Form 1 NAT1nNA1, RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD Award No. 888+
 SECOND DIVISION Docket No. 88+1
 2-CR-FO-182
 The Second Division consistW of the regular members and in
 addition Referee Elliott M. Abramson when award was rendered.
 International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers
 _Parties to Dispute:
 ( Consolidated Rail Corporation

 Dispute: Claim of Employes:
1. That, in violation of the current agreement, Firemen & Oiler George A_
 Dougherty was unjustly dismissed from service of the Carrier on
 February 27, 1978.
 2, That, accordingly, the Carrier be ordered to make the aforementioned
 George A. Dougherty whole by reinstating him to Carrier's service with
 seniority rights unimpaired, made whole for all vacation rights,
 holidays, sick leave benefits, and all other benefits that are a
 condition of employment unimpaired, and compensated for all lost time
 plus ten (10%) per cent interest annually on all lost wages, also
 reimbursement for all losses sustained account of coverage under health
 and welfare and life insurance agreements during the time he has been
 held out of service.
 Findings
The Second Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record and ell 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 aver the dispute involved herein.

The Claimant, a laborer, whose seniority date is March 24, 1975, was dismissed from service in all capacities on February 27, 1979 due to alleged excessive absenteeism.

 At the February 13, 1979 Investigatory Trial the Carrier's contention that the Claimant was excessively absent from his job between March 28, 1978 and December 28, 1978, inclusive, and that he failed to complete his eight hour tour of duty on twenty five occasions between April 3, 1978 and December 22, 1978, inclusive, were substantiated by presentation of a computer run-off taken off daily time cards. Claimant did not present any like, substantial evidence in refutation of Carrier's documentary evidence of explained absences. Statements by the Claimant to the effect that he left the job early on certain days because he was sick or because a machine he used do his work had broken down so that there was no work which could be done, were unsubstantiated and self serving.
 Form 1 Award No. 888+
 Page 2 Docket No. 88+1
 2-CR-PO-182

 The Board also notes that this Claimant had received a prior discipline far unexplained absences. In 1976 he received a reprimand for absences unknown. He also was suspended, for thirty days, .for unknown absences during the period September 1976 through January 1977.

 Unexplained absences signal disregard of a serious approach to employment responsibilities and make it difficult for the Carrier to operate safely and efficiently. A Carrier certainly can't operate effectively if employees feel free to leave their positions for n~,~ good reason. Additionally, the Board also notes that prior disciplinary measures meted out to Claimant do not seem to have produced the desired remedial. effect_




                            By order of Second Division


Attest: Executive Secretary
 National Railroad Adjustment Board

 By
 semarie Brasch - Ad:7 Assistant

 Dated(at Chicago, Tllivois, this 27th day of January, 1982.