Opinion by
Judge McGinley,
Robert Orr and John Shedlock, lead tokens (Claimants) appeal an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) reversing an
award of benefits on July 28, 1986, by the referee. Canterbury Coal Company (Canterbury) intervenes in this appeal.
The Board filed a notice of non-participation. We reverse the order of the Board.
The relevant facts,' as found by the Board in both claims are as follows:
1. The claimant was last employed by Canterbury Coal Company as a mechanic for approximately 18 years with his last day of work being August 2, 1985.
2. The claimant is a member of and vice president of Local Union 6986 of the United Mine Workers of America, District 5.
3. The claimant is the representative claimant of Local 6986 of the in regards [sic] to the labor dispute occurring on August 5, 1985, at the Canterbury Coal Company work site DiAnne Mine.
4. The United Mine Workers of America and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, Inc., had entered into a union-management contract on June 7, 1981, with an expiration date of September 30, 1984.
5. The employer, Canterbury Coal Company had been a member of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, Inc., on June 7, 1981.
6. In September 1984, and prior to September 30, 1984, the United Mine Workers of America notified Canterbury Coal that a contract separate from the National Agreement would be negotiated among several companies of which Canterbury Coal was one.
7. Later in September, 1984, and still prior to September 30, 1984, the President of Canterbury Coal was given a copy of the separate agreement, signed same, and added an addendum regarding a rail siding issue and mailed it to the Washington, DC office of the United Mine Workers of America.
8. The United Mine Workers of America did not become a signatory to the contract.
9. On September 30, 1984, Canterbury Coal Company continued to offer work and the United Mine Workers of America accepted and continued to work beyond September 30, 1984, the expiration date of the contract, and to August 4, 1985, under the terms and conditions of the expired contract.
10. Negotiation meetings continued, of which there were 19 in number through the period of October, 1984 through June 5, 1985 with the employers thrust to reduce the existing and expiring contract language and contents and the union holding fast to the terms of said contract, but collectively bargaining the new contract proposals.
11. On June 5, 1985, which is the last day of negotiation meetings, prior to the labor dispute, the company made an offer to the union.
12. The union, on June 5, 1985, rejected the employers proposal.
13. The employer, on July 23, 1985, had meetings with its employees explaining its offered proposal of June 5, 1985.
14. Officials of the United Mine Workers of America, other than those who were employed at the Canterbury Coal work site, were not notified of the meeting of July 23, 1985, and accordingly, were not in attendance.
15. After nineteen (19) negotiating sessions and ten (10) months of bargaining, on July 27, 1985, the company, by letter, notified its employees that, ‘effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, August 5, 1985, Canterbury will implement its final contract proposal. For the purposes- of implementing certain provisions of this final contract proposal, the following will apply:
Article X — Wages and Attendance Productivity Bonus
—The period for the initial quarter will be from July 1, 1985 to September 30, 1985, however, the hours worked and the clean tons produced prior to August 5, 1985 will not be included in the calculations of productivity.
—Productivity for the remainder of this initial “quarter” will be measured in tons
produced-
rather than
shipped.
Article IX(e) — Personal and Sick Leave
—For ease of administration, the reduction in personal or sick leave days from 5 to 4 will not take effect until January 1, 1980.
Article XIV — Graduated Vacation
—The Company intends to implement a Christmas shutdown beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, December 23, 1985 and ending 12:01 a.m., Saturday, December 28, 1985. Those employees who do not have sufficient graduated vacation days shall be excused without pay for this 1985 Christmas shutdown.
Article XX — Health and Retirement Benefits
—The Company intends to implement its pension proposals as described in Appendix C at a future date so long as there is no disruption of operations. In the meantime, the Company will continue to participate in the existing pension
plans provided under the 1981 BCOA labor agreement.
Article XXII(i) — Attendance Control
—Unexcused absences which occurred prior to August 5, 1985 will not be counted for purposes of applying the Unexcused Absenteeism Control Plan.
Appendix B — Excessive and Chronic Excuses Absenteeism Policy
—For ease of administration of this new policy will become effective on January 1, 1986, based on the attendance records for the three previous years. Until that date the existing policy on excessive absenteeism shall apply.
Each of you is expected to work as scheduled starting August 5, 1985, under the terms and conditions of the Company’s final proposal. If you have additional questions regarding these terms you should refer to the full text which was mailed to your individual home. For additional information contact your immediate supervisor or me directly.
I am confident that with a fresh start and the enthusiastic cooperation of all employees that Canterbury can regain its rightful position in the coal industry.’
16. The Union, Local 6986 installed pickets at the employer’s site at 12:01 a.m. on August 5, 1985.
17. Continued work was available to the employees on August 5, 1985 under the terms and conditions of the employer’s final proposal of June 5, 1985 and the provisions outlined in the employer’s letter of July 27, 1985.
18. A stipulation was agreed upon at the time of the Referee’s Hearing by all parties; Referee, Employer, and Union, that all appeals filed previous to the date of the hearing and thereafter
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Opinion by
Judge McGinley,
Robert Orr and John Shedlock, lead tokens (Claimants) appeal an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) reversing an
award of benefits on July 28, 1986, by the referee. Canterbury Coal Company (Canterbury) intervenes in this appeal.
The Board filed a notice of non-participation. We reverse the order of the Board.
The relevant facts,' as found by the Board in both claims are as follows:
1. The claimant was last employed by Canterbury Coal Company as a mechanic for approximately 18 years with his last day of work being August 2, 1985.
2. The claimant is a member of and vice president of Local Union 6986 of the United Mine Workers of America, District 5.
3. The claimant is the representative claimant of Local 6986 of the in regards [sic] to the labor dispute occurring on August 5, 1985, at the Canterbury Coal Company work site DiAnne Mine.
4. The United Mine Workers of America and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, Inc., had entered into a union-management contract on June 7, 1981, with an expiration date of September 30, 1984.
5. The employer, Canterbury Coal Company had been a member of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, Inc., on June 7, 1981.
6. In September 1984, and prior to September 30, 1984, the United Mine Workers of America notified Canterbury Coal that a contract separate from the National Agreement would be negotiated among several companies of which Canterbury Coal was one.
7. Later in September, 1984, and still prior to September 30, 1984, the President of Canterbury Coal was given a copy of the separate agreement, signed same, and added an addendum regarding a rail siding issue and mailed it to the Washington, DC office of the United Mine Workers of America.
8. The United Mine Workers of America did not become a signatory to the contract.
9. On September 30, 1984, Canterbury Coal Company continued to offer work and the United Mine Workers of America accepted and continued to work beyond September 30, 1984, the expiration date of the contract, and to August 4, 1985, under the terms and conditions of the expired contract.
10. Negotiation meetings continued, of which there were 19 in number through the period of October, 1984 through June 5, 1985 with the employers thrust to reduce the existing and expiring contract language and contents and the union holding fast to the terms of said contract, but collectively bargaining the new contract proposals.
11. On June 5, 1985, which is the last day of negotiation meetings, prior to the labor dispute, the company made an offer to the union.
12. The union, on June 5, 1985, rejected the employers proposal.
13. The employer, on July 23, 1985, had meetings with its employees explaining its offered proposal of June 5, 1985.
14. Officials of the United Mine Workers of America, other than those who were employed at the Canterbury Coal work site, were not notified of the meeting of July 23, 1985, and accordingly, were not in attendance.
15. After nineteen (19) negotiating sessions and ten (10) months of bargaining, on July 27, 1985, the company, by letter, notified its employees that, ‘effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, August 5, 1985, Canterbury will implement its final contract proposal. For the purposes- of implementing certain provisions of this final contract proposal, the following will apply:
Article X — Wages and Attendance Productivity Bonus
—The period for the initial quarter will be from July 1, 1985 to September 30, 1985, however, the hours worked and the clean tons produced prior to August 5, 1985 will not be included in the calculations of productivity.
—Productivity for the remainder of this initial “quarter” will be measured in tons
produced-
rather than
shipped.
Article IX(e) — Personal and Sick Leave
—For ease of administration, the reduction in personal or sick leave days from 5 to 4 will not take effect until January 1, 1980.
Article XIV — Graduated Vacation
—The Company intends to implement a Christmas shutdown beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, December 23, 1985 and ending 12:01 a.m., Saturday, December 28, 1985. Those employees who do not have sufficient graduated vacation days shall be excused without pay for this 1985 Christmas shutdown.
Article XX — Health and Retirement Benefits
—The Company intends to implement its pension proposals as described in Appendix C at a future date so long as there is no disruption of operations. In the meantime, the Company will continue to participate in the existing pension
plans provided under the 1981 BCOA labor agreement.
Article XXII(i) — Attendance Control
—Unexcused absences which occurred prior to August 5, 1985 will not be counted for purposes of applying the Unexcused Absenteeism Control Plan.
Appendix B — Excessive and Chronic Excuses Absenteeism Policy
—For ease of administration of this new policy will become effective on January 1, 1986, based on the attendance records for the three previous years. Until that date the existing policy on excessive absenteeism shall apply.
Each of you is expected to work as scheduled starting August 5, 1985, under the terms and conditions of the Company’s final proposal. If you have additional questions regarding these terms you should refer to the full text which was mailed to your individual home. For additional information contact your immediate supervisor or me directly.
I am confident that with a fresh start and the enthusiastic cooperation of all employees that Canterbury can regain its rightful position in the coal industry.’
16. The Union, Local 6986 installed pickets at the employer’s site at 12:01 a.m. on August 5, 1985.
17. Continued work was available to the employees on August 5, 1985 under the terms and conditions of the employer’s final proposal of June 5, 1985 and the provisions outlined in the employer’s letter of July 27, 1985.
18. A stipulation was agreed upon at the time of the Referee’s Hearing by all parties; Referee, Employer, and Union, that all appeals filed previous to the date of the hearing and thereafter
to the Canterbury Coal Company labor dispute which occurred on August 5, 1985, will be governed by this decision.
Generally, our scope of review is whether the Boards decision is in violation of the constitutional rights of petitioner, that it is not in accordance with law or that any finding of fact made by the Board and necessary to support its adjudication is not supported by substantial evidence.
Wertman v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review,
103 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 376, 520 A.2d 900 (1987). However, because the question of whether a work stoppage was the result of a strike or lockout for the purposes of determining unemployment compensation benefits is a mixed question of law and fact,
Philco Corporation v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review,
430 Pa. 101, 242 A.2d 454 (1968), “the appellate court must make an independent determination.”
Norwin School District v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Belan),
510 Pa. 255, 264, 507 A.2d 373, 378 (1986).
Section 402(d) of the Unemployment Compensation Law (Law), Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., PL. (1937) 2897,
as amended,
43 PS. §802(d), provides:
An employe shall be ineligible for compensation for any week—
(d) In which his unemployment is due to a
stoppage of work, which exists because of a labor dispute (other than a lock-out)
at the factory, establishment or other premises at which he is or was last employed. . . . (Emphasis added.)
In
Vrotney Unemployment Compensation Case,
400 Pa. 440, 163 A.2d 91 (1960), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court established the test for determining whether a work stoppage is the result of a strike or lockout:
■Have the employees offered to continue working for a reasonable, time under the pre-existing terms and conditions of employment so as to avert. a work stoppage pending, the final settlement of the contract negotiations; and has the employer agreed to permit work to continue for a reasonable time under the pre-existing terms and conditions of employment pending further negotiations? If the employer refuses to- so extend the expiring contract and maintain the status quo, then the resulting work stoppage constitutes a. lockout’. ,. . .
Id.
at 444-45, 163 A.2d at 93-94.
Claimants argue there is insufficient evidence, to support the Boards conclusion that the work stoppage was a strike and not a lockout.' Canterbury contends the status quo was maintained for a reasonable time; herein, ten months; and that a bargaining impasse was reached. Following
Vrotney,
Pennsylvania Courts have held that a unions offer to continue the pre-existing contract for an unspecified period, or for periods of 30, 60 or 90 days, constitutes a reasonable, extension offer under
Vrotney. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review v. Sun Oil,
476 Pa. 589, 383 A.2d 519 (1978). Canterbury and the union worked under the expired 1981 Master Agreement (Employers Exhibit No. 1) between the Bituminous Coal Operators Association and the United Mine Workers of America from October 1, 1984, to August 4, 1985. Negotiations for a new contract outside of the Master Agreement occurred from October 4, 1984 through June 5, 1985, and included nineteen separate negotiations. Canterbury’s bargaining thrust was ,to substantially. reduce production costs by increasing production and-decreasing contract costs
below
the level of the expired Master Agreement, while the union demanded the existing contract levels (Find
ing of Fact No. 10). On June 5, 1985, Canterbury made its last offer to the union which the union rejected. On July 5, 1985, a letter including the final proposal was prepared for Canterbury employees (Employers Exhibit No. 19). On July 27, 1985, Canterbury notified its employees that work would be available under the terms of its final offer as of August 5, 1985.
At 12:01 a.m., August 5, 1985, the union installed pickets at the Canterbury work sites.
A claimant whose employment has been interrupted by a work stoppage arising out of a labor dispute bears the burden of proving that the stoppage resulted from a lockout.
Bishop v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review,
90 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 553, 496 A.2d 110 (1985). Our Supreme Court has held that a bargaining impasse occurs where the parties have exhausted the prospect of concluding an agreement and further negotiations would be fruitless.
Norwin School District v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review,
510 Pa. 255, 507 A.2d 373 (1986). The record indicates that an impasse had not been reached; negotiations continued during the strike. Canterbury and union representatives met on November 18, 1985, and bargaining continued.
In fact, at the close of this bargaining session, future meeting dates were set.
Furthermore, at the bargaining session on June 5, 1985, both parties were willing to meet before Canterbury would implement its final proposal (Employers Exhibit, Minutes of Eighteenth Bargaining Session Between Canterbury Coal Company and UMWA Local Nos. 2456 and 6956 on June 5, 1985, at 16-17).
In
Local 730 v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review,
63 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 195, 437 A.2d 1055 (1981), aff’d, 505 Pa. 480, 480 A.2d 1000 (1984), this Court held that neither party may issue an ultimatum altering the status quo after the contract has technically expired without bearing the responsibility for the resulting work stoppage. At the hearing President of Canterbury, Guvenc Argon (Argon), testified that his July 27, 1985, letter was an ultimatum and that Canter
bury would only accept work under the terms of his last offer.
Testimony also indicates that parties had not reached an impasse, contrary to Canterbury’s assertions that the union never reduced their demands.
Testimo
ny indicates parties were still bargaining after August 5, 1985.
Canterbury cites
Bedow v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 97
Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 192,
510 A.2d 152 (1986) in which this court explained that a long-term offer to continue work under the terms of an expired labor contract was not reasonable as it deprived the employer of the opportunity to negotiate for present relief from the old contract.
Bedow
is distinguishable. In that case our Court concluded that the unions offer to continue working under the expired contract was in actuality an offer to continue working for another three year term. Here, Canterbury, on June 5, 1985, and July 27, 1985, indicated an unwillingness to continue the status quo. The union expressed a desire to continue working under the terms and conditions of the 1981 Master Agreement, and a willingness to continue to negotiate.
The
Bedow
Court distinguished its situation
from that in
Leto Unemployment Compensation Case,
176 Pa. Superior Ct. 9, 12, 106 A.2d 652, 653 (1954), where claimants were not disqualified from benefits under Section 402(d), because the offer in
Leto
was to continue working under the existing agreement for “a year a month or even 15 days, to allow additional time for negotiation.” The union agreed to work under the 1981 Master Agreement, not for another contract term as in
Bedow,
but while negotiations continued as in
Leto.
Accordingly, we reverse the Boards determination that Canterbury “did not refuse to extend the expired contract and permitted the employees to continue working under the terms of the expired agreement for more than a reasonable period.” (Decision and Order of the Board, March 26, 1987, at 6)
Order
And Now, September 26, 1988, the orders of the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review at Decision Nos. B-256734 through B-256793 dated March 26, 1987, are hereby reversed.