Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTPENT BOARD Award No, 8037
SECOND DIVISION Docket No, 765
2-SOU-CM-' 79




Department, A, F, of L. - C. I. 0.
Parties to Dispute: (Carmen)



Dispute: Claim of Employes:










Findings:

The Second Division of the Adjustmen~c Board, upon the whole record and all, the evidence, finds that:


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.



The essential facts in this dispute are undisputed. Claimant was charged with conduct unbecoming an employee for falsely apprising carrier's payroll accounting department on July 7, 1977 in a sworn affadavit requesting a replacement check that he never received check number 161080 amounting to $371.09.

A preliminary investigation was meld on July 7, 1977 wherein it was determined that he committed this offense and he was dismissed from service.

Shortly thereafter, pursuant to Agreement Rule 34, claimant was provided a formal investigation which confirmed the prior disposition.

In reviewing this case, we find the evidence of record of such competing magnitude and weight, that we must unreservedly uphold carrier's dismissal decision.
Form 1 Award No. 8037
Page 2 Docket No. 795
2-soU-CM-' 79

From the beginning of his calculated attempt to conceal the fact that he endorsed and cashed the June, 1977 issued check, until he finally admitted that he signed for and acknowledged before a notary public that he had lied when applying for a replacement check, claimant's behavior was characterized by a pattern of duplicity and mendacity that :is inexcusable. His restitution of this money later on did not exonerate his actions.

The railroad industry is vested with a significant public interest that cannot tolerate dishonesty or theft in any form Accordingly we cannot find any plausible or mitigative basis upon which to grant sonne form of leniency.

In Second Division Avr~ard 75185 this Board held in pertinent part that "stealing or arty form of.' dishonesty on the railroad Zs a dismissal oi`fettse". This decision~.l holding arjilies with equal force here. Thus we must reject thi s cla:un.



    Claire denied.


                          NATIONAL a,%11-.ROAD ADr1USTn°,L1ul' BOARD

                          By Order oz" Second Division


Attest: Executive Secretary
National Railroad Adjustment Board

        --


    ~os arie Branch - Administrative Assistant


Dated a Chicago, Illinois, this 8th day of August, 1879.