In re the Arbitration between International Ass'n of Machinists AFL-CIO Tool & Pivot Punch & Die Corp.

34 Misc. 2d 645, 229 N.Y.S.2d 476, 51 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2052, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3027
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJune 27, 1962
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 34 Misc. 2d 645 (In re the Arbitration between International Ass'n of Machinists AFL-CIO Tool & Pivot Punch & Die Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Arbitration between International Ass'n of Machinists AFL-CIO Tool & Pivot Punch & Die Corp., 34 Misc. 2d 645, 229 N.Y.S.2d 476, 51 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2052, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3027 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1962).

Opinion

William B. Lawless, J.

The question for decision is whether a labor agreement executed between the International Association of Machinists AFL-CIO Tool and Die Makers Lodge 586, and Pivot Punch & Die Corp., a dissolved corporation, is binding on the Pivot Punch Corporation, one of two companies organized to terminate a litigation between the two original stockholders of the Pivot Punch & Die Corporation. For convenience, we shall hereafter refer to the Pivot Punch & Die Corporation as the “ Dissolved Corporation ”, the Pivot Punch Corporation as the “King Corporation”, and Pivot Tool and Die Corporation as the “ Ivopczynski Corporation.”

This matter is before this court by order of the Honorable Joseph A. Nevins granted September 5, 1961, and that order required the Dissolved Corporation to arbitrate certain disagreements under a collective bargaining agreement, and further ordered that the issues of fact as to the making of the [646]*646contract to arbitrate be tried at this Trial Term of the Supreme Court. Thereafter, the parties stipulated to submit the matter on an “ Agreed Statement of Facts,” with one exception.

Originally, all of the stock in the Dissolved Corporation was held equally by Robert H. King and John F. Kopczynski. On or about July 14, 1958, a proceeding was commenced by John F. Kopczynski for a dissolution of that company. A hearing on the dissolution came before a Special Term of this court on or about December 12, 1960 and the matter was referred to a Trial Term on January 3, 1961. On January 9, 1961, the parties consented in open court that the corporation be dissolved in accordance with an agreement executed that day. Finally, on October 11, 1961, this court granted an order of dissolution. Prior to the dissolution of the Dissolved Corporation, the union was notified of the proceeding, but the unión chose not to intervene or present claim of any kind pursuant to the direction of its membership. From the commencement of the dissolution proceedings on or about July 25, 1958, to the date of the final order of dissolution, October 11,1961, the union did not intervene and did not present claim in the proceedings.

It is an agreed fact that the dissolution of the Dissolved Corporation was the culmination of long standing disputes between Messrs. King and Kopczynski and “ in no manner whatsoever was prompted by animosity toward the Union.” In essence, the dissolution agreement provided that both shareholders would transfer all their shares to the dissolved corporation and it in turn was to form two new corporations, one to be named “Pivot Punch Corporation” (the King Corporation) and the other to be named “ Pivot Tool and Die Corporation ” (the Kopczynski Corporation).

The King Corporation was to receive all punch raw materials, all stock punch inventory and all punch machinery and equipment. The Kopczynski Corporation was to receive all general tool and die raw materials and machinery. Neither corporation agreed in any Avay Avith the Dissolved Corporation or the union to assume the obligations of the collective bargaining agreement of March 21,1960.

On or about January 17, 1961, the King Corporation and the Kopczynski Corporation were formed under the laws of the State of New York. Each Avas controlled by King and Kopczynski respectively.- On February 3, 1961, the Dissolved Corporation ceased all production activities and terminated the employment of its remaining employees. On February 9, 1961, the Dissolved Corporation ceased all activities.

[647]*647During the period from January. 9 to February 9, 1961, approximately 8 employees of the Dissolved Corporation were hired by- the King Corporation, and the average -employment by the King Corporation for the-year 1961 was 14 employees, of which 9 were former employees of the Dissolved Corporation and were members of the union, contrasted with an average of approximately 60 employees maintained in the Punch Division operations of the Dissolved Corporation between the years 1955 and 1960.

On or about January 9, 1961, the union received notification from the Dissolved Corporation that on February 9, 1961, all employees of the Dissolved Corporation would be laid off. Approximately 10 days thereafter, the union submitted a complaint on a grievance form to the 11 Dissolved Corporation” which alleged violation of the labor contract in force with the Dissolved Corporation. The Dissolved Corporation refused to answer said grievance and refused to protest same under the terms of the labor agreement. Thereafter, and on January 11, 1961, a letter was sent to the Dissolved Corporation in behalf of the union and to Messrs. King and Kopczynski personally, putting them on notice that the union intended to hold the new corporations responsible to perform the terms of the labor agreement executed with the Dissolved Corporation.

On February 3, 1961, the King Corporation submitted a written proposal to the union, offering to recognize the union as the exclusive bargaining agent if the union represented a majority of the King Corporation’s employees, and if an agreement could be reached on an initial contract containing the matters stated in the proposal. This was rejected by the union on the ground that the proposal failed to provide for the adoption of the labor agreement executed with the Dissolved Corporation.

ISSUES

The issues before this court are whether the King Corporation is bound by the labor agreement and whether it should be required to arbitrate the grievances previously stated.

CONTENTIONS

The union contends that the Dissolved Corporation and the King Corporation are the same, either by virtue of the latter being one of the successors of the former, or by virtue of the latter being part of the operations of the former, and accordingly, contend that the labor agreement referred to constitutes the agreement of both the Dissolved Corporation and the King Corporation.

[648]*648The King Corporation contends (a) that no agreement to arbitrate exists between it and the union; (b) that the King CorporatiorL is not bound by the terms of the said labor agreement ; (e) that any issue as to whether the King Corporation is bound by the labor agreement is not an arbitratable issue; (d) that the final order of dissolution restrains the union from proceeding further in this proceeding and acts as a bar to the union’s requested arbitration; and (e) that even if the King Corporation were bound by the terms of the labor agreement, the union has failed to comply with certain terms and conditions precedent to the arbitration proceeding.

BELIEF SOUGHT

The union prays for a judgment denying the motion of the King Corporation to stay the arbitration sought herein and the union seeks an order directing that an arbitration proceed according to the labor agreement entered into between the union and the King Corporation and also that an order be entered that the labor agreement is a binding agreement on the King Corporation.

The King Corporation seeks an order permanently staying the arbitration proceeding sought by the union against the King-Corporation and permanently staying the arbitration proceeding sought by the union against the Dissolved Corporation as it relates to the King Corporation.

TESTIMONY BEFOBE THIS COUET

On May 25, 1962, testimony was taken before this court concerning- paragraph Eighth of the Agreed Statement of Facts, and particularly with respect to the phrase ‘ ‘

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

Related

Glasser v. Price
35 A.D.2d 98 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1970)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
34 Misc. 2d 645, 229 N.Y.S.2d 476, 51 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2052, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3027, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-arbitration-between-international-assn-of-machinists-afl-cio-nysupct-1962.