Lead Opinion
I. INTRODUCTION
Pеtitioner National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) seeks enforcement of an order issued against the United States Postal Service (“USPS” or “Postal Service”) for violations of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA” or “Act”) at three facilities within Albuquerque, New Mexico’s main post office. See United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26 (Aug. 27, 2005). As part of a remedy for violations of NLRA section 8(a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(5), 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), (3), (5), the Board ordered the USPS to, among other things, cease and desist from “[i]n any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.” United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 2.
II. BACKGROUND
The three facilities within Albuquerque’s main pоst office are the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (“VMF”), the Auxiliary Service Facility (“ASF”), and the main plant.
An administrative law judge (“ALJ”) heard testimony and received evidence in June 2004 finding violations of NLRA section 8(a)(1) and (a)(3) in connection with Smith’s and Quintana’s actions toward Or-lovsky, a violation of section 8(a)(1) in connection with Smith’s threats to all VMF employees, and two violations of section 8(a)(5) in connection with Trujillo’s unfulfilled ASF and main plant information requests. When considering an appropriаte remedy for the multiple violations, the ALJ took into account both the Postal Service’s nationwide history of section
The USPS contested both the geographic scope of the posting requirement and the breadth of the language in the ALJ’s recommended order. As to the breadth of the cease-and-desist language, it argued a broad order was inappropriate under NLRB precedent in Hickmott Foods, Inc.,
A three-member NLRB panel modified the scope of the ALJ’s recommendation to require posting only at the three facilities within Albuquerque’s main post office rather than in all Albuquerque city postal facilities, but affirmed the broad injunctive language recommended by the ALJ. United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 1. With one member dissenting as to the need for broad cease-and-desist language, the panel determined the violations at Albuquerque’s main post office “demonstrated a proclivity to respond unlawfully to the [USPS] employees’ meaningful exercise of their statutory rights.” Id. at 2. The Board stated its determination that a broad cease-and-desist order was appropriate based on the series of section 8(a)(1) and (a)(3) violations by Quintana and Smith against Orlovsky, and the section 8(a)(1) violation resulting from the meeting Smith held with all VMF employees after Orlovsky’s discharge. Id. at 1-2. The latter incident was particularly significant in the Board’s determination that the USPS had a proclivity to violate the Act. Id. at 2.
Additionally, as had the ALJ, the Board referenced the Tenth Circuit’s entry of a January 2003 consent judgment between the NLRB and the USPS, which had been precipitated by information-request violations at three other USPS facilities in Albuquerque and which contained the same broad remedial language challenged here. Id. at 1 (citing NLRB v. United States Postal Serv., No. 02-9587 (10th Cir. Jan. 8, 2003) (unpublished consent judgment)). The Board observed that the NLRA violations arising in the wake of Orlovsky’s information request amounted to the “very conduct which the previous order sought to remedy.” Id. Although the Board’s order in the instant Albuquerque cаse also referenced a decision issued the same day involving information-request violations at Waco, Texas, postal facilities, United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 25 (Aug. 27, 2005), the Board did not explicitly discuss the Postal Service’s history of nationwide violations in justifying its broad cease-and-desist order. United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 1.
This court has the authority to enforce, modify, or set aside an NLRB order. 29 U.S.C. § 160(e). Enforcement is appropriate when “the agency has correctly applied the law and its findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.” NLRB v. Velocity Express,
Because the USPS does not challenge the Board’s factual findings or its conclusions regarding the occurrence of section 8(a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(5) violations, the only issue fоr this court’s determination is the permissibility of the broad, “in any other manner” language the Board thought appropriate to include in its remedial order. The breadth of a remedial order “must depend upon the circumstances of each case.” NLRB v. Express Pbl’g Co.,
Recognizing that a broad remedial order is an extraordinary remedy, the Board itself has said the “in any other manner” language at issue here is “warranted only when a respondent is shown to have a proclivity to violate the Act or has engaged in such egregious or widespread misconduct as to demonstrate a general disregard for the employees’ fundamental statutory rights.” Hickmott Foods,
Management’s actions, moreover, were not limited to Orlovsky alone. At the meeting that Supervisor Smith held with all VMF employees a week after Orlov-sky’s termination, Smith threatened the employees with discipline or discharge if they chose to engage in the same behavior as Orlovsky. The Board interpreted Smith’s remarks as an “unlawful ] warning] ... that a similar fate awaited those who encouraged zealous union action.” United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 2. During his lecture, Smith compared the workplace to a lifeboat and told employees that people in a lifeboat situation have “limited alternatives of appropriate behavior available to them.” Smith indicated that Orlovsky’s error was trying to “determine the direction of the VMF” through complaining, whining, and threatening management with demands. He then summarized each of Orlovsky’s grievances, indicated they were illegitimate uses of union resources, and suggested any union member who tolerated Orlov-sky’s conduct bore responsibility for and should be angry at Orlovsky. Smith labeled Orlovsky’s questions during stand-up meetings as “interruptions” and “disruptions,” and advised Orlovsky’s “followers” to obey supervisors’ directions without complaints or questions.
According to two employees who were present at the meeting, Smith also held up two file folders, a fat one which he said represented all of the work Smith and management had done to improve the lives of VMF employees, and a thin one, containing Orlovsky’s grievances, which Smith said represented the work the union had dоne to improve employees’ lives. Smith’s message, according to the employees, was that the grievances Orlovsky filed were frivolous. The employees also testified they understood Smith’s lecture to be a warning that “rocking the boat,” or engaging in union activities, could lead to termination.
The nature of Smith’s threats to the VMF employees are particularly consequential to this court’s determination that members of USPS management displayed “an attitude of opposition tо the purposes of the Act.” May Dept. Stores Co.,
Moreover, as the Board noted, the violations at the three facilities within Albuquerque’s main post office occurred less than a year after the USPS voluntarily agreed, in connection with information-request violations at three other Albuquerque postal facilities, to a broad cease-and-dеsist order that contained the very language in dispute here. United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 1. Although the prior Albuquerque order applied to facilities other than those at issue in this appeal, it was reasonable for the NLRB to view the recurrence of anti-union activity within the same geographic area as further evidence of the Postal Service’s proclivity to violate the Act.
The Postal Service argues this court’s determination should be guided by the Fifth Circuit’s recent modification of a broad cease-and-desist order at Waco, Texas, postal facilities. See NLRB v. United States Postal Serv.,
In concluding the breadth of the Board’s remedial order is appropriate, this court rejects the Postal Service’s attempts to argue its size, decentralized structure, small number of nationwide violations, and long history of good labor relations negate the Board’s proclivity determination. Although the ALJ’s recommendation accorded some weight to USPS violations nationwide, see United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 20-21, the Board relied solely on the violations that occurred in Albuquerque in crafting its order. And, although the Board did refer by incorporation to the remedy ordered in its now-overruled Waco decision, id. at 1, its proclivity determination was based on its undisputed finding regarding anti-union animus and retaliation towards Orlovsky and threats to all VMF employees. Id. at 2.
IV. CONCLUSION
The NLRB’s determination that the Postal Service has a proclivity to demonstrate opposition to workers’ section 7 rights is supported by substantial evidence. The cease-and-desist order’s inclusion of language enjoining management at Albuquerque’s main post office from interfering “in any ... manner” with workers’ section 7 rights is, therefore, a remedy “that effectuates the policies of the Act.” Sure-Tan, Inc.,
Notes
. In its entirety, part 1 of the Board’s order states:
The National Labor Relations Board orders that the Respondent, United States Postal Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall
1. Cease and desist from:
(a) Threatening employees with unspecified reprisals because they engaged in union or protected activity.
(b) Denying an employee the rights of union representation during an investigatory interview that the employee reasonably believes may result in disciplinary action.
(c) Refusing to permit an employee to speak with the employee's union representative prior to an investigatory interview that the employee reasonably believеs may result in disciplinary action.
(d) Failing and refusing to inform an employee and the employee’s union representative of the specific charges that are to be discussed during an investigatory interview that the employee reasonably believes may result in disciplinary action.
(e) Threatening employees that they will be discharged for their protected or union activities.
(f) Disciplining employees because of their protected or union activities.
(g) Discharging employees because of their protected or union activities.
(h) Refusing to bargain collectively with the American Postal Workers Union, Local No. 380, AFL-CIO by failing and refusing to provide requested information that is relevant and necessary to the Union as the collective bargainingrepresentative of those Unit employees described in the existing collective bargaining agreement and found appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning of Section 9(b) of the Act.
(i) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
United States Postal Serv., 345 N.L.R.B. No. 26, at 2 (Aug. 27, 2005). Clause (i) is the portion of the order challenged in this enforcement action.
. The Vehicle Maintenance Facility ("VMF”) is responsible for repairing and maintaining all Postal Service vehicles in the Albuquerque district. Albuquerque mail is processed at the Auxiliary Service Facility ("ASF”) and the main plant.
. A postal worker union craft direсtor files and processes grievances, submits information requests to the Postal Service, and performs other union steward duties associated with the maintenance of a collective bargaining agreement.
. The Florida Steel decision,
Concurrence Opinion
concurring.
I concur, but write to add a few comments about the scope of the remedy imposed by the NLRB.
The NLRB’s power to select a remedy is broad, subject to limited judicial review. Dayton Tire & Rubber Co. v. NLRB,
We have held that injunctive relief is a powerful remedy to “be narrowly tailored to remedy the harm shown.” Garrison v. Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations, Inc.,
The NLRB admits the cease-and-desist order issued here is so broad that it “will subject an employer to contempt sanctions for any future violations of the Act, not simply ‘like and related’ violations.” Pet. Br. at 26 (emphasis added). Its finding of proclivity is based primarily on (1) the violations in this case, and (2) historical information request violations, some of which occurred in other parts of the country.
While a close call, given our standard of review I am satisfied that as a whole the evidence supports a finding that the Albuquerque division of the Postal Service engaged in “persistent attempts by varying methods” to violate the Act. In addition to the multiple information request violations in the Albuquerque division, there is evidence involving (1) the Postal Service’s treatment of Mr. Orlovsky for an extended period of time, and (2) Mr. Smith’s remarks to employees regarding his views about the benefits generated from thе facility’s union representatives.
Having said that, both the ALJ’s order and the NLRB’s modification impose a punishment that seems incommensurate with the crime. An order tailored to the conduct at issue is surely merited. However, as the dissenting NLRB member noted in this and a related case in objecting to “no future violation” orders, “Recidivism alone ... is an insufficient basis for imposing a broad order.” United States Postal Serv.,
In the end, I concur because the NLRB’s findings regarding the Postal Service’s violations are entitled to deference, as is the appropriate level of injunctive relief based on these facts. The Postal Service is entitled to seek modification of the injunction as circumstances change.
. A finding of persistent attempts by varying means to interfere with employee rights justifies a broad injunction by demonstrating "an attitude of opposition to the purposes of the Act.” NLRB v. Armour & Co.,
. The rule has been followed in this circuit. In NLRB v. Seamprufe, Inc.,
