Senter v. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, INLAND DIV.

383 F. Supp. 222, 11 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1068, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6808, 9 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,019
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedSeptember 11, 1974
DocketCiv. 4154
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 383 F. Supp. 222 (Senter v. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, INLAND DIV.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Senter v. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, INLAND DIV., 383 F. Supp. 222, 11 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1068, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6808, 9 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,019 (S.D. Ohio 1974).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT, OPINION AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

CARL B. RUBIN, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court following trial, presentation of evidence *223 and testimony, and submission of memoranda by counsel. In accordance with Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court does determine the following findings of fact' and conclusions of law.

I

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff is a black male formerly employed by defendant at its plant in the City of Dayton. Plaintiff’s employment began in 1967 and terminated in 1973. During his period of employment, plaintiff did not at any time occupy a supervisory position.

2. During the time covered by plaintiff’s employment the production employees of defendant were represented by Local Union 87 of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum & Plastic Workers of America. Two collective bargaining agreements covered the period from 1967 to 1973. The parties have stipulated that the collective bargaining agreement for the period from 1967 to 1970 contained, insofar as pertinent to this matter, identical provisions to the agreement from 1970 to 1973 (Ex. J).

In accordance with the earlier agreement, plaintiff in 1969 was elected as an Alternate Committeeman authorized to represent employees in grievance procedures when the regularly elected committeeman was not present in the plant.

3. The Inland Division of General Motors Corporation produces component parts for an automobile including, by way of example, brake hose, engine mounts, flexible body components, steering wheel pads, steering wheels, deck strips, flexible body fillers, brake linings, weather stripping, and so forth. During the period of plaintiff’s employment the defendant employed at two plants in the Dayton area, bettveen five and six thousand employees.

4. While an employee, plaintiff was disciplined three times: In June of 1970, in January of 1971, and in December of 1971. The incidents of January, 1971 and December, 1971 were treated as grievances for arbitration purposes and opinions rendered by impartial umpires (Defendant’s Ex. F and G). An examination of the incidents and the determinations of the umpires indicate no issue of significance to plaintiff’s complaint of discrimination.

In each instance the impartial umpire substantially reduced plaintiff’s suspension. In the incident of January, 1971, a disciplinary layoff was reduced from twenty-one days to balance of shift plus one day. In the incident of December, 1971, a thirty-day disciplinary layoff was reduced to balance of shift plus one week. In each instance, plaintiff violated shop rules and exceeded normal standards of conduct. The disciplinary .incident of June, 1970, will be treated separately herein.

5. The relevant labor market for industries in or near Dayton, Ohio, consist of the counties of Greene, Miami, Montgomery and Preble, known generally as “the Miami Valley region.” The 1970 census indicates a black population of Montgomery County of 13.75% and a black population of the Miami Valley region of 12.15%. 1 While the total black employment of defendant has varied narrowly between 1966 and 1973, the same is not true of black supervisory personnel. In 1966 black employment was 14.5% of the total; in 1973 it was 16.74%. During a period of plant-wide layoffs in 1971 it was as low as 13.28%. There is general agreement between the parties as to these figures (Plaintiff’s Brief, p. 1(a); Defendants’ Brief, Appendix A).

There are some fractional differences as to black supervisory employees between the exhibits presented during trial and the briefs of the parties. The parties, however, are now in substantial agreement, as shown by their briefs, and *224 these figures will be accepted by the Court. According to such briefs the percentages of black supervisors are as follows:

Date Percentage

1966 0.90

1967 1.50

1968 1.51

1969 2.38

1970 2.66

1971 3.53

1972 7.63

1973 9.14

In the six years between 1966 and 1971 the percentage of black foremen increased on an average of Vfc of 1% per year. In the next two years the percentage increased from 3.53% to 9.14% or an average of 2.8% increase per year. It is during this period that the STEAM program was conceived and initiated.

6. Prior to September of 1971, there was no formal method of selecting supervisors. Foremen and plant supervisors would suggest candidates. Employees could apply at the Personnel Department by using a transfer form referred to in paragraph 55 of the collective bargaining agreement or by informally advising a foreman of their interest. Foremen were not required to advise Personnel of such interest. No effort was made to interest employees in general in promotion, no posting of openings was made, and no formal method of selection had been developed.

In September of 1971, a program known as “STEAM” was instituted. The term, “STEAM” stands for Selection Training Education Affirmative Management. It became a specific formal effort at recruiting and selecting foremen candidates. Employees were advised of the opportunity and an effort made to interest employees, both black and white, in promotion. Those selected were given comprehensive instruction and an opportunity to qualify as supervisors. Seven groups of employees were selected and trained under the STEAM program to October, 1973 (Ex. A-E). In such seven groups were 57 employees, 40 male — 17 female. Of the males, 14 were black — 26 were white.

The STEAM program is nondiscriminatory in its selection process, it is based upon racially neutral criteria and offers an equal opportunity to blacks and whites for promotion and entrance into supervisory ranks.

7. On June 8, 1970, plaintiff endeavored to present a “Group Grievance” on grievance forms provided by management. The grievance contains the number “46719,” (Ex. C.). The grievance written in something less than precise language charged the defendant with discriminating in promotional opportunities against Negro employees. The grievance was signed by the plaintiff as an employee and by one Fred Jackson who endorsed the grievance at the top. It was not endorsed by a District Committeeman as required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. It was presented to plaintiff’s foreman who responded, “There has been no violation of the Agreement. Grievance Denied.”

Plaintiff was directed to withdraw the grievance and when he failed to do so was thereupon suspended. The “Group Grievance” was subsequently withdrawn and a document entitled “Employee Grievance (Ex. D) was substituted and presented by management. This document was dated June 12, 1970. Plaintiff’s suspension continued until the “Group Grievance” was withdrawn. His total period of suspension was the balance of shift on June 8, 1970, plus June 9 and June 10, 1970.

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383 F. Supp. 222, 11 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1068, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6808, 9 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,019, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/senter-v-general-motors-corporation-inland-div-ohsd-1974.