Potter v. United Plant Guard Workers

192 F. Supp. 918, 47 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2804, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3781
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 17, 1961
DocketCiv. A. No. 13536
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 192 F. Supp. 918 (Potter v. United Plant Guard Workers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Potter v. United Plant Guard Workers, 192 F. Supp. 918, 47 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2804, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3781 (S.D. Tex. 1961).

Opinion

INGRAHAM, District Judge.

Petitioner, on behalf of the National Labor Relations Board, seeks a temporary injunction to stay alleged unfair labor practices on the part of respondent union until final disposition is made of a controversy between Houston Armored Car Company, Inc., (hereinafter called Company) and respondent by the Board. Such request for temporary injunction has the sanction of statutory law (Sec. 10(f), National Labor Relations Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C.A. § 160(f).1

[920]*920The scope of the inquiry permitted the district court upon such petition is quite narrow. The court is to ascertain only whether there is “reasonable cause to believe” that a violation of the National Labor Relations Act (hereinafter called the Act), as charged, has been committed. This court is to grant such equitable relief “as it deems just and proper” to preserve the status quo until the Board determines the merits of the controversy. See these illustrative cases: McLeod for and on Behalf of N. L. R. B. v. Local 294, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, etc., D.C.N.D.N.Y.1959, 190 F.Supp. 129; Douds v. Milk Drivers and Dairy Employees Union, 2 Cir., 1957, 248 F.2d 534; and Le Bus v. Locals 406, 406A, 406B, 406C, etc., D.C.E.D.La.1956, 145 F.Supp. 316.

The alleged violations charged are under Sec. 8(b) (4) (i) (ii), subparagraph (B) of the Act, 29 U.S.C.A. § 158, which section proscribes so-called secondary boycotts and other secondary pressure.2 There follows a concise statement of the facts adduced at the hearing of March 2, 1961.

Company is engaged at Houston, Texas, in the operation of an armored car service company. Its annual business meets jurisdictional requisites. J. C. Penney Company (hereinafter Penney), F. W. Woolworth Company (Woolworth), and Wyatt Cafeteria (Wyatt) are engaged at Houston, Texas, in the opera[921]*921tion of retail stores. Blue Ribbon Packing Company (Blue Ribbon) is engaged at Houston, Texas, in the operation of a meat packing plant. All these establishments meet jurisdictional amount requirements. Respondent United Plant Guard Workers of America, a labor organization, at all times material herein has been engaged within this judicial district in transacting business and promoting and protecting the interests of the employee members of respondent.

In its armored car service Company picks up and delivers cash and other valuables from retail stores, banks, insurance companies, and industrial plants in the vicinity of Houston. On October 21, 1960, respondent was certified as the collective bargaining representative for Company’s employees after winning a Board-conducted representation election. The parties negotiated unsuccessfully for a collective bargaining contract until December 23, 1960, at which time respondent commenced a strike against Company. The union has picketed Company’s office, to which its employees report numerous times each day, ever since.

Starting early in January 1961 respondent caused its members to follow Company’s armored trucks to the stores or premises of persons who utilize its services. When a Company truck arrived at a client’s establishment, striking employees, whose number would vary between two and nine, would stand at the entrance to the store or premises of the client, and distribute handbills to the store’s customers. This handbilling occurred particularly at the premises of Penney, Woolworth, Wyatt and Blue Ribbon. Employees of these secondary employers often requested copies of the handbills, and respondent’s members gave them copies. The handbills distributed by respondent state the nature of the union’s dispute with Company and contain the following:

“To break our strike, scabs and strike-breakers are trying to operate the vehicles which we would be driving but for the strike. They are delivering to this store or place of business products or articles (currency, change, etc.). This store or place of business is, in turn, using or distributing the same to you, its customers.
Help Us Win Decent Wages, Hours and Working Conditions While the Strike Continues Please Do Not Patronize!”

While distributing the aforesaid handbills respondent’s members orally appealed to customers of the firm doing business with Company not to go upon the premises of or transact business with such customers of Company. Some of Company’s customers discontinued its services after commencement of the strike and secondary activity complained of. There is, however, no testimony to the effect that any individual employed by Penney, Woolworth, Wyatt, Blue Ribbon, or anyone else refused to work for these secondary employers as a direct result of the handbills. It is clear though that employees of the secondary employers received handbills in some instances.

Certain other facets of this handbilling at secondary employers’ premises should be noted. Handbilling in the main occurred at customers’, rather than employees’, entrances. This activity normally commenced after the stores were open for business when customers, rather than employees, were expected to be entering through customer entrances. Handbilling was limited in duration strictly to the period of time when Company’s armored car was on the premises.

Petitioner predicates a Sec. 8(b) (4) (i) (ii) offense also upon picketing which commenced on January 24, 1961, at the premises of Company’s customers. Injunctive relief is sought against such picketing. However illegal this secondary picketing may have been, it terminated after a duration of but three days. The picketing was terminated one day before the charge was filed with the Board and four days before respondent’s representative learned that the charge [922]*922had been filed. At the hearing it was manifestly obvious that respondent has no intention of further picketing. Under these circumstances a temporary injunction against picketing is patently unwarranted and will be denied. No further reference will be made herein to the picketing charge.

Petitioner charges that upon these facts there is “reasonable cause to believe” that this handbilling violates Sec. 8(b) (4) (i) (ii), subparagraph (B), of the Act, in these three respects: (1) by handbilling, respondent “has engaged in * * * strikes or refusals in the course of their employment to use, manufacture, process, transport, or otherwise handle or work on goods, articles, materials, or commodities, or to perform services” for the proscribed object of forcing Penney, Woolworth, Wyatt and Blue Ribbon to cease doing business with Company; (2) by handbilling, respondent “has induced and encouraged individuals employed by Penney, Woolworth, Wyatt, Blue Ribbon * * * to engage in strikes or refusals in the course of their employment to use * * * or otherwise handle or work on goods * * * or to perform services” for a proscribed object; and (3) by handbilling, respondent “has threatened, coerced annd restrained Penney, Woolworth, Wyatt, Blue Ribbon * * * ” for a proscribed object. Respondent, of course, admits the handbilling. It denies these three allegations.

Regarding count or allegation 1, no mention of this allegation or facts deemed to support it is made in petitioner’s memorandum. In any event, it is plainly untenable. This allegation alleges permissive primary pressure, not forbidden secondary tactics.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
192 F. Supp. 918, 47 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2804, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3781, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/potter-v-united-plant-guard-workers-txsd-1961.