Majority
—Plaintiffs, who consist of Butchers Union, Local No. 120, its secretary-treasurer, and several members of the union, sought to recover, for all members similarly situated; wages allegedly due from the defendant meat processors under the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement which guaranteed the regular employees a five-day, forty-houy work week. The defendants, members of the Pacific Coast Meat Jobbers Association,[1] attacked the complaint by demurrer, and motion for summary judgment.[2] Plaintiffs Jiave appealed from an adverse judgment entered following the granting of defendants ’ motion.
The background of the controversy can be ascertained from the complaint. Plaintiffs allege that on October 1, 1961, certain associations representing defendants, and defendants entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the union covering wages, hours and conditions of employment.[3] This agreement provided: “Regular employees shall be guaranteed five (5) days, forty (40) hours of work, unless they are advised before quitting time on Friday that they are being
1 A separate defendant, who denies membership in any association, appeared separately, and after its demurrer was overruled filed an answer and cross-complaint. Neither that defendant nor those proceedings are before this court on this appeal.
2 The practice of interposing a motion for summary judgment before answering has been upheld. (Snider v. Snider (1962) 200 Cal.App.2d 741 , 746-747 [ 19 Cal.Rptr. 709 ]; and see Pianka v. State of California (1956) 46 Cal.2d 208 , 211-212 [ 293 P.2d 458 ]; and Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc. (1962) 204 Cal.App.2d 597 , 599 [ 22 Cal-Rptr. 606 ].)
3 The agreement is attached to the complaint and incorporated in it by reference.
In response to points made below by defendants in support of their motion, plaintiffs now contend (1) that the affidavit filed in support of the motion for summary judgment is insufficient to support the court’s order granting the motion and the ensuing judgment; (2) that the record reveals that there were issues of fact to be tried; (3) that the state court has jurisdiction over the action and is not preempted by the jurisdiction conferred on the National Labor Relations Board or by earlier proceedings taken before that tribunal; (4) that
4 This-letter is attached to the complaint as an exhibit.
5 This memorandum, as well as other material sent to the employers, is attached to the complaint,
I. Sufficiency of the Affidavit in Support of the Motion
The court has been referred to a plethora of cases defining the nature and purpose of the summary judgment procedure set forth in section 437c of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the principles governing the determination of the sufficiency of the affidavits presented by that section.[6] The terse statement in R. D. Reeder Lathing Co. v. Allen (1967) 66 Cal.2d 373 [ 57 Cal.Rptr. 841 , 425 P.2d 785 ], will suffice: “In considering a motion for summary judgment the trial court must determine whether the [opponent] has by affidavit presented any facts that give rise to a triable issue. [Cita
The affidavit of defendants’ attorney accompanied their motion. He stated that he was the attorney for the Pacific Coast Meat Jobbers Association, which held a power of attorney for collective bargaining with the union, from defendants, its members; that the association had received a letter from the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board on October 8, 1964, containing a copy of “Charges Against Employer,” signed by counsel for plaintiffs; that the charge against defendants was that on “October 6, 1964, while negotiations were pending with representatives of [Butchers’ Union Local No. 120] the charging party, [the defendants] unlawfully and improperly locked out the employees of certain of its members in violation of National Labor Relations Act sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(3) [29 U.S. C., § 158, subds. (a)(1) and (a)(3)]. That in violation of Section 8(a) (3) said Employer did not transmit in a timely fashion the notices required under Section 8(d) [id.,' subsection (d) ] ”; that an investigation was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board to determine whether it should issue a complaint against defendants for unfair labor ■ practices; that by letter of March 9, 1965, the regional director notified counsel for plaintiffs that further proceedings were not warranted; that plaintiffs requested review of this decision; that on May 12, 1965, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board denied plaintiffs’ appeal by letter which recited, “ [U]nder all the circumstances, including the fact that the membership of each of the Locals involved had voted to authorize strike action, the Union’s failure to alleviate the Association’s fear of a strike by agreeing to more than a day-to-day extension of the contract, and the perishable nature of' the products involved, the burden of
The statute requires: 11 The affidavit or affidavits in support of the motion must contain facts sufficient to entitle plaintiff or defendant to a judgment in the action, and the facts stated therein shall be within the personal knowledge of the affiant, and shall be set forth with particularity, and each affidavit shall show affirmatively that affiant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently thereto.” (Code Civ. Proc., §437c; 2d par.; and see Hayward Union etc. School Dist. v. Madrid (1965) 234 Cal.App.2d 100 , 115 [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 268 ]; Johnson v. Drew (1963) 218 Cal.App.2d 614 , 616 [ 32 Cal.Rptr. 540 ]; Johnson v. Banducci (1963) 212 Cal.App.2d 254 , 261 [ 27 Cal.Rptr. 764 ]; Weir v. Snow (1962) 210 Cal.App.2d 283 , 290 [ 26 Cal.Rptr. 868 ]; Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc. (1962) 204 Cal.App.2d 597 , 604 [ 22 Cal.Rptr. 606 ]; Snider v. Snider (1962) 200 Cal.App.2d 741 , 748 [ 19 Cal.Rptr. 709 ]; and Rodes v. Shannon (1961) 194 Cal.App.2d 743 , 748 [ 15 Cal. Rptr. 349 ].)
There is no requirement, however, that the statutory language be included in the affidavit. In Schessler v. Keck (1956) 138 Cal.App.2d 663 [ 292 P.2d 314 ], the court disposed of a similar contention, as follows: “Appellant also argues that the moving affidavits are insufficient because they do not assert in the terms of the statute ‘that the affiant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently thereto.’ It appears that defendants’ affidavits speak of things that are within the personal knowledge of the respective affiants, and when that appears the statute has been complied with. This same point was made in Cone v. Union Oil Co., 129 Cal.App.2d 558 [ 277 P.2d 464 ], and was disposed of in this language (p. 564) : ‘An examination of Kingman’s affidavit discloses that he had been in charge of and personally conducted all negotiations with the union on behalf of the company during all the times mentioned in his affidavit. He thus made a sufficient showing of his competency to testify to the facts stated therein. ’ ” (138 Cal.App.2d at p. 670. In addition to case cited, see Dryer v. Dryer (1964) 231 Cal.App.2d 441 , 449-450 [ 41 Cal.Rptr. 839 ]; and University of So. Cal. v. Weiss (1962) 208 Cal.
The consideration to be given the exhibits attached to an affidavit must depend on the nature of the exhibit, the competency of the affiant to identify it, and the purpose for which it is offered. Unauthentieated copies of purported affidavits, or anonymous pamphlets, or pliotostatic or other copies offered without an affidavit of stipulation to their authenticity cannot be considered. (See Johnson v. Drew, supra, 218 Cal.App.2d 614 , 616-617; Donnachie v. East Bay Regional Park Dist. (1963) 217 Cal.App.2d 172 , 175-176 [ 31 Cal.Rptr. 611 ]; Miller & Lux, Inc. v. Bank of America (1963) 212 Cal.App.2d 719 , 725 [ 28 Cal.Rptr. 401 ]; Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc., supra, 204 Cal.App.2d 597 , 605-606; and Schessler v. Keck, supra, 138 Cal.App.2d 663 , 669-670.) In the instant case the attorney was competent to identify the documents as instruments received by him in the mail. Nevertheless, their binding effect on plaintiffs must be dependent on their authenticity as documents filed in proceedings in which plaintiffs were represented. In the face of objection, certification might be required. Here, however, the counteraffidavit filed on behalf of plaintiffs acknowledges the veracity of the allegations concerning the proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and merely questions their legal effect.[7] Under these circumstances the matter is governed by the following passage from Dryer v. Dryer, supra: “Here, the essential question to be decided by the trial judge was whether or not the former judgment constituted res judicata, of the questions posed by the pleadings in the instant action. The determination of this fact rested almost completely on the pleadings in the first case. Besides a reference to such pleadings in the earlier case, copies of which were attached to his affidavit, Mr. Baton, the affiant, further stated that he had been one of the attorneys for the same defendant in the first
7 “That with respeet to the Affidavit of Andrew H. Field, said Union admits that it brought and pursued unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Eelations Board but that with respect to both the subject of preemption and the subject of. arbitration under the contract, the answers are legal in nature and adequately disposed of in the! Memorandum" of Points and Authorities ífiled simultaneously with"' this Affidavit .-. . . Specifically, the unfair labor practice charge" before the Board . . . never purported to deal with thé contract claim being asserted herein; . ,
Plaintiffs not only admitted the existence of the Labor Board proceedings in the trial court (fn. 7 supra), but also acknowledge on appeal, “in reality there is no affidavit to support the Motion, except on the issue of preemption.” (Italics added.)
As just indicated, the plaintiffs contend that the court could not consider the other grounds urged by defendants in support of their motion, because the facts relating to them were not set forth in the affidavit filed in support of the motion. This argument misconstrues the scope of the record to be considered in ruling on defendants’ motion. The principle that “ [s]ummary judgment is proper only if the affidavits of the moving party are sufficient to sustain a judgment in his favor. . . .’’ (R. D. Reeder Lathing Co. v. Allen, supra, 66 Cal.2d at pp. 376-377) does not preclude the court from considering, in support of the movant’s position, facts alleged and admitted in the pleading of an adversary, as distinguished from considering the party’s own pleading in support of his position.
In Joslin v. Marin Municipal Water Dist. (1967) 67 Cal.2d 132 [ 60 Cal.Rptr. 377 , 429 P.2d 889 ], the court pronounced the following rules: “Where a plaintiff moves for summary judgment, he cannot depend upon aVegations in his complaint
‘ ‘ However the courts have heretofore recognized that a distinction exists where the party seeks to rely on his adversary’s rather than his own pleadings to establish facts not contained in his affidavit. [Citation.] . . ,
“The foregoing makes it clear that a moving defendant, unlike a moving plaintiff, need merely establish a defense to a claim theretofore asserted ‘in the action.’ His supporting affidavits are responsive in nature and are necessarily addressed to the complaint. It is within the contemplation of section 437e that the factual matters which he sets out in such affidavits are to take their significance upon a consideration of the complaint. In no way departing from the rule that such affidavits are to be strictly construed, it would nevertheless be placing form before substance if we were to require that a moving defendant’s affidavits which assert facts establishing a defense when considered with the particular claim relied upon by plaintiff, must be deemed insufficient because they further fail to repeat therein those matters already asserted in the complaint. In such a case, the repetition of the substance of the complaint would be a useless act, the doing of which the law does not require. [Citation.] ” (67 Cal.2d at pp. 147-149.)
The application of the rule last stated gives life to the defendants’ allegation that no requests were received under the provisions dealing with grievance and arbitration of the agreement which is attached to and made a part of the complaint, and which admittedly was executed by and governed the respective parties during the period of its existence. Similar considerations apply to the issue of termination and the issue of excuse for performance. Defendants urge that each defense is revealed by the admitted allegations of the complaint.
■The affidavit when construed as directed by Joslin is sufficient to raise the legal issues advanced by defendants in support of their motion.
II. Triable Issue of Fact
he plaintiffs apparently concede, as was alleged in the eounteraffidavit filed in the lower court, that the issues of preemption and arbitration are questions of law. They contend that the allegations of the eounteraffidavit raise triable issues of fact with respect to the issues of termination, breach of the contract and excuse of performance. They further assert that a trial should be had because federal labor law and policy are involved. The application of federal law and policy does not create an issue of fact where none was present before. The federal law and policy if pertinent may be applied to the undisputed facts.
Examination of the eounteraffidavit reflects that on the issues advanced by plaintiffs it follows the facts in the complaint which were admitted by defendants’ failure to file an answer.[8] The eounteraffidavit establishes one fact not directly set forth in the complaint. In the complaint it is alleged, by reference to an exhibit, merely that the employer-spokesman charged that the union would only extend the agreement after October 5th on a “day to day" basis. The eounteraffidavit directly alleges, “that plaintiffs repeatedly offered to extend the contract on a day to day basis during negotiations.” There is no dispute about the facts.
The admitted allegations of the complaint and the allega
III. Preemption by National Labor Relations Board
The facts, as heretofore considered, show that plaintiffs alleged in their complaint and the counter affidavit facts indicating that the defendants had locked out their respective employees. The affidavit submitted by defendants alleges and the coimteraffidavit admits that this lockout was the subject of an unfair labor practice charge lodged with the National Labor Relations Board. If this were the sole ground of plaintiffs’ action, the state court would not have jurisdiction. In San Diego Unions v. Garman (1959) 359 U.S. 236 [ 3 L.Ed.2d 775 , 79 S.Ct. 773 ] the United States Supreme Court ruled: “When an activity is arguably subject to section 7 or section 8 of the [National Labor Relations Act; 29 U.S.C., §§ 157 and 158], the States as well as the federal courts must defer to the exclusive competence of the National Labor Relations Board if the danger of state interference with national policy is to be averted.” (359 U.S. at p. 245 [3 L.Ed.2d at p. 783], See also, Alexander v. Pacific Maritime Assn. (9th Cir. 1963) 314 F.2d 690 , 694; and Bricklayers & Masons Union No. 1 v. Superior Court (1963) 216 Cal.App.2d 578 , 582-584 [ 31 Cal.Rptr. 115 ].)
Here, however, the action purports to be predicated upon the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. Under these circumstances the jurisdiction of the courts is not preempted by that conferred upon the National Labor Relations Board. In Smith v. Evening News Assn. (1962) 371 U.S. 195 [ 9 L.Ed.2d 246 , 83 S.Ct. 267 ], the court held: “The authority of the [National Labor Relations] Board to deal with an unfair labor practice which also violates a collective bargaining contract is not displaced by section 301 [of the Labor Management Relations Act; 29 U.S.C., § 185(a)], but it is not exclusive and does not destroy the jurisdiction of the court in suits under section 301.” (371 U.S. at p. 197 [9 L.Ed.2d at p. 249]. See also Vaca v. Sipes (1967) 386 U.S. 171 , 179-180 and 183-184 [ 17 L.Ed.2d 842 , 851-852, 853-854, 87 S.Ct. 903 ]; Proctor & Gamble Independent Union v. Proctor & Gamble Mfg. Co. (2d Cir, 1962) 312 F,2d 181 , 186-187; and Retail
In Smith the court observed, “If, as respondent strongly urges, there are situations in which serious problems will arise from both the courts and the Board having jurisdiction over acts which amount to an unfair labor practice, we shall face those cases when they arise.” (371 U.S. at pp. 197-198 [9 L.Ed.2d at pp. 249-250].) The defendants assert that this is such a ease, because the record shows that the plaintiffs sought and were denied relief from the National Labor Relations Board before commencing their action. Although this fact distinguishes the instant case from Smith and the cases cited with it, it does not necessarily oust the court of a jurisdiction which has been established as concurrent. (See Smith v. Evening News Assn., supra, 371 U.S. 195 , 197 [ 9 L.Ed.2d 246 , 249]; and see Teamsters Local v. Lucas Flour Co. (1962) 369 U.S. 95 ,101 [ 7 L.Ed.2d 593 , 597, 82 S.Ct. 571 ]; Dowd Box Co. v. Courtney (1962) 368 U.S. 502 , 505-506 [ 7 L.Ed.2d 483 , 485-486, 82 S.Ct. 519 ]; Retail Clerks Union, Local 770 v. Thriftimart, Inc., supra, 59 Cal.2d 421 , 423-425; and McCarroll v. Los Angeles County etc. Carpenters (1957) 49 Cal.2d 45 , 52-53 [ 315 P.2d 322 ].) If issues which have been adjudicated in the first proceeding arise in the second proceeding they should be disposed of in accordance with established principles of res ad judicata and collateral estoppel. (See Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd. (1962) 58 Cal.2d 601 , 604 [ 25 Cal.Rptr. 559 , 375 P.2d 439 ]; and Solari v. Atlas-Universal Service, Inc. (1963) 215 Cal.App.2d 587 , 592-593 [ 30 Cal. Rptr. 407 ].) The pertinency of such principles to this action is discussed below in the consideration of the merits of the case.
The rights of the union and the employees to bring an action in the state court for breach of the collective bargaining agreement was not preempted because of concurrent jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board, or because of resort to that tribunal on a charge of unfair labor practices. IV. Bight to Arbitration
Article NIV of the collective bargaining agreement is entitled “Grievance and Arbitration.”[9] It provides procedures for disposing of 1 ‘ any dispute that may arise as to the
9 The Article reads as follows: 1 ‘ Section (a) Any dispute that may arise as to the interpretation of this Agreement shall be brought to the attention of the other party to this Agreement. Any dispute must be taken up with the Employer within thirty (30) days of the date the Union, has knowledge thereof, *466
Plaintiffs contend (1) that the provisions of Article XIV only apply to a dispute as to the interpretation of the agreement, and that there is no dispute as to the meaning of Article IV (b) which provides for the guaranteed work week, but only a dispute as to its application or enforceability with respect to a work week in which the agreement terminated; (2) that the dispute was expressly excluded from arbitration by the provision reading, ‘1 No controversy regarding hours or wages shall be subject to arbitration”; and (3) that the defendants by contending that the contract was terminated and locking out the plaintiff employees repudiated the agreement and precluded themselves from relying on the provisions for arbitration.
The defendants assert that if plaintiffs’ rights are dependent upon the provisions of the contract, they are bound by the contract provisions for arbitration, and that the issue of arbitrability itself should be so arbitrated.
Paradoxically, it appears that the plaintiffs, who rely upon the provisions of the contract to establish their right to recovery, are asserting that the grievance provisions of the
If the grievance and arbitration provisions of the collective bargaining agreement are applicable, the plaintiffs cannot proceed by judicial action. (Republic Steel Corp. v. Maddox (1965) 379 U.S. 650 , 652-653 [ 13 L.Ed.2d 580 , 582-583, 85 S.Ct. 614 ]; Local Lodge No. 595 of Dist. No. 152 v. Howe Sound Co., (Inc.) (3d Cir. 1965) 350 F.2d 508 , 511; Don daRoza, Inc. v. Northern Cal. etc. Hod Carriers Union (1965) 233 Cal.App.2d 96 , 103 [ 43 Cal.Rptr. 264 ]; Cone v. Union Oil Co. (1954) 129 Cal.App.2d 558 , 563-564 [ 277 P.2d 464 ]; and see Yaca v. Sipes, supra, 386 U.S. 171 , 184-185 [ 17 L.Ed.2d 842 , 854-855].)[10]
Whether or not the plaintiffs were bound to arbitrate, as well as what issues are arbitrable are matters to be determined by the court on the basis of the contract entered into by the parties. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston (1964) 376 U.S. 543 , 546-547 [ 11 L.Ed.2d 898 , 902-903, 84 S.Ct. 909 ]; Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co. (1962) 370 U.S. 238 , 241 [ 8 L.Ed.2d 462 , 465, 82 S.Ct. 1318 ]; Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf. Nav. Co. (1960) 363 U.S. 574 , 582 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 ,1417, 80 S.Ct. 1347 ]; Local Union No. 998 etc. AFL-CIO v. B. & T. Metals Co. (6th Cir. 1963) 315 F.2d 432 , 436; Proctor & Gamble Independent Union v. Proctor & Gamble Mfg. Co., supra, 312 F.2d 181 , 184; McCarroll v. Los Angeles County etc. Carpenters, supra, 49 Cal.2d 45 , 65-66.)[11]
10 The question of whether the civil action should be stayed or dismissed (cf. Cone v. Union Oil Co., supra, 129 Cal.App.2d 558 , 564, with Local Lodge No. 595 of Dist. No. 152 v. Howe Sound Co., (Inc.) (3d Cir. 1965) 350 F.2d 508 , 511-512) is noted, but not determined because this ease is disposed of on other grounds.
11 Defendants have cited some authorities which tend to indicate that the question of arbitrability should itself be arbitrated. (See Local No. 824, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, etc. AFL-CIO v. Brunswick Corp. (6th Cir. 1965) 342 F.2d 792 , 794; Rochester Tel. Corp. v. Communication Workers of America (2d Cir. 1965) 340 F.2d 237 , 239; and American Brake Shoe Co. v. Local No. 149 (4th Cir. 1961) 285 F.2d 869 .) Examination of these cases reveals that each of the first two involved a subject matter that was arbitrable, and the question arbitrated was whether there had been compliance with the procedure leading to arbitration. In the third case, arbitration was agreed to, and the question of its scope arose thereafter. "Whatever the merits of the procedure, we think it sufficiently outside the usual understanding of the relations of court and arbiter and their respective functions to assume that the parties expected a court determination of arbitrability unless they have clearly stated otherwise.” (McCarroll v. Los Angeles County etc. Carpenters, supra, 49 Cal.2d 45 , 66; and see Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Nav. Co., supra, 363 U.S. 574 , 583, fn. 7 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 , 1418].)
“Congress strongly expressed its policy favoring arbitration in section 203(d) of the Labor Management Relations Act: ‘Pinal adjustment by a method agreed upon by the parties is declared to be the desirable method for settlement of grievance disputes arising over the application or interpretation of an existing collective-bargaining agreement. . . .’ ( 29 U.S.C. § 173 (d) (1964); see United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior & Gulf Nav. Co. (1960) 363 U.S. 574 , 582 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 ,1417, 80 S.Ct. 1347 ]) . . .
“Under federal law, the function of a court in deciding whether a dispute is subject to arbitration ‘is confined to ascertaining whether the party seeking arbitration is making a claim which on its face is governed by the contract.’ (Italics added.) (United Steelworkers of America v. American Mfg. Co. (1960) 363 U.S. 564 , 568 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1403 , 1407, 80 S.Ct. 1343 ].) ‘An order to arbitrate the particular grievance should not be denied unless it may be said with positive assurance that the arbitration clause is not susceptible of an interpretation that covers the asserted dispute. Doubts should be resolved in favor of coverage.’ (Italics added.) (United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior & Gulf Nav. Co., supra, 363 U.S. 574 , 582 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 , 1417]) ” (66 Cal.2d at pp. 930-931. See, in addition to the cases cited, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston, supra, 376 U.S. 543 , 548 [ 11 L.Ed.2d 898 , 904]; Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co., supra, 370 U.S. 238 , 241 [ 8 L.Ed.2d 462 , 465]; Teamsters Local v. Lucas Flour Co., supra, 369 U.S. 95 , 103-104 [ 7 L.Ed.2d 593 , 598-599]; Dowd Box Co. v. Courtney, supra, 368 U.S. 502 , 506-507 [ 7 L.Ed.2d 483 , 486-487]; Textile Workers v. Lincoln Mills (1957) 353 U.S. 448 , 456-457 [ 1 L.Ed.2d 972 , 980-981, 77 S.Ct. 912 ]; O’Malley v. Wilshire Oil Co. (1963) 59 Cal.2d 482 , 486 [ 30 Cal.Rptr. 452 , 381 P.2d 188 ]; Posner v. Grunwald-Marx, Inc. (1961) 56 Cal.2d 169 , 175 [ 14 Cal.Rptr. 297 , 363 P.2d 313 ]; and McCarroll v. Los Angeles County etc. Carpenters, supra, 49 Cal.2d 45 , 59-60.)
The exception, “No controversy regarding hours or wages shall be subject to arbitration” must be respected. (Vaca v. Sipes, supra, 386 U.S. 171 , 184, fn. 9 [ 17 L.Ed.2d 842 , 854]; Republic Steel v. Maddox, supra, 379 U.S. 650 , 657-658 [ 13 L.Ed.2d 580 , 585-586] ; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston, supra, 376 U.S. 543 , 553, fn. 6 [ 11 L.Ed.2d 898 , 906] and text; Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Co., supra, 363 U.S. 574 , 584 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 , 1418]; Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co., supra, 370 U.S. 238 , 242 [ 8 L.Ed.2d 462 , 465]; Local No. 725, Inti. U. of O. Engineers v. Standard Oil Co. of Ind. (D.N.D. 1960) 186 F.Supp. 895 , 898-899; Communications Workers of America v. New York Tel. Co. (S.D.N.Y. 1962) 209 F.Supp. 389 , 391; Underwood Corp. v. Local 267, Intl. Union of Elec., R. & M. Workers (D.Conn. 1960) 183 F.Supp. 205 , 208-211; Posner v. Grunwald-Marx, Inc., supra, 56 Cal.2d 169 , 175; McCarroll v. Los Angeles County etc. Carpenters, supra, 49 Cal.2d 45 , 67-69.) In determining the scope of this exception guidance is found in the following language from Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Co., supra, “In the absence of any express provision excluding a particular grievance from arbitration, we think only the most forceful evidence of a purpose to exclude the claim from arbitration can prevail, particularly where, as here, the exclusion clause is vague and the arbitration clause quite broad. Since any attempt by a court to infer such a purpose necessarily comprehends the merits, the court should view with suspicion an attempt to persuade it to become entangled in the construction of the substantive provisions: of a labor agreement, even through the back door of interpreting the arbitration clause, when the alternative is to utilize the services of an arbitrator.” (363 U.S. at pp. 584-
Reference to the agreement indicates that the subjects of “hours” and “wages” are respectively embraced in separate articles of the contract, Article TV and Article VIII. The former article includes in section (b) the provisions which gave rise to the controversy in this case (see text, supra). These provisions and the hours to which they refer are not the direct subject of the dispute, although the 32 hours remaining in the work week which commenced October 5, 1964 are incidentally involved. It is acknowledged that if the provisions are applicable, the employees were entitled to either the notice or the guaranteed hours of work. The kernel of the controversy is whether the parties agreed that the collective bargaining agreement, and more particularly the provisions of section (b) of Article IV, should apply after October 1, 1964. It transcends even the more integrated problem which might have arisen had the agreement terminated on a Friday or some day during the ensuing work week, although the solution of such a hypothetical question might throw some light on what was intended by the admitted fact that “the contract was extended until the negotiating session of October 5, 1964.”
In line with the principles quoted above the exception for “hours” and “wages” should be limited to controversies in which the dispute directly involves the number of hours of employment, or the rate of wages to be paid. In a sense, innumerable types of disputes, whether arising in relation to union security, discharge, overtime, holidays, vacations, health and welfare payments, sick leave, pensions, jury duty, funeral leave, or seniority, may indirectly touch on hours or wages. The sensible construction is to so limit the exception, in the same manner that courts have limited an exception for functions of management, lest the exception swallow the whole. (See Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Co., supra, 363 U.S. 574 , 583-584 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 , 1417-1418]; Butchers Union Local 229 v. Cudahy Packing Co., supra, 66 Cal.2d 925 , 935; and O’Malley v. Wilshire Oil Co., supra, 59 Cal.2d 482 , 489-492.) This construction protects the union’s right to bargain with all legal weapons at its command for the hours of employment and the rate of wages, and at the same time gives recognition to the public policy for peaceful settlement of industrial disputes as acknowledged by the parties in that portion of the agreement prohibiting strikes, lockouts, or other forms of work stoppages.
The expiration of the term of the collective bargaining agreement (and of any agreed extension) does not terminate any rights, including the right and correlative duty to arbitrate, that may have accrued under the agreement. In Local Lodge No. 595 of Dist. No. 152 v. Howe Sound Co., (Inc.), supra, the court stated, ‘ ‘ The claims for holiday pay and pro rata vacation pay are made by the Union under specific provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. The controversy on these claims is by now a classic illustration of a dispute which falls within a general arbitration provision such as that contained in the present agreement. The right to holiday and pro rata vacation pay exists, if at all, under the agreement. The fact that it would accrue and become payable after the expiration of the agreement would not eliminate the Company’s obligation. Since the Union’s claim is founded on the expired agreement it is also bound by the arbitration provision of the agreement, even though the issue may not have been raised until after the expiration of the agreement.” (350 F.2d at p. 511, fns. omitted. See also Republic Steel v. Maddox, supra, 379 U.S. 650 , 654-657 [ 13 L.Ed.2d 580 , 584-585] (severance pay); John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston, supra, 376 U.S. 543 , 554 [ 11 L.Ed.2d 898 , 907] (seniority, security and vacation pay); Steelworkers v. Enterprise Corp. (1960) 363 U.S. 593 , 597-598 [ 4 L.Ed.2d 1424 , 1428-1429] (back pay and reinstatement); Textile Workers v. Lincoln Mills, supra, 353 U.S. 448 , 459 [ 1 L.Ed.2d 972 , 982] (back pay for increased work loads); General Tire & Rubber Co. v. Local No. 512 etc. AFL-CIO (D.R.I. 1961) 191 F.Supp. 911 , 914 (vacation pay); Botany Mills, Inc. v. Textile Workers Union etc. AFL-CIO (1958) 50 N.J.Super. 18 , 27 [ 141 A.2d 107 , 112-113] (vacation pay); and In re Potoker (1957) 2 N.Y.2d 553 , 560 [ 141 N.E.2d 841 , 844] (severance, dismissal and vacation pay). Note also Posner v. Grunwald-Marx, Inc., supra, 56 Cal.2d 169 , 173 (vacation pay and holiday pay after termination of employment); and see discussion and cases cited Butchers’ Union Local 229 v. Cudahy Packing Co., supra, 66 Cal.2d 925 , 932-933.)
In this ease the right upon which plaintiffs’ claims are predicated is of mixed origin. The failure of the employers to give any notice on the Friday which fell during the extended term of the collective bargaining agreement did not give rise to any compensation or tangible benefit, such as severance or vacation pay, pension fund payments and the like. At best it
If the question arose in connection with a period related to the term of the original contract which expired October 1, 1964 (such as a refusal to furnish work on Friday, October 2d, when no notice had been given on the previous Friday that the work week would be foreshortened), or in connection with any unconditional extension of the contract, it could well be recognized that the inchoate right to employment carried with it the right to arbitrate any dispute concerning that employment.
There is one factor in this ease which precludes that result. It is acknowledged by plaintiffs (see fn. 8, supra) that they ‘ ‘ offered to extend the contract on a day to day basis during negotiations.” This offer implicitly reserved the right to terminate the contract and strike on any day subsequent to the Monday to which the contract had been extended. It is patently inconsistent with the obligation of the employees to present themselves for work during the claimed “guaranteed” work week. Under these circumstances the extension of the contract was not unconditional, did not presuppose a full work week following the day to which it was extended, and carried with it no right to arbitrate the question of employment for the remainder of that week.
Moreover, there is merit to plaintiffs’ contention that the defendants cannot rely upon the arbitration clause. Their resort to the lockout (whether justified or not) is inconsistent with any concept that the right to pursue the grievance procedure and arbitration persisted, because the contract prohibited a lockout during such proceedings. In Drake Bakeries v. Bakery Workers (1962) 370 U.S. 254 [ 8 L.Ed.2d 474 , 82 S.Ct. 1346 ] the court rejected the contention that the employer was relieved of the obligation to arbitrate its claim for damages for an allegedly unauthorized strike, because there had in fact been a breach of a no-strike clause. The court noted, 11 The company has not attempted, or claimed the right, either to terminate the entire contract or to extinguish permanently its obligations under the arbitration provisions. Instead, it has sued for damages for an alleged strike and, as
V. Failure to State a Cause of Action
The camel, having tread this tortuous path, has his head under the edge of the tent, but his ability to capitalize on his position is subject to one more ordeal. Defendants also contend that the admitted facts, as supplemented by those set forth in the affidavits, conclusively show that plaintiffs have no cause of action, and that they therefore sustain the summary judgment.[12]
Plaintiffs contend that the right to employment for the ensuing week accrued when the defendants failed to give any notice on Friday, October 2d (see Hangen v. Hangen (1966) 241 Cal.App.2d 11 , 14 [ 50 Cal.Rptr. 203 ]; and Van Hook v. Southern Cal. Waiters Alliance (1958) 158 Cal.App.2d 556 , 565 [ 323 P.2d 212 ]); that the collective bargaining agreement governed the terms of the employment of each individual employee (see Levy v. Superior Court (1940) 15 Cal.2d 692 , 699 [ 104 P.2d 770 , 129 A.L.R. 956 ]; Division of Labor Law Enforcement v. Dennis (1947) 81 Cal.App.2d 306 , 308-309
12 The circumstance that the merits of the case are clearly in favor of one party over another would not preclude arbitration, if the controversy was otherwise arbitrable. (Steelworkers v. American Mfg. Co. (1960) 363 U.S. 564 , 568 [4 L.Ed.Sd 1403, 1407, 80 S.Ct. 1343 ]; Butchers’ Union Local 229 v. Cudahy Packing Co. (1967) 66 Cal.2d 925 , 933 [ 59 Cal.Rptr. 713 , 428 P.2d 849 ]; O’Malley v. Wilshire Oil Co. (1963) 59 Cal.2d 482 , 488 [ 30 Cal.Rptr. 452 , 381 P.2d 188 ].)
The defendants do assert that in agreeing to extend and to continue the collective bargaining contract until the negotiating session on Monday, October 5, 1964, it was not intended to give the employees a right to employment past that date; and that the sole purpose of the extension was to maintain the status quo and prevent a strike or lockout while negotiations continued. They contend that the relative position of the parties and the circumstances under which the extension was agreed to compel this interpretation. (See Civ. Code, §§1636 and 1647.) From these postulates they conclude that any question of employment after October 5,1964, was not covered by the terms of the contract. (See Proctor & Gamble Independent Union v. Proctor & Gamble Mfg. Co., supra, 312 F.2d 181 , 184 and 186, and other cases cited above in connection with circumstances arising after the termination of the contract.)
The record is singularly silent on the issue of the purpose, intent and scope of the agreement to extend the collective bargaining contract. In accordance with the rules first reviewed in this opinion, the failure of the defendants to answer the allegation in the complaint “that . . . the contract was extended with the negotiating session of October 5, 1964,” and the failure to controvert the declaration in the counteraffidavit that “the parties agreed to continue the contract in effect until” that day, must be construed against the defendants. The most that can be said is that there is a possi
The record, however, does disclose other facts which preclude plaintiffs ’ recovery. If it be assumed that the defendant-employers had an obligation on October 5th to furnish the plaintiff-employees five days and 40 hours of work during that week, that obligation terminated when plaintiffs limited their offer to continue working “on a day to day basis during negotiations. ’ ’
11 The rule, of course, is well established that a party to an executory bilateral contract may avail himself of a refusal of performance made by the other party in advance of the time of performance either as a basis for an action for damages or may himself set up such refusal as a defense to his own performance. (Civ. Code, secs. 1440, 1511, par. 3, 1515, and 6 Cal.Jur., pp. 457 to 460; Alderson v. Houston, 154 Cal. 1 , 12 [ 96 P. 884 ]; Howard v. Galbraith, 13 Cal.App. 373 , 377 [ 109 P. 889 ]; 13 Cor.Jur. 653, 654.) ” (California Canning Peach Growers v. Harris (1928) 91 Cal.App. 654 , 656 [ 267 P. 572 ], See also Guerrieri v. Severini (1958) 51 Cal.2d 12 , 18 [ 330 P.2d 635 ]; and Gold Min. & Water Co. v. Swinerton (1943) 23 Cal.2d 19 , 27-29 [ 142 P.2d 22 ]; 1 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law (1960) Contracts, § 274, pp. 303-304; and cf. Local 659, I.A.T.S.E. v. Color Corp. of America, supra, 47 Cal.2d 189 , 198.)
Generally a mere threat not to perform will not constitute a repudiation. (Gold Min. & Water Co. v. Swinerton, supra, 23 Cal.2d 19 , 28; Salot v. Wershow (1958) 157 Cal.App.2d 352 , 357 [ 320 P.2d 926 ].) However, in Nemanick v. Christensen (1948) 87 Cal.App.2d 844 [ 197 P.2d 785 ], the employee’s statement that he was quitting was found to be a repudiation which relieved the employer who had hired a replacement from liability under the contract of employment. (87 Cal.App. 2d at pp. 846-847.) Under the circumstances of this case the
13 It is also conceivable that a probe of the facts in connection with the agreement to extend the contract would reveal that the agreement itself was advice that the forthcoming work week was predetermined to end on Monday with the agreed extension of the contract unless a further extension was effected.
It is unnecessary to determine whether the proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board furnish grounds for collateral estoppel which would preclude the plaintiffs from contesting the defendants’ right to deny them employment on the remaining days of the work week commencing October 5th. (See Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd., supra, 58 Cal.2d 601 , 604; Bernhard v. Bank of America (1942) 19 Cal.2d 807 , 810-813 [ 122 P.2d 892 ]; and Solari v. Atlas-Universal Service, Inc., supra, 215 Cal.App.2d 587 , 592-593.)
In their reply brief plaintiffs seek to apply the doctrine of collateral estoppel to their advantage by reference to proceedings, not a part of the record, in which the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board determined that the plaintiff-employees had involuntarily left their work and were not precluded from benefits by the provisions of section 1262 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and in which the Superior Court in and for the City and County of San Francisco upheld that determination by denying a writ of mandate. (Cf. Coast Packing Co. v. California Unemp. Ins. Appeals Board (1966) 64 Cal.2d 76 , 79-80 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 854 , 410 P.2d 358 ].) Those proceedings are not properly before this court. “A party may not submit motions of the kind here and then when the party receives an adverse decision, contend that he should be given another opportunity when he neither requested it nor showed in the trial court that he had other facts to present.” (Hayward Union etc. School Dist. v. Madrid, supra, 234 Cal. App.2d 100 , 128.) Moreover, it is apparent that the issue of whether plaintiffs’ cessation of labor was voluntary or involuntary does not control the issue of whether defendants had an obligation to furnish them employment.
The judgment is affirmed.
Molinari, P. J., and Elkington, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied April 17, 1968, and appellants’ petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied May 22,1968.
Cases cited
- R. D. Reeder Lathing Co. v. Allen 66 Cal.2d 373 at 376-377 p. 457, p. 458
- Hayward Union High School District v. Madrid 234 Cal.App.2d 100 at 115, at 128 p. 459, p. 477
- Johnson v. Drew 218 Cal.App.2d 614 at 616, at 616-617 p. 459, p. 460
- Johnson v. Banducci 212 Cal.App.2d 254 at 261 p. 459
- Weir v. Snow 210 Cal.App.2d 283 at 290 p. 459
- Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc. 204 Cal.App.2d 597 at 604, at 605-606 p. 459, p. 460
- Snider v. Snider 200 Cal.App.2d 741 at 748, at 751-753 p. 459, p. 464
- Rodes v. Shannon 194 Cal.App.2d 743 at 748 p. 459
- Schessler v. Keck 138 Cal.App.2d 663 at 669-670, at 669 p. 459, p. 460, p. 464
- Cone v. Union Oil Co. 129 Cal.App.2d 558 at 563-564 p. 459, p. 467
- Dryer v. Dryer 231 Cal.App.2d 441 at 449-450 p. 459
- Donnachie v. East Bay Regional Park District 217 Cal.App.2d 172 at 175-176, at 175 p. 460, p. 464
- Miller & Lux, Inc. v. Bank of America 212 Cal.App.2d 719 at 725 p. 460
- Gardenswartz v. Equitable Life Assurance Society 23 Cal.App.2d 745 at 750 p. 461
- Joslin v. Marin Municipal Water District 67 Cal.2d 132 p. 461
- San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon 359 U.S. 236 p. 464
- Bricklayers & Masons Union No. 1 v. Superior Court 216 Cal.App.2d 578 at 582-584 p. 464
- Smith v. Evening News Ass'n 371 U.S. 195 at 197, at 249 p. 464, p. 465
- Vaca v. Sipes 386 U.S. 171 at 179-180, at 184-185, at 854-855, at 184, at 854, at 185 p. 464, p. 467, p. 469, p. 474
- Retail Clerks Union, Local 770 v. Thriftimart, Inc. 59 Cal.2d 421 at 423-425 p. 465
- Local 174, Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers v. Lucas Flour Co. 369 U.S. 95 at 101, at 103-104, at 598-599 p. 465, p. 468
- Charles Dowd Box Co. v. Courtney 368 U.S. 502 at 505-506, at 506-507, at 486-487 p. 465, p. 468
- McCarroll v. Los Angeles County District Council of Carpenters 49 Cal.2d 45 at 52-53, at 65-66, at 59-60, at 67-69 p. 465, p. 467, p. 468, p. 469
- Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Insurance 58 Cal.2d 601 at 604 p. 465, p. 477
- Solari v. Atlas-Universal Service, Inc. 215 Cal.App.2d 587 at 592-593 p. 465, p. 477
- Republic Steel Corp. v. Maddox 379 U.S. 650 at 652-653, at 657-658, at 585-586, at 654-657, at 584-585 p. 467, p. 469, p. 471
- Don daRoza, Inc. v. Northern California District Council of Hod Carriers 233 Cal.App.2d 96 at 103 p. 467
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston 376 U.S. 543 at 546-547, at 548, at 904, at 553, at 906, at 554, at 907 p. 467, p. 468, p. 469, p. 471
- Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co. 370 U.S. 238 at 241, at 465, at 242 p. 467, p. 468, p. 469
- United Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co. 363 U.S. 574 at 582, at 1417, at 584, at 1418, at 583-584, at 1417-1418 p. 467, p. 468, p. 469, p. 470
- Butchers' Union Local 229 v. Cudahy Packing Co. 66 Cal.2d 925 at 935, at 932-933 p. 468, p. 470, p. 471
- United Steelworkers v. American Manufacturing Co. 363 U.S. 564 at 568 p. 468
- Textile Workers Union v. Lincoln Mills 353 U.S. 448 at 456-457, at 459, at 982 p. 468, p. 471
- O'Malley v. Wilshire Oil Co. 59 Cal.2d 482 at 486, at 491, at 489-492 p. 468, p. 470
- Posner v. Grunwald-Marx, Inc. 56 Cal.2d 169 at 175, at 173 p. 468, p. 469, p. 471
- United Steelworkers v. Enterprise Wheel & Car Corp. 363 U.S. 593 at 597-598, at 1428-1429 p. 471, p. 472
- In re the Arbitration between Potoker & Brooklyn Eagle, Inc. 2 N.Y.2d 553 at 560 p. 471, p. 472
- Drake Bakeries Inc. v. Local 50, American Bakery & Confectionery Workers International 370 U.S. 254 p. 473
- Local 659, I.A.T.S.E. v. Color Corp. of America 47 Cal.2d 189 at 197-198, at 198 p. 474, p. 476
- Hangen v. Hangen 241 Cal.App.2d 11 at 14 p. 474
- Hook v. Southern California Waiters Alliance 158 Cal.App.2d 556 at 565 p. 474
- Levy v. Superior Court 15 Cal.2d 692 at 699 p. 474
- Division of Labor Law Enforcement v. Dennis 81 Cal.App.2d 306 at 308-309 p. 474
- Grant v. Aerodraulics Co. 91 Cal.App.2d 68 at 73 p. 475
- Sanborn v. Ballanfonte 98 Cal.App. 482 at 488 p. 475
- American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers v. Superior Court 207 Cal.App.2d 676 at 690-691 p. 476
- Alderson v. Houston 154 Cal. 1 at 12 p. 476
- Howard v. Galbraith 13 Cal.App. 373 at 377 p. 476
- California Canning Peach Growers v. Harris 91 Cal.App. 654 at 656 p. 476
- Guerrieri v. Severini 51 Cal.2d 12 at 18 p. 476
- Gold Mining & Water Co. v. Swinerton 23 Cal.2d 19 at 27-29, at 28 p. 476
- Salot v. Wershow 157 Cal.App.2d 352 at 357 p. 476
- Nemanick v. Christensen 87 Cal.App.2d 844 p. 476
- Bernhard v. Bank of America National Trust & Saving Association 19 Cal.2d 807 at 810-813 p. 477
- Coast Packing Co. v. California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board 64 Cal.2d 76 at 79-80 p. 477