STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
CONNECTICUT STATE BOARD OF LABOR RELATIONS
In the Matter of
Valley Chevrolet Company of Ansonia Connecticut
- and –
Decision No. 10
Case No. E-27
International Association of Machinists
Lodge #420, A. F. of L.
Decided November 19, 1945
APPEARANCES
Herbert L. Emanuelson, Esq. for Valley Chevrolet Company
Richard Thurer, William Fuller and Frank Piscatelli for the Union
Decision and Order
On October 15, 1945, International Association of Machinists Lodge #420, A. F. of L. of New Haven,
Connecticut, herein referred to as the Union, filed with the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations,
herein referred to as the Board, a request that it be certified as the representative for bargaining
purposes for all the mechanics employed by the Valley Chevrolet Company of Ansonia, Connecticut,
herein referred to as the Company. In said request for certification of it as the bargaining representative
the Union alleged that a question or controversy concerning the representation of said employees had
arisen.
On October 23, 1945, the Agent of the Board arranged a conference between the parties which was held
at the office of Herbert L. Emanuelson at New Haven, Connecticut. Present at the conference were John A.
Gaspic, Agent of the Board, Herbert L. Emanuelson, Attorney for the Company, John Cooley, President of
the Company, Richard Thurer, William Fuller and Frank Piscatelli, all for the Union.
The Union claimed to represent a majority of the employees working as mechanics for the Company and
exhibited three applications for membership in the Union which had been signed by employees of the
Company.
The Company contended that the said employees had repudiated their action in making application for
membership in the Union, and that they were no longer interested in membership in the Union.
The parties agreed that Samuel Palmer, Nick Testone, Jack Somers, Foy Cascia and Philip Landone were
eligible to participate in any election that might be directed, and also agreed that Harold Cooley employed
as a service manager for the Company was not eligible to participate in any election. The parties
disagreed on the status of Rocco Riccuitti. The Union contended that he acted as a foreman and as service
manager in the absence of Harold Cooley and the Company contended that he was employed only as a
mechanic.
The Union claimed that a payroll comparison was a suitable medium for determining the question of
representation. The Company, however, would not agree to a payroll comparison or card check and
urged that an election be held to determine the question.
The parties agreed to waive a formal hearing on the issues and agreed to have the Agent of the Board
present the issues and information to the Board for a decision.
On October 25, 1945, the Board met in executive session at time the Agent informed the Board of the
issues involved and presented to it all information obtained from the parties concerning the issues, and
the Board decided that an election by secret ballot should be conducted by its Agent among the eligible
employees for the purpose of determining whether said employees of the Company desired to be
represented for the purpose of collective bargaining by the Union, and that Rocco Riccuitti, was ineligible
to participate in such election.
Pursuant to the foregoing direction of election, an election by secret ballot was conducted by the Agent of
the Board on October 31, 1945, at City Hall, Ansonia, Connecticut. International Association of Machinists
Lodge #420, A. F. of L. having failed to receive a majority of the votes cast, its request for certification of
representative for bargaining purposes for all the mechanics of the Valley Chevrolet Company is hereby
dismissed.
/s/ A.G. Gulliver
Chairman
/s/ Vincent P. Kiernan
Member
/s/ Peter McManus
Member
To:
Valley Chevrolet Company of Ansonia, Connecticut
International Association of Machinists
Lodge #420, A. F. of L.