United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Labor Board v. Pittsburgh Steamship Co., 340 U.S. 498 (1951)

National Labor Relations Board v. Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

No. 42

Argued November 6, 1950

Decided February 26, 1951

340 U.S. 498

Syllabus

Prior to 1947, the National Labor Relations Board ordered respondent to reinstate a dismissed employee and to terminate what were found to be coercive and discriminatory labor practices. After 1947, the Court of Appeals made a painstaking review of the record and unanimously concluded that the inferences on which the Board's findings were based were so overborne by evidence calling for contrary inferences that the findings of the Board could not, "on the record considered as a whole," be deemed supported by "substantial" evidence within the meaning of § 10(e) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended by the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947. Accordingly, it denied enforcement of the Board's order.

Held: the judgment below is affirmed. Pp. 340 U. S. 499-503.

1. The Court of Appeals correctly held that the amendments made by the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, broadened the scope of judicial review of the Board's orders beyond that required by the original National Labor Relations Act. Universal Camera Corp. v. Labor Board, ante, p. 340 U. S. 474. P. 340 U. S. 500.

2. The scope of the court's reviewing power was governed by the legislation in force at the time the power was exercised, even though the Board's order antedated such legislation. P. 340 U. S. 500.

3. Congress has charged the courts of appeals, and not this Court, with the normal and primary responsibility for granting or denying enforcement of Labor Board orders. P. 340 U. S. 502.

4. In reviewing a decision of a court of appeals on the question whether an order of the Board is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole, this Court ought to do no more than decide whether the court of appeals has made a fair assessment of the record on the issue of substantiality. Pp. 340 U. S. 502-503.

180 F.2d 731 affirmed.

The Court of Appeals found an order of the National Labor Relations Board to be unsupported by substantial evidence within the meaning of § 10(e) of the National

Page 340 U. S. 499

Labor Relations Act, as amended, and denied enforcement. 180 F.2d 731. This Court granted certiorari. 339 U.S. 951. Affirmed, p. 340 U. S. 503.