National Labor Relations Board v. V. C. Britton Co.

In this labor case, we deal with a step in the transmigration of agriculture to industry. The former is exempt from the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 141 et seq. The latter is not.

The Britton Co. gathers alfalfa hay at Firebaugh, located near Fresno, California, adds other things to it and produces alfalfa pellets, a feed. It is not disputed that this processing here comes under industry and interstate commerce and is thus subject to the act.

With this shift from agriculture to industry, the unionization of employers and unorganized labor produced convulsions. There is not the self discipline on either side that accompanies a long-established relationship.

The Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO, won a representation election on May 16,1962. We take it that this covered all those (other than supervisors) engaged in the processing and manufacturing of alfalfa pellets.

After charges were filed, a trial examiner and the board found the Britton Co. had interfered with, restrained and coerced its employees in the exercise of their rights under Section 7 of the act, thus setting up a violation of Section 8 (a) (l). Further, it was found that the…