Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD Award No. 7042
SECOND 1 TVISION Docket No. 6836
2-HBT-CM-'76
The Second Division consisted of the regular members and in
addition Referee Dana E. Eischen when award was rendered.
( System Federation No. 2, Railway Employes'
( Department, A. F. of L. - C. I. 0.
Parties to Dispute: ( Carmen
( Houston Belt & Terminal Railway Company
Dispute: Claim of Employes:
1. That the Houston Belt & Terminal Railway Company violated
the controlling agreement, particularly Rule 10, on November
14, 1973, when Garman R. A. Phillips was not called from the
overtime board to assist in rerailing Santa Fe Engine 236-C,
Collingsworth Street, Houston, Texas.
2. That accordingly, the Houston Belt & Terminal Railway Company
be ordered to compensate Garman Phillips in the amount of
three hours (3') at the punitive rate for November 14, 1973.
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 Di.vision of the Adjustment Board has jurisdiction over the
dispute involved herein.
Parties to said dispute waived right of appearance at hearing thereon.
Claimant R. A. Phillips is a Carman regularly assigned to Carrier's
rip track at Houston, Texas with hours of service 7:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Saturday and Sunday rest days. Phillips also is listed on the
wrecker overtime board maintained by the parties by mutual arrangement pursuant
to Rule 10 of the controlling Agreement which reads in pertinent part as follows:
"Rule 10
DISTRIBUTION OF OVERTIME
(a) When it becomes necessary for employees to work
overtime, they shall not be laid off during regular working
hours to equalize the time.
Form 1 Award No. 7042
Page 2 Docket No. 6836
2-HBT-CM-' 76
"(b) Record will be kept if overtime worked and
men called with the purpose in view of distributing
the overtime equally.
On claim date, November 14, 1974 Claimant was second out on the wrecker overtime board.
An engine derailment occurred on Carrier's property on November 14,
1974. The record shows that Carrier's regular wrecking crew and foreman were
on another job and the Relief Wrecker Foreman was out of town on his rest day.
Accordingly, it became necessary to call an Acting Wrecker Foreman to handle
the engine derailment. Carrier called one John Qualls, a Carman who was not
on the wrecker overtime list, and one Dan Searcy, the first-out man on the
wrecker overtime list for the job. In effect, therefore, Carrier by-passed
Claimant for the call. Qualls and Searcy rera iled the engine between 4:20
p.m. and 7:20 p.m. November 14, 1974 and were apparently paid 3 hours at the
applicable overtime rate.
By letter dated January 7, 1974 the Organization filed the instant
claim seeking 3 hours overtime for Phillips because of alleged violation of
Rule 10 when he was not called on November 14, 1973. The initial denial
letter of January 14, 1974 sets forth Carrier's position as presented on the
property as follows:
"HB&T Wrecker #309 went to Bay City, date in question
with the following men: F. Gradler, P. Garza and A.B.
Starnes. Relief Wrecker Foreman R. McKinney was on his
rest day and out of town.
Mr. D. Searcy was first out followed by Mr. R.A.
Phillips. Both men have advised Mr. J.W. Alvarez they
do not wish to be called as Wrecker Foreman, therefore
it became necessary to have J.H. Qualls stand by as
Wrecker Foreman.
When SF 236C was derailed at Collingsworth, Mr. Qualls
was called. tie inspected the derailment and notified the
Diesel Shop asking Mr. Munger to call Mr. Searcy off the
Wrecking Overtime Board. It was necessary we use the SP
Cline Truck to rerail this engine. I see no violation of
the contract as both men were paid time and one-half for
their services.
If Mr. Phillips wishes to exercise his rights as
Emergency Wrecker Foreman when called for that position,
I will be more than pleased.
Your time claim is respectively denied."
Form 1
Pa ge 3
Award No. 7®42
Docket No. 6836
2-HBT-CM-'76
Additional evidence raised on the property includes a letter from Claimant
as follows:
"I have advised no one that I did not want to be called as
wrecker foreman. If that had been the case for an idefinite
period I would advise them by a written statement so my name
would not be placed on call.
In this case my name was on call. Mr. Qualls name is never
on call and his name is not on the wrecking board which is
used for these calls.
It is true that Mr. Searcy was first out and my name was
second out. Two men worked this call, Mr. Searcy and Mr.
Qualls. I contend that I should have been called as the
second man and Mr. Searcy called as the first man.
Mr. Pettus makes a reference to me exercising my rights.
I do wish to exercise my rights and not have my rights exercised by someone else as was done in this case. I wish to
be called and if available I will accept call."
It is noted that Carrier presented for the first time in its ex parte submission
a memorandum from one J. W. Alvarez relative to Claimant and Searcy
purportedly
waiving their right to be called off the wrecker overtime board. Not only
do we find that latter document unpersuasive on the point for which it is
offered but it comes too late at the Board level.
The relevant and probative record evidence shows that Claimant effectively was by-passed in favor of a Carman not on the overtime board. We do
not find on this record a waiver by Claimant of his rights to a call for the
Acting Wrecker Foreman opening on November 14, 1973. Nor are we persuaded
on this record that Rule 114 regarding "wrecking engineers" relied upon by
Carrier is supportive of its failure to call Claimant. We shall sustain
the claim.
A W A R D
Claim sustained.
NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT B(ARD
By Order of Second Division
Attest: Executive Secretary
National Railroad Adjustment Board
By _
osemarie Brasch - Administra tive Assistant
Dated at Chicago, Illinoisp this 20th day of April, 1976.