Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

Aug 11, 1943

51 N.L.R.B. 1204 (N.L.R.B. 1943)

In the Matter of JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORPORATION and NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION, MASTERS, MATES & PILOTS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 25,
AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
Case No. R-4882
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION
AND
ORDER
Decided August 11, 19113
On March 2, 1943, the Board issued its Decision and Direction of
Election in the above-entitled proceeding,' and pursuant thereto an
election by secret ballot was conducted among the employees, described
in the Direction by the Regional Director for the Sixth Region (Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania). No objections to the conduct of the ballot
were filed by any of the parties. On March 30, 1943, as a result of
the election, the Board certified National Organization, Masters,
Mates & Pilots of America, Local 25,' affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, as the exclusive collective bargaining represen-
tative of the employees in the appropriate unit. Subsequently, the
Company filed a motion with the Board requesting that the Board
withdraw its certification in this proceeding on the ground that
masters, mates, and pilots are supervisory employees and as such
cannot constitute an appropriate unit under the decision in the Mary-
land Drydock case.2 On July 13, 1943, we denied the motion without
opinion. The Company thereafter urged reconsideration upon the
same grounds previously advanced. We affirm our ruling. Bar-
gaining units of supervisory employees in the printing and maritime
trades have the sanction of custom and tradition and it was not in-
tended in the Maryland Drydock decision to disrupt bargaining units,
or rights obtained thereby, in such trades. As indicated in the dis-
senting opinion in the Union. Collieries case,3 which opinion was sub-
sequently adopted in essence by the Board in the Maryland Drydock
case, supra,, the Board recognizes a genuine distinction between bar-
147 N. L. R. B 1272.
2 Matter of Maryland Drydock Company, 49 N L. R B 733
Matter of Umon Collieries Coal Company , 41 N L R. B. 961.
51 N L R. B, No. 187.
1204
JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORPORATION 1205
gaining units of masters, mates, and pilots, and bargaining units of
supervisory employees in industries lacking a similar tradition. The
Company asserts that there is no tradition of collective bargaining
by masters, mates and pilots extending to the inland waterways par-
ticularly in respect to the Pittsburgh area. We have previously
found that the local union involved in this proceeding has been in
existence for over 50 years and for this period, has bargained for its
members, tried to improve working conditions, and participated in
several strikes 4
ORDER
Upon the basis of the foregoing, the National Labor Relations
Board orders that the motion of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to withdraw certification of National Or-
ganization, Masters, Mates & Pilots of America, Local 25, affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor, as bargaining representa-
tive of the employees in the appropriate unit described in this pro-
ceeding be, and it hereby is, denied.
CHAIRMAN MILLIS took no part in the consideration of the above
Supplemental Decision and Order.
6 See Matter of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation , 37 N L. R. B. 366.