(a) Difference between $163.76 (Helper rate) and $228.76 (Maintainer rate) from May, 1945 to January 1, 1946.
(b) Difference between $194.76 (Helper rate received) and $261.40 (Maintainer rate from January 1, 1946 to May 22, 1946 by increase of 16¢ per hour wage increase) from January 1, 1946 to May 22, 1946.
(c) Difference between $19476 (Helper rate received) and $26650 (Maintainer rate from May 22, 1946 to date Mr. Lee left service of the rallroad August 1, 1946.)
EMPLOYES' STATEMENT OF FACTS: Prior to entry into the armed forces of the United States, Mr. W, H. Lee was employed by the Carrier as Signal Helper, being used to relieve Signal Maintainers most of the time during his last few months in railroad service.
After entry into military service, it was found that Mr. Lee had certain physical disqualifications which limited him to service in the United States, and the Carrier having need for his services as Signal Maintainer addressed the following letter to Lee for transmittal to Army authorities in the hope that Lee would be released to resume railroad service:
"ATLANTA & WEST POINT RAIL ROAD COMPANY
THE WESTERN RAILWAY OF ALABAMA
GEORGIA RAILROAD
Maintainer Driver's job in May 1945, and consider Mr. Peck's letter as a Georgia contract then we would point out that the Georgia law likewise construes these contracts as contracts of employment strictly and at no place in the contract is there an agreement to raise Lee's salary under any conditons whatever and therefore any claim for any increase that was given to other people would have to fall, because this increase was not agreed to or promised or contracted for by and between the railroad and Lee, so the contract itself being strictly construed, Lee is not entitled to any raise except through the grace and goodness of the railroad and that part of his claim, wherein he asks for the additional increase, must fall of its own weight.
As we have heretofore pointed out, the organization was not the bargaining agent for Lee at the time of this occurrence; therefore, to reconstruct the contract made by Lee and the railroad would be a retroactive decision.
We again ask that the claim be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. If your Honorable Board should assume jurisdiction we respectfully request that it be declined for the reasons hereinabove set out.
OPINION OF BOARD: On December 28, 1944, Claimant Lee returned to the service of the Carrier pursuant to a letter, the applicable position of which is as follows: "Should the Army see fit to release you from the armed forces, I hereby certify that the Atlanta-West Point Railroad will immediately re-employ you as Signal Helper at a salary of $163.76, and should there be a vacancy for a Maintainer, the Railroad will employ you as Signal Maintainer at a salary of $228.76 per month". On his return to service, he was assigned as a Signal Helper at the agreed upon rate. On November 15, 1945, Lee entered the service of the Georgia Railroad as a Maintainer. There was no agreement between the Signalmen and the Carrier during the times herein mentioned. Signal Department employes were paid monthly rates for all services without overtime. If a Maintainer became ill, his Helper carried on the work without any increase in pay. If he had no Helper, one was assigned and paid the first year Maintainers rate of pay. The Signal Maintainer, off because of sickness, continued to draw his full pay.
In April 1945, Signal Maintainer Driver was taken sick. His Helper performed his work during his absence with such assistance as was necessary. Driver continued to draw his pay during his absence. It is contended that Driver's absence created a vacancy which Lee was entitled to fill under the terms of the letter previously quoted.
It appears to us that the terms of the letter were not violated during the time Lee was in the employ of this Carrier. He returned to work and was given a position of Signal Helper at the salary stipulated. It seems to us, also, that Signal Maintainer Driver's position never became vacant during the period of Lee's employment. He retained it during his illness, the work thereof being performed in the manner that was customary on that railroad. Consequently, the letter agreement was not violated during the period of Lee's employment with the Carrier. 3997-11 toll