United States v. Union Carbide Corp.

265 F. Supp. 756, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7027
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedDecember 21, 1966
DocketCiv. A. 3344-66
StatusPublished

This text of 265 F. Supp. 756 (United States v. Union Carbide Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Union Carbide Corp., 265 F. Supp. 756, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7027 (D.D.C. 1966).

Opinion

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

LEONARD P. WALSH, District Judge:

The Government of the United States petitions the Court for a Preliminary Injunction against the Union Carbide Corporation, the United Steelworkers of [757]*757America, AFL-CIO, and Local 2958, United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, Ideated in Kokomo, Indiana, where the Haynes Stellite Division of the Union Carbide Corporation are manufacturers of a special high temperature special purpose metal alloy, which is used to fabricate combustion liners used on certain jet planes and blades and vanes which are critical production components of military helicopters. The alloy is known as “Hastelloy X.”

Plaintiff prays for an injunction in accordance with the provisions of the Labor-Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 178, to restrain personnel of Haynes Stellite Division of Union Carbide Corporation at Kokomo, Indiana, from continuing or taking part in any strike or lockout at the plant, and the Union from encouraging, ordering or taking part in any strike at said plant.

This particular matter presents two fundamental questions as set forth in the statute: whether or not the strike or lockout (1) affects an entire industry or a substantial part thereof engaged in trade, commerce, transportation, transmission or communication among the several states or with foreign nations or engaged in the production of goods for commerce; and (2) if permitted to occur or to continue, will imperil the National health or safety.

The Court, after hearing oral argument of counsel and having opportunity to review the pleadings, affidavits and points and authorities submitted herein, finds:

That the strike at the Kokomo plant raises the issue as to what is an “industry” under the provisions of 29 U.S.C. § 178(a) (1) of the Labor-Management Relations Act.

Under Sec. 142 of 29 U.S.C., the term “industry affecting commerce” means “any industry or activity in commerce or in which a labor dispute would burden or obstruct commerce or tend to burden or obstruct commerce or the free flow of commerce.”

The Court finds that the strike at the Kokomo plant does have a substantial effect on the industry of production of military aircraft engines and therefore is encompassed within the Act.

The Court has no difficulty with the second question presented, — that is affecting the national safety, — in view of the evidence submitted.

The Court therefore signs the Order submitted by the plaintiff and the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law submitted by plaintiff, the United States of America.

That is to say, the Court grants the Preliminary Injunction.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

This cause having come on for hearing on the motion of the plaintiff for a preliminary injunction, as prayed for in its verified complaint, and the Court having considered all evidence submitted herein, the pleadings, memoranda of law, and arguments of counsel, makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law with respect to said application.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On or about September 30, 1966, certain employees of the Union Carbide Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “the corporation”) and represented by the following labor organizations:

United Steel Workers of America, AFL-CIO
Local 2958, United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO (hereinafter referred to as the Union defendants)

commenced a strike against the Corporation.

2. The strike results from an unresolved labor dispute and will be, if permitted to continue, a concerted work stoppage and not the exercise of the rights of individual employees to quit their labor, as provided in Section 502 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947.

3. On December 19, 1966 the President of the United States acting under the provisions of Section 206 of the Act [758]*758(29 U.S.C. § 176), issued Executive Order No. 11321, whereby he appointed a Board of Inquiry to inquire into the issues involved m said labor dispute In said Executive Order the President expressed the opinion that such dispute had resulted in a strike which, if permitted to continue, would affect a substantial part of the military aircraft engine industry, an industry engaged in trade, commerce, transportation, transmission or communication among the several States and with foreign nations, or engaged in the production of goods for commerce, and that such strike, if permitted to continue will imperil the national safety.

j 4. The Board of Inquiry so convened by the President inquired into the issues involved in the dispute and rendered its written report to the President.

5. Upon receipt of the report, the President, on December 1966, directed the Attorney General, pursuant to the provisions of Section 208 of the Act, to petition in the name of the United States any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties to enjoin the strike, and for such other relief as may be necessary or appropriate.

6. Thereupon, on December 21st, 1966 the Attorney General brought this action on behalf of the United States of Amer-¡ca

7. This suit was instituted under the National Emergencies provisions of the Act, Sections 206-210 (29 U.S.C. §§ 176-180).

8. Copies of the verified complaint and annexed affidavit of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, together with copies of the Plaintiff’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and supporting memorandum of law were served upon all defendants, who accepted service.

9. The threatened strike, if permitted to continue, will affect a substantial part of the military aircraft engine industry, which industry is engaged in trade, commerce, transportation, transmission or communications among the several states and with foreign nations, or in the production of goods for commerce.

1Q_ The gtrik .f permitted to con. win affect the National Safety> as f0nows.

(a) A customer of the Union Carbide Corporation is the sole producer of engines and certain spare parts for the F-4 (Phantom), the RF-4 (a reconnaisance version of the F-4) and F-104 aircraft. The F-4, used by both the Navy and the Air Force is the most modern tactical fighter available to our fighting forces today, and has been assigned to combat operations in Southeast Asia under the highest priority and is in constant and ever-in- . , . . , „ creasing use to perform, a variety of . , . . ... combat missions such as strafing and bombing. The F-104 is a high altitude fighter cover aircraft and is also in constant use in Southeast Asian combat situations. The Stellite Division of the Union Carbide Corporation, Kokomo, Indiana, is the major producer of a certain high temperature special purpose metal alloy which is used to fabricate combustion liners.

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265 F. Supp. 756, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7027, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-union-carbide-corp-dcd-1966.