General Teamsters Union, Local No. 406 v. Uptown Cleaners & Hatters, Inc.

97 N.W.2d 593, 356 Mich. 204
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 5, 1959
DocketDocket 58, Calendar 47,430
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 97 N.W.2d 593 (General Teamsters Union, Local No. 406 v. Uptown Cleaners & Hatters, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
General Teamsters Union, Local No. 406 v. Uptown Cleaners & Hatters, Inc., 97 N.W.2d 593, 356 Mich. 204 (Mich. 1959).

Opinions

[208]*208Edwards, J.

We believe tbe issues presented by this record are:

(1) Is plaintiff the representative of a majority of the 9 driver-salesmen employed by defendants?'

(2) Did the chancellor have power, under tho agreement between the parties and the terms of the-labor mediation act (CL 1948 and CLS 1956, § 423.1 et seq. [Stat Ann 1950 Rev § 17.454(1) et seq.]), to require defendants to enter into collective bargaining with plaintiff?

Certain features of this case make our task somewhat easier than it might otherwise be. First, we have here a purely intrastate problem with no question of pre-emption of the field by Federal labor legislation. Second, although we deal with a dispute of some bitterness, the record discloses no strike, stoppage of work, or counterclaim of unlawful labor activity. Third, the parties are in reasonable agreement as to the issues and have filed excellent briefs. And fourth, the circuit judge who heard this chancery action wrote a careful and thorough opinion of which we shall make frequent use.

The employer defendant in this case is a dry cleaning company in the city of Grand Rapids, which employs approximately 75 persons. The business is owned and operated by Michael, Nicholas and James Salhaney, and has been so operated for over 20 years. Included among the defendants’ employees are 9 men who are described as driver-salesmen.

Functions of driver-salesmen include soliciting business for the firm and picking up laundry and cleaning throughout the city, and bringing such materials to the plant where the goods are cleaned, pressed and laundered. After delivering the articles to the customers, the drivef-salesmen collect the amount due or allow the customer to charge the amount. Some of the charge accounts are carried directly by the employer. Most accounts, however, [209]*209are ones of the cash-and-carry variety. In relation to these, where a driver-salesman allows a customer to charge an item where the customer is not a firm charge account, the company rules required the driver-salesman to pay the firm for such charge accounts after 30 days have elapsed. Other than these accounts, driver-salesmen turn in all money at the end of each workday. Testimony indicated that the aforementioned 30-day accounts were in actuality not always brought up to date at the end of 30 days and that the defendant firm allowed driver-salesmen some leeway as to clearing up such accounts.

This record does not disclose any record of union organization at Uptown prior to 1957. On February 5, 1957, a representative of Teamsters Union Local 406, who was a personal friend of at least 1 of the driver-salesmen, met with 6 of the 9 drivers to talk about the union. At this meeting the 6 men present signed cards joining the union, and authorizing Local 406 to represent the men in obtaining a contract with defendant firm.

The following day the 3 other driver-salesmen, upon being informed of what transpired the previous night, also signed similar cards.

Pursuant to such authorizations, representatives of Local 406 approached defendant firm’s officers, Nicholas and Michael Salhaney, seeking to set a time for the purpose of negotiating a contract. Nick Salhaney expressed great surprise that his men had joined a union, and asked for time to think about the matter.

The union representatives returned the following, day, at which time Nick Salhaney expressed disbelief that his men had joined a union. Possibilities of a representation election were discussed.

The next day, after consulting with his attorney, Nick made arrangements for a representation election to be held February 15, 1957, under the auspices! [210]*210of the State labor mediation board: A formal mediation board agreement was executed by the parties calling for a secret ballot among the drivers “to determine the representative, if any, desired by them for the purposes of collective bargaining.”

Prior to the election Nick spoke to his drivers, expressing his disappointment that the drivers wanted a union, because, he said, their problems had always been solved amicably. Prior to the election defendant firm also sent letters to the driver-salesmen instructing them as to the manner of the election. In this letter, disappointment over the desire for a union was again expressed. In addition, the letter noted:

(1) Union members pay $60 per year dues.

“What can the union do for you for this $60 or more a year that you cannot do for yourself?”;

(2) The possibilities of strikes;

(3) The congressional investigation of the Teamsters Union;

(4) The high driver commission rate paid by Uptown.

The election was held as scheduled, with a resulting vote of 6-3 in favor of Local 406 being exclusive representative for collective bargaining.

On the day of the election after the results were known, Nick Salhaney had all drivers bring their 30-day accounts up to date. There is some dispute in the testimony on this matter, but it appears that the accounts generally were not handled by Nick Salhaney and that the drivers had not generally been required to keep them up to date.

Between February 15 and March 1, 1957, friction mounted between the drivers and the Salhaneys. Mike Salhaney reproached 1 driver over the union, used abusive language to him, and threatened him with violence. Reports were circulated among the drivers that defendant firm was going to go on a cash- [211]*211and-carry basis, that some drivers would lose their jobs, and that strikes would injure the drivers.

One driver spoke to Nick Salhaney about quitting the union and organizing an independent union. Nick suggested that the way to solve the problem was for the drivers to sign a petition withdrawing from the union. This petition was typed in the defendants’ office after suggestions as to its wording by Nick Salhaney, and circulated and signed by all 9 men. The petition was kept in the firm safe at night, to which no driver had independent access.

Testimony also indicated that Mike Salhaney encouraged the drivers to sign the petition “joining the bandwagon.” One late signer testified that Salhaney asked him why he had not already signed.

When all signatures were obtained, Local 406 was notified of the drivers’ withdrawal from the union, and thereafter defendants refused to recognize the local or bargain with it as representative of its driver-salesmen.

Plaintiff local thereupon brought this action claiming unlawful interference by defendants in the exercise of employees’ rights to organize, and that such interference rendered the petition of withdrawal from the union inoperative. Plaintiff also sought in-junctive relief to restrain defendants from interfering with plaintiff’s rights to organize and from refusing to bargain.

The circuit judge who heard the matter found in his opinion that the defendants had interfered with the rights of self-organization of the employees, and that the petition dated February 26th was ineffective, because of such interference, to terminate plaintiff’s authority as representative of the employees. He thereupon entered a decree containing the following, provisions:

“It.is ordered that the defendants, their officers and agents, shall absolutely cease and desist from:

[212]

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

Related

LaGuire v. Kain
487 N.W.2d 389 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1992)
Hospital Employees' Division of Local 79 v. Flint Osteopathic Hospital
204 N.W.2d 76 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1972)
Local No. 1644 v. Oakwood Hospital Corp.
116 N.W.2d 314 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1962)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
97 N.W.2d 593, 356 Mich. 204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/general-teamsters-union-local-no-406-v-uptown-cleaners-hatters-inc-mich-1959.