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Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD Award No. 6814
SECOND DIVISION Docket No. 6666
2-CRR-MA-'75
The Second Division consisted of the regular members and in
addition Referee Robert M. O'Brien when award was rendered.
( International Association of Machinists
( and Aerospace Workers
Parties to Dispute:
( Clinchfield Railroad Company
Dispute: Claim of Employes:
. 1. That under the terms of the Agreement, Machinist J. D. Kniceley
was unjustly and improperly suspended from the service of the
Clinchfield Railroad Company, for a period of sixty days (60),
beginning on the date of September
13,
1972, and ending on
the date of November
13,
1972.
2. That accordingly the Clinchfield Railroad Company be ordered
to compensate Machinist J. D. Kniceley in the amount of eight
(8) hours at the pro rata for each day of his work week
. assignment, beginning on the date of September-
13,
1972, and
ending on the date of November 13, 1972.
Findings:
The Second Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record
and all the evidence, finds that:
The carrier or carriers and the employe or employes involved in
this dispute are respectively carrier and employe within the meaning
of the Railway Labor Act as approved June 21, 1934.
This Division of the Adjustment Board has jurisdiction over the
dispute involved herein.
Parties to said dispute waived right of appearance at hearing
thereon.
The instant claim involves Petitioner's contention that claimant
was unjustly suspended for 60 days following a hearing at which he was
charged with: (1) violating Carrier's Rule 802 in that he engaged in
outside employment without permission from proper authority; (2) marking
off from work under false pretenses on September 11 and 12, 1972; and
(3)
excessive absenteeism. It is the Petitioner's position that Carrier
has failed to sustain the foregoing charges brought against claimant.
~gy.
Form 1 Award No.
6814
Page 2 Docket No.
6666
2-CRR-MA- ' 75
The hearing revealed that claimant marked off sick on September 11
and 12, 1972. However, on both these dates he was observed by a Carrier
witness, Mr. Bowman, at a service station owned by him. This was
corroborated by Mr. Lukianoff, a Special Agent with Carrier, who had
also observed him at the service station on these dates. Claimant
admitted being at the service station on September 11 and 12, 1972 but
contends that he was not working. This was corroborated by several
individuals who work for claimant at the service station.
We do not believe there was any evidence to the effect that claimant
was not ill when he left work on Saturday, September 9, 1972. However,
he was not then justified in remaining off work on September 11 and
12, and then proceed to engage in his outside business. It may well be
that claimant was not engaged in any physical work at his service station
on the days in question. Yet, it is not disputed that claimant is
the owner of this service station, and he can therefore be engaged in
managing this business without performing any physical chores. We
believe the record reveals that claimant deceived the Carrier when
he marked off due to illness then proceeded to engage in outside business
at his service station on September 11 and 12, 1972.
We feel that claimant's action constituted dishonesty justifying
assessment of discipline. Nor do we believe the discipline imposed to
be excessive in light of the fact that claimant had been previously
suspended in May, 1972 for 30 days for having marked off sick when he
was actually engaged in outside business.
Having .concluded that suspension for 60 days was warranted due to
claimant's absence from work on September 11 and 12, 1972 under false
pretenses, this Board therefore finds it unnecessary to pass upon the
other charges preferred against claimant.
A W A R D
Claim denied.
NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
By Order of Second Division
Attest: Executive Secretary
National Railroad Adjustment Board
By a2.
R semarie Brasch - Administrative Assistant
Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day of February, 1975.