National Labor Relations Board v. Roberts Brothers

Respondent Roberts Brothers is an Oregon corporation which owns and operates a chain of department stores in the principal cities of Oregon. On December 3, 1952, Local 201 of the Retail Clerks’ International Association AFL advised respondents by letter that they represented a majority of the employees in respondent’s Eugene store. Before the start of work on December 6, the employees of the Eugene store were called together and were addressed by the store manager who told them that the company was aware that the union was attempting to organize the employees, that the individual’s choice as to his union affiliation would have no more bearing on his employment than would his church or lodge affiliation, that while the company sincerely felt the employees would be better off in a number of ways if they did not vote for a union, whether or not the union was favored the future employment would depend as in the past upon the individual’s loyalty, ability, and past service. At the close of the address slips of paper were passed to the assembled employees, upon which the words “Against” and “For” were typed. The employees were told that the company was making a survey for the…