National Labor Relations Board v. Western Wirebound Box Co.

The National Labor Relations Board seeks enforcement of its order directing Western Wirebound Box Co. to cease and desist from certain asserted unfair labor practices and to take specified corrective action.

The principal unfair labor practice, as found by the Board, was the refusal of the company to bargain in good faith with the representative of its employees, International Woodworkers of America, Local Union 3-3 AFL-CIO. Specifically, the failure to bargain consisted of the company’s refusal to produce certain records tending to substantiate its position during the negotiations for a new contract. This was held to be a violation of section 8(a) (5) and (1) of the National Labor Relations Act (Act), 61 Stat. 140 (1947), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 158 (a) (1964).

The relevant facts, stated below, are drawn from the trial examiner’s findings of fact. In 1961, a contract was reached between the union and the company providing for an hourly wage increase of 7Yz cents. In March, 1962, in anticipation of the expiration of the contract on June 1 of that year, the company wrote to the union stating that it was continuing to suffer from the competition of other manufacturers of paper…