National Labor Relations Board v. Continental Baking Co.

221 F.2d 427, 36 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2041
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedApril 13, 1955
DocketNo. 15114
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 221 F.2d 427 (National Labor Relations Board v. Continental Baking Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Labor Relations Board v. Continental Baking Co., 221 F.2d 427, 36 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2041 (8th Cir. 1955).

Opinion

VAN OOSTERHOUT, Circuit Judge.

• Pursuant to the provisions of Title 29 Ü.S.C.A. § 160(e), the National Labor Relations Board has petitioned this court for the enforcement of its order dated April 15, 1953, which is reported at 104 N.L.R.B. 99, against Continental Baking Company; Dolly Madison Cake Company, a Division of Interstate Bakeries Corporation; P. F. Petersen Baking Company; Quaker Baking Company; Schulze Baking Company, a Division of Interstate Bakeries Corporation; Omaha-Council Bluffs Bakery Employers Labor Council; and Cottage Donuts, Incorporated. The individual cases against respondents were consolidated for trial before the trial examiner and the Board, and the Board’s petition here is for enforcement of its order against all respondents. The alleged violation occurred in this circuit. The proceedings below were conducted pursuant to the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C.A. § 141 et seq., hereinafter called the Act. The Board found that respondents had violated section 8(a) (1) and (3) of the Act by locking out their employees. Summarized, the Board’s order as to which it is seeking enforcement requires respondents to cease and desist from discouraging membership in the Bakers Union or any other labor organization by locking out their employees, or from in any other manner abridging the exercise by their employees of their guaranteed rights. Affirmatively, the Board’s order requires respondents to make whole each of their employees for the discrimination against them by reason of the lockout, and to post appropriate notices.

Much of the evidence is undisputed. A good deal of it is stipulated. A fair summary is found in the report of the trial examiner. All of the respondents except Dolly Madison, whose case will be treated separately later, produce and sell bakery goods in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. They do a considerable business, much of which is in interstate commerce. All except Dolly Madison are members of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Bakery Employers Labor Council hereinafter called the Employers Council. For over a decade the Employers Council has handled all negotiations with the employees of the members of the Employers Council, and uniform contracts were entered into by each council member and the unions. The unions involved are the Bakers Union whose members produce the product, and the Teamsters Union whose members deliver the product. The difficulty giving rise to this litigation grew out of negotiations and disputes between the Employers Council and the Bakers Union.

The contracts between the members of the Employers Council and the Bakers Union by their terms expired on April 29, 1951, but remained in effect during negotiations, subject to right of cancellation by either party. Negotiations were commenced for a new contract between the Employers Council and the Bakers Union in March of 1951. .The Bakers Union submitted a list of 18 demands, one of which was for a 40-hour, 5-day workweek. The joint negotiations continued, and on September 5, 1951, the Bakers Union offered the Employers Council, through a federal mediator and subject to the approval of its membership, a package proposal of several economic concessions by the employers along with an option of granting either a checkoff clause or the 5-day week. The Employers Council accepted the offer and exercised the option in favor of the checkoff. The Bakers Union bargaining committee agreed to recommend that the package proposal be approved by the union membership. At a union meeting on September 8, however, the membership rejected the proposed agreement. A union member employed at the Omar bakery led the opposition to the proposal upon the ground that it did not provide for a 5-day week, which the Omar employees strongly favored. The minutes of the Bakers Union meeting on September 8, 1951, show the following proceeding:

“At [this] time the question was raised in view of the fact that the proposal of the employers had been [429]*429rejected and that we had probably went as far as we can go in a peaceful manner as to whether we should take a strike vote and if so on what date. After considerable discussion it was moved and seconded that we take a strike vote at our next regular meeting, or October 13. Motion carried.”

Notices were thereafter posted at the plants of all Employers Council members that a meeting would be held by the Bakers Union on October 13 for the purpose of taking a strike vote. The minutes of the Bakers Union meeting on October 13 relative to the strike vote show:

“At this time Mr. Ralph Robbins was introduced & given the floor to make his remarks.
“His most important remark was their locals 100% support in whatever undertaking may be made.
“Motion we take a strike vote shop by shop at this time by secret ballot. Motion carried.

Peter Olson, an international vice-president of the Bakers Union, was sent to Omaha to represent the International. He attended a negotiations meeting between the Employers Council and the Bakers Union on October 20. The trial examiner’s findings as to this meeting are:

“In a further attempt to reach an agreement another meeting was held on October 20 at 3 p. m., at a local hotel, between representatives of Respondent Counsel, the Bakers, and Reis. At this meeting, Olsen, on behalf of the Union, demanded that the ‘package’ agreement arrived at on September 5 and rejected by the union membership should include three additional provisions, (1), a 5-day 40-hour guaranteed week on an optional basis (that is the contract to provide that employees at each bakery could determine whether they wished a 5-day week); (2) a mechanization clause; and (3) a 3-cent retroactive increase covering
Quaker (10) Schulze (14) Cottage Donuts (3)
Yes No Yes No Yes No
7 3 5 9 3 0
Continental (22) Peter Pan (44) Safeway (6)
Yes No Yes No Yes No
17 5 4 40 6 0
Omar
Yes No
93 4
Total - Yes - No
7 3
5 9
3 0
17 5
4 40
6 0
93 4
135 61
“Motion we take another strike vote — ■
Yes No (% majority is 120)
134 26” [430]*430the- périod from August 26,' 1950 to • April 29, 1951, the date of the expiration of the contract. Of these, the demand for the 5-day week in some form continued to be the most important. Nelson gave it as his opinion that the dispute could be settled if these three additional demands were granted. Le Mar,, the representative of Petersen, asked if this was an ultimatum, to which Olsen replied that it was, and that he had in his pocket strike sanction against all the plants but was issuing it only as to Omar at that time.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
221 F.2d 427, 36 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2041, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-labor-relations-board-v-continental-baking-co-ca8-1955.