ÿWPC”" kØ}éG¢¬<þhè¾|h«ÉŶ B@fD¿éú_óù²e}éG¢‘!^-$Ùýéב*ûx„ïeïµ™Õ«ë¿—©0h*ÄîíË ¼ 0r)ö:¬¼YYÁ5ÑÃÑÆqAž9Ö3 •[ÏØÇK:Šá°¯¾vÂáQ¦š i%TËà#xÒ4‚Ìßµ¶Šð”·™{‡VV{"6IÂò¯½,Îú²®¶qŒ6¥ÚJåþc ÷2Ôð ?·„IÄ8¡'F˜FRóåóªvwTJš¿¶ë4Ùã5% NFàs%ZÐN¢p­@x(µyB~ÕGî>!’Î3©>^ðJ¦½œŸ<_k@ ó®šýpÉ…ZÉVÈ ø>=ä=V¶ú B‚þðˤk'Mž·-׊€-º¤ÐµÎ4·Ô€NЃ—vª•˜!­[sH¨g¬üQ»ˆ†q6”õ’ä·ü^‘uá¦²Š¥dÆ7Ø2ÿBŠTË3h‡÷φ_êÒ¾Ú¾²oOUŽþ>椒«p1#!®UNÏ % 04#BWw@™4ÙíUNü-Jùw 1up–å${ U>Ÿ Ý ò 0 Áú 0D»U>ÿM=㊠1kmU>اNÅUFÇE U > BMãj$M^ q} mU>–bÔ§ÜU>ƒ°ÁU>qqqqq§¯U>V"˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX( ¤U$¡¡Ó  ÓC:\WINDOWS\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT  Ó€EE[[ey‡˜*3|x(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular #Ñ#€Xÿÿd#Ñ ïÝ ƒô>$ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ=€ü¢XÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€X°XXXÔÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€òòsupraóó€p.€*,€lines€93„99.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a) ŒÝ ƒô>$ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ=€ü¢XÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ€X°XXXÔTheÔ_Ô€General€Counsel€did€not€brief€the€issue€but€contended€atÐ ° Ðoral€argument€that€the€record€was€devoid€of€any€evidence€that€theÏstrikers€were€separately€motivated€by€the€Shea/PennimanÏconversation€because€the€ALJ€erroneously€sustained€RyanððsÏobjections€to€the€necessary€line€of€questioning.€€However,€becauseÏthe€General€Counselððs€offer€of€proof,€while€it€shows€that€theÏstrikers€were€disturbed€by€the€direct€dealing,€fails€to€establishÏthat€the€strikers€shifted€the€focus€of€their€protest€to€include€theÏShea/Penniman€incident€and€thereby€prolonged€the€strike,€we€find€noÏprejudice.Ô‡ô~3õXX°Ô€€€Ô#†X°Xõô~3G#Ô Ý ƒ“$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€¼®ÐXdÐd=ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€X‘ÉXXXÔOf€the€Northern€District€of€California,€sitting€byÐ ° Ðdesignation.<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular Ñ  Ñ(q(2ô>$¤¤Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€ü¢XÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular CÝ ƒÝÙ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ€%X‘˜XXXÔTheÔ_Ô€General€Counsel€did€not€brief€the€issue€but€contended€atÐ ° Ðoral€argument€that€the€record€was€devoid€of€any€evidence€that€theÏstrikers€were€separately€motivated€by€the€Shea/PennimanÏconversation€because€the€ALJ€erroneously€sustained€RyanððsÏobjections€to€the€necessary€line€of€questioning.€€However,€becauseÏthe€General€Counselððs€offer€of€proof,€while€it€shows€that€theÏstrikers€were€disturbed€by€the€direct€dealing,€fails€to€establishÏthat€the€strikers€shifted€the€focus€of€their€protest€to€include€theÏShea/Penniman€incident€and€thereby€prolonged€the€strike,€we€find€noÏprejudice.Ô‡%ô~dõXX‘˜Ô€€€Ô#†%X‘˜Xõô~dþ#Ô ÙÝ ƒ“$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€¼®ÐXdÐd=ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€X‘ÉXXXÔUnlike€economic€strikers,€unfair€labor€practices€strikers€areÐ ° Ðentitled€to€reinstatement€and€back€pay€even€if€they€have€beenÏreplaced€during€the€strike.€€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòHarding€Glass€Co.,€Inc.óó,€80Ð @ ÐF.3d€7,€10€n.3€(1st€Cir.€1997).€€$ÿÿ35;AGOW_e11.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular  Ý ƒô>$ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ=€ü¢XÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ€X°XXXÔTheÔ_Ô€ALJ€gave€three€reasons€for€believing€Penniman€over€Shea,Ð ° Ðonly€one€of€which€was€adopted€by€the€Board:€Pennimanððs€demeanor.€ÏThe€other€two€were:€(1)€the€ALJððs€incorrect€belief€that€PennimanÏwas€no€longer€a€Ryan€employee€or€a€Union€member€and€therefore€hadÏno€stake€in€his€testimony,€and€(2)€his€assumption€that€Shea€wouldÏnot€take€a€striking€worker€from€the€picket€line€for€a€drive€and€notÏmention€the€strike.€´¾½Q 9Z+‹.Courier New Regular<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular d ÙÝ ƒô>$ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ=€ü¢XÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€X°XXXÔUnlike€economic€strikers,€unfair€labor€practices€strikers€areÐ ° Ðentitled€to€reinstatement€and€back€pay€even€if€they€have€beenÏreplaced€during€the€strike.€€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòHarding€Glass€Co.,€Inc.óó,€80Ð @ ÐF.3d€7,€10€n.3€(1st€Cir.€1997).€€ Ý ƒô>$ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ=€LíXÐXdÐd=Óà  àòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XQìXXXÔOf€the€Northern€District€of€California,€sitting€byÐ ° Ðdesignation.¬‰ð*ÆÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular- ù- Ý ƒ“$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€¼®ÐXdÐd=ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ€(X‘ÉXXXÔTheÔ_Ô€ALJ€gave€three€reasons€for€believing€Penniman€over€Shea,Ð ° Ðonly€one€of€which€was€adopted€by€the€Board:€Pennimanððs€demeanor.€ÏThe€other€two€were:€(1)€the€ALJððs€incorrect€belief€that€PennimanÏwas€no€longer€a€Ryan€employee€or€a€Union€member€and€therefore€hadÏno€stake€in€his€testimony,€and€(2)€his€assumption€that€Shea€wouldÏnot€take€a€striking€worker€from€the€picket€line€for€a€drive€and€notÏmention€the€strike.€<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular ¦Ý ƒÝÙ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€*X‘˜XXXÔÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€òòsupraóó€p.€*,€lines€93„99.<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular Ý ƒ“$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€¼®ÐXdÐd=ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ€0X‘ÉXXXÔTheÔ_Ô€ALJ€gave€three€reasons€for€believing€Penniman€over€Shea,Ð ° Ðonly€one€of€which€was€adopted€by€the€Board:€Pennimanððs€demeanor.€ÏThe€other€two€were:€(1)€the€ALJððs€incorrect€belief€that€PennimanÏwas€no€longer€a€Ryan€employee€or€a€Union€member€and€therefore€hadÏno€stake€in€his€testimony,€and€(2)€his€assumption€that€Shea€wouldÏnot€take€a€striking€worker€from€the€picket€line€for€a€drive€and€notÏmention€the€strike.€<è\( 9Z+&Courier RegularÝ ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼X¹»XXÔÑ€ úÑò òÔ‡ ¼¦4»»¼X¹ÔÔ‡ °(P°» ¼¦4ÔÑ8€QìXXdÈdÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ€P¨Ñà@‹ ‹ ìàUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÔ#† ¼¦4»° °(P‰#ÔÔ‡ „Rˆ„» ¼¦4ԈР° Ðà@ÈÈ ìàFor€the€First€Circuitó óÔ#†„Oà „„ „Rˆj#ÔÔ‡„+5 „ „„OàÔÔ#†¼s » „„+5Q#ԈР„Ô ÐÌÌßA€) °°` dE<× ` AßÐ Ø ( ÐÌÌÔ#†¼X¹» »¼sÓ#ÔÔ€¼Væ »»¼X¹ÔÔ€XQìX »¼VæÔNo.€00„2420Ð Û + ÐÌà@ÄÄìàRYAN€IRON€WORKS,€INC.,ˆÌÌà@XX%ìàPetitioner,ˆÌÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÌÌà@¨ ¨ ìàNATIONAL€LABOR€RELATIONS€BOARD,ˆÌÌà@XX%ìàRespondent.ˆÌÌà@Œ Œ ìàNATIONAL€Ô_ÔSHOPMENÔ_Ô€PENSION€FUND;€Ô_ÔSHOPMENÔ_ÔððSˆÌà@$ $ ìàLOCAL€501€INTERNATIONAL€ASSOCIATION€OF€à@@DDìàBRIDGE,ˆÌà@¬¬ìà€STRUCTURAL€AND€ORNAMENTAL€IRONWORKERS,€AFL„CIO,ˆÌÌà@$ìàÔ_ÔIntervenorsÔ_Ô.ˆÌÌßA€) °°` dE<ê` AßÐ ë; ÐÌà@œ œ ìàON€PETITION€FOR€REVIEW€AND€CROSS„APPLICATIONˆÌà@¸ ¸ ìàFOR€ENFORCEMENT€à@@44ìàOF€AN€ORDER€OF€THE€ˆÌà@¨ ¨ ìàNATIONAL€LABOR€RELATIONS€BOARDà@@°°*ìà€ˆÌÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌßA€) °°` dE<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@„„'ìàBeforeˆÌÌÓ  Óà@@((ìà€Lynch,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó,Ð !a$ ÐÌCoffin,€òòSenior€Circuit€Judgeóó,Ð ¡"ñ& ÐÌand€Ô_ÔSchwarzerÔ_Ô,Ù*ƒ!Ùññ׃!×ññññ׃×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòSenior€District€Judgeóó.Ð 1$( ÐÌÌßA€) °°` dE<ˆ&` AßÐ ‰&Ù!+ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àòòRobert€P.€Corcoranóó,€for€petitioner.Ð `'°"- Ðà  àòòWilliam€M.€Bernsteinóó,€Senior€Attorney,€with€whom€òòLeonard€R.Ð ((x#. ÐPageóó,€Acting€General€Counsel,€òòJohn€H.€Fergusonóó,€Associate€GeneralÐ ð(@$/ ÐCounsel,€and€òòAileen€A.€Armstrongóó,€Deputy€Associate€GeneralÐ ¸)%0 ÐCounsel,€were€on€brief,€for€respondent.Ð €*Ð%1 ÐÑP¨Ñâ âÑ  Ñâ âÑ  Ñà  àòòMarc€H.€Rifkindóó,€with€whom€òòLynn€A.€Bowersóó,€òòMarc€A.Ð ° ÐÔ_ÔTenenbaumÔ_Ôóó,€òòÔ_ÔSlevinÔ_Ô€&€Hart,€P.C.óó,€òòMary€T.€Sullivanóó€and€òòSegal,Ð xÈ ÐÔ_ÔRoitmanÔ_Ô€&€Colemanóó€were€on€brief,€for€Ô_ÔintervenorÔ_Ô.Ð @ ÐÌà@àà$ìà_____________ˆÌÌà@àà$ìàññññHññññññJuly€16,€2ññññññ90ññññññ001ññˆÌà@$ìà____________ˆÐ  ( xª ÐÑ úÑâ  âÑ8€LíXXdðXXdÈ8Ñâ  âÑ  ÑÙ*!ÙÜÜÓÓÓ  ÓÔ_ÔññÑ€&ÑÑ8€Q¿XXdÈXXdð8ÑññÔ_Ôà  àà ` àÔ_Ôññò òññSCHWARZERÔ_Ô,€òòSenior€District€Judgeññññó óññññóó.ññó óññ€€Ryan€Iron€Works,€Inc.Ð ° Ð(Ryan)€petitions€for€review€of€an€order€of€the€National€LaborÏRelations€Board€(Board)€finding€violations€of€Sections€8(a)(3)€andÏ(5)€of€the€National€Labor€Relations€Act€(Act),€29€U.S.C.€ððððÏ158(a)(3)€and€(5).€€The€Board€has€cross„applied€for€enforcement€ofÏits€order€in€which€it€found€that€Ryan€had€committed€a€series€ofÏunfair€labor€practices€during€negotiations€for€a€new€collectiveÏbargaining€agreement€(Ô_ÔCBAÔ_Ô)€with€the€bargaining€representative€ofÏits€employees,€Ô_ÔShopmenÔ_Ôððs€Local€501,€International€Association€ofÏBridge,€Structural€and€Ornamental€Ironworkers,€AFL„CIO€(the€Union),Ïand€that€an€economic€strike€of€its€employees€was€converted€into€anÏunfair€labor€practice€strike€following€an€incident€of€directÏdealing€between€Ryanððs€president€and€one€of€its€workers.€€We€affirmÏthe€Boardððs€order€with€respect€to€the€unfair€labor€practices€butÏhold€that€the€record€lacks€substantial€support€for€the€finding€thatÏthe€strike€was€converted€prior€to€its€termination€on€December€8,Ï1995.€€Accordingly,€we€grant€the€Boardððs€application€in€part€only.ÌÓ  Óà @ àò òFACTUAL€BACKGROUNDó óÐ à" ÐÓQÓà  àà ` àRyan€is€a€corporation€engaged€in€the€fabrication€of€iron,Ïsteel€and€metal€products€at€its€plant€in€Ô_ÔRaynhamÔ_Ô,€Massachusetts.€ÏIt€has€been€party€to€a€series€of€Ô_ÔCBAsÔ_Ô€with€Local€501€for€more€thanÏtwenty„five€years.€€The€most€recent€Ô_ÔCBAÔ_Ô€between€the€parties€was€inÏeffect€from€September€11,€1992,€to€September€10,€1995.€€The€eventsÏgiving€rise€to€this€controversy€occurred€in€the€course€of€theÏnegotiations€for€a€successor€Ô_ÔCBAÔ_Ô.Ìà  àà ` àThe€parties€met€in€negotiations€eight€times€from€AugustÐ `,°'2 ÐÔ_Ô18€to€November€10,€1995.€€The€Union€presented€a€list€of€demands,Ïincluding€significant€wage€and€benefits€increases,€and€Ryan,€inÏturn,€proposed€to€reduce€wages€and€benefits€in€several€areas.€€AtÏthe€August€29€session,€Union€representative€David€MortimerÏ(Mortimer)€told€Ryanððs€negotiating€team€that€the€companyððs€proposalÏwas€ð ðan€insult€and€a€piece€of€garbageðð€and€that€the€Union€ð ðwouldÏnot€give€up€one€centðð€in€givebacks€or€concessions€of€any€kind.€ÏAnother€Union€official€made€a€similar€comment€at€the€August€31Ïsession,€where€Ryan€offered€to€increase€its€pension€and€healthÏinsurance€contributions,€and€reiterated€that€the€Union€would€notÏagree€to€any€givebacks€or€concessions.€€Ìà  àà ` àOn€September€7€the€Union€filed€an€unfair€labor€practiceÏcharge€against€Ryan€for€failure€to€bargain€in€good€faith,€a€chargeÏthat€was€ultimately€rejected€by€the€Board.€€On€September€8€theÏemployees€voted€to€reject€Ryanððs€proposal.€€Because€of€the€pendencyÏof€the€charge,€the€Union€told€its€members€that€a€strike€would€be€anÏunfair€labor€practice€strike€as€opposed€to€an€economic€strike,Ïmeaning€that€none€of€them€could€be€permanently€replaced.ññ׃ ×ññññ׃×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ @" Ðmembers€took€a€strike€vote€and€went€out€on€September€11,€the€dayÏafter€the€CBA€expired.€€The€parties€continued€to€meet,€however,€andÏat€the€September€18€session€the€Union€modified€its€proposal,Ïreducing€both€its€hourly€wage€and€pension€fund€contributionÏdemands.€€Ryan€rejected€this€proposal€and€on€October€2€counteredÐ '`", Ðwith€a€proposal€which€included€an€increase€in€vacation€time€forÏcertain€employees€and€the€shoe€allowance€but€enlarged€its€right€toÏsubcontract€unit€work.€€The€Union€rejected€this€proposal€but€madeÏa€counterproposal€for€a€three„year€contract€providing€for€increasedÏwages€and€pension€contributions.€Ìà  àà ` àOn€October€23,€Ryanððs€president,€Howard€Shea€(Shea),Ïinvited€Wallace€Penniman€(Penniman),€who€was€walking€the€picketÏline€with€twenty€to€thirty€other€striking€employees,€to€take€a€rideÏto€inspect€one€of€Ryanððs€construction€jobs.€€Penniman€agreed€andÏthe€two€men€drove€off.€€The€parties€dispute€much€of€the€content€ofÏthe€conversation€during€that€car€trip.€€According€to€Penniman,€SheaÏstated€ð ðthat€it€was€the€Unionððs€fault€[that€negotiations€were€goingÏpoorly]€because€they€werenððt€negotiating€with€the€Companyðð€andÏasked€what€exactly€the€men€wanted.€€Penniman€told€Shea€that€theÏemployeesðð€main€concern€was€seniority,€and€Shea€responded€thatÏRyanððs€proposal€on€seniority€was€merely€a€bargaining€tool€or€aÏsmokescreen€to€gain€concessions.€€Shea€told€Penniman€ð ðthat€[Ryan]Ïwas€going€to€need€another€three„year€pay€freeze€to€be€competitiveÏwith€the€non„union€shops.ðð€€The€two€men€then€discussed€the€possibleÏpay€freeze,€as€well€as€vacations,€holidays,€work€boot€allowances,Ïsubcontracting,€pensions,€health€insurance€and€arbitration.€ÏAccording€to€Penniman,€the€discussion€was€extensive,€lasting€theÏentire€drive€to€Waltham€and€back,€a€trip€of€about€three€hours.€ÏBefore€dropping€him€off,€Shea€told€Penniman€that€this€was€the€typeÏof€negotiating€he€was€hoping€for€from€the€Union€and€said€that€thereÏwere€only€a€few€items€on€Ryanððs€list€that€it€needed.€€As€PennimanÐ À+'2 Ðgot€out€of€the€car€at€the€picket€line,€Shea€told€him€ð ðnot€to€worryÏabout€it,€that€it€was€going€to€be€resolved.ðð€€Ìà  àà ` àIn€his€testimony,€Shea€admitted€that€he€told€PennimanÏthat€the€Union€had€refused€to€respond€to€any€of€the€companyððsÏproposals€but€denied€that€there€was€any€substantive€discussion€ofÏRyanððs€bargaining€proposals.€€According€to€Shea,€when€PennimanÏasked€him€about€the€negotiations,€Shea€told€him€they€should€notÏdiscuss€them.€€Ìà  àà ` àThe€Administrative€Law€Judge€(ALJ)€accepted€PennimanððsÏversion€of€the€conversation€and€found€that€Shea€had€dealt€directlyÏwith€an€individual€employee€concerning€the€negotiations,€therebyÏunlawfully€bypassing€and€undermining€the€Union.Ìà  àà ` àPenniman€testified€that€the€conversation€led€him€to€feelÏoptimistic€about€the€possibility€of€a€quick€resolution€and€that€heÏshared€it€with€the€other€picketers€who€saw€him€leave€and€returnÏwith€Shea.€€Later€that€day€he€told€Union€representative€MortimerÏabout€the€conversation€and€Mortimer€arranged€for€anotherÏnegotiating€session€on€October€25.€€The€parties€dispute€whether€theÏUnion€brought€up€the€Shea/Penniman€conversation€at€that€session.€ÏRyan€argues€that€there€was€no€mention€of€the€incident€and€MortimerÏtestified€as€much,€but€Union€negotiator€James€Devlin€testified€thatÏwhen€he€raised€the€question€of€the€differences€between€theÏpositions€taken€by€Ryan€at€the€table€and€those€taken€away€from€theÏtable€he€was€referring€in€part€to€the€Shea/Penniman€incident.€€InÏany€case,€Ryan€did€not€change€its€position.€€When€Union€officialsÏreported€this€to€the€employees,€the€employees€reacted€withÐ À+'2 Ðdisappointment€and€anger.€€Having€been€led€to€believe€that€an€earlyÏresolution€was€in€the€offing,€some€blamed€the€Union€for€the€lack€ofÏprogress.Ìà  àà ` à€On€November€6€Ryan€unilaterally€altered€the€terms€ofÏemployment€by€implementing€the€changes€in€the€CBA€set€out€in€itsÏOctober€2€proposal.€€On€November€10€it€also€discontinuedÏcontributions€to€the€National€Shopmen€Pension€Fund€(Fund)€requiredÏunder€the€expired€CBA.€€At€the€final€negotiating€session€on€thatÏsame€day,€the€Union€modified€its€earlier€proposal€and€accepted€someÏof€Ryanððs€proposals.€€Ryan€rejected€the€Union€proposal€and€stood€onÏits€October€2€proposal.€€On€November€16€the€Union€withdrew€itsÏprevious€proposal€and€offered€a€three„year€extension€of€the€expiredÏcontract€with€several€wage€freeze€concessions.€€On€November€21€RyanÏrejected€that€proposal€but€told€the€Union€that€it€was€willing€toÏmeet€to€ð ðdiscuss€the€significant€differences€between€them.ðð€€Ìà  àà ` àOn€December€7€Ryan€received€a€petition€signed€by€fifty„¼five€employees€stating€that€they€Ô‡X°XXX°Ôno€longerÔ#†X°XXX°-#Ô€wished€to€be€representedÐ °  Ðby€the€Union€and€it€notified€the€Union€that€it€was€thereforeÏwithdrawing€recognition€from€the€Union.€€On€December€8€the€UnionÏvoted€to€end€the€strike€and€faxed€Ryan€a€letter€offering€the€returnÏof€all€striking€workers€to€their€jobs€by€December€11.€€When€theÏworkers€showed€up€they€were€met€by€Shea,€who€told€them€there€wereÏno€jobs€for€them.€Ìò òÓ  ÓSTANDARD€OF€REVIEWó óÐ  (ð#. ÐÓç.Óà  à€à ` àWe€grant€the€Board€ð ðdeference€with€regard€to€itsÐ €*Ð%0 Ðinterpretation€of€the€Act€as€long€as€its€interpretation€is€rationalÐ ,`'2 Ðand€consistent€with€the€statute.ðð€€òòNLRBòòóó€óóv.€òòBeverly€Enters.„Mass.,Ð ° ÐInc.óó,€174€F.3d€13,€22€(1st€Cir.€1999).€€ð ðThe€Boardððs€findings€ofÐ à Ðfact€are€conclusive€if€supported€by€substantial€evidence€on€theÏrecord€considered€as€a€whole.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€21.€€Substantial€evidence€isÐ °  Ðð ðsuch€relevant€evidence€as€a€reasonable€mind€might€accept€asÏadequate€to€support€a€conclusion.ðð€€òòUniversal€Camera€Corp.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,Ð Ð   Ð340€U.S.€474,€477€(1951)€(citation€omitted).€€The€ultimate€questionÏis€ð ðÔ‡X°XXX°ÔððÔ#†X°XXX°?2#Ôwhether€on€this€record€it€would€have€been€possible€for€aÐ ð@  Ðreasonable€jury€to€reach€the€Boardððs€conclusion.ðððð€€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòHosp.Ð €Ð  Ðof€San€Pablo,€Inc.óó,€207€F.3d€67,€70€(1st€Cir.€2000)€(quotingÐ ` ÐòòAllentown€Mack€Sales€&€Svc.,€Inc.óóv.€òòNLRBóó,€522€U.S.€359,€366„67Ð  ð Ð(1998)).Ìò òI.à0  àTHE€DIRECT€DEALING€CHARGEó óÐÀ(#(# Ðà  àA.à0 ` àThe€Unfair€Labor€Practice€ChargeРð` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àThe€Board€accepted€the€ALJððs€finding€that€SheaððsÏdiscussion€with€Penniman€was€a€violation€of€Section€8(a)(5),€whichÏprohibits€employers€from€bypassing€the€Union€and€dealing€directlyÏwith€employees.€€Ryan€initially€attacks€the€ALJððs€credibilityÏdetermination,€which€was€based€principally€on€the€relative€demeanorÏof€the€witnesses€and€affirmed€by€the€Board.ñ ñññ׃×ññññ׃'×ñññ ññ ñ׃/×ñ ñÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€That€determination€isÐ #P& Ðentitled€to€great€weight€because€the€ALJ€saw€and€heard€theÐ $à( Ðwitnesses€testify,€òòseeóó€òòHolyoke€Visiting€Nurses€Ass'nóó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€11Ð ° ÐF.3d€302,€308€(1st€Cir.€1993),€and€we€will€not€disturb€it€so€longÏas€the€ALJ's€position€represents€a€choice€between€two€fairlyÏconflicting€views.€€We€will€set€aside€such€findings€only€if€weÏbelieve€that€the€ALJ€overstepped€the€bounds€of€reason.€€òòId.óó;€òò3„EÐ ð @ ÐCo.,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€26€F.3d€1,€3€(1st€Cir.€1994).€€While€the€ALJððsÐ € Ð  Ðfinding€may€have€been€somewhat€conclusory,€we€see€nothing€in€theÏrecord€to€suggest€that€it€was€unreasonable.€€Ìà  àà ` àRyan€next€contends€that€even€if€Pennimanððs€testimony€isÏcredited,€the€conversation€he€describes€is€not€sufficient€toÏestablish€a€direct€dealing€violation.€€Section€8(a)(5)€of€the€ActÏimposes€a€duty€on€an€employer€to€bargain€collectively€with€itsÏemployeesðð€chosen€representative.€€This€obligation€is€exclusive€andÏSection€9(a)€of€the€Act,€29€U.S.C.€ðð€159(a),€accordingly€ð ðexactsÐ P Ðððthe€negative€duty€to€treat€with€no€other.ðððð€€òòMedo€Photo€SupplyÐ à ÐCorp.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€321€U.S.€678,€684€(1944)€(quoting€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòJones€&Ð  p ÐLaughlin€Steel€Corp.óó,€301€U.S.€1,€44€(1937)).€€ð ð[O]rderlyÐ °  Ðcollective€bargaining€requires€that€the€employer€be€not€permittedÏto€go€behind€the€designated€representatives,€in€order€to€bargainÏwith€the€employees€themselves....ðð€€òòId.óó€at€685.€€ð ðTheÐ `"°& Ðfundamental€inquiry€in€a€direct€dealing€case€is€whether€theÏemployer€has€chosen€ððto€deal€with€the€Union€through€the€employees,Ð €%Ð * Ðrather€than€with€the€employees€through€the€Union.ðððð€€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòPrattÐ '`", ÐWhitney€Air€Craft€Div.óó,€789€F.2d€121,€134€(2d€Cir.€1986)€(citationÐ  (ð#. Ðomitted).Ìà  àà ` àThe€Board€found€that€Sheaððs€discussion€with€PennimanÐ À+'2 Ðamounted€to€direct€dealing€because€ð ð[Shea]€told€Penniman€that€itÏwas€the€Unionððs€fault€because€they€[sic]€were€not€negotiating€withÏthe€Company,€asked€Penniman€what€the€employees€wanted,€and€soughtÏto€minimize€[Ryanððs]€bargaining€demands.ðð€€Ryan€contends€that€theÏBoard€erroneously€applied€the€law€and€that€Sheaððs€comments€wereÏmerely€an€attempt€to€inform€employees€about€the€course€of€theÏnegotiations€and€Ryanððs€position.€€òòSeeóó€òòUnited€Technologies€Corp.óó,Ð `  Ð275€NLRB€1069,€1074€(1985)€(ð ð[A]n€employer€has€a€fundamental€right,Ïprotected€by€Section€8ðð€of€the€Act,€to€communicate€with€itsÏemployees€concerning€its€position€in€collective€bargainingÏnegotiations€and€the€course€of€those€negotiations.ðð).€€RyanÏcharacterizes€the€incident€as€simply€conversation€about€proposalsÏwhich€had€already€been€submitted€to€the€Union€and€encouragement€toÏpress€Union€officials€to€start€talking€to€management.€€AlthoughÏRyan€concedes€that€Shea€blamed€the€Union€for€the€lack€of€progress,Ïit€argues€that€Shea€never€encouraged€Penniman€to€abandon€the€UnionÏin€order€to€achieve€a€better€deal.Ìà  àà ` àWhile€an€employer€may€communicate€or€clarify€its€positionÏto€employees,€Shea,€even€if€he€did€not€encourage€abandonment€of€theÏUnion,€went€well€beyond€what€is€permissible.€€Shea€told€PennimanÏthat€the€failure€of€negotiations€was€the€Unionððs€fault€and€activelyÏsolicited€Pennimanððs€input€on€ð ðwhat€exactly€.€.€.€the€men€want.ðð€ÏSuch€solicitation€allows€an€employer€to€gain€intelligence€onÏemployeesðð€views€and€to€gauge€the€level€of€support€for€a€particularÏposition,€undermining€the€chosen€representativeððs€exclusive€rightÏto€perform€these€functions.€€òòSeeóó€òòAlexander€Linn€Hosp.€Assððnóó,€288Ð À+'2 ÐNLRB€103,€106€(1988),€òòenforcedóó,€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòWallkill€Valley€Gen.€Hosp.óó,Ð ° Ð866€F.2d€632€(3d€Cir.€1989);€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòM.A.€Harrison€Mfg.€Co.óó,€682Ð @ ÐF.2d€580,€581„82€(6th€Cir.€1982)€(enforcing€Board€order€againstÏemployer€for€bypassing€Union€by€directly€soliciting€employee€viewsÏon€an€insurance€plan).€€Shea,€through€Penniman,€obtainedÏinformation€about€the€employeesðð€views€on€seniority,€holidays,Ïvacation€time,€a€401K€plan,€health€insurance,€a€work€boot€allowanceÏand€subcontracting.€€This€is€a€virtual€laundry€list€of€the€issuesÏRyan€and€the€Union€were€covering€in€negotiations.€Ìà  àà ` àContrary€to€Ryanððs€contentions,€Sheaððs€comments€on€theseÏsubjects€went€beyond€merely€clarifying€the€proposals€the€companyÏhad€already€submitted€to€the€Union.€€For€instance,€he€told€PennimanÏthat€several€of€Ryanððs€stated€positions€were€smokescreens,€and€thatÏRyan€only€intended€to€take€away€two€holidays€rather€than€the€fiveÏit€demanded€at€the€bargaining€table.€€Additionally,€his€subsequentÏcomment€to€Penniman€that,€ð ðthatððs€what€weððre€looking€for,€that€kindÏof€negotiating,ðð€implies€that€he€was€attempting€to€negotiate€withÏthe€employees€through€Penniman.€€Rather€than€ð ðmerelyÏcommunicat[ing]€what€was€already€before€the€Union€in€a€properÏexercise€of€[Ryanððs]€free€speech€rights,ðð€Shea€sought€feedback€fromÏan€employee€to€strengthen€Ryanððs€position€in€the€negotiations.€€òòCf.óóÐ ð#@( ÐòòAmericare€Pine€Lodge€Nursing€and€Rehab.€Ctr.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€164€F.3d€867,Ð €%Ð * Ð877€(4th€Cir.€1999).€€That€Shea€picked€Penniman€up€at€the€crowdedÏpicket€line€and€three€hours€later€dropped€him€off€where€otherÏemployees€would€notice€and€ask€questions€reinforces€thisÏconclusion.Ð À+'2 Ðà  àà ` àThis€case€thus€bears€no€resemblance€to€òòAmericare€PineÐ ° ÐLodge€Nursing€and€Rehabilitation€Centeróó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€164€F.3d€at€878„Ð @ Ð79,òò€óóon€which€Ryan€relies.€€There,€a€supervisor€asked€a€bargainingÐ Ð  Ðunit€employee€during€a€smoking€break€what€she€thought€of€a€recentÏemployer€proposal,€the€employee€responded€that€it€ð ðsounded€good,Ïbut€that€it€was€only€made€to€get€rid€of€the€Union,ðð€and€theÏconversation€went€no€further.€€òòId.óó€at€878.€€The€court€held€thatÐ `°  Ðð ð[n]o€reasonable€person€could€conclude€that€this€brief€exchangeÏeroded€the€Unionððs€position€as€the€exclusive€bargainingÏrepresentative.ðð€€òòId.óó€€Sheaððs€three„hour€discussion€with€PennimanÐ ` Ðwas€more€than€this€ð ðcasual€conversation.ðð€€òòId.óó€€Shea€activelyÐ  ð Ðsolicited€Pennimanððs€views,€made€new€proposals,€and,€at€least€withÏrespect€to€the€subcontracting€issue,€questioned€Penniman€as€to€howÏthe€companyððs€offer€could€be€improved.€€òòId.óó€at€879.Ð P  Ðà  àà ` àIn€sum,€substantial€evidence€supports€the€Boardððs€findingÏthat€Sheaððs€October€23€conversation€with€Penniman€violated€SectionÏ8(a)(5)€of€the€Act.Ìà  àB.à0 ` àConversionÐà"` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àð ðA€strike€begun€in€support€of€economic€objectives€becomesÏan€unfair€labor€practice€strike€when€the€employer€commits€anÏintervening€unfair€labor€practice€which€is€found€to€make€the€strikeÏlast€longer€than€it€otherwise€would€have.ðð€òò€óóòòSoule€Glass€and€GlazingÐ Ð% !* ÐCo.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€652€F.2d€1055,€1079€(1st€Cir.€1981).€€Not€every€unfairÐ °'#, Ðlabor€practice€will€convert€a€strike,€however.€€We€have€held€thatÏð ð[c]ausation€is€crucial:€ððIt€must€be€found€not€only€that€theÐ Ð* &0 Ðemployer€committed€an€unfair€labor€practice€after€the€commencementÐ `,°'2 Ðof€the€strike,€but€that€as€a€result€the€strike€was€ð ðexpanded€toÏinclude€a€protest€over€[the]€unfair€labor€practice[],ðð€and€thatÏsettlement€of€the€strike€was€thereby€delayed€and€the€strikeÏprolonged.ðððð€€òòHarding€Glassóó,€80€F.3d€at€10€(quoting€òòSoule€Glassóó,Ð ` ° Ð652€F.2d€at€1079„80).€€The€General€Counsel€bears€the€burden€ofÏestablishing€that€ð ðthe€unlawful€conduct€was€a€factor€(notÏnecessarily€the€sole€or€predominate€one)€that€caused€a€prolongationÏof€the€work€stoppage.ðð€€òòC„Line€Expressóó,€292€NLRB€638€(1989).€€TheÐ  ð  ÐBoard€may€consider€both€objective€and€subjective€evidence€inÏassessing€whether€the€General€Counsel€has€met€this€burden:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àApplying€objective€criteria,€the€Board€andÏreviewing€court€may€properly€consider€theÏprobable€impact€of€the€type€of€unfair€laborÏpractice€in€question€on€reasonable€strikers€inÏthe€relevant€context.€€Applying€subjectiveÏcriteria,€the€Board€and€court€may€giveÏsubstantial€weight€to€the€strikersðð€ownÏcharacterization€of€their€motive€forÏcontinuing€to€strike€after€the€unfair€laborÏpractice.Ð ` x` x ЀÌòòÓÓSoule€Glassóó,€652€F.2d€at€1080.Ð è8 ÐÓC€  ÿÿ$3 CÓà  àà ` àThe€ALJ€found€that€Sheaððs€activity€did€not€convert€theÏstrike€because€there€was€no€evidence€that€the€employees€continuedÏto€strike€because€of€it.€€A€majority€of€the€Board€disagreed,Ïfinding€that€the€strike€had€been€converted€because€the€unlawfulÏeffort€to€bypass€the€Unionððs€representatives€ð ðcould€not€help€butÏprevent€and€inhibit€good„faith€bargaining,€thereby€prolonging€theÏstrike.ðð€€It€further€found€this€objective€inference€to€be€supportedÏby€subjective€evidence€of€the€divisive€effect€of€this€conduct€onÏthe€strikers€and€their€union€negotiators.€€Board€Member€HurtgenÐ ø*H&1 Ðdissented,€finding€that€there€was€no€evidence€that€the€single,Ïisolated€incident€of€direct€dealing€had€a€deleterious€impact€onÏsubsequent€negotiations€or€that€it€prolonged€the€strike.òòÐ Ð  ÐÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àóóThe€Board€has€in€the€past€recognized€that:Ð` °` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthe€presence€or€absence€of€evidence€ofÏ[employeesðð]€subjective€motivation€has€notÏalways€been€the€sine€qua€non€for€determiningÏwhether€there€has€been€a€conversion.€€CertainÏtypes€of€unfair€labor€practices€by€theirÏnature€will€have€a€reasonable€tendency€toÏprolong€the€strike€and€therefore€afford€aÏsufficient€and€independent€basis€for€findingÏconversion.€€The€most€notable€examplesÏtypically€involve€an€unlawful€withdrawal€ofÏrecognition€which€may€be€accompanied€by€aÏcourse€of€other€unlawful€conduct,€includingÏwithdrawal€of€contract€proposals,€refusals€toÏmeet€and€bargain,€and€recognition€of€anotherÏunion.€€The€common€thread€running€throughÏthese€cases€is€the€judgment€of€the€Board€thatÏthe€employerððs€conduct€is€likely€to€haveÏsignificantly€interrupted€or€burdened€theÏcourse€of€the€bargaining€process.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòC„Line€Expressóó,€292€NLRB€at€639òò.óó€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòHarding€Glassóó,€80€F.3dÐ à Ðat€11€(citing€òòSKS€Die€Casting€&€Machining,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€941€F.2dÐ pÀ Ð984,€991€(9th€Cir.€1991)€(refusal€to€reinstate€strikers);€òòVulcanÐ P  ÐHart€Corp.€(St.€Louis€Div.)óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€718€F.2d€269,€276€(8th€Cir.Ð à" Ð1983)€(withdrawal€of€recognition)).€€But,€as€we€said€in€òòHardingÐ  !p$ ÐGlassóó:Ð °"& ÐÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAlways,€however,€the€principal€focus€mustÏremain€on€the€element€of€causation,€andÏspecific,€subjective€evidence€of€changedÏmotivation€may€be€foregone€only€in€thoseÏinstances€in€which€the€objective€factors€byÏthemselves€establish€unequivocally€that€aÏconversion€occurred.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓ80€F.3d€at€12.€€Here,€the€Board€relies€on€what€it€calls€anÏð ðobjective€inferenceðð€that€Sheaððs€conduct€prolonged€the€strike,€butÐ ,`'2 Ðit€cites€no€objective€evidence€and€we€agree€with€the€ALJ€thatÏð ðthere€is€simply€no€evidence€that€the€employees€continued€to€strikeÏbecause€of€Sheaððs€activity.ðð€€Nor€do€the€decisions€in€òòSafewayÐ Ð  ÐTrailsóó,€233€NLRB€1078€(1977),€òòenforcedóó,€641€F.2d€930€(D.C.€Cir.Ð ` ° Ð1979),€and€òòBeaumont€Glass€Co.óó,€310€NLRB€710€(1993),€on€which€theÐ ð @ ÐBoard€relied,€support€its€decision.€Ìà  àà ` àThe€Board€has€in€another€context€described€òòSafeway€TrailsóóÐ `  Ðas€involving€ð ðan€egregious€effort€by€the€employer€to€obtain€theÏemployeesðð€repudiation€of€their€union€representative€as€aÏprecondition€to€revoking€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.ðð€òòForestÐ À ÐGrove€Lumber€Co.óó,€275€NLRB€1007,€1007€n.1€(1985).€€There,€theÐ P  Ðemployer€had€engaged€in€repeated€oral€and€written€communicationsÏwith€employees€and€others€clearly€intended€to€undermine€the€statusÏand€authority€of€the€unionððs€chosen€bargaining€representative€inÏviolation€of€Section€8(a)(5).€€These€efforts€to€undermine€the€unionÏrepresentative€were€well€known€to€the€employees€and€were€discussedÏat€meetings€of€the€union€membership.€€The€Board€found€that:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àUnder€these€circumstances,€the€inference€isÏclear€that€the€Respondentððs€actions€andÏcommunications€served€to€aggravate€and€prolongÏthe€strike.€€The€fact€that€the€Respondent€wasÏnot€successful€in€undercutting€[the€UnionÏrepresentative]€does€not€negate€our€findingÏthat€the€Respondentððs€misconduct€was€a€concernÏto€employees€and€a€factor€in€the€prolongationÏof€the€strike.€€Moreover,€the€very€nature€ofÏthe€Respondentððs€misconduct„„appealingÏdirectly€to€employees€in€an€attempt€toÏundercut€the€union€representative„„is€such€asÏcould€not€help€but€prevent€and€inhibit€good„¼faith€bargaining,€thereby€prolonging€theÏstrike.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòSafeway€Trailsóó,€233€NLRB€at€1082.€Ð À+'2 Ðà  àà ` àThe€instant€case„„involving€a€single€incident€which€hadÏno€discernible€impact€on€the€ongoing€bargaining€process„„bears€noÏresemblance€to€òòSafeway€Trailsóó.€€Nor€does€it€bear€even€remoteÐ Ð  Ðresemblance€to€òòBeaumont€Glassóó,€where€conversion€was€found€onÐ ` ° Ðevidence€that:€the€employer€sent€a€memorandum€to€the€membership€ofÏthe€union€with€a€proposal€which€had€not€previously€been€made€at€theÏbargaining€table;€the€employees€complained€to€the€unionÏrepresentative€when€he€told€them€the€proposal€would€not€be€put€toÏa€vote;€the€representative€testified€that€ð ðthe€publication€andÏdistribution€of€the€memorandum€destroyed€the€negotiationsðð€and€thatÏno€meaningful€negotiating€sessions€were€held€subsequently;€€and€theÏunion€changed€the€language€on€its€picket€signs€to€signify€it€wasÏprotesting€the€employerððs€unfair€labor€practices.€€310€NLRB€at€719.€ÏNo€such€evidence€appears€in€this€record.€€Indeed,€if€theÏShea/Penniman€incident€was€ever€mentioned€at€the€October€25Ïnegotiating€session€at€all,€it€was€at€most€a€passing€reference.ññ׃ ×ññññ׃)×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð  p ÐMortimer€later€testified€that€no€progress€was€made€during€thatÏsession€because€ð ðwe€both€agreed€that€we€were€just€making€noÏchanges.€€We€were€sticking€to€our€proposal.€.€.€.€After€a€littleÏdiscussion€from€both€sides,€it€was€obvious€nothing€was€going€toÏchange.€.€.€.ðð€€The€incident€was€apparently€not€mentioned€at€theÏOctober€30€session€either€and,€as€noted€above,€the€Union€did€notÏfile€an€unfair€labor€practice€charge€regarding€the€incident€untilÏnearly€six€months€later.€Ð  (ð#. Ðà  àà ` àWe€find€òòForest€Grove€Lumber€Companyóó,€275€NLRB€1007,€moreÐ ° Ðclosely€on€point.€€There,€the€employer,€during€a€strike,€hadÏseveral€discussions€with€employees€about€the€status€ofÏnegotiations,€many€quite€similar€to€the€Shea/Penniman€conversation.€ÏEmployees€testified€that€the€vice€president€spoke€to€them€about€theÏcompanyððs€proposals,€the€stalemate€in€negotiations,€and€the€unionððsÏrefusal€to€bargain,€and€solicited€their€views€on€what€it€would€takeÏto€get€the€strikers€back€to€work.€€One€employee€stated€that€theÏvice€president€told€him€that€the€companyððs€proposal€was€not€a€firmÏproposal,€that€everything€was€negotiable,€and€that€only€by€askingÏfor€more€than€what€it€wanted€could€the€company€reach€an€agreement.€ÏIn€rejecting€the€General€Counselððs€contention€that€the€strike€hadÏbeen€converted,€the€Board€said:ÌòòÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àóóòòSafeway€Trailsóó€involved€the€factual€context€ofÐ P Ðan€egregious€effort€by€the€employer€to€obtainÏthe€employeesðð€repudiation€of€their€unionÏrepresentative€as€a€precondition€to€revoking€aÏcollective„bargaining€agreement.€ÏConsequently,€the€unlawful€conduct€in€òòSafewayÐ è8 ÐTrailsóó€clearly€intruded€on€the€bargainingÐ °  Ðprocess€and€ð ðcould€not€help€butðð€prolong€theÏstrike.€€In€contrast,€the€RespondentððsÏunlawful€conduct€here€involved€solicitation€ofÏemployees€to€urge€their€representatives€toÏsoften€the€Unionððs€bargaining€demands,€andÏthere€was€no€effort€to€repudiate€thoseÏbargaining€representatives.€€The€unfair€laborÏpractices€here€did€not€have€any€inevitableÏimpact€on€bargaining€that€would€necessarilyÏcause€prolongation€of€the€strike.Ð ` x` x ÐÌòòÓÓId.óó€at€1007€n.1.€Ð '`", Ðà  à€Simply€put,€that€the€Shea/Penniman€conversation€may€haveÏraised€hopes€among€employees€for€an€early€end€to€the€strike„„hopesÏthat€were€dashed€when€negotiations€resumed,€leading€toÐ À+'2 Ðð ðconsternationðð€among€employees„„does€not€support€the€conclusionÏthat€the€strike€was€thereby€prolonged.€€ð ðThe€Boardððs€obligation€isÏto€provide€some€basis€for€an€inference€that,€in€the€aftermath€ofÏthe€[unfair€labor€practice],€the€employees€were€separatelyÏmotivated€by€that€act.ðð€€òòHarding€Glassóó,€80€F.3d€at€12.€€It€is€clearÐ ð @ Ðthat€the€strike€was€about€economic€issues€and€there€is€no€evidenceÏthat€the€strikersðð€motivation€changed,€in€whole€or€in€part,€onÏaccount€of€the€Shea/Penniman€incident.ññ׃ ×ññññ׃×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòSeeóó€òòFacet€Enterprises,Ð  ð  ÐInc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€907€F.2d€963,€977€(10th€Cir.€1990)€(ð ð[T]o€sustain€aÐ 0€  Ðfinding€of€conversion,€there€must€be€some€evidence€in€the€recordÏthat€the...€employees€reacted€to€information€of€Facetððs€directÏdealing€substantively€in€a€fashion€which€aggravated€or€prolongedÏthe€strike.ðð);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòF.L.€Thorpe€&€Co.,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€71€F.3dÐ pÀ Ð282,€288€(8th€Cir.€1995)€(holding€it€was€error€to€base€conversionÏfinding€on€ð ðcaused€consternationðð€test€where€evidence€establishedÏstrike€remained€economically€motivated);€òòGibson€Greetings,€Inc.óó,Ð  p Ð310€NLRB€1286,€1292€n.5€(1993)€(finding€no€conversion€becauseÏð ð[a]lthough€several€strikers€testified€that€they€were€distressed€byÏthe€[Companyððs]€letter,€none€suggested€that€it€was€because€of€thatÏletter€that€the€strike€continued,€nor€that€the€strikers€discussedÐ `"°& Ðit€collectively€as€a€basis€for€continuing€the€strike.ðð),Ïòòenforcement€denied€on€other€groundsóó,€òòGibson€Greetings,€Inc.óó€v.Ð @ ÐòòNLRBóó,€53€F.3d€385€(D.C.€Cir.€1995);€€òòSoule€Glassóó,€652€F.2d€at€1082.Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àThus,€while€we€find€no€basis€for€disturbing€the€BoardððsÏdetermination€with€regard€to€the€direct€dealing€charge,€our€reviewÏof€the€record€persuades€us€that€the€finding€of€conversion€on€thatÏbasis€is€not€supported€by€substantial€evidence.Ìò òII.à0  àTHE€UNILATERAL€IMPLEMENTATION€CHARGEó óРð (#(# Ðà  àA.à0 ` àThe€Unfair€Labor€Practice€ChargeЀР` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àOn€November€6,€when€some€cross„over€employees€beganÏreturning€to€work,€Ryan€implemented€its€October€2€contractÏproposal.€€The€Board€determined€that€this€unilateral€implementationÏwas€an€unlawful€labor€practice€and,€further,€that€it€converted€theÏstrike€to€an€unfair€labor€practice€strike.€€€Ìà  àð ð[A]n€employer€must€bargain€to€impasse€before€making€aÏunilateral€changeðð€in€terms€and€conditions€of€employment.€€òòVisitingÐ pÀ ÐNurse€Serv.€of€W.€Mass.,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€177€F.3d€52,€57€(1st€Cir.Ð P  Ð1999).€€ð ðððImpasse€occurs€when,€after€good€faith€bargaining,€theÐ à" Ðparties€are€deadlocked€so€that€any€further€bargaining€would€beÏfutile,ðð€i.e.,€when€ððthere€[is]€no€realistic€prospect€thatÐ °"& Ðcontinuation€of€discussions€at€that€time€would€.€.€.€[be]Ïfruitful.ðððð€€òòBeverly€Enters.„Mass.óó,€174€F.3d€at€27€(citationÐ Ð% !* Ðomitted).€€Relevant€factors€include€ð ððð[t]he€bargaining€history,€theÐ `'°", Ðgood€faith€of€the€parties€in€the€negotiations,€the€length€of€theÏnegotiations,€the€importance€of€the€issue€or€issues€as€to€whichÏthere€is€disagreement,€[and]€the€contemporaneous€understanding€ofÐ ,`'2 Ðthe€parties€as€to€the€state€of€negotiations.ðððð€€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòCharles€D.Ð ° ÐBonanno€Linen€Serv.,€Inc.óó,€630€F.2d€24,€35€n.24€(1st€Cir.€1980)Ð @ Ð(citation€omitted).€€We€have€held€in€the€past€that€theÏdetermination€of€whether€the€parties€reached€good„faith€impasse€isÏparticularly€well„suited€to€the€expertise€of€the€Board.€€òòSeeóóÐ ð @ ÐòòBeverly€Enters.„Mass.óó,€174€F.3d€at€27.€€Ð € Ð  Ðà  àà ` àThe€Board€found€that€although€during€the€four€months€ofÏnegotiations€there€had€been€ð ðlimited€movement,ðð€credible€evidenceÏshowed€that€Ryan€had€not€been€adamant€on€all€its€proposals.€€BothÏsides€made€some€concessions,€and€more€importantly,€Ryan€never€toldÏthe€Union€that€failure€to€agree€on€its€proposal€would€result€inÏdeadlock€or€that€there€was€an€impasse€and€that€it€would€implementÏits€proposals.€€òòSeeóó€òòHotel€Roanokeóó,€293€NLRB€182,€185€(1989)€(ð ðTheÐ pÀ Ðfailure€of€a€party€to€communicate€to€the€other€party€the€paramountÏimportance€of€the€proposals€presented€at€the€bargaining€table€or€toÏexplain€that€a€failure€to€achieve€concessions€would€result€in€aÏbargaining€deadlock€evidences€the€absence€of€a€valid€impasse.ðð).ÏNor€is€there€evidence€that€when€Ryan€implemented€its€October€2Ïproposal,€or€at€any€time€thereafter,€a€contemporaneousÏunderstanding€existed€between€the€parties€that€talks€were€at€anÏimpasse.€€Indeed,€the€parties€held€a€negotiating€session€with€aÏfederal€mediator€on€November€10,€after€the€implementation,€and€theÏUnion€offered€additional€concessions€at€that€time.€€And€in€a€letterÏdated€November€21,€Ryanððs€counsel€stated€that€although€the€UnionððsÏlatest€proposal€was€unacceptable,€it€was€willing€to€meet€andÏdiscuss€ð ðthe€Companyððs€outstanding€offer€of€October€2nd.ðð€€Ryan€hadÐ À+'2 Ðthe€burden€of€proof€on€this€issue€and€it€failed€to€sustain€it.€€ÏòòSeeóó€òòPRC€Recording€Co.óó,€280€NLRB€615,€635€(1986),€òòenforcedóó,€òòRichmondÐ @ ÐRecording€Corp.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€836€F.2d€289€(7th€Cir.€1987).Ð Ð  Ðà  à€€à ` àSubstantial€evidence€supports€the€Boardððs€finding€thatÐ ` ° ÐRyanððs€unilateral€implementation€of€its€October€2€proposal€violatedÏSection€8(a)(5)€of€the€Act.€€Ìà  àB.à0 ` àConversionÐ` ` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àThe€Board€determined€that€this€violation€also€convertedÏthe€strike,€finding€that€ð ð[i]n€conjunction€with€Sheaððs€earlierÏbypass€of€the€Union,€it€can€be€inferred€that€[Ryanððs]€unilateralÏchanges€were€also€unfair€labor€practices€that€prolonged€theÏstrike.ðð€€The€Board€found€that€the€employees€must€have€been€awareÏof€the€implementation€of€the€October€2€proposal€no€later€thanÏNovember€11,€when€striking€workers€would€have€noticed€that€cross„¼over€and€replacement€employees€were€working€on€Veterans€Day,€aÏholiday,€and€thus€that€there€had€been€a€unilateral€change€in€theÏholiday€policy.€€However,€as€the€Board€determined€earlier€in€itsÏopinion,€it€was€not€unlawful€for€Ryan€to€implement€different€termsÏof€employment€for€striker€replacements€because€struck€employersÏhave€no€obligation€to€bargain€about€terms€of€employment€forÏreplacements.€€òòSeeóó€òòDetroit€Newspaper€Agencyóó,€327€NLRB€871€(1999);Ð ð#@( Ðòòsee€alsoóó€òòService€Electric€Co.óó,€281€NLRB€633€n.1€(1986)€(becauseÐ €%Ð * Ðinterests€of€returning€economic€strikers€are€more€closely€alignedÏwith€those€of€the€strike€replacements€than€those€of€the€strikers,Ïan€employer€has€no€greater€duty€to€bargain€during€the€strike€overÏtheir€terms€of€employment€than€it€does€over€the€strikeÐ À+'2 Ðreplacementsðð).€€Strikers€observing€workers€at€the€plant€that€dayÏwould€therefore€not€necessarily€have€concluded€that€their€presenceÏmeant€that€the€terms€of€the€CBA€had€been€unilaterally€changed.Ìà  àà ` àIn€any€event,€the€Boardððs€evidence€is,€at€best,Ïcircumstantial€(if€not€entirely€speculative)€proof€that€employeesÏmay€have€known€that€a€change€had€been€made€in€the€terms€of€(their)Ïemployment.€€But€it€fails€to€satisfy€ð ð[t]he€BoardððsÏobligation...€to€provide€some€basis€for€an€inference€that,€inÏthe€aftermath€of€the€implementation,€the€employees€were€separatelyÏmotivated€by€that€act.ðð€€òòHarding€Glassóó,€80€F.3d€at€12.€€There€is€noÐ À Ðobjective€or€subjective€evidence€that€the€arrival€of€workers€on€aÏholiday€motivated€the€striking€employees€to€prolong€the€strike€orÏthat€it€interfered€with€the€bargaining€process.Ìà  àà ` àThe€Boardððs€finding€of€conversion€is€not€supported€byÏsubstantial€evidence.€€òòSeeóó€òòBeverly€Enters.„Mass.óó,€174€F.3d€at€22Ð à Ðn.1€(ð ðSubstantial€evidence€is€not€a€rubber€stamp.ðð).Ìò òIII.à0  àWITHDRAWAL€OF€RECOGNITIONó óа (#(# Ðà  àà ` àThe€Board€found€that€on€December€6€Ryan€received€aÏpetition€from€some€fifty„five€cross„over€and€replacement€workersÏ(out€of€a€total€of€ninety„five€employees),€stating€that€they€didÏnot€want€to€be€represented€by€the€Union.€€On€December€7€RyanÏwithdrew€recognition€based€on€the€petition.€€On€December€8€theÏUnion€advised€that€its€members€would€unconditionally€return€to€workÏon€December€11.€€On€that€date,€Ryan€declined€to€reinstate€theÏstrikers,€although€sometime€later€it€offered€reinstatement€to€allÏbut€twelve€of€the€original€sixty„one€strikers.€€The€Board€found€theÐ ,`'2 Ðwithdrawal€of€recognition€ð ðin€the€context€of€unremedied€unfairÏlabor€practices€on€December€7ðð€to€be€a€violation€of€SectionÏ8(a)(5).€€Ìà  àà ` à€During€the€term€of€a€CBA,€an€incumbent€union€enjoys€anÏirrebuttable€presumption€of€majority€employee€support.€€òòSeeóóÐ ð @ ÐòòAuciello€Iron€Works,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€517€U.S.€781,€786€(1996).€€UponÐ € Ð  Ðexpiration€of€the€contract,€the€employer€can€rebut€that€presumptionÏand€withdraw€recognition€if€it€can€show€either€that€the€union€inÏfact€lacked€majority€support€or€that€the€employer€had€a€good€faith,Ïobjectively€justified€doubt€regarding€the€unionððs€majority.€€òòSeeóóÐ À ÐòòDestileria€Serrales,€Inc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€882€F.2d€19,€20„21€(1st€Cir.Ð P  Ð1989).€€However,€if€an€employer€has€ð ðcommitted€as€yet€unremediedÏunfair€labor€practices€that€could€have€reasonably€tended€toÏcontribute€to€employee€disaffection€from€the€union,ðð€it€may€notÏrely€on€employee€expressions€of€disaffection,€such€as€a€petition,Ïas€a€basis€for€withdrawal€of€recognition.€€òòUnited€Supermarkets,Ð  p ÐInc.óó€v.€òòNLRBóó,€862€F.2d€549,€553€n.6€(5th€Cir.€1989)€(citing€òòChicagoÐ °  ÐMagnesium€Castings€Co.óó,€256€NLRB€668,€674€(1981));€òòaccordóó€òòBolton„Ð @" ÐEmerson,€Inc.óóòò€óóv.€òòNLRBóó,€899€F.2d€104,€107„08€(1st€Cir.€1989)Ð Ð $ Ð(ð ðjustified€withdrawal€[of€recognition]€requires€.€.€.€a€contextÏfree€of€unfair€labor€practicesðð);€òòSoule€Glassóó,€652€F.2d€at€1110.€€Ð @$( Ѐà  àà ` àThe€General€Counsel€must€prove€a€causal€relationshipÐ Ð% !* Ðbetween€unremedied€unfair€labor€practices€and€the€loss€of€majorityÏstatus,€but€direct€evidence€showing€actual€taint€is€not€required.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòUnited€Supermarkets,€Inc.óó,€862€F.2d€at€552€n.5.€€It€isÐ €*Ð%0 Ðsufficient€that€the€unfair€labor€practices€would€reasonably€tend€toÐ ,`'2 Ðcause€employee€disaffection.€€òòSeeóó€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòHi„Tech€Cable€Corp.óó,€128Ð ° ÐF.3d€271,€279€(5th€Cir.€1997).€€Factors€typically€consideredÏinclude:€(1)€the€length€of€time€between€the€unfair€labor€practicesÏand€the€withdrawal€of€recognition;€(2)€the€nature€of€the€illegalÏacts,€including€the€possibility€of€their€detrimental€or€lastingÏeffect€on€employees;€(3)€any€possible€tendency€of€the€unfair€laborÏpractices€to€cause€employee€disaffection€from€the€union;€and€(4)Ïthe€effect€of€the€unlawful€conduct€on€employee€morale,Ïorganizational€activities,€and€membership€in€the€union.€€òòMasterÐ 0€  ÐSlack€Corp.óó,€271€NLRB€78,€84€(1984).€€Here,€the€petition€wasÐ À Ðpresented€six€weeks€after€the€direct€dealing€incident€and€fourÏweeks€after€the€unlawful€November€6€implementation,€both€violationsÏof€a€type€that€weaken€the€authority€of€a€union€and€encourageÏemployees€to€doubt€its€ability€to€successfully€represent€them.€ÏWhile€we€think€it€is€a€close€question,€we€conclude€that€the€BoardÏcould€reasonably€consider€that€these€two€unfair€labor€practices,Ïparticularly€in€combination,€ð ðsignificantly€contributedðð€to€theÏUnionððs€loss€of€majority€status.€€òòWilliams€Enters.,€Inc.óó,€312€NLRBÐ @" Ð937,€940€(1993),€òòenforcedóó,€òòNLRBóó€v.€òòWilliams€Enters.,€Inc.óó,€50€F.3dÐ Ð $ Ð1280€(4th€Cir.€1995).€€We€therefore€affirm€the€Boardððs€bargainingÏorder.Ìà  àà ` àBecause€the€strike€ended€at€approximately€the€same€timeÏas€the€withdrawal€of€recognition€(at€least€there€is€no€evidence€ofÏany€employees€being€replaced€on€December€7€or€8),€conversion€is€notÏan€issue€and€we€do€not€read€the€Boardððs€order€as€making€aÏdetermination€of€conversion€based€on€withdrawal€of€recognition.€Ð À+'2 ÐBecause€we€reject€the€Boardððs€determinations€of€conversion€onÏOctober€23€or€November€11,€the€strikers€are€entitled€only€to€theÏreinstatement€rights€of€economic€strikers.€€òòSeeóó€òòRose€Printing€Co.óó,Ð Ð  Ð289€NLRB€252,€253€(1988).€€ò òÐ ` ° ÐÓ  ÓCONCLUSIONó óÐ ð @ ÐÓ¢¯Óà  àà ` àWe€affirm€the€Boardððs€finding€that€the€October€23ÏShea/Penniman€conversation€and€the€November€6€unilateralÏimplementation€of€Ryanððs€bargaining€proposal€constituted€unfairÏlabor€practices.€€Further,€we€affirm€the€Boardððs€finding€that€theseÏpractices€ð ðsignificantly€contributedðð€to€the€Unionððs€loss€ofÏmajority€status.€€Consequently,€we€affirm€that€portion€of€theÏBoardððs€remedial€order€aimed€at€undoing€the€effects€of€theseÏpractices.€€This€includes€the€provisions€of€the€order€requiringÏRyan€to€recognize€and€bargain€with€the€Union€and,€upon€request,€toÏrescind€and€compensate€for€the€unilateral€changes€made€on€or€afterÏNovember€6,€1995€to€the€terms€of€employment€for€bargaining€unitÏemployees.€€However,€because€we€reject€the€Boardððs€determinationsÏof€conversion,€we€deny€enforcement€of€that€portion€of€the€BoardððsÏorder€granting€reinstatement€and€backpay€to€unfair€labor€practiceÏstrikers.€€Because€we€find€that€no€conversion,€and€hence€no€unfairÏlabor€practice€strike,€occurred,€this€relief€is€no€longer€apposite.€ÏAccordingly,€the€Boardððs€application€for€enforcement€of€its€orderÏis€granted€in€part€and€denied€in€part.€Ìà  àà ` àòòGRANTEDóó€in€part,€òòDENIEDóó€in€part.Ð ð(@$. Ð