SYSTEM FEDERATION NO. 6, RAILWAY EMPLOYES'
DEPARTMENT, A. F. OF L. (MACHINISTS)
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC RAILWAY
COMPANY
DISPUTE: CLAIM OF EMPLOYES: The management is violating Rule 60 of the present agreement, requiring boilerwashers and helpers to re-thread wash-out plugs.
EMPLOYES' STATEMENT OF FACTS: When boilers are washed or being repaired and wash-out plugs are removed in shop or roundhouse and the threads on plugs are damaged, pulled or corroded, boilerwashers or helpers recut threads by running through a special taper die nut.
POSITION OF EMPLOYES: Turning and threading, or re-threading, chasing of wash-out plugs in shop or roundhouse is recognized as machinists work. Prior to the introduction of this special die nut, work was performed by machinists on lathes and is thoroughly covered in Rule 60 in the machinists' classification of work, termed as turning.
We would appreciate your Honorable Board's decision in having Rule 60 of the agreement applied, immediately, in accordance with the employes' position, and machinists assigned to their classification of work.
CARRIER'S STATEMENT OF FACTS: When wash-out plugs are applied to locomotive boilers, they receive a coat of graphite to make them more readily removable from the boiler. This graphite (especially when it is mixed with water) bakes on plug and gets into the threads resulting in a very hard surface which, when boilers are washed and wash-out plugs cleaned, makes it necessary for this hard graphite substance and scale to be removed from the threads before the plugs are again inserted into the boiler. A special tool is used to do this work and boilermaker helpers are employed at the work.
POSITION OF CARRIER: Some years ago a special tool was designed by shop draftsmen at Shawnee, Oklahoma, shops and was developed and made up in Silvis tool room. It is similar to a threading die used in re-threading of bolts or threading of pipe, although this special tool is not designed to remove any of the metal from the plug threads, or deepen the threads, but
merely cleans out the sediment and baked graphite. The power necessary to operate this tool is provided either by a wrench in the hands of the workman, or from power used from a driver socket used in a drill press. However, this is not a threading or re-threading operation; it is more in the light of a clean up of the threads made necessary, because wash-out plugs, which have been applied to locomotive boilers, receive a coat of graphite to make them fit tight and to make them more readily removable from the boiler at the time boilers are washed out. This operation is considered by the management as merely the cleaning of the threads; it is not threading or rethreading.
It is our understanding that the employes are claiming that this work should be performed by machinists, but there is nothing in Rule 60 (Machinists' Classification of Work) that classes the cleaning, or even the re-threading, of wash-out plugs as machinists' work. As a matter of fact, Rule 62 of the shopmen's schedule gives bolt threading work to machinist helpers when machines are in machine shop, and Rule 73 gives such work to boilermaker helpers when machines are in boiler shop, and while the operation in dispute-the cleaning of the threads on wash-out plugs-is not designated as belonging to any particular craft, we feel that the boilerwasher (who is a boilermaker helper) should continue to perform this work at the time boilers are washed out. Further, we cannot see wherein this is machinists' work when helpers are, under the shopmen's agreement, assigned to operate threading machines, drill presses, etc., and cleaning threads on wash-out plugs surely does not require the same skill as is required on the threading machines and drill presses. The work of cleaning the threads on wash-out plugs is not skilled work.
OPINION OF DIVISION: The dispute in this case arises over the use of a special tool used in connection with cleaning wash out plugs. The carrier contends that the tool merely cleans the threads and insists that it is not designed to remove any of the metal from the plug threads or deepen the threads, but merely to clean out the sediment and baked graphite. The employes contend that while it may be used for the cleaning of threads, it is actually a means by which threads are cut, straightened and deepened.
The employes point out that the work of cutting or straightening of threads is the work of machinists. It must be plain that if threads are actually cut or straightenend by this machine it is the work of the machinists, even though the cleaning of the threads may be accomplished as a part of the process. On the other hand, if it is merely a cleaning of the threads of sediment and graphite the work may be performed by boilerwashers. The answer must be found in the nature of the tool and in the purposes of its use.
That the tool will cut threads and straighten threads is unquestioned. The carrier insists that it is not intended to do so. The fact is that it does cut threads and straighten threads as well as remove sediment and graphite. While the primary purpose may be to clean the thread, the obvious purpose of this heavy tool is to perform two operations at once; clean the threads and to recut or straighten them. The very form of the tool indicates this. There would be no occasion for so heavy a tool if cleaning were the only purpose of it The cleaning of graphite and sediment does not require a massive tool like the one on exhibit in this case. It cannot be doubted that the tool is used as a means of cutting and straightening threads on wash out plugs, thereby saving the necessity of sending such plugs to the machine shop or having a machinist perform the work. That the purpose may be merely to clean the plugs and the re-threading and straightening is only incidental to the cleaning, does not change the fact that a heavy tool is used by boilerwashers, the result of which is to actually re-thread and straighten threads on wash out plugs. The work of threading and re-threading such plugs is within the jurisdiction of the machinist.
FINDINGS: The Second Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds that: 310-3 68