Public Case No. R 1986-013
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 257 v.
University of Missouri d/b/a KOMU-TV, Columbia, Missouri
IBEW filed a petition to represent 17 Broadcast Engineers employed by the University of Missouri, working at the University’s television station, KOMU-TV. The Board substituted the Curators of the University of Missouri for KOMU-TV since the TV station is owned by this public body. The Curators argued that any appropriate unit must consist of a system-wide, four (4) campus unit composed of all non-supervisory employees performing technical functions for any department of the University of Missouri.
The Board applied its community of interest analysis and concluded that the Broadcast Engineers held positions which were unique within the University system, and therefore must constitute a separate bargaining unit. They relied on the fact that KOMU is geographically separate from all four (4) campuses and the Broadcast Engineers had little or no contact with the other technical employees. Furthermore, there was no evidence that other technical employees share the same qualifications, training, or skills as the Broadcast Engineers.
The Board rejected the University’s argument that a separate bargaining unit would result in over fragmentation of bargaining units.
Date Issued: July 24, 1986