Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD Award No. 7183
SECOND DIVISION Docket No. 7017
2-WTC -CM ' 76

The Second Division consisted of the regular members and in
addition Referee Herbert L. Marx Jr. when award was rendered.

Parties to Dispute:

Dispute: Claim of Employes:

System Federation No. 106
Railway Employes' Department
A.F.L. - C.I.O. "Carmen"

The Washington Terminal Company



That accordingly the Washington Terminal Company be ordered to return Carman Apprentice, M.H. Payne Jr., to the service of the Carrier with seniority and vacation rights unimpaired and compensate him for all time lost since April 8, 1975.

Findings:

thereon.

The Second Division o£ 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 o£ 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

Claimant, an employe of six weeks' service, was dismissed by Carrier for his actions on April 8, 1975, in violation of Rule G, which states:


According to testimony, the Car Foreman clearly observed

Claimant and another employe"smoking something with yellow paper on it."

Farm 1 Award No. 7133
Page 2 Docket No. 7017
2-WTC-CM '76

in a car where the two employes had no reason to be in the course of their duties. The Car Foreman further testified that he recovered the yellow paper being 'smoked by the other employe, and this paper was later proved to have contained marijuana. The yellow paper observed in the Claimant's possession was not recovered. Claimant's defense in testimony was that there was a single piece of paper, handed by Claimant to tie other employe.

This Board recounts this testimony to affirm its belief that Claimant's explanation was not a credible one, nor was it regarded as credible at the full and fair investigation which was conducted prior to Claimant's dismissal. Based on the foregoing, this Board has no reason to interfere with the conclusions drawn by the investigation and finds that the penalty exacted was appropriate to the violation. The fact that the cigarette which Claimant was smoking was not recovered is insufficient to set aside the Carrier's decision, the Car Foreman's testimony being clear, without apparent prejudice, and unshaken.






                          By Order of Second Division


Attest: Executive Secretary
National Railroad Adjustment Board

By:
      emarie Brasch - Administrative Assistant


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of November, 1976.