Overstreet v. Albertson's, LLC

868 F. Supp. 2d 1182, 2012 WL 1970781, 193 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2695, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79040
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedMay 31, 2012
DocketNo. CIV 12-240-JAP-KBM
StatusPublished

This text of 868 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (Overstreet v. Albertson's, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Overstreet v. Albertson's, LLC, 868 F. Supp. 2d 1182, 2012 WL 1970781, 193 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2695, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79040 (D.N.M. 2012).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND MEMORANDUM OPINION

JAMES A. PARKER, District Judge.

Petitioner Cornele Overstreet, Regional Director of Region 28 of the National Labor Relations Board (Board), filed a Petition 1 on behalf of the Board, seeking a temporary injunction directed at alleged unfair labor practices committed by Albertson’s, LLC at Store 917, a grocery store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Board seeks temporary relief under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act (Act), 29 U.S.C. § 160(j), which empowers the Board to petition the district court for temporary relief during the pendency of unfair labor practice proceedings before the Board.

The Board asks the Court for an order enjoining certain enumerated conduct by Albertson’s and requiring Albertson’s to take multiple affirmative actions.2 The [1188]*1188Court has considered the entire administrative record, including the decision of Administrative Law Judge William Schmidt, as well as the parties’ pleadings, briefs, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and arguments. The Court has viewed the evidence and made findings of fact in the light most favorable to the Board. The Court concludes that the Board has shown reasonable cause to believe that Albertson’s has committed unfair labor practices, as required under Section 10(j) of the Act. Accordingly, the Court will grant the Board’s Petition and will enter an Order granting such temporary injunctive relief as the Court deems just and proper.

BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

On March 3, 2011, cashier Yvonne Martinez filed an unfair labor practice charge against Albertson’s with the Board in Case 28-CA-023387, alleging that Albertson’s violated Section 8(a)(3) of the Act by firing her because she engaged in union activity on behalf of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1564 (Union). Doc. No. 1-17, at 2. On April 29, 2011, Yvonne Martinez amended her unfair labor practice charge, alleging that Albert-son’s has violated, and is violating, Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by promulgating no solicitation rules and no talking rules at work, which prohibit employees from engaging in union activity, and by soliciting grievances from employees for the purpose of dissuading them from supporting the Union. Doc. No. 1-19, at 4-5.

The Board investigated Yvonne Martinez’s allegations to determine whether Albertson’s committed unfair labor practices in violation of Sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(3) of the Act. Doc. No. 41, ¶ 6. After completing the investigation, on April 29, 2011, the Board issued a complaint against Albertson’s in Case 28-CA-23387. Doc. No. 1-19, at 7-13. On May 13, 2011, Albertson’s filed an answer to the complaint in Case 28-CA-23387, denying that Albert-son’s committed any unfair labor practices. Doc. No. 1-19, at 17-19.

On June 6, 2011, the Union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Albertson’s with the Board in Case 28-CA-023538, alleging that Albertson’s violated, and is violating, Sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(3) of the Act by unlawfully discriminating against cashier Talie Perea with regard to her schedule. Doc. No. 1-19, at 24-25. Additionally, the Union alleged that Albertson’s violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by threatening employees with unspecified reprisals for participating in union activity and by promulgating a no talking rule among employees who worked in the front end of the store. Id. On August 12, 2011, the Union amended its charge, alleging that Albertson’s has violated, and is violating, Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by giving employees wage increases and other benefits during the Union organizing campaign and by soliciting grievances from employees for the purpose of dissuading employees from supporting the Union. Doc. No. 1-19, at 29-31. The Board investigated the Union’s charges, and on August 16, 2011, the Board issued a consolidated complaint against Albertson’s, combining the allegations in Case 28-CA-023538 with those in Case 28-CA-023387. Doc. No. 1-19, at 33-41, On August 30, 2011, Respondent filed its answer to the consolidated complaint, denying that Albertson’s committed any unfair labor practices. Doc. No. 1-19, at 44-49.

Administrative Law Judge William L. Schmidt (ALJ Schmidt) held an administrative hearing in Albuquerque, New Mexico over the course of eight days: September 27 through 30, 2011; November 7 and 8, 2011; and December 5 and 6, 2011. Doc. No. 1, at 4. Twice during the course [1189]*1189of the hearing the Board sought leave to amend the consolidated complaint to allege additional unfair labor practices. First, on November 4, 2011, the Board sought to add an allegation that Albertson’s violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by conducting unlawful surveillance of employees’ union activity. Doc. No. 1, at 4; Doc. No. 1-17, at 57. Then, on November 28, 2011, the Board sought to add an allegation that Albertson’s violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by failing to provide employees with proper safeguards before questioning employees in preparation for the unfair labor practice hearing. Doc. No. 1, at 4; Doc. No. 1-17, at 60. The ALJ granted the Board leave to amend the consolidated complaint to include these new allegations. Doc. No. 1, at 4.

On March 8, 2012, the Board filed its Petition for temporary injunctive relief, along with a supporting brief, proposed order, and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. See Doc. Nos. 1, 1-4, 1-5, 1-12. The Court held a hearing on March 15, 2012, at which attorneys Sophia Alonso and David Garza represented the Board, and attorneys Thomas Stahl and Jeffrey Lowry represented Albertson’s. See Doc. No. 22. The Court held a second hearing, on April 12, 2012, at which attorneys Sophia Alonso and David Garza represented the Board, and attorneys Thomas Stahl and Glen Beard represented Albert-son’s. See Doc. No. 37. At the April 12, 2012, hearing, the Court requested that the parties file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in a specific format outlined by the Court. On April 23, 2012, both parties filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, using the Court’s requested format.3

On May 24, 2012, ALJ Schmidt issued his Decision and Recommended Order in Case 28-CA-023387 and Case 28-CA-023538. See JD-25-12, 2012 WL 1893639 (May 24, 2012) (Doc. No. 42-1). ALJ Schmidt’s decision constitutes a recommendation for the Board’s ultimate disposition of the case. See generally 29 C.F.R. §§ 102.45, 102.46. In his decision, ALJ Schmidt concluded that Albertson’s committed some of the unfair labor practices alleged by the Board but recommended the dismissal of some of the other allegations.

On May 29, 2012, the Board modified its Petition. Doc. No. 42, at 5-6.

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868 F. Supp. 2d 1182, 2012 WL 1970781, 193 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2695, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79040, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/overstreet-v-albertsons-llc-nmd-2012.