STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Claim of the System Committee of the Brotherhood, that:
JOINT STATEMENT OF FACTS: On October 9, 1950, Welder E. J. Legendry, Welder Helper, E. J. Champagne, Section Foreman L F Trauth, Section Laborers Fred Carmouche, Philip Baxter, C. Harvey, Garfield White and P. J. Francisco were regularly assigned to work from 7:30 A. M. to 4:30 P. M., with a lunch period from 12 noon to 1:00 P. M. On October 9 1950, they were working on the passenger main track at Avondale. At 12 noon the track was not safe for trains to pass and these men were required to work until 2:00 P. M. without their lunch period. They were allowed twenty minutes to eat from 2:00 to 2:20 P. M., with pay. They then continued working until 5:30 P. M.
These men were paid pro rata from 7:30 A. M. to 4:30 P. M., a total of 9 hours, including one hour regular meal period. They were paid one hour at the rate of time and one-half from 4:30 P. M. to 5:30 P. M.
or attempt to answer them at this time. Every effort has been exerted to set forth all relevant argumentive facts, including documentary evidence in exhibit form, but as it is not known what the Organization will present, the Carrier desires an opportunity to make such additional answer thereto as may be deemed appropriate.
The facts are so clear that the Carrier does not desire oral hearing unless the Organization requests oral hearing, in which event the Carrier also desires the same opportunity to be heard and, thereafter, an opportunity to file such written answer to oral argument as may be made by representatives of the Organization at the hearing as may be deemed necessary and proper.
Wherefore premises considered, the Carrier respectfully requests that the claim in all things be denied.
OPINION OF BOARD: This case presents the question whether a meal period, not afforded within the allowed or agreed time limit and worked, should be paid for at pro rata or at time and one-half.
Article IX Rule 1 establishes 8 consecutive hours, exclusive of the meal period, as a day's work, "except as otherwise provided in these rules".
Article IX Rule 3 (and Award 4944) require pay at time and one-half for hours worked in excess of 8, "except as otherwise provided in these rules".
Article XI Rule 1 establishes a work week of 40 hours consisting of 5 days of 8 hours each, "except as otherwise provided herein", and re uires payment at time and one-half for work in excess of 40 straiht time ours in any work week.
FIRST. There is no real contradiction in these Rules. A familiar guide to the construction of agreements gives a special rule controlling effect over a general rule. The general provision for an 8 hour day, time and one-half after 8 hours and a 40 hour week must, therefore, bow to the special specific treatment of meal periods worked.
Moreover, none of these general rules is absolute or unqualified. Each contains an exceptiing clause-"except as otherwise provide"-which expressly indicates that deviations from the general rules were contemplated. To assert a contradiction is to disregard these excepting clauses.
SECOND. We entertain no doubt that "pro rata" as used in Article XV Rule 6 means "straight time." Such is its ordinary reasonable meaning. If there is any doubt about this, the doubt is laid at rest by consultation of Article V liule 5 in the 1937 Agreement which paid for the ninth and tenth hours at "pro rata hourly rate" and beyond the tenth hour at time and one-half. It may be that, when the overtime rule was amended, failure to amend the meal period rule was an oversight; but if it was, we am powerless to correct it.
FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, after giving the parties to this dispute due notice of hearing thereon, and upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds and holds: 5636-9 435