Petitioners Reply Brief — United Mine Workers of America v. Riverton Coal Co.
Supreme Court brief1972
Ask Donna
What actually matters in this document.
Text
In THE
Supreme Court of the United States
OcToBER TERM, 1971
No. 71-1346
UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA.
Petitioner,
Vv.
RIVERTON COAL COMPANY and
DAVISON FUEL AND Dock COMPANY.
Respondents.
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO
THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS eos
THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
PETITIONER'S REPLY TO OPPOSITION BRIEF
Epwarp L. CAREY
HARRISON COMBS
900 Fifteenth Street. N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
E. H. Rayson
Valley Fidelity Bank Building
Knoxville. Tennessee 37991
RoperT i. DocceTt
2222 Kroger Building
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati. Orio 45202
M. E. Bolarsky
512 Kanawha Valley Building
Charleston. W. Va. 25391
Attorneys for Petitioner.
United Mine Workers af America
.
. e .
- :
-
.
,
+e :
*,. : 4 .
.
. ’
.
‘
.
.
.
\
.
.
” .
‘
.
«
.
.
~ .
«
.
. .
. 5 *
4 - @
-
° : .
.
- .
» @¢
' .
4
ll.
IIl.
INDEX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
‘Page
UMW’S Repity to RESPONDENTS’ STATEMENT
OF THE CASE
UMW’S Repiy to REsPonDENTS’ ARGUMENT
THAT THE SixTH Circuit’s HoLpING CONCERNING
THE CHALLENGED CLAUSES Dors Not Conr.Lict
WitH APPLICABLE DECISIONS OF THIS CovRT
A. Contrary’ To Respondents, the Sixth Cir-
cuits Opinion Herein Conflicts With This
Court’s National Weodwork, And With
Opinions Of the D. C: Circuit
B. The Sixth Circuit's Prior Canada Dry Case
Conflicts With the Sixth Circuit’s Opinion
Herein
C. Contrary to Respondents. UMW’s Objectives
Were Primary and Not Secondary, and the
District Court So Found
oe
‘
There Is No Conflict Between the
Circuits”
UMW’S REPLY TO RESPONDENTS’ ARGUMENT
THat UMW Corrcrep Riverton anp Davison,
AND THAT THERE 1s No Conriict WITH THE
CORONADO Casts
The 1964 Work Stoppage
The 1966 Work Stoppage
11
13
13
13
Page
IV. UMW’S Repty Concerninc Tue Sixta Circuit's
FaiLure To Fo.tow Rute 52(a), Fenerat Ruies
or Civit Procepure 22
V. UMW’S Repty-to Responpents’ CLaim Tat
Davison 1S A Proper Party 22
CONCLUSION -23
TABLE OF CASES
Brentwood Markets, 171 NLRB 1018 (1968) 8
Browning v. Crouse, 10 Cir., 356 F.2d 178 18
C. & O. Ry. Co. v. Martin, 283 U.S. 209, 219-20 18
Cala Foods, 172 NLRB No. 200, 69 LRRM 1189 8
Canada Dry Corp. v. NLRB, 6 Cir., 421 F.2d 907
* (1970) 8,13
Coronado Coal Co. v. UMWA. 268 U.S. 295, 303-05 14,
16, 19
Garmeada Coal Co. v. UMW, DC, E.D. Ky., 1954,
122 F.Supp. 512, aff'd. 6 Cir., 230 F.2d 945 21
Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971) 12
Harnischfeger Corp. v. Sheet Metal Workers,6 Cir. _
436 F.2d 351, 355, 356 (1970) 15, 20, 21, 22
Houston Insulation Contractors Assn. v. NLRB, 386
U.S. 664 (1967) - 10
Int. Ladies Garment Workers Union v. NLRB, DC.
_ Cir., 237 F.2d 545, 552 17
Page
Int. Union, UMWA, 76 LRRM 1396 13
Int. Union, UMWA v. NLRB, DC. Cir., 399 F.2d
977, 980 ( 1968) ae it
Lewis v. Benedict Coal Co., 6 Cir., 259 F.2d 346
(1958) Imodified on other grounds, 261 U.S.
459 (1960)) 17
Lewis v. NLRB, D.C. Cir., 350 F.2d 891 (1965) ll
Lewis v. Penninoton, 400 F.2d 806, 814 (1968) cert.
‘den. 393 U.S. $33, reh. den. 393 U.S. 1945 il
Loco! $61, Electrical Workers v. NLRB, 365 U:S. 667.
J72, C80 4,7
Local 1976, Carperts’s v. NLRB, 357 U.S. 93. 98
(1958) : 10
Moore v. C. & O. Ry. Co., 349 U.S. 573, 573 i9
NLKEB v. Local 825, Operating Cngineers, 409 US.
| 297, 304 7
National Woodirorl: Mfgre. Assn. v. NLRB, 386 U.S
612, 644 (1967) 4.5, 10
Pennsy!rania R. Co. y. Chamberlain, 288 US. 333,
349-43 ; 19
Ramsey v. UMW, 416 F.2d 655 (1969), reversed on
other grounds 401 U.S. 302 11, 12
Retail Clerks Union Local 770 v. NLRB, D.C. Cir.,
296 F.2d 363, 373, 374 (1961) 6,7
Seafarers Int. Union v. NLRB, D.C. Cir., 265 F.2d
585, 590 4
Teamsters v. Humko. 6 Cir., 287 F.2d 231. 242 20
*
Page
Tewrst Leal 710 ¥. NLRB, D.C. Cir.. 335 F.2d
Sie, F13-14 61964) 6. 7.3
ted Coat Company v. UMWA,
1192. 1198. 1199 12
: Comatract Workers v. Haislip Baking Co.,
2 at 15
7 Co.. 2759 US. 334. 353
14, 16, 17, 19
OMT v.C U.S 715. 343 ¢ 1966) 17
' ' d Coal Compary,
a % jte i? ” ‘ wl 12
ty S j r. es ‘i ‘ : _@ DdC.. 1948. yi F. Supp.
Set Md. D.C. Cin, 177-¥.2d 29 (1949) " «16
U.S. +. int. Union, U IW. DC. D.C.. 1955S 89 F_Supn.
17 16, 20
U.S. +. tnt. Union, UII, D.C. Cir.. 190 F.2d 865
(195i) 17
United Steelworkers of America v. NLRB, 376 US.
492 7
United Teatile Workers v. Newberry Mills. Inc.. 315
F 2d 217 (1963), cert. den. 375 US. 818 (1963) 18
Vulcan Materials Co. y. Steelworkers, 5 Cir., 430
F.2d 446. 456 (1970) 18
Walters v. Int. Assn. of Plumbers, 6 Cir., 323 F.2d 578 15
Page
STATUTES
Labor Management Reiations Act, 1947,as amended 4
Section 8(b)(4) 129 USCA 158(b)(4)) 5, 10
Section 8(b)(4)(€i)Gii)(A) [29 USCA 158(b)
(4)CiM PCA) 10, 12, 13, 14
Seciton 8¢b)(4)(i)(ii)(B) 129 USCA 158/b)
(4)Ci)CifB)! 10, 12. 13, 14
Section 8(d) 129 USCA 158(d)] : i9
Section 8(¢) [29 USCA 158(e)] 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8.
11, 12. 22
Seciion 9 (29 USCA 159)
Section 301 (29 USCA 125) ' i9
Section $03 (29 USCA 187) 11,13
MISCELLANEOUS
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure:
Rule 52(a) - 2. 13, 22
In THE
Supreme Court of the Wuited States
Octosper TERM, 1971
No. 71-1516
Unitep Mine WorKERS OF AMERICA,
Petitioner.
Vv.
Riverton Coat Company and
Davison FUEL AND Dock Company,
Respondents.
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIOR ARI TO
THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPLALS FOR
THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
PETITIONER'S REPLY TO OPPOSITION BRIEF
I. UMW’S REPLY TO RESPONDENTS’
STATEMENT OF THE CASE.*
Despite Respondents’ charge in its opposition brief
(p. 6) that UMW’s statement “is laced with irrele-
vancies, misstatements of fact, expressions of opinion
and significant omissions”, UMW believes that compari-
son of the record with its Statement of the Case will
disclose it to be both accurate and fair. On the other hand,
critical omissions‘ and inaccuracies in Respondents’
statements and arguments prompt UMW’’s instant reply,
*Parties and —— references are referred to herein as in the
certiorari petition, og, the abbreviation-“J.A. ” refers to pages
in the Joint Appendi ¢ opposition brief is referred to as “O.B._.
All emphases herein are supplied, unless otherwise indicated.
2
although time permits UMW to point out only the most
blatant examples thereof.
The opposition briefs statement concerning the 1964
strike and Agreement (O.B. 9-14) is to be compared
with Potitioner’s statement concernins the 1964 work
Sioppage (Pet. 16-22); Respondents’ statement con-
cerning the 1966 strike and Agreement (O.B. 14-16) is
to be compared with that of Petitioner (Pet. 22-24),
including the corroborative evidence furn’shed by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of
Labor, concerning the 1966 steppace, which Respondents
ignore: and the opposition brief’s statement of the
district court’s decision (O.B. 19-21) is to be compared
with Petitioner’s statement of the district court's con-
clusion concerning the two work stoppages (Pet. 24-26).
Not only does Respondents’ opposition brief assid-
uously avoid directing the Court's attention to numerous
undisputed facts, including, but not limited to, the
bituminous coal industry’s history’ of collective bargain-
ing and its relevant economic facts (Pet. 9-11), UMW’s
historic efforts to preserve work opportunities for its
members through contractual restrictions (Pet. 11-15),
but also the district court’s findings pertaining thereto
(Pet. 9-15), as well as to many of the district court’s
findings and conclusions of law that PWC, the 80-cent
‘The district court affirmatively concluded that “the history of the
union negotiations going back dozens of years (multiple and singular)
which led to PWC and/or the 80-cent clause is relevant”, avowing that
“Any work preservation clause or any uniorg standards clause will of
necessity limit the right of an emplover to deal with other employers
or to handle their products” and “It is difficult to imagine such a
clause which would not run afoul of 8(e)” [A. 47a (76) ].
The Sixth Circuit was, as insensitive to the requirement of Rule
52(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, that “Findjngs of fact shall
not be set aside unless clearly erroneous” relating to the foregoing
finding as it was as to all other district court findings pertaining to
the validity of the challenged clauses in the 1964 and 1966 Agreements.
3
clause, and the coal lands clause of the 1964 and 1966
Agreements sought to protect the jobs and work of
signaicry employees and to maintain the Welfare Fund’s
iniegrity, and were permissive under the Act's 8(e).
The district court’s findings and conclusions appear in
the certiorari petition (pp. 13-16), to which reference
is made. Though all of said findings and conclusions are
cogent, crucially worthy of repetition. are ihe district
court's findings and conclusions that “neither PWC nor
the 80-cent clause ran afoul of 8(e)”: that their purpose
clearly was “to tackle in a successful way a logitimate
problem of subcontracting and work preservation which
had exisied for decades and had been attacked for
decades in unsuccessful contractual methods”; that a
secondary effect of each clause “was the protection of
the Weifare Fund—clearly a legitimate primary (in a
labor sense) target”; that though a “secondary effect”
was unionization of some non-union employers, it was
“foresecable and in that sense was a purpose at the time
the clausts were negotiated”; and that the secondary
purpose was an incident to the primary purpose, which
was work preservation, and “obvious on the record that
‘the unionization effect was a matter of choice, even to
neutral employers”, not a mattc. of compulsion [A. 55a
(83-84)1. Specifically, with reference to Riverton, the
district court concluded, “On this record, one could only
conclude that the 80-cent clause did exactly what it was
designed to do—it resulted in the employer producing
more with his own employees than he ever had before
by substantial percentages” [A. 55a (84)], noting “This
record does not explain why financial ability to expand
production (1964-65) was missing in 1962-63” [A. 13a
(42-43)]. It agreed, too, there was nothing secondary
about the coal lands clause [A. 44a (73)1.
4
il, UMWS REPLY TO RESPONDENTS’ -ARGUMENT
THA? Ti:E S'TH CiRCUIT’S HOLDING CON-
CERNING THE CHALLENGED CLAUSES DOES
NOY CONPLICT WITH APPLICABLE DECISIONS
OF THIS COURT. y
ororary To Respondents. the Sixth Cireuii’s
eran phan Conflicts “\,ith This Couri’s
vevenel 8 eedwork., Avid With Opinions Of the
By a. Cireuit.
In contending the Sixth Circuit's opinien ‘herein docs
not conhice with applicabie opinions of this and oth
. ? ’ 7t 4 e yet - as “ TN}
leacral spnocilaie courts (O.B. 24, 38. 45- 30), eee.
ents ignore th's Court's teaching in Loc 761, Elee-
lt
trical Workers v. NLRB, 366 U.S. 667, 672. that the
Act's secondary boyeott provisions are not to be literally
construed because such construction would “ban most
Strikes historically considered to be lawful. so-called
primary activity’. Therein, this Court cautioned that
“Important as is the distinction between legitimate ‘pri-
mary activity’ and banned ‘secondary activity,’ it does
not present a glaringly bright line” and that “The
objectives of any picketing include a desire to influence
others from withholding from the employer their
services or trade” and it quoted, with approval, lantuage
from Seafarers Int. Union v. NLRB, D.C. Cir.. 265 F.2d
0895, 590, that “ ‘It is clear that, when a union pickets an
employer with whom it has a dispute, it hopes. even
if it docs not intend, that all persons will honor’ ”
the union’s activity, including “employees of neutral
employers”.
In reversing the district court and directing judg-
ment for Respondents, Respondents support the Sixth
Circuit’s action by an argument (O.B. 38-42) which
ignores the district court’s findings and conclusions that
PWC, the 80-cent clause and the coal lands clause of
5)
the 1964 and 1966 Agreements sought to protect the
jobs and work of signatory employees and to maintain
the Welfare Fund’s integrity, and were permissive |
under the Act’s Section 8(e), discussed in the certiorari
petition (pp. 13-16).
. Nor does Respondents’ argument concern itself with
Ne‘lonal Weedwork Mfgrs. Assn.’s? admonishment to
lower. federal courts that esas whether Sec-
ticn &(c) and Section 8(b)(4) is violated “eannot be
without ap inquiry inte whether, under all the
Surrounding circumstances, the Un‘on’s ve was
preservation of w ae .. or whether the agreements and
bovcott were tactica!ly Soyer to satisfy union .ob-
ject ves clsowhere” (386 U.S. 644). Further. Respend-
ents cisreacrd UMVW’s charge of the Sixth Circuit’s
iailvrve to ineuire “whether, under all the surrounding
Circ stances,
| td
O
he Union’s ebjective was nresernation
oF werd” awken the district court’s findings end- con
Clusions that the challenaed clauses were pormissive.
under Soction 8) were prediccted unon undisnuted
fects relating to the bituminous coal industry's histor
of collective baracining and its relevant economic facts,
UMW's historical efforts to preserve work opporiunities
for i‘s members through contractual restrictio ms, and
UMV/'s achievement of the challenged clauses (Pet.
§-15).
Morcover, Respondents were similarly unresponsive
to UMW’s answers (Pet. 37-38) to the Sixth Circuit's
condemnation of the challenged clauses on the basis
that “supplemental coal which Riverton and Davison
were purchasing from signatory and nonsignatory
*National Woodwork Mfgrs. Assn. v. NLRB. 386 US. (12 (1967).
6
suppliers involved work which was never performed
by their own employees”.
- Because. Respondents would deprecate (O.B. 48)
UMW ’s citations of Teamsters, Local -710 v. NLRB,
D.C. Cir., 335 F.2d 709, 713-14 (1964) and Retail Clerks
Union, Local 770 v. NLRB, D.C. Cir., 296 F.2d 368, 374
(1961) on their assertion that therein secondary ob-
jectives were not commingled, it becomes important.to
reiterate that in support of its finding that the challenged
clauses did not violate Section &(c), the district court
found that a secondary effect of each clause “was the pro-
tection of the Welfare Fund—clearly a legitimate pri-
mary (in a labor sense) target”; that though a “sec-
ondary effect” was unionization of some non-union em-
ployers, it was “forseeable and in that sense was a
purpose at the time the clauses were negotiated”; that
the secondary purpose was an incident to the primary
purpose, which was work preservation and “obvious
on that record that the unionization effect was a matter
of choice, even to neuircl employers”, not a matter of
compulsion [A. 55a (63-384)1. Specifically, with reference
to Riverton, the district court concluded, “On this
record, one could only conclude that the 89-cent clause
did exactly what was designed to do—it resulted in
the employer producing more with his own employees
than he ever had before by substantial percentages”
[A. 55a (84)1, noting “This record does not explain
why financial ability to expand production (1964-65)
was missing in 1962-63” [A. 13a (42-43)]. It agreed,
too, there was nothing secondary about the coal lands
clause [A. 44a (73)].
Even if, as the Sixth Circuit declared (A. 7la), the
coal “Riverton: and Davison were purchasing from
7
signatory and nonsignatory suppliers involved work
which was never performed by their own. employees”,
nonetheless it involved work -which Riverton’s em-
ployees had the skills and experience to perform.
Teamsiers, Local 710 recognizes that where the em-
-ployees have the skills and experience to perform work
claimed—as is true in the instant situation—even if
the clause covered non-traditional work.
“It would be. difficult to deny that ‘lal clause
covering non-traditional work may be just as
consecrated to the primary objective of bettering
the lot of the bargaining unit employees and
just. as foreign to. the congressional purpose for
section &(e) as those clauses involving only the
work traditionally done within the bargaining
unit ” (335 F.2d Fis). |
In addition to the quoted language in the certiorari
petition (p. 38), Retail Clerks makes clear that when
an employer “agrees in good faith to terms and condi-
tions, he represents: that if the employees accept and
abide. those terms they will have this employment.
We thiftk employees, even absent a_ specific anti-
subcontracting provision, could enforce their right to
the work contemplated by a bargaining agreement”
(296 F.2d 373)..
NL?B v. Local §25, Operating Engineers, 400 U.S. 297,
304, declared, “Some disruption of business relationships
is the necessary consequence of the purest form of
primary activity” and that “These foreseeable disrup-
tions are, however, clearly protected”, citing United
Steelworkers of America v. NLRB, 376 U.S. 492, and
Local 761, Electrical Workers v. NLRB, 366 U.S. 667, 682.
These pronouncements are consonant with the recogni-
tion in Teamsters, Local 71 0, that “Thus the ‘cease doing
8
business’ language in $3(e) cannot be read literally be-
cause inherent in all subcontracting clauses, even those
admittediv primary, is refusal to deal with at least some
contractors” (335-F.2d 714).
B.° Pise Sixth Cirenit’s Prior Canela Dry Case Con-
fliets With the Sixth Cireaii’s Gpinion Herein.
Heretofore and conirary to the Sixih Circuit's rejec-
tion yeas of UMW’s “ciaimable work” contention, the
Sixt: Circuit's Cenada Dry Corp. v. NLRB, 6 Cir., 421
F.2d 907 (1970), -efused an employer's claim that a
union scught “work acquisition”, as distinguished from
“work preservation”, saying “these were the type of
jobs which the clerks had traa.iionally done and for
which thes nad the skills and experience” and that:
“Although the tasks of initially handling and
shelving the particular brand name preducts in
issue had not been traditionaily nerfarmed by
the store clerks, we do not regard the clerks claim
to these jos as representing in any r calistie Ssonse
an attempt to.. ai re new job tasks” (p. 909).
€. Contrary to Respordes MW s Objecti ves Were’
Pri Hoary ond Not Sec rentary. and Uae PPi<iriet
‘surt So Fennd.
In urging upon this Court that UMW’s ccercion had
secondary objects (O.B. 29-35}, Respondents, in auoting
from Gisirict court findings and conciusions, have jailed
to include cther crucialiy relevant portions thereof.
>
Illustrative thereof: Respondents qucte (O.B. 32) as
follows:
“Another object oi the said strike was to force or
require Riverton and Davison to cease using, sel-
Notably, the Sixth Circuit's Canada Dry opinion affirm: NLRB’s
holding. Additionaliy, the Sixth Circuit's Cenada Dru o-inion (p.
910) cites, with approval, NLRB’s holdings in Brentwood Merkets, 171
NLRB 1018 (19€8) and Cala Foods, 172 NLRB No. 290, 69 LRR*M 1189.
9
ling, handling, transporting or otherwise dealing
in th e products of coal producers who were not
signatories to an agreement with the defendant
Tnion and to cease doing business with such
preducers”’;
that
“Another effect of the said strihoe * was to encourage
coal producers selling coal to Riverton or Davison
io recognize or bargain with the defendant Union
as the represeniative of the employees of such
producers even though the defendant Union had
not been certified as the representative of such em-
ployees under the provisions of Section 9 of the
Act”,
and that
“An object of the April, 1964, strike at Riverton
Was to force or require Riverton to enter into the
proposed 1964 printed form amendment to the
National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement of
1950”,
but STE en carefully avoid directing this Court’s
attention to paragraph 39’s additional lenguage, reading:
“After Riverton signed the 80-cent clause, and
as a result thereof, some fifteen non-union pro-
ducers from which Riverton had been buving
supplemental coal became signatories to the UMW
agreement. Some twenty-two did not—so the
effect was not to ‘force’ or ‘compel’ but to en-:
courage. Such ‘encouragement’ was not a primary
object of the strike—it was a recognized incident.
The design or purpose or object remained—job
protection” (A:25a).
Similarly, Respondents quote ( OB. 32) from the dis-
trict court’s conclusion as follows:
“A proximate result of the 80-cent clause [in the
agreement] to Riverton was to force it to cease
10
dealing in the products of other producers of coal
i.e., producers who were not unionized”,
but again Respondents are careful not to apprise this
Court that the district court’s conclusion continued with
the following language:
“While these were proximate results and fore-
sceable effects, none of them, nor the collection
of them, constituted the primary purpose for °
exacting the 80-cent clause bargain. That was to
prevent subcontracting, preserve Riverton’s em-
ployees’ work, maintain union standards in the
production of coal which could just as well have
been produced by Riverton and protect the in-
tegrity of the Welfare Fund” (A.56%a).
Respondents’ admission (O.B. 32-33) that the Sixth
Circuit “relied upon the above findings of the District
Judge in reversing and directing the entry of judgment
for the Respondents” clearly demonstrates the applica-
bility of UMW’s reliance upon “claimable work” and the
authorities cited by it in support of its contention.
A basic error of Respondents in pressing upon this
Court that UMW is guilty of secondary objectives is
their ignoring that to be guilty of a Section 8(b)(4)
violation, there is a positive necessity that the con-
demned conduct relate to a concomitant banned objec-
tive. Local 1976, Carper.ters v. NLRB, 357 U.S. 93, 98
‘ (1958). The discussion herein has demonstrated that
Section 8(b)(4)(i)(ii)(A)’s objective is permissive
under National Woodwork. Similarly, Houston Insula-
tion Contractors Assn. v. NLRB, 386 U.S. 664 (1967),
holds that collective activity of employees of a primary.
employer, the objective of which is to affect labor policies
of that employer is protected primary activity under the
Act’s Section 8(b)(4)(B) and “A boycott cannot be-
11
come secondary because engaged in by primary em-
ployees not directly affected by the dispute.”
- DP. UW's Response to Respondents’ Claim ‘There
is No Conflict Between the Circuits”
Arguing the Sixth Circuit’s decision to be “the first —
and only decision in any Circuit” in a Section 303 damage
action involving the validity of the UMW’s 80-cent and
coal iand clauses (O.B. 46), Respondents concede the
District of Columbia. Circuit’s concern with the 80-cent
clause in Lewis v. NLRB, 350 F.2d 801 (1965) and
Int. Union, UMWA v. NLRB, 399 F.2d 977 (1968).
Though arguing the district court’s assertion that “an
admitted substitute is the equivalent of what it was
substituted for” to be a basic error (O.B. 47), Re-
spondents do not deny that their Dan S. Davison was
an intervenor in Int. Union, UMWA v. NLRB, D.C. Cir.,
399 F.2d 977, 980, and that the District of Columbia Cir-
cuit’s reference to “everyone’s admission and our char-
acterization a substitute for the union standards clause”
(meaning PWC) included Respondents’ Davison. Nor do
Respondents challenge UMW’s certiorari petition state-
ment (Pet. 31-34, 39) that pursuant to the District of
Columbia Circuit’s indicia, NLRB has declared the
validity of PWC and the 80-cent clause as permissive
under Section 8(e). Further, if, as the Sixth Circuit
quoted, NLRB “has not been consistent in its rulings on
either the 80-cent or the PWC clause” (A. 73a), neither’
has the Sixth Circuit been consistent with reference to
PWC, since in both Lewis v. Pennington, 400 F.2d 806,
814 (1968). cert. den. 393 U.S. 983; reh. den. 393 U.S.
1045, and Ramsey v. UMW, 416 F.2d 655 (1969), re-
versed on other grounds 401 U.S. 302, the Sixth Circuit
has validated PWC."
12
In any event, as UMW asserts in its petition (pp. 31-
34), NL2RB has sanci‘oned the challenged clauses’ validity
pursuance to the District of Columbia Circuit’s indicia
which condemned ihe Sixth Circuit’s preference for
NUNRDB's prior decisions, and, as the certigrari petition
(p. 40) pointed out, such preference conflicts with this
Court’s Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971)
that “The administrative interpr aio of the Act by the
enforcing agency is entitled to great deference”
The foregoing discussion demonstrates the Sixth Cir-
cuits reversal of the district court’s findings and conclu-
sions portaining to the Act’s Section 8(e) resulted from
its failure to recognize UMW’s contention of “claim-
able work’, to its willingness te segregate portions of
such findings and conclusions rather than premise its
decision on them in their entirety, and by its preference
f adopting NLRB decisions which the District of Colum-
bia eee t rejected rather than accepting NLRB’s valida-
tion thereof.
Furthermore, since UMW’s objectives were primary
and not secondary, UMW could not have. violated Sec-
tion ®(b)(4)(i) (ii) (A) and (B), by reason whereof
the district court appropriately dismissed the action and
complaint, just as NLRB did upon validating the 80-
“While the Sixth Circuit's Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company
v. UMWA, 416 F.2d 1192. 1198, found PWC “to boycott coal not
produced in conformity with the National Agreement” (O.B. 47), its
finding reloted to a jury finding as to an antitrust violation. While
the district court sanctioned the jury finding, its belief that PWC
was valid is expressly reflected in its statement that, “If this Court
were sitting as a trier of the facts in the present case, it would make
the same findings of fact on the present record as it mode unon the
record in the Ramsey case”’—wherein it found PWC valid-—ind_ that
its approval of the jury verdict “does not indicate . . the Court
concurs in the verdict” (See petition for certiorari, Case No. 1163,
October Term, 1969, styled UMWA v. Tennessee Consolideted Coal
Company, et al., Appendix, pp. 50a and 58a, and 416 F.2d 1199).
13
cent clause in Int. Union, UMWA (76 LRRM 1396,
fn. 12). Had the Sixth Circuit pursued prior im-
portant decisions and principles of this Court, the D. C.
Circuit and NLRB, and indeed the principles accepted
by it in its own Canada Dry case, and had it followed °
the command of Rule 52(a), Federal Rules of Civil Pro-
-cedure, it would have approved the district court’s find-
ings and conclusions with reference to the challenged
clauses and UMW’s objectives. Its failure so to do has
resuited in the Sixth Circuit's conflict therewith, there-
by inviting this Court’s award of certiorari herein.
I. UMW’S REPLY TO RESPONDENTS’ ARGUMENT
THAT UMW COERCED RIVERTON AND DAVESON,
AND THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT WITH THE
CORONADO CASES, :
The 1964 Work Stoppage.
Facts and the district court’s findings and conclusions
with respect to the 1964 stoppage, found in tho ecrtiorari
petition (pp. 16-22), in the Sixth Circuit’s holdings with
reference thereto (Pet. 27-29) and argued thercin as a
predicate for this Court’s award of certiorari (Pet. 40-
43), are to be compared with facts (O.B. 9-14), district
court findings (O.B. 19-21), the Sixth Circuit’s holdings
with reference thereto (O.B. 21-22) and argument (O.B.
25-30) with respect to the 1964 stoppage. found in Re-
spondents’ opposition brief.” Relevantly, UMW directs
the Court’s attention that the district court found the
1964 stoppage’s design, purpose or object remained “job
protection” (A. 25a).
The 1966 Work Stoppage.
Facts and the district court’s findings and conclusions
°UMW concedes its error pointed out by Respondents (O.B. 26, fn. 3)
that the word in the quoted language therein is properly “in” rather
than “not”, as stated in the certiorari petition (p. 22).
14
with respect to the 1966 stoppage, found in the certiorari
petition (pp. 22-26) and the'Sixth Circuit’s holdings re-
lating thereto (Pet. 29-30) and argued therein as a
predicate for the award of certiorari herein (pp. 43-47),
are to be compared with facts (O.B. 14-16), district
court findings (O.B. 20), the Sixth Circuit’s holdings |
relating thereto (O.B. 21) and argument (O.B. 28-30)
_with respect to the 1966 work stoppage. found in Re-
-spondents’ opposition brief.
Even if District 17 is a UMW agent, UMW submits
‘that Respondents’ assertion (O.B. 27), “It is clear . .
that District 17’s officers and representatives, including
R. R. Humphreys and Emery McCoy, were acting as
agents of the UMW in 1964 and that UMW is respon-
sible for their actions” is a non sequitur, and UMW’s
discussion (Pet. 40-43) is a challenge to Respondents’
statement (O.B. 27), “On the basis of the substantial
evidence summarized above, directly linking the UMW
through its authorized agents with the 1964 strike, the
District Judge properly. found and concluded -that”
- UMW “in 1964 induced and encouraged individuals em-
ployed by the plaintiff to engage in a strike and a re-
fusal to perform services for Riverton in the course of
their employment and also threatened, coerced and re-
strained Riverton, as those words are used in 8(b) |
(4)(A) and (B)” (O.B. 27-28).
Contrary to Respondents’ claim that “There is no
conflict with the Coronado decisions” (O.B. 42), UMW’s
certiorari petition (pp. 41-45), dealing with the 1964
and 1966 work stoppages and UMW’s non-responsibility
therefor, demonstrates the Sixth Circuit’s conflict with
UMWA v. Coronado Coal Co., 259 U.S. 344, and Coronado
Coal Co. v. UMWA, 268 U.S. 295; and nothing in Re-
spondents’ brief (pp. 42:43) differs from UMW’s basic
15.
position that in a Section 303 action the ordinary rules
pertaining to the law of agency obtain.
_ Respondents’ opposition brief (pp. 42-45) is totally
silent concerning UMW’s charge that the Sixth Cir-
cuit’s opinion conflicts with Walters v. Int. Assn. of
Plumbers, 6 Cir., 323 F.2d 578, which rejected a judg-
ment against a parent organization because
“There is no evidence . . that [the parent organi-
zation! participated in any way in the placing of
the picket: or ratified the picketing”.
Nor is there Respondent contention of the inapplicability
of Harnischfeger Corp. v. Sheet Metal Workers, 6 Cir.,
436 F.2d 351 (1970)—a Section 303 action—which ap-
proved district court findings as “not clearly erroneous”,
which held, inter alia, “the International Union did not
authorize the picketing” and “the international repre-
sentative did not assert or claim to assert authority to
terminate the picketing” (436 F.2d 356).° :
Since Respondents premise UMW’s responsibility for
the 1964 work stoppage on the conduct of Emery McCoy,
District 17’s field representative (O.B. 10-11), the
Court’s attention is directed to the Fourth Circuit’s
United Construction Workers v. Haislip Baking Co.,
223 F.2d 872, which, in contrast to Respondents’ claim
herein, rejected the doctrine of imputed liability for the.
acts of a regional director and field representatives on
the ground that they did not have iraplied authority to
*Harnischfeger noted instances of a parent laber organization’s being
held liable where it “engaged in a joint enterprise with a local or
* responsible for the activities of the local and its agents”. or “when the
International admitted having joined the local in authorizing the gen-
eral conduct”, or “when the International through its constitution or
bylaws or by some other means commanded or required the activities
resulting im the unfair labor practices”. or “when the International
controlled the operations of the local” (436 F.2d 356). :
Unrefuted evidence herein is that neither District 17 nor UMW
had anything to do with the stoppage (J.A. 439).
16
adopt, on the parent union’s part, a “wildcat” “strike
conducted by a local union. Thus, UMW submits that
its cited authorities, and particularly its discussion of
Coronado ¢Pet. 44-45) in relation to the work stoppages
and UMW’s responsibility therefor, are apposite herein.
Respondents’ cited authorities to support their con-
tention that when Emery McCoy told union members
there was no contract, the statement was a “sional” for. .
strike action (O.B. 44, fn. 6), are discussed below:
_ Though U. S_ vy. Int. Union, UMW, DC, D.C., 1948, 77
F.Supp. 563, aff'd. D.C. Cir., 177 F.2d 29 (1949), held a °
functioning union to be responsible for its members’.
mass action, the instant case differs totally from the
factual situation therein where, in an industrywide
stoppage, the district court found the parent union
(UMW) responsible because it had provoked the strike.
There is neither plaintiff contention nor district. court
finding that in the instant case UMW authorized, particie
pated in, or ratified the 1964 stoppage so as to render
applicable U. S. v. Int. Union, UMW. Moreover, the
mass action theory may not be considered as a statement *
of principle in isolation from the factual situation, but
‘must be treated as cognate to the finding therein that
UMW had devised “a new method of avoiding responsi-
bility” by means of a “nod, or a wink, or the use of a
code in order to call a strike”. First Coronado rejects the
mass action theory, avowing responsibility “is a mere
question of actual agency” (259 U.S. 395).
Moreover, in U. S. v. Int. Union, UMW, DC, De.
1950, 89 F.Supp. 179, the district court, though recog-
nizing the mass action doctrine, refused to apply it, even
though, as herein, UMW failed to revoke local union
charters but, as herein, instructed its members to return
; 17
forthwith to work and there was an absence that strike
benefits had been used to aid striking miners.’
Resvondents misconceive (O.B. 44-45) UMW’s purpose
in citing UMW v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715 (1966) [Pet. 21.44]
which was in fact responsive to the Sixth Circuit’s
holding that UMW “did not undertake to discipline the
strikers” and “Its inaction was a form of influence and
persuasion”. UMW pointed (Pct. 44) to Gibbs’ holaing
that “There can be no rigid chal that a ution
disavow sirike epee ee -had not cuthorized.
YNACT bf p= re lire ay Ey | me be nr i.
UMW likewise directed attention (Pet. 44) to Mr. Justice
ee
Harilan’s concurrence in Gibbs that a union's failure “io
take a iriative aciion te disvel misconduct are not nm
theniseives proof. of authorization or ratifcaticn of the
wrondgdcing”’ (p. 743).
eo
Relovently; just as eer opposition brief contains no
response to the Gibbs quotations, the same is true of
UMW’s qustation (Pct. “14) from Int. Ladies Garment
Workers Union v. tues De -Ciws: 231 F220) 545.2552,
which cites frst Coronado (259 U.S. 395) as support for
its holding that there is no need. for cisavowing mis-
concuct by a party which has net initiated or participated
there'n and that “silence provides no rational basis for
inferring’ UMW acquiesced in the stoppages
Lewis y. Benedict Coal Co,, 6 Cir., 259 F.2d 346 (1958)
[modified on other grounds. 361 U.S. 459 (1930)] did not
involve the doctrine of “mass action” but made clear
that “w ldcat” strikes could not serve as a predicate for
a parent union’s liability. Benedict’s inapplicability is.
emphasized by the fact that it did not concern, as does
;
the instant case, unrefuted evidence affirmatively demon- -
"Sub. equently, the District of Columbia Circuit in U. S. v. Int. Union,
UMW; 190 F.2d 865 (1951) dismissed the action as “moot”.
18
strating efforts to have Riverton employees return and
continue to work (J.A. 1065-69), and uncontradicted
evidence that strike actiom was voluntary on the part of
Riverton employees (Pet. 16, et seq).
These same factors emphasize the inapplicability of
Vulcan Materials Co. v. Steelworke7s, 5 Cir., 430 F.2d
446 (1970), where the Fifth Circuit declared “It is
equally clear that the Unions, through their agents, in-
_duccd and encouraged the Vulcan employees to refuse
to royyrt to work ..” (p. 450).
Similarly inapposite is the Fourth Circuit's United
Textile Workers v. Newberry Mills, Inc., 315 F.2d 217
(1963). cert. den. 375 U.S. 818 (1963), where the union
contended the stoppage was a “wildcat” strike, under-
taken without union sanction and actively opposed by it,
its issue was whether the union could enforce arbitration
of discharged employees engaged therein; and the Fourth
Circuit held the employer's “argument against arbitra-
tion cannot prevail” and the union was exonerated of
liability. |
Notably, while the certiorari petition (p. 43) observed
the district court’s characterization of the two McCoys’
testimony as “less thay candid”, the certiorari petition
pointed to this Court’s C. & O. Ry. Co. v. Martin, 283
U.S. 209, 219-20, thai:
“It is not proper to submit uncontradicted
testimony to a [factfinder] for the sole purpose
of giving the [factfinder] an opportunity to nullify
it by discrediting the witness, when nothing
more than mere interest in the case exists upon
which to discredit such witness . .”
, and the Tenth Circuit’s Browning v. Crouse, 356 F.2d
178, expresses ii thus:
19
“Unimpeached, positive testimony may not be
disregarded, even though adduced from inter-
- ested witnesses, and no question of credibility or
issue of fact ‘is presented for determination by
a trier of fact”.
Significantly, Respondents’ opposition brief makes
no challenge of the relevancy of these cases, nor is it
responsive to Petitioner’s citations of Moore v. C. & O.
Ry. Co., 340 USS. 573, 578, that “Speculation cannot
supply the place of proof” and Pennsylvania R. Co. y.
Chamberlain, 288 U.S. 333, 340-41, which precludes the
use of inferences as proof where there is “uncontradicted
testimony of unimpeached witnesses . . that the fact
sought to be inferred did not exist”.
UMW submits Respondents’ contention that the Sixth
Circuit's decision presents no conflict with Coronado is
erroneous and should be rejected.’ al
UMW’s certiorari petition (p. 46), challenging the
Sixth Circuit's reversal of the district court’s exonera-
tion of UMW for the 1964 and 1966 stoppages. notes the
Sixth Circuit's failure to dispute a single finding upon
which that exoneration was. based, including the dis-
trict court’s corroboration by the United States Denpart-
ment of Labor (Pet. 24). Since. as the certiorari petition
(pp. 22-24) shows, the Burean of Labor Statistics is
corroborative of UMW’s position and the district court’s
findings and conclusions that “With respect to the 1966
‘Since Reepondents’ opposition brief directed attention that the
Sixth Circuit found the 19*4 contract “‘was in effect a no-strike
contract’. so the 1966 strike like that in 1964 was in breach of con-
tract and also violated Section 8(d) of the Act” (O.B. 28), it ix crucial
that the Court note the district court's declaration that the instant
that. concerning the “no-strike contract”, its findings “had no effect
on the decision of this Court” [A. 30a (60)}. Indeed. neither in plead-
ings. the evidence nor in crguments did the issue of no-strike contract
strike, the district court concluded ‘there is no evi-
dence . . based on which this Court could say’ plaintiffs
maintained the burden of proving by a preponderance
that ‘District 17, or the defendant, either authorized or
ratified the 1966 strike at Riverton’ and that ‘There is
certainiy no connection whaterer between the 8%-cent
cleuse in either the 1964 or 1966 contract end the 1966
strili2’” (Pet. 25-26), it becomes .sigrificant that Re-
spondents’ apposition brief contzins no response thereto.
Pi w.« “d nd aa * * r8 t to ett-9 eet 4% > Sixt’ ' Crevit’s
s ef - 4 .%
rovercal on the basis that the district courts “ndings of
non sducoment or enceurs? wert wore “Ns sup ited
by Gon d are clearly erroncaus” by ming to
the Sixih C’reuit’s heiaine thot by TMSV's {allure to
‘ c- 6 > ? -« 4%. o“~ f 7 y ? ‘
en eeecpt ne? hencfhits in J em treroc. UMW “hereby
ied . 7 oe ; ey ‘ Pe té : hb *h ty : 1°44 and t! . 1956
tutte." ane ths j estes ere . TPteene ad -sneennde ’
str -", and that tine enm'y \: Riverton could t. rminate
, 7 i + ‘ **
s & : . + . -* ‘ 7 ¥ hich
- F
1. uA £ ia \ (G.! - . =
* . '. . ; 7 a ** ‘ Pied i
Rvs. te ‘us. be i > & PPPS L YS we: mm Pot udicial
re "4 . 7% *ti?T » a ° ~~ 90% ft i ° «+ ec a“ See
PoaGsS tC. es OF ae cert: wir neti yn f . & s-4: } 34as
asuntcont v saown. end os the Gist yt cour. i rr, &. W.
; -.- . tear ne OC. 1059 €9 F , -)
Jat, Vivien, UMW. ol. D.C... 1979 @S F Supp. 179. recog-
nizct (enie, p. it?. “orceve' Pespendents’ citation
of Teciasiers ¥. Hi ac.» Cir., 227 ¥.2d 231, is answered
by UMVW's showing (Pet. 4.) that the Sixth Circuit's
Hoerricebfeger pointed out thet Irmalzs “relied in vart
uror the provisions of the ‘nternati orl union's constitu-
tron in Eindirg thet th: ‘stopaaiionsl rorticts2: ec a
‘principal arting’ in the scecndary hye“! there ‘n cues-
tion” (436 F.26 355). indecd. Huwko emph.s- 27s that
‘the international union exorcised a degre2 of « ym inion
over the Iecal un-on. Cepriving it of tet degree oi inde-
21
pendence associated with autonomous organizations (287
F.2d 242), a situation which is totally dissimilar herein. -
Contrary to Respondents’ contention that UMW was
responsibie for the 1966 stoppage “because of its control
of and domination of its Locals, which have no real
autonomy” (O.B. 39, 43), under UMW’s Constitution,
local union officers are clected bx secret hellot of local
union members and are paid jrom dues allocaied to a
local union pursuant ‘to UMW’s Constitution (J.A. 424,
440). Regular local union meetings are scheduled pur-
suant to by-laws of local unions; and snecia!l meetings are
celled cither by the local union’s presi‘lent or members
thereof who request the calling cf such special meeting
(J.A. 616-04, 424, 440. 444).
Respondents’ effort to dissipate UMW's contention iat
the Sixth Circuit's holding cencernin
flicts with Hernischfegex and cther cited cases (Pet. 46:
0.3. 48, fn. 8),.on the premise, as Responcaents siated
that “None of the above decisions involve tic” UMW
is not of juridical relcvance. The Sixth Circuit, tne
Court will recall, grounded UMW respens'biiiiv for the
stoppages on the theory that “Local 1209 was not on
autonomous labor organization separate and apart for
UMW” and “an administrative arm” thereof and was
supervised, dominated and controlled by UMW (A. 75a).
Yet, each of the cited cases, including the Sixth Circu't's
Harnischfeger and Garmeada Coal Co. v. UMW, DC,
E.D. Ky., 1254, 122 F.Supp. 512. aff'd. 6 Cir.. 230 F.2d 945,
judicially proclaim a local union is a legal entity. apart
from its parent international organization. ~
“Respondents citations (O.B. 30) do not support their allecation of
UMW’s control over and domination of its locals (J.A. oe-ee. 436-44)
but, to the contrary, support UMW’s position of local union automony.
See Appendix A hereto for “Additional Findings santa Conclusions”
in the district courts’ Garmeada.
4
Respondents seek to disarm this Court by asserting
“The 1966 strike is of minor importance in the case”
(O.B. 30). It admits nonetheless that the Sixth Circuit
included in its award of damages $36,128.50 as attribu-
table to the 1956 strike. Hence UMW chailenges Re-
spondenis’ characterization of the 1966 strike as “of
minor importance’.
Tne tceregoing discussion emphasizes UMW’s reasons
(Pet. 47) for the award of certiorari herein.
IV. UMIWs REPLY CONCERNING THE SIXTH CIR-
CUIT’S FAILURE TO FOLLOW RULE 52(a), FED-
ERAL RULES OF CiVIL PROCEDURE.
UXMW’'s certiorari petition (p. 40) complains that the
Sixth Circuits reversal of district court findings that
the challenged clauses were permissive under the Act’s
Section 8(e) conflicts with Rule 52(a), Federal Rules.
Respondents undertake to avoid such failure on the
ground that the Sixth Circuit “relied on the findings, of
fact of the trial court” (O.B. 33, fn. 5); but, as already
shown (ante, pp. 8-10), those findings were wholly in-
complete and thus did not meet the Rule’s requirements
that “Findings of fact shall not be set aside unless clearly
erroneous’.
At variance with the Sixth Circuit’s action herein,
it implemented the Rule’s mandate in Harnischfeger
(436 F.2d $98).
Vv. UMW’'S REPLY TO RESPONDENTS’ CLAIM THAT
DAVISION IS A PROPER PARTY.
UMW’s certiorari petition (pp. 47-49) contains its posi-
tion that the Sixth Circuit holding that Davison is a
proper party plaintiff is erroneous. UMW believes: its
23
discussion therein suffices as an appropriate answer to
Respondents’ contrary claim (O.B. 36-38).
CONCLUSION
For the reasons assigned in its Petition for Certiorari
and herein, UMW (Pctitioner) prays that the Petition
for Writ of Cortiorari should be granted and that the
Writ issue to review ithe judgments and opinion of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
entered January 21, 1972. in Cases Nes. 71-1021 and
71-1022, as set forth in sa'd Petition. UMW (Petitioner)
intends to urge cach of the questions presented, even if
not specifically argued in ‘ts Petition or herein.
Respectfully submitted.
Epwarp L. Carey
HARRISON COMBS
900 Fifteenth Street. N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
E. H. Rayson
Valley Fidelity Bank Building
Knoxville, Tennessee 37901
‘e Rosert I. Doccett
"2222 Kroger Building
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
M. E. Borarsky
512 Kanawha Valley Building
Charleston, W. Va. 25301
Attorneys for Petitioner,
United Mine Workers of America
June 1, 1972
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.