. The plaintiffs have filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Washington State Board Against Discrimination.

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312 F. Supp. 1388, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9596, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,111, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 189, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/central-contractors-assn-v-local-union-no-46-international-brotherhood-wawd-1969.