Alaska Roughnecks and Drillers Association v. National Labor Relations Board, Mobil Oil Corporation v. National Labor Relations Board

This appeal tests the validity of an order of the National Labor Relations Board which held that Mobil Oil Company [Mobil] violated sections 8(a)(1) and (5) of the National Labor Relations Act [ 29 U.S.C. §§ 158 (a)(1) and (5) (1970)]. It found that Mobil unlawfully refused to bargain with the union representing the employees of Santa Fe Drilling Company which had subcontracted with Mobil to perform drilling operations on an offshore oil drilling platform. The Board asks enforcement, Mobil asks reversal, and the union seeks to have the order modified.

I.

FACTS

A. Before Union Involvement.

The situs of this case is the Granite Point Platform, one of several offshore platforms in Cook Inlet, near Anchorage, Alaska. Mobil’s financial interest in this platform is substantial, approximately $50,000,000. Although Union Oil Company has a one-quarter interest in the platform, Mobil alone operates it. Beginning in 1969, Mobil has awarded contracts for the drilling and other parts of the operation under a competitive bidding procedure. Throughout the operation Mobil has had some of its own employees on the platform for pollution control, safety measures, and other reasons.

By bidding…