National Labor Relations Board v. Republican Publishing Co.

180 F.2d 437, 25 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2559, 1950 U.S. App. LEXIS 3514
CourtCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit
DecidedMarch 16, 1950
Docket4408
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 180 F.2d 437 (National Labor Relations Board v. Republican Publishing Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the First 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. Republican Publishing Co., 180 F.2d 437, 25 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2559, 1950 U.S. App. LEXIS 3514 (1st Cir. 1950).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Upon a complaint charging respondents with various unfair labor practices, and after the usual administrative proceedings', the National Labor Relations Board on May 15, 1947, entered its findings, decisions, and order in the case. Among other things it found that respondents Bowles and Republican Company, on December 5, 1945, had transferred Frank MacCarthy from the position of photographer on the Springfield Union to that of reporter- (a position less desirable from MacCarthy’s point of view, though it entailed no reduction in his weekly pay check); that the motive of the transfer was to penalize MacCarthy for his membership and activities in the Newspaper Guild; that by such discrimination respondents had committed the unfair labor practice described in § 8(3) of the Act, 49 Stat. 452, 29 U.S.C.A. § 158(3). Accordingly, the Board ordered said respondents to “offer” Frank MacCarthy “immediate and full reinstatement” to the position which he occupied on December 5, 1945, or to a substantially equivalent position, without prejudice to his seniority or other rights and privileges.

Respondents did not comply with this provision of the Board’s order. The Board petitioned this court for enforcement of this order, and on May 12, 1949, we issued our decree enforcing the order. 1 Cir., 174 F.2d 474.

On February 15, 1950, the Board filed the present petition seeking an order from this court requiring respondents Bowles and Republican Company to show cause why they should not be adjudged in contempt of this court by reason of their continued failure and refusal to offer MacCarthy reinstatement to the position of photographer. *439 The petition was supported by an affidavit by MacCarthy, executed January 14, 1950, to the effect that, though he had continuously desired and presently desired employment with respondents as a photographer, respondents since December 5, 1945 have continuously failed and refused to offer him such reinstatement; that since May 12, 1949, the date of the decree of this court, he has sustained the following losses because of respondents’ failure and refusal to reinstate him: “I, am informed that the rate at which photographers have been employed by respondents since May 12, 1949, is $77.50 per week. Accordingly, if respondents had complied with the decree of this Court, I would have earned to date $2759.00. My net interim earnings during that period have been $1239.60. My losses to date therefore total $1519.40.” The Board also submitted affidavits by Robert E. Greene and Julius G. Serot, attorneys in the employ of the Board, stating that on November 29, 1949, in the course of their duties in investigating the matter of compliance with this court’s decree, they had had a conference with respondent Bowles at which Bowles promised and agreed that respondents would offer MacCarthy reinstatement to the position formerly held by him as photographer, this offer to be made in writing on or before December 9, 1949.

On February 20, 1950, this court issued its order directing that respondents Bowles and Republican Company make answer to the contempt petition on or before March 2, 1950, the answer to contain “specific admissions or denials to, or meeting by affirmative defense, each allegation of said petition and the facts set forth in the supporting affidavits thereto attached;” and directing further that said respondents appear before this court on March 7, 1950, and then and there show cause why they should not be adjudged in contempt as prayed for in the petition.

At our session on March 7, 1950, we heard counsel for the parties, on the Board’s petition, the answer of respondents thereto, and the entire record in the case. The Board advanced the contention that, from the petition and answer, it was apparent that there was no genuine and material issue of fact necessitating a taking of testimony by this court. With this contention we agree.

In part, respondents appear to treat their answer as a petition for rehearing, seeking to reargue some of the matters adjudicated by our decision and enforcement decree. It is too late for that.

Respondents admit that they have never offered MacCarthy reinstatement to his position as photographer. They allege that neither MacCarthy nor any one acting on his behalf ever made any demand for reinstatement until November 29, 1949. If this were true, it would be wholly irrelevant. The order required respondents, to offer MacCarthy full and immediate reinstatement to the position of photographer. It was thus incumbent upon respondents, without waiting for a formal demand by MacCarthy, to take the initiative of communicating with him and tendering him back his old job. In that respect the terms of the order are to be contrasted with another provision of the order, directing respondents “upon request” to bargain collectively with the certificated union.

' By way of affirmative defense, the answer sets forth certain alleged events which took place after December 5, 1945, the date of the unfair labor practice with respect, to MacCarthy, and before May 15, 1947, the date of the Board’s order: It, is alleged that on September 26, 1946, the members of the three mechanical unions went out on strike; that on or about November 2, 1946, publication of the newspapers having been suspended since the date of the strike, Republican Publishing Company gave notice to certain members of the editorial staff, including Frank MacCarthy, that their services would no longer be needed; that “as a result of this notice, relationship of employer-employee that had heretofore existed between Frank MacCarthy and the Republican Publishing Company ceased”; that on or about November 7, 1946, the members of the Springfield Newspaper Guild, of which MacCarthy was a member, voted to strike.

It is obvious that respondents, by notice terminating altogether MacCarthy’s em *440 ployment as incident to a strike, cannot relieve themselves of the obligation, after publication is resumed, to obey a remedial order of the Board appropriately designed to undo the effect of an unfair labor practice committed by respondents prior to such strike. It appears that, at the date of the Board’s order, publication of the Springfield Union had been resumed, and respondents were then in no way disabled from complying with the Board’s reinstatement order. Publication of the Springfield Union has continued; and in fact' counsel for respondents conceded at the oral hearing before us that at this day the Springfield Union has on its staff photographers of less seniority than MacCarthy. There is no showing of'inability to comply with our decree for reinstatement of MacCarthy to his position as photographer.

Respondents’ answer contains this vague general allegation:’ “That Frank MacCarthy is not now physically and mentally fit to carry out the duties of a newspaper photographer.” If this were assumed to be the fact, it would in no way tend to establish inability on the part of respondents to obey our decree of May 12, 1949, directing respondents to offer MacCarthy immediate reinstatement •to his former position. In failing to make the offer, respondents are undoubtedly in contempt of our decree.

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Bluebook (online)
180 F.2d 437, 25 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2559, 1950 U.S. App. LEXIS 3514, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-labor-relations-board-v-republican-publishing-co-ca1-1950.