Continental Rubber Works v. Local 61

36 Pa. D. & C.2d 23, 1963 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 11
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Erie County
DecidedSeptember 9, 1963
Docketno. 12
StatusPublished

This text of 36 Pa. D. & C.2d 23 (Continental Rubber Works v. Local 61) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Erie County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Continental Rubber Works v. Local 61, 36 Pa. D. & C.2d 23, 1963 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 11 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1963).

Opinion

Evans, P. J.,

Before us is a petition to compel compliance by defendants with an order of this court dated August 23, 1963. The factual background of the controversy is as follows.

On August 14, 1963, plaintiff in a complaint in equity averred that on July 1, 1963, defendant union at the termination of its written collective bargaining agreement with plaintiff called its member employes of the plaintiff out on a strike which continued thereafter with pickets established who functioned legally until August 12, 1963.

On that date and thereafter, pickets appeared in large numbers and at all entrances to plaintiff’s premises arrogating to themselves the power to exclude from plaintiff’s premises all except two officers of the company, a telephone switchboard operator, three secretaries, six office personnel, and one uniformed guard per shift. Irreparable damage in several respects was averred and a preliminary injunction sought.

A rule to show cause was granted, returnable August 14, 1963, at 3 p.m. (DST), at which time defendants appeared and the writer of this opinion stated that he would not grant a preliminary injunction forthwith, but would do so immediately on further representation that defendants were unwilling to discontinue unlawful seizure of plaintiff’s premises.

The illegal activities of defendants continued and [25]*25on August 23, 1963, on application of plaintiff, the court granted the preliminary injunction asked for, effective upon filing of plaintiff’s bond in the sum of $5,000. The bond with proper surety was approved by the court and filed by plaintiff. The court, on petition and after a hearing on August 28, 1963, ordered that the injunction remain in effect until final hearing. A specific number of pickets was authorized.

On August 27, 1963, plaintiff filed a petition now before us seeking an order to compel compliance with our decree of August 23, 1963, granting preliminary injunction. The parties stipulated that the testimony taken August 28, 1963, be considered as applicable both to the proceedings for continuance of the preliminary injunction and in connection with the petition to compel compliance with our court order.

At this hearing it was shown without any dispute on the facts that the Sheriff of Erie County on several occasions attempted to open a passageway in a crowd which, at various times, consisting of upwards of 200 persons, continued to block the entrances and exits of plaintiff’s manufacturing plant. The sheriff and his deputies patiently and without force submitted to being pushed back. However, on the date of the hearing it was shown that the unlawful assembly increased to approximately 1,000 people who in concert continued their previous acts of obstruction to the carrying out of the court’s order. It was shown that in the large assembly on that date were 109 members of defendant union, including most of these defendants.

Lack of sufficient proof of active participation resulted in the court discharging Emil Sachse, Louis Arduini, and Lawrence Schroeck. Alfred Peterson was also discharged for the reason that the sheriff was unable to find him and he therefore had no notice to appear and answer with respect to his responsibility and participation.

[26]*26The other defendants, individually and as officers of the union, were positively identified as mingling with and participating in the mass demonstrations of resistance to the court’s injunctive order. Only Thomas Hécker took the stand in his own behalf and testified that he told some of those illegally acting to desist. However, as president of the union and individually, he did nothing more. He did not actively take steps to influence or direct the members of his union against their unlawful and concerted obstruction to those legally entitled to enter and leave plaintiff’s manufacturing plant. In his official position and with the power of control which he should have attempted to use in the circumstances, we conclude that his merely standing with the group and saying in effect, “Don’t do it” was wholly insufficient.

The offense here before us is a proceeding under which civil contempt of the court’s injunctive order is and must be declared: The nature and character of this offense is fully analyzed in Philadelphia Marine Trade Association v. International Longshoremen’s Association, 392 Pa. 500. See also Commonwealth ex rel. Beghian v. Beghian, 408 Pa. 408.

We also refer to a full discussion of the offense and the proper relief which may be declared as contained in an opinion of Judge Burton R. Laub in Erie Resistor Corporation v. International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO Local 613, at May term, 1969, no. 9, in equity.

We specifically note that this proceeding is not for the purpose of inflicting punishment for past offenses but to coerce defendants into compliance with the court’s injunctive order and possibly to compensate plaintiff for losses which may be sustained. It must be also noted that if defendants, or any of them, following this decree abide by the court’s order in which the preliminary injunction was continued, they can and will [27]*27be relieved of the penalties which we in our order will impose. In case they or any of them individually or in concert with others, continue to participate in the illegal mass picketing which has been conclusively shown, penalties inflicted will be enforced and under certain circumstances might be increased, all and only to the end that the court’s order or orders in the injunction proceeding will be observed.

In Philadelphia Marine Trade Assn. v. International Longshoremen’s Assn., cited before herein, it is clearly pointed out that an overall factual situation may exist and show both criminal and civil contempt but that, as stated hereinbefore, an adjudication of civil contempt has for its purpose only the objective of enforcing an injunctive decree. It operates in the future to compel obedience to lawful process and to protect the court from public insult. In proceedings seeking a decree of civil contempt, persons who are charged with participating in mass resistance to a court order are not entitled to a jury trial. We refer again to the Philadelphia Marine case which so holds. The motion filed for a jury trial has by separate order been refused.

Findings of Fact

1. Local 61 of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America, through its officers and members of their own volition by themselves and acting in concert with others within and without the union membership, has followed a consistent pattern of violence, threats, intimidation, mass picketing and exclusion of persons from plaintiff’s plant contrary to law and in direct violation of the injunctive decree heretofore entered and is therefore guilty of civil contempt justifying the entry of coercive measures to insure compliance to said decree in the future.

2. Thomas Hecker, President of Local 61, and a member thereof, has followed a consistent pattern of [28]*28violating the injunctive decree heretofore entered by indulging in attempted violence and obstructing the sheriff in the performance of his duties in maintaining peace and good order and has been present aiding and abetting individual members of his union to violate said decree and is therefore guilty of civil contempt justifying the entry of coercive measures to insure his individual compliance with the said decree in the future.

3.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Commonwealth Ex Rel. Beghian v. Beghian
184 A.2d 270 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1962)
Philadelphia Marine Trade Ass'n v. International Longshoremen's Ass'n
392 Pa. 500 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1958)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 Pa. D. & C.2d 23, 1963 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 11, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/continental-rubber-works-v-local-61-pactcomplerie-1963.