International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 279 v. Sid Richardson Carbon Company

INGRAHAM, Circuit Judge:

Sid Richardson Carbon Company has a plant in Odessa, Texas, producing carbon black. The plant utilizes two methods of production — a traditional method of burning natural gas in a channel (a channel plant) and a second more experimental process of production by incomplete burning of oil in a furnace (a furnace plant). Local 279 of the International Union of Operating Engineers has been the recognized collective bargaining agent for the production employees at the channel plant at all times relevant to this appeal. Employees at the furnace plant were also represented by…