Guide Lamp Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board

76 F.2d 370, 1935 U.S. App. LEXIS 2551
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedMarch 27, 1935
DocketNo. 5385
StatusPublished

This text of 76 F.2d 370 (Guide Lamp Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guide Lamp Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board, 76 F.2d 370, 1935 U.S. App. LEXIS 2551 (7th Cir. 1935).

Opinion

SPARKS, Circuit Judge.

This petition seeks to review and set aside an alleged order of the National Labor Relations Board. The question now before us arises over respondent’s motion to dismiss the petition on the ground that it does not present a matter reviewable by this court.

Section 7 (a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act, 48 Stat. 198, 15 USCA § 707 (a), provides as follows:

“Every code of fair competition, agreement, and license approved, prescribed, or issued under this chapter shall contain the following conditions: (1) That employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall be free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of employers of labor, or their agents, in the designation of such representatives or in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; (2) that no employee and no one seeking employment shall be required as a condition of employment to join any company union or to re[371]*371frain from joining, organizing, or assisting a labor organization of his own choosing; and (3) that employers shall comply with the maximum hours of labor, minimum rates of pay, and other conditions of employment, approved or prescribed by the President.”

In order to effectuate the policy of the Industrial Recovery Act, Congress by statute, June 16, 1933, authorized the President to establish such «.gencies as he might find necessary, to prescribe their authorities, duties and responsibilities, and to delegate to such agents any of his functions and powers under the Act. 48 Stat. 195, § 2, 15 USCA 702. By virtue of the authority thus granted, he established the National Labor Board on August 5, 1933, and on December 16, 1933, by Executive Order No. 6511, he authorized that Board:

“(2) (a) To settle by mediation, conciliation, or arbitration all controversies between employers and employees which tend to impede the purposes of the National Industrial Recovery Act, provided, however, the Board may decline to take cognizance of controversies between employers and'employees in any field of trade or industry where a means of settlement, provided for by agreement, industrial code, or Federal law, has not been invoked.
“(b) To establish local or regional boards upon which employers and employees shall be equally represented, and to delegate thereto such powers and territorial jurisdiction as the National Labor Board may determine.
“(c) To review the determinations of the local or regional boards where the public interest so requires.
“(d) To make rules and regulations governing its procedure and the discharge of its functions.”

By Executive Order No. 6580,J the National Labor Board, on February 1, 1934, was empowered to conduct employee elections and thereafter to publish promptly the names of those representatives who were selected by the vote of at least a majority of the employees, and had been, thereby designated to represent all the employees eligible to participate in such an election for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection in their relations with their employer.

The Indianapolis Regional Labor Board called such an election in petitioner’s manufacturing plant and it was held on March 19, 1934. It resulted in 329 employees voting in favor of Metal Polishers International Union, Local No. 52, as a representative, and 286 employees voting in favor of Guide Employees Association as a representative, and there were 41 employees who refrained from voting, although they were eligible to vote.

On June 19, 1934, Congress adopted Public Resolution No. 44 (c. 677, 48 Stat. 1183) which includes the following sections :

“ * * * In order to further effectuate the policy of [the National Industrial Recovery Act] * * * the President is authorized to establish a board or boards authorized and directed to investigate issues, facts, practices, or activities of employers or employees in any controversies arising under section 7a of said Act [section 707 (a) of this title] or which are burdening or obstructing, or threatening to burden or obstruct, the free flow of interstate commerce. * * * ” (15 USCA § 702a).
“Sec. 2. Any board so established is hereby empowered, when it shall appear in the public interest, to order and conduct an election by a secret ballot of any of the employees of any employer, to determine by what person or persons or organization they desire to be represented in order to insure the right of employees to organize and select their representatives for the purpose of collective bargaining as defined in section 7 (a) of said Act [section 707 (a) of this title] and now incorporated herein.
“For the purposes of such election such a board shall have the authority to order the production of such pertinent documents or the appearance of such witnesses to give testimony under oath, as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution [of sections 702a to 702f of this title]. Any order issued by such a board under the authority of this section may, upon application of such board or upon petition of the person or persons to whom such order is directed, be enforced or reviewed, as the case may be, in the same manner, so far as applicable, as is provided in the case of an order of the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act [sections 41 to 51 of this title].” (15 USCA § 702b).
“Sec. 3. Any such board, with the ap^ proval of the President, may prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution [372]*372[sections 702a to 702f of this title] with reference to the investigations authorized in section 1 [section 702a of this title], and to assure freedom from coercion in respect to all elections.” (15 USCA § 702c).
“Sec. 4. Any person who shall knowingly violate any rule or regulation authorized under section 3 of this resolution [section 702c of this title] or impede or interfere with any member or agent of any board established under this resolution [sections 702a to 702f of this title] in the performance of his duties, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than- one year, or both.” ' (15 USCA § 702d).

By Executive Order No. 6763, of June 29, 1934, the President, pursuant to the Congressional Resolution No. 44, created the National Labor Relations Board. This Board was given authority to proceed with all investigations and proceedings then being conducted by the National Labor Board which was abolished. The Executive Order further provided that findings of fact and orders of the National Labor Relations Board should be final and not'subject to review by any person or agency in the executive branch of the government, except as provided in section 3 (a) (3): “To receive from such regional, industrial, and special boards as may be designated or established under the two preceding sub-sections reports of their activities and to review or hear appeals from such boards. * * * ”

On June 28, 1934, the Indianapolis Regional Labor Board, by its subcommittee, held a hearing with respect to this, controversy.

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76 F.2d 370, 1935 U.S. App. LEXIS 2551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guide-lamp-corp-v-national-labor-relations-board-ca7-1935.