NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
PARTIES TO DISPUTE:
THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
STATEMENT OF CLAIM:
Claim of the General Committee of The
Order of Railroad Telegraphers on the Norfolk Southern Railway that:
1. The Carrier violated the agreement between the parties when
and because it permitted and/or required employes not covered by
said agreement to handle the following train orders when no emergency existed:
Order Train
Bu.
No. Station Date Time No. No. Copied By
694 Neverson, N.C. May 8, 1953 1207p 50 44 Wedding
" 11 11
May 22, 1953 1052a 52 X663 May
2087 Appie Siding May 8, 1953 355p 58 X663 May
701
11 11
May 9, 1953 323p 60
11 "
702 Belcross May 29, 1953 740a 30 X438 Norton
" Jun 1,1953 806a 24 "
" Jun 2, 1953 824a 26
" Jun 3,1953 722a 22
" Jun 4,1953 714a 22
" Jun 5, 1953 724a · 26
" Jun 8, 1953 715a 22
" Jun 9, 1953 723a 22
" Jun 10,1953 717a 22
Jun 11,1953 724a 26 "
703 Chapanoke Jun 6,1953 207p 50 X702 "
719 Wilson Yard Jun 20, 1953 1014a 52 99 Hough
720 Greenville (New Pass) May 11, 1953 309p 44 43 Winstead
2088 Neverson Jun 11,1953 233p 50 45 Wedding
2089 Jul 15,1953 1021p 60 X1608 Stark
2090 Jul 7, 1953 120p 46 45 Mimms
2091 Aug 22, 1953 432p 62 X1603 Ormond
[790]
8687-2
791
Order Train
Bu. No.
Station Date Time No. No. Copied By
2092 Simpson Aug 30, 1953 1131a 22 63 Ralph
2167 Gregory Jul 27, 1953 812a 32 X438 Walker
" 11
Jul 27, 1953 820a 34
2168 Jul 28.1953 818a 28 "
" Jul 28, 1953 821a 30 "
2169 Neverson Sep 6,1953 552p 46 X1502 Dayton
2170 Simpson Aug 18, 1953 804p 58 64 Pleasants
2171 Elizabeth City (ML) Jun 24, 1953 555p 50 X703 Morgan
" " Jun 24, 1953 601p 52 Morgan
" Jun 24, 1953 605p 54 "
2172 Greenville (New Pass) Jun 13, 1953 1012a 28 63 Lundy
2173
11
(Old Pass) Jul 18, 1953 921a 36 63 Stocks
2057 Snowden Jul 29, 1953 828a 28 X438 Walker
2058 Sep 24,1953 814a 34 Stephenson
2059 Sep 25, 1953 808a 32 "
2060 Sep 28,1953 803a 22 "
2061 Gregory Jul 17,1953 813a 36 Walker
2062 Elizabeth City (ML) Jul 11, 1953 130a 22 64 Stephens
2093 Cumnock Aug 10, 1953 1239p 47 X1601 Cox
Aug 11, 1953 817a 31 " "
" 823a 45 "
" 830a 47 "
" 1221p 57 "
" 1225p 63
" Aug 12, 1953 807a 33 X1509 "
" 809a 41 " "
" 812a 43 "
" 814a 45 "
" 1230p 65 "
" 1233p 67 "
Aug 13, 1953 809a 33 "
" 811a 41 "
" 814a 43 "
" 817a 45 "
" 1226p 47 "
Aug 14, 1953 818a 31 X1604 "
" 820a 45 "
" 823a 47 "
" 1240p 73 " "
" 1244p 75 "
" 315p 81 "
Aug 31, 1953 157p 57 X663 Freeman
Sep 1, 1953 806a 31 "
'· 812a 45 "
·' 817a 49 "
8687-3
792
Order Train
Bu.
No. station Date Time No. No. Copied By
2093 Cumnock Sep 2,1953 SO6a 31 X663 Freeman
" S10a 43
" 814a 45 "
" 1244p 75 "
" Sep 3,1953 816a 45 "
" 819a 47 "
" 1236p 71 "
" Sep 4, 1953 811a 29
" 814a 41
" Si6a 43 "
947 Solite Oct 20, 1953 1242p 63 X1509 "
" Oct 21, 1953 1145p 65 "
" Oct 22, 1953 239p 77 "
2068 Neverson Oct 14, 1953 1051p 68 X1507 May
2069 Oct 19, 1953 826p 46 X1602 "
2070 Oct 27, 1953 856p 68 X1607 "
2071 Nov 3, 1953 217p 60 45 Wedding
2072 Nov 6,1953 115p 80 44 "
2073 Nov 12, 1953 144p 50 45 Morgan
2074 Nov 18, 1953 142p 52 44 Wedding
2075 Plankroad Sep 21,1953 536a 35 99 Hunt
2076 Mile Post 154 Nov 20, 1953 344p 62 43 Winstead
2077 Neverson Dec 12,1953 943a 44 X1601 Roberts
2078 Greenville (Old Pass) Aug 14, 1953 814p 54 64 Hough
2079 Hinson Sep 17,1953 432p 80 X662 Pinner
2080 Yort Oct 5, 1953 511a 37 X1502 Freeman
2081 Plankroad Oct 2,1953 659p 79 49 Corbett
2082 Overgrade Sep 4.1953 938a 42 X1603 Flowers
2083 Mile Post 354 Oct 16, 1953 1208p 49 X438 Corbett
" 1212p 61
11 "
2084 Allen Oct 17, 1953 223p 61 51 Bradshaw
2085 Aquadale Oct 19, 1953 1146a 41 X1509 Freeman
2063 Knightdale Mar 5, 1954 516p 62 X1503 Ormond
2064 Apr 22, 1954 745p 56 45 Wedding
2065 May 22, 1954 455p 46 X1601 Wedding
2066 Stanfield Apr 12, 1954 745p 31 99 Corbett
2067 Hallison May 21, 1954 440p 77 X1501 Dunn
2024 Waddill Mar 2, 1954 550p 58 X1613 Gregg
11 " 11
553p 60 " 11
2025 Neverson Mar 8, 1954 316p 44 X1603 May
2026 Alligoods Mar 14, 1954 722a 26 98 Gibson
2027 Pyrax Mar 19,1954 455p 69 65 Lilly
2028 Carbonton Apr 8, 1954 938p 87 63 Williamson
2029 Plankroad Apr 14, 1954 434p 77 49 Styres
2030 Allen Apr 23, 1954 445p 95 98 Cox
8687-4
793
Order Train
BU.
No. Station Date Tlme No. No. Copied By
2031 Sylvaola Apr 26, 1954 932a 45 X132 Medlin
2032 Winfall May 10, 1954 809a 32 X438 Spruill
2033
11
May 11, 1954 712a 26
11 "
2034 Neverson May 13, 1954 321p 64 X1508 Hough
2035 Putnam Jun 8, 1954 701p 63 63 Barringer
2036 Neverson Jun 14, 1954 1212a 24 98 Massey
2037 Pyrax Jun 18,1954 651p 87 X1612 Johnson
2038 Mt. Herman Jun 21, 1954 458p 68 X1602 Morgan
501p 60 "
2039 Putnam Jul 10, 1954 453p 75 63 Styres
2040 Cumnock Jul 26, 1954 815a 35 X438 Watson
11 11 11
153p 49 "
2041 Jul 27, 1954 818a 47 "
2042 Jul 28, 1954 816a 45 "
2043 Jul 29,1954 817a 45 "
2044 Jul 30,1954 814a 45 Woodcock
2045 Eagle Rock Aug 3, 1954 646p 50 X1610 Watson
2046 Neverson Aug 4, 1954 1242p 52 44 May
2047 Balm Aug 8, 1954 543a 35 99 Lilly
2048 McCullers Aug 5,1954 347p 87 X1506 Johnson
2049 Moyock Aug 9,1954 805a 38 X438 Barnes
" 11
812a 40
11 "
2050 Cumnock
11
249p 65 X1505 Watson
2051 Neverson Aug 24, 1954 1057a 38 X1612 Roberts
2052 McCullers Oct 6, 1954 1036a 61 64 Williamson
2053 Snowden Oct 9, 1954 338a 34 63 Bobbitt
2054 Alligoods Nov 14, 1954 715a 34 63 White
2055 Burns Oct 28, 1954 345p 73 49 King
" Simpson Oct 29, 1954 737p 68 X1606 Sumner
" Belcross Dee 18, 1954 201a 22 63 Honeycut
" Carbonton Jan 13,1955 319p 79 X1601 Lewis
" Neverson Jan 15, 1955 239p 56 X1608 May
" Chapanoke Jan 27,1955 225p 54 X1613 Gregg
2056 Neverson Feb 15, 1955 258p 54 X1506 Roberts
" Alligoods Feb 17, 1955 805a 34 98 Oglesby
Knightdale Feb 17,1955 252p 64 X663 Ormond
" Simpson Feb 19, 1955 743p 54 X1601 Dayton
" Plankroad Mar 10, 1955 SOla 39 64 Barringer
" Neverson Mar 21, 1955 1201a 24 98 Davis
2227 Knightdale Apr 25,1955 1028a 38 44 Perry
2228 Elizabeth City May 3,1955 124a 22 64 Jones
(Psgr Sta)
2229 Corinth May 3, 1955 406p 79 X1508 Byrd
2230 Carolina Yard (RH) May 21, 1955 257a 26 63 Stephenson
2231 Elizabeth City May 28, 1955 114p 48 98 Oglesby
(Psgr Sta)
8687-s
794
Order Train
BmNo.
Station Date Time No. No. Copied By
2232 Eliz.
City (Suffolk Jet) May 22, 1955 1219p 26 98 Miller
2233 Moyock Jun 8,1955 654a 26 X438 Gregg
2234 Elizabeth City May 24, 1955 135a 22 64 Morgan
(Psgr Sta)
2295 Northwest Jun 20,1955 750a 22 63 Stephenson
2296 Elizabeth City (ML) Jul 27, 1955 145a 22 64 "
2297 Brickdale May 31, 1955 635p 70 X1615 Morgan
2298
11
Jun 1,1955 701p 74
11 "
2299' Moyock Jun 9,1955 754a 24 X438 Gregg
2300 Eliz. City (Old Main) Jun 18, 1955 149a 22 64 Gibson
2. As a conseqence of said violations the Carrier shall now be
required to compensate the senior idle employe, extra in preference,
for a minimum of a day's pay of eight (8) hours for each day train
orders were so handled at each of the points specified.
EMPLOYES' STATEMENT OF FACTS:
There is an agreement between
the parties bearing effective date of August, 1, 7.937, a copy of which, as amended, is on file with the Board and, by this reference, is placed in evidence as a
part of this submission. Its provisions as to working conditions and rates of pay
apply to such employes as are engaged by the Carrier to perform work of the
several classes set forth in Article 1 of the Agreement, viz., telegraphers,
telephoners (except switchboard operators), agent-telegraphers, agent-telephonexs, clerk-telegraphers, levermen, towermen, operators of mechanical
telegraph machines, block operators; such station agents (freight or ticket)
and assistant agents listed in the Wage Scale; and such additional positions
as may be created or established within the scope of the Agreement.
AS
reflected by the Statement of Claim, the Carrier permitted and/or
required employes not covered by the Agreement to copy and handle train
orders by the use of telephones situated at the points shown, on the dates
enumerated in the Statement of Claim. No emergencies prevailed. In the
absence of an emergency such work is delegated entirely to employes of the
class and craft set out in Article 1, Scope.
Article 2 as to the Basic Day for employes covered by the Agreement,
stipulates that:
"Eight (8) consecutive hours, exclusive of the meal period, shall
constitute a day's work, except that where two or more shifts are
worked, eight (8) consecutive hours with no allowance for meals
shall constitute a day's work , . .
Article 23 (b) provides that:
"All positions covered by this agreement will be filled by employes holding seniority, except in case of emergency."
Article 24 (c) states that:
"Temporary positions or vacancies known to be of less than
ninety (90) days duration will be filled by the senior competent
available extra employe."
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8687-53
842
(3) None of the alleged Agreement violations were
handled on the property in accord with applicable Agreement provisions, hence ere not properly before this Division
for adjudication-
(a) Certain of the alleged violations were not
handled on the property up to the highest Carrier
officer designated to handle claims;
(b) The balance of the alleged violations were
not handled on the property after final declination
by the highest Corner officer designated to handle
claims, in accord with the requirements of Schedule
Agreement Article 34 (Time Limit Rule).
(4) The claimants are unnamed, hence the claim as presented is vague, indefinite, and impossible of ascertainment."
We shall first consider points (3) a and b, and (4).
The organization had stated at page 65 of this docket-
"The Employes will not try to reproduce all of the correspondence
exchanged between the parties in connection with the 164 violations
included in this submission. * * * "
The Labor Member who argued this case noted that the Carrier itself had
not raised such procedural objections, and upon investigation, reports in his
rebuttal brief that he had secured-
"and have in my possession the entire organization file in each of
the 164 claims we are now dealing with. Each of those claims was
handled precisely as required by the parties' rules and the Railway
Labor Act. There is a letter in every one of those files covering each
step of handling, including declination by the highest officer of the
Carrier designated to handle such claims. * " * I have copies of the
General Chairman's letters in which he unequivocally informs the
Carrier's highest officer that his decision-in each of the 164 claimsis not acceptable. * * * At page 135 of the record the carrier
says it ". . subscribes to the information set out in detail in petitioner's statement of claim.', without in any way indicating there
was any procedural failure on the part of the Employer. Nowhere in
its submission does the Carrier make any such charge, and in the
penultimate paragraph of its submission, page 136, indicates full
compliance by both parties with all requirements of the agreement
and Railway Labor Act."
The Referee did not deem it necessary to accept the Labor Member's
invitation to inspect, in the presence of Carrier Members, the files in question.
We will, therefore, reject points (3) and (4) of Carrier Member's argument and hold that this claim is not procedurally defective, that it is not
impossible of ascertainment.
We shall proceed to consider points (1) and (2) offered in behalf of
Carrier in support 'of its argument that the claim should be denied. Essentially such argument is that the same claim, with the same parties and agree-
8687-54
843
ment rules, was disposed of by this Board in Award 7976 and, under many
prior awards of this Board, unless Award 7976 is held palpably wrong, this
claim must be denied.
A literal reading of the claim in this docket shows it to be the same
agreement transgression that was covered by Award 7976; however, the violations before us now cover the period May 8, 1953 through June 18, 1955,
whereas Award 7976 covered the period April 20, 1951 through March 22, 1952.
We had a somewhat similar question before us in Award 8419. However,
the claim there was identical in every respect and detail to the claim disposed
of by this Board in Award 5432.
We will not accept argument in Carrier's behalf and dismiss this claim
on its assertion that it was disposed of .by Award 7976. A similar claim was
disposed of by Award 7976, but not the same claim as here. To do so would
be to say once an Organization charges a Carrier with an agreement violation,
and such claim is disposed of by an award of this Board, that Organization is
forever estopped from again charging the sime Carrier with violating the
same agreement provision on other occasions or under other circumstances.
Such reasoning would be absurd.
This is not to say that such would not be a desirable situation. We have
in mind a number of industries and major companies which have permanent
arbitration machinery with a permanent arbitrator. Once an agreement provision is there determined by the arbitrator, it is seldom that a second case
may ensue to test such provision, unless, of course, the facts may be so
different as to require separate consideration.
There is a crying need for such stability in determining agreement interpretation in the railroad industry. Under the prevailing machinery, such
ideals are impossible of attainment. The industry and the parties here are
most certainly mature enough in the field of collective bargaining to permit
of such an accomplishment. It is not, however, in our province to determine
the obstacle to such idealism.
This case must turn, then, on claim in Carrier's behalf that-
"this record does not furnish any substantial evidence to show
Award 7976 is wrong and should be overruled."
The claim in Award 7976 first came to the Board in Docket TE-6724.
Award 6779 found-
"That the entire Agreement was not before the parties during
consideration of the within dispute and accordingly the same is
remanded, with privilege to resubmit if not resolved as stated in the
Opinion."
The Opinion of the Board there noted:
"A Carrier Member of the Division, after arguments were closed,
submits, what he terms, newly discovered evidence. This evidence
consists of correspondence relating to a Telegraphers' submission in
1937 mentioned in First Division Award 5295, of which this Division
has no record The
correspondence explains the reason therefor.
8687-55
844
Second, the newly submitted evidence contains what appears to be
a letter ratification of an oral agreement relating to the very point
at issue.
"In the interests of the expeditious handling of disputes, we
would generally look with disfavor upon unilateral, supplemental submissions. However, in resolving disputes, we assume that the entire
Agreement of the parties is before us. From the late showing made,
the entire Agreement was neither before us nor the parties when
they considered this controversy upon the property. Accordingly, we
are remanding the dispute to the parties for further consideration in
light of the new evidence and the opinions expressed herein. If negotiations do not result in settlement of this dispute within ninety days,
the dispute may be resubmitted with appropriate comment on the
evidence before mentioned."
The dispute subsequently was resubmitted as Docket TE-7504 and decided
by Award 7976. Both dockets were cited by Carrier Member arguing this case
as part of the evidence before us in this dispute.
Award 6779 was adopted by this Board October 13, 1954. The "evidence"
which prompted the Board to remand the dispute to the parties consisted of
a letter, dated February 26, 1941, from Carrier Superintendent L. P. Kennedy
to John W. Graham, LaGrange, N.C., described by the Organization as a
former General Chairman on this carrier from 1930 until March 19, 1935, when
he resigned.
This letter consists of Mr. Kennedy's version as to what transpired at a
conference between the parties held December 13, 1934-more than six years
before such letter was written. It was attested to by Mr. Kennedy's affidavit,
and an affidavit on Mr. Graham's part, reading:
"The best I can remember the statements below are correct as
to the agreements reached."
It was presented to the Referee handling Docket TE-6724 almost twenty
years after the conference is alleged to have been held. And, as Referee
Donaldson noted in Award 6779, it was presented "after arguments were
closed" in Docket TE-6724.
Award 6779 did not, however, decide the claim on its merits.
Upon its resubmission as Docket TE-7504, the Organization attacks the
manner in which such "new evidence," which we will hereafter refer to as the
Graham-Kennedy letter, was presented to the Board; it asserts it was presented
and received long after "the parties had rested their case," and was, therefore,
inadmissible under the Board's consistent admonition to the parties in all
disputes that it-
"is not disposed to admit known evidence at an oral hearing
which has not theretofore been presented for consideration by the
interested parties during negotiations between them in their undertaking to adjust the dispute without petition to the Adjustment
Board."
This Board used such language in advising the parties of the time and
place for oral hearing on that dispute, which was then handed as TE-6724.
8687-56
845
In its submission to this Board in TE-7504, Organization states:
"The Employes do not think it is necessary to discuss the contents of the Graham-Kennedy letter. The very manner in
which it
was brought into being is sufficient to remove it from the realm of
consideration. The letter is neither an agreement nor an interpretation of the agreement between the parties. It represents an attempt
to create a record of something that never transpired at Norfolk on
the day in question even though assuming that the original letter is
in existence in the form disclosed. * * * The Organization representatives on the property have never laid eyes on it although apparently
existing for approximately fourteen years it has never, at any stage,
been disclosed as documentary to the collective bargaining agreement. The General Chairman of the Telegraphers on the Norfolk
Southern on February 26, 1941 was H. M. Harris. If there were to
be any oral understandings, letters, memoranda or other documents
bearing on the Telegraphers' Agreement, then Messrs. Kennedy and
Poe should have addressed themselves to General Chairman Harris
whom they well knew was the authorized representative of the employes at that time. Certainly Graham had no standing in such matters, any more than some retired officer of the Carrier would have
had in a similar proceeding with Harris. * * *"
It is not for us here to decide if this Board should have accepted the
Graham-Kennedy letter in TE-6724.
But we will not consider it in the dispute now before us because we agree,
with the Organization, that it "is neither an agreement nor an interpretation
of an agreement between the parties."
We must and will decide this case on the basis of the duly negotiated
agreements between the parties. The Graham-Kennedy letter does not fall
within that category.
The Agreement rules (Scope and Train Orders) reads:
"Article I-Scope:
The following rules, working conditions, and rates of pay will
apply to all telegraphers, telephoners (except switchboard-operators),
agent-telegraphers, agent-telephoners, clerk-telegraphers, levermen,
towermen, operators of mechanical telegraph machines, block operators, such station agents (freight or ticket), and assistant agents as
are herein listed, hereinafter referred to as employes, and such additional positions as may be hereafter created or established within
this scope."
"Article 15:
No employes other than covered by this schedule and train dispatchers will be permitted to handle train orders at telegraph or
telephone offices where an operator is employed and is available,
or can be promptly located; except in emergency, conductors or
engineers will be permitted to do so, in which case the telegrapher
will be paid for the call."
Argument presented in behalf of Carrier observes that-
8687-5v
846
"It is readily notable that the Employes did not then consider
their Scope Rule as an all-inclusive role, because if they had there
would have been no necessity to negotiate and adopt a Train Order
rule,
"It is equally notable that the Train Order rule, by reason of its
restrictive language, only reserves to Telegraphers (or Dispatchers)
the handling of train orders at points where an operator is employed,
and permits the continuance of the practice on this property for other
than Telegraphers to handle train orders at points where Telegraphers are not employed * * *."
In addition to its reliance on the Scope rule, the Organization relies
heavily on what is referred to as a "letter agreement" adopted August 14,
1922" as interpretive of that (Scope) rule." It is a letter written on that date
to Carrier Superintendents J. M. Shea and J. S. Cox and signed by Carrier
General Manager F. P. Pelter with copies to J. J. Demody, Vice President,
Order of Railroad Telegraphers; F. H. Nemitz, Vice President, Order of Railway Conductors and W. R. Griggs, General Chairman. It reads as follows:
"On August 14th, conferences were had with the representatives
Order of Railway Conductors and Order of Railroad Telegraphers,
who objected to the present practice of relying upon conductors to
handle train orders.
We have agreed with the representatives of these two organizations that it is not our purpose to require conductors to handle train
orders, excepting under conditions of an emergency nature, such as
accidents, personal injury, wash-outs, fires, engine failure, or such
other similar causes.
Please see that this understanding is respected by all concerned
and strictly complied with, acknowledging receipt."
There is also in this record copy of 'a similar letter dated August 14, 1922
addressed to "All Conductors" from V. M. Townsend, General Chairman,
Order of Railway Conductors, reading as follows:
"At a meeting of the O.R.C. and O.R.T. General Committees
jointly, with their Vice Presidents Nemitz and Dermody, which was
held with the General Manager of the Norfolk-Southern Railway
August 13, 1922, on the matter of the requirements of Conductors to
use telephones, I beg to quote you below letter addressed to Superintendents Shea and Cox, signed by General Manager Pelter August
14th, which were the results of our conference: (the Pelter letter,
referred to above, is then quoted)
"Therefore, you are advised that it is not the intent of the
management to require the Conductors to use 'phones other than for
for the above purposes; and at any time in the future you are required
to do so by a dispatcher, request of him for a message to do so and
promptly forward that to the Local Chairman in the proper way, who
wlll handle with the Superintendents."
Organization also quotes from "Position of Carrier" as submitted by the
Carrier here involved in a dispute decided by First Division Award 5295,
a sustaining award dated December 12, 1940, as follows:
"Conductors, trainmen and yard service employes are not now
and have not been in the past required to copy train orders, except
8687-58
847
in cases of emergencies, and the Respondent does not believe that
there is any foundation or basis for the filing of the instant claim
with the Board. * * * "
Organization argues:
"The first agreement in effect on this property was established
during Federal control of railroads. Rules with respect to working
conditions for telegraph service employes were fairly uniform
throughout the nation. Orders, regulations, supplements and decisions
rendered by the Administration applied to all carriers. Among these
was Interpretation No. 4 to Supplement No. 13, excerpts of which
are set forth at Page 13 hereof. By referring to that Interpretation
we find the Administration stating that the work of handling train
orders either by telegraph or telephone falls to the employes covered
by Supplement No. 13 (telegraphers). There was never any question
but what the handling of train orders by telegraph was telegraphers'
work. The orders were dispatched ~by telegraph and it followed that
they were copied by telegraphers only. * * * There was no dispute,
and there could be none, that the entire field of communication service
on railroads as to train orders, messages or reports of record was
reserved to telegraphers. With the advent of the telephone, telegraphers' agreements were modified to include the telephoner class in
case any work formerly handled by telegraph was diverted to the
newer medium. * * * "
Organization argues further that this Board-
" * * * has stated many times in substance that Scope Rules
generally fall within one of two classifications-those
which are
very
general do character and include all work traditionally performed by
the contracting craft, and those which specifically spell out the work
included. Scope rules of this Organization purposely do not spell out,
in so many words, the work which is embraced within the terms of
the agreement, but it is an accepted and well established fact that
they do cover work. They are within the category of Scope Rules
'general in character' where tradition, historical practice and custom
define the work covered; hence they cover all of the work traditionally, historically and customarily performed by the classes of employes therein specified. Awards 3003, 3004, 3999, 4516, 5038, 5133.
They identify the employes by classes who possess the contractual
right to perform all of the work encompassed by the agreement, an
integral and unquestioned part of which is the transmission and
reception of communications by telegraph or telephone such as the
train orders here involved. They have not only the fitness and ability,
but also the contractual right to perform such work. Award 3881.
"Your Board from its inception has consistently held to the
pattern set by similar tribunals to the effect that work of a class
covered by the scope of an agreement, and not within an exception
contained therein, belongs to the employes in whose behalf the agreement was made, and cannot be delegated to others without violating
the agreement, and rightly so. See Awards 2858, 3684, 3901, 3902 and
3955. Many other awards of your Board are just as conclusive and
emphatic. It is not the Employes' desire to unduly burden the record,
however, we
think it
is proper to direct particular attention to a few
additional awards
which are
directly in point. * * * "
8687-59
846
There followed quotations from Awards 16, 217, 323, 521. 602, 1169, 1284
and 4458.
So far as this docket is concerned, the Carrier has made no defense. It
elected to advise this Board that--
"The facts in relation to the subject matter of the instant claim,
and the position of the carrier with relation to such matter, are most
thoroughly and sufficiently stated in Carrier's Ex-Parte Submission.
Briefs and Rebuttals in an identical dispute, involving many of the
same stations as are involved in the instant claim, which has been
docketed by your Division as
Docket TE-6724, on which Award 6779
was rendered, which award remanded the dispute back to the property to attempt to reach settlement, and instructing that in the event
settlement was not so reached the dispute be re-submitted. The dispute was re-submitted to your Division and is now pending adjudication under Docket TE-7504. (Decided by Award 7976.)
"To avoid burdening the record in the instant claim by lengthy
and unnecessary repetition with respect to the respondent carrier's
position on the subject matter of the instant claim, reference is here
made to
Dockets TE-6724 and TE-7504, and those dockets are here,
by reference, made a part of this submission."
We have examined the record here with great care. We have likewise
carefully considered the many prior awards, pro and con, cited and offered.
Organization makes this statement:
"After termination of Federal control of railroads, the United
States Railroad Labor Board, an agency created by Federal Statutes,
in its decision No. 757, dated March 3, 1922, adopted the pattern cut
by the United States Railroad Administration, in that the classification included in the Scope Rules promulgated ~by the Director General
of Railroads in Supplement No. 13 to General Order No. 27 and its
directives and interpretations, were reaffirmed and continued in
agreements with this Organization. This question-application of the
scope rules-was further dealt with by the United States Railroad
Labor Board in its decisions 2025. 2455, 3278 and Interpretation No. 1
to Decisions Nos. 757 and 2025, dated April 15, 1924. No change was
made in the previous holdings that communication service-messages,
orders and reports of record, transmitted or received. whether handled by Morse telegraph or by telephone (synonymous terms)
came
within the scope of the agreement here in question and must be
confined to employes covered thereby."
Organization argues:
"Most certainly these official declarations concerning the Scope
Rule coverage and classifications of positions, make it clear that none
other than those included in the craft or class of telegraphers, telephoners, block operators, etc., may properly be assigned to perform
service of the classes specified."
There is a long line of decisions of this Board, so consistent it is not
necessary to be specific, which have held that the handling of train orders
comes within the Scope of the Telegraphers' Agreement. The Orga1iization
here is predicating its case primarily on the Scope Rule.
8687-fio
849
However, we must analyze the confronting claim against the entire agreement; specifically, the train order rule, Article 15:
"No employes other than covered by this schedule and train dispatchers will be permitted to handle train orders at telegraph or telephone offices where an operator is employed and is available, or can
be promptly located; except in emergency, conductors, or engineers
will be permitted to do so, in which case the telegrapher will be paid
for the call." ,
Among the sustaining awards cited by or in behalf of the Organization
are four in which an identical or similar train order rule obtained: Awards
5086 (Carter), 5992 (Jasper), 6321 (Elkouri) and 6322 (Elkouri).
We also have Award 5872 (Yeager) which was a sustaining award.
However, the agreement there applicable contained no train order rule. In that
award we said:
" * * * the Scope Rule in and of itself is a grant of rights to the
employes covered by the Agreement which rights are secured to them
so long as the Agreement is in force, and any infringement amounts
to a violation. This as a general attitude towards the Scope Rule is
supported by numerous Awards. It appears to be a correct analysis.
"The so-called train order rule is not a grant of work to the
employes covered by the Agreement but is a specific restriction and
limitation upon the right of the carrier to allow work covered by the
Scope Rule to be performed by those not covered. It simply under
named conditions permits work covered to be performed by others."
On the other hand there are other awards of this Board which denied
somewhat similar claims. These awards, and the type of train order rule
involved, are:
Award 5866 (Douglas)-Train order rule the same as here, but asked that
abolished position be restored.
Award 6863 (Parker)-Here the train order rule is in three parts:
"'(a) No employe other than covered by this Agreement and
train dispatchers will be permitted to handle train orders except in
oases of emergency.
"'(b) If train orders are handled at stations or locations where
an employe covered by this Agreement is employed but not on duty,
the employe, if available or can be promptly located, will be called to
perform such duties and paid under the provisions of Article 7; if
available and not called, the employe will be compensated as if he
had been called.' "
Paragraph (c) spelled out "emergencies" in detail.
Award 7400 (Larkin) had no train order rule.
Awards 7953 (Cluster), 7967 (Elkouri) and 8207 (McCoy), involved train
order rules identical to that here, but the issues were not the same in all cases.
8687-61 gyp
We have also reviewed Award 7976 upon which Carrier relies heavily.
It observed:
" * * * At none of the stations was there regular and continuing
day by day, week after week, handling of train orders by non-telegraphers. It would appear, then, that the more or less scattered
instances herein constitute only 'occasional' or 'irregular' handling of
train orders by non-telegraphers at stations where no telegrapher is
stationed. The Record leaves little doubt that train orders have been
so handled on this property for many years, starting about 1910 and
continuing at least to the time of the incidents involved in the present
dispute. This past practice is of paramount importance in determining the coverage of a Scope Rule of the general character involved
herein."
While Award 7976 said "these (Scope and Train Order) rules were
retained unchanged in each successive Collective Agreement * * * in the setting of the aforesaid practice" the record before us shows the Organization
protesting Carriers action from August, 1922, when General Manager Palter
agreed with the Organization on this question, forward. Award 7976 predicated
its denial of the claim mainly on Awards 6863 and 7953.
There is also Award 8327 (McCoy). While this is a denial award, denial
was made on the grounds that "no human hand intervened between the telegrapher and the train crew to whom the order was addressed."
This award was also cited on behalf of the Organization, but with specific
reference to this portion of the award:
" * * * It is only when a carrier decides to have work performed
that the rights of employes to perform that work arises. If the wrong
employe performs it, a violation of the Agreement has occurred. That
is the extent to which our decisions in general have gone. The Scope
Rule protects telegraphers from having their work taken by others.
The Train Order Rule here is written in just such terms. It prohibits
employes 'other than covered' from handling train orders:' (Emphasis supplied.)
It must be noted, however, that the train order rule there involved, so far
as material, provides:
"No employe other than covered by this Agreement and Train
Dispatchers will be permitted to handle train orders * * *."
It makes no reference, as does the rule here before us, to "telegraph or
telephone offices where an operator is employed and is available, or can be
promptly located * * *."
We must determine, then, the extent, if any, to which the train order rule
here modifies the Scope Rule.
The Organization argues that the train order rule-
" * * * deals specifically with train orders which may be required
in emergencies where an operator is employed. The operator is to be
paid a call. On the other hand, if a train order is handled
in an emergency only, at a point where no operator is employed, then no one is
8687-62
851
paid. The condition precedent in both instances is
that sn eanergency
shall exist, leaving no alternative than to resort to such handling.
All of the train orders involved in these claims were copied when no
emergency situation prevailed. * * * " (Emphasis theirs.)
Organization also offers this argument:
"The Carrier attempts to read more into Article 15 than ever was
intended by the United States Railroad Labor Board who fathered
the rule. The intent of that Board is expressed in the language of the
rule. The indiscriminate handling of train orders at unmanned stations where telephones were already installed or subsequently installed was never meant to be legalized by this rule. If the Labor
Board had considered for a moment that the handling of train orders
resided in any other class or could be delegated to any other employes, such as train service employes, it would not have specified
payment of a call to the telegraphers when an emergency prevailed.
The fact that the Board drafted a rule authorizing payment to the
telegrapher is indicative it held to the fact that the scope rule covered
the handling of all train orders. If any other reasoning were to be
adopted it would mean that the Carrier would be free to abolish any
or all telegraphers' positions and divert the handling of all orders to
another class or craft of employes so long as it failed or refused to
maintain a telegrapher's position where the work was performed.
The Agreement was not so drawn.
"The Employes have never acquiesced in conductors or others
handling train orders. It was not an agreed upon practice either
before or after the first agreement. What happened before the first
agreement is irrelevant. The first agreement came with the United
States Railroad Administration. Under its supplements and interpretations it held that the handling of train orders by telephone was
work coming within the purview of telegraphers. After Federal control, encroachment was halted by the letter agreement of August 14,
1922. Certainly these authorities gave no recognition to any practice
of allowing train crew employes to handle train orders. It did just
the opposite, as did Article 20, paragraph 2, of the Conductors' and
Trainmen's Agreement also adopted in 1922. And then we have the
further evidence right out of the Carrier's mouth in Award 5295 of
the First Division where it stated in its submission in that dispute:
'Conductors, trainmen and yard employes are not now
and have not been in the past required to copy train orders,
except in cases of emergencies . . .
"These Employes have never condoned a practice which would be
adverse to themselves and coptrary to every principle they have
sought to maintain with respect to handling train orders. * * * "
In addition to the Pelter letter agreement relied upon here, this record
contains copies of correspondence exchanged by the parties concerning Carrier's alleged "encroachment" upon the train order situation, beginning on
July 25, 1933.
8687-63
852
A sampling of Carrier's replies to such protests follows:
Date Carrier Signature Comment
7/29/33 J. S. Cox, Supt. "Perhaps, with the necessity for
economizing in every way possible,
this practice has grown, however,
I am instructing the Dispatchers
to, so far as possible, send train
orders to Operators instead of
Conductors."
2/22/34 L, P. Kennedy, Supt. "So far as I know we are not
requiring anyone to handle train
orders except in case of emer
gency."
3/9/34 L. P. Kennedy, Supt. "My position was clearly stated
to you in my letter of the 22nd.
I am perfectly willing to carry out
the terms of the agreement and in
fact I am going to insist that they
be carried out on the part of every
one. * * * At the most I feel there
have only been slight infractions
here and there, and there has not
been according to my understand
ing any general disregard for your
agreement. * * * "
8/4/34 C. P. Dugan, Gen'l Supt. "I am trying to run this down
and statement has been made to
me there is less of this being done
now than ever before, and I would
appreciate it if you would give me
some specific cases to enable me to
be in a position to investigate and
intelligently discuss the matter
when we have a conference."
"Not a single other agreement of the many," Organization argument
continues, "which this carrier has with its different classes of employes proposes to allocate the handling of train orders to other persons. The agreements
of the conductors and trainmen prohibit such work being thrust upon them
except in emergencies. The train order form even anticipates that such work
will be performed by a telegraph or telephone operator * * *."
We think the train order rule here is ambiguous to the extent that the
respective interpretations placed upon it by the parties can be read into it.
In summary, then:
1. We have in this record the Pelter agreement, reached 8 months after
the rule was adopted and, according to the Organization, as a result of its
protests aganst violations of the rule.
8687-64
853
2. Mr. Pelter removed any ambiguity which may have existed when he
stated-
"we have agreed with representatives of these two organizations
(Conductors and Telegraphers) that it is not our purpose to require
conductors to handle train orders, excepting under conditions of an
emergency nature, such as accidents, personal injury, washouts, fires,
engine failure or such other similar causes."
3. Several quotations, hereinbefore noted, from Carrier officials confirming the Pelter agreement.
4. This additional letter, dated July 18, 1935, to J. M. Larisey. Vice
President of the Conductors, and S. E. Bryant, Vice President of the Telegraphers, from General Superintendent Dugan, reading:
"Article 18 of the agreement with the Telegraphers provides as
follows:
'No employe other than covered by this schedule and
train dispatchers will be permitted to handle train orders at
telegraph or telephone offices where an operator is employed
and is available or can be promptly located, except in emergency conductors or engineers will be permitted to do so, in
which case the telegraphers will be paid for the call.'
Likewise, Article 20 of the agreement with the conductorstrainmen provides in part:
'Conductors or trainmen will not be required to copy
train orders over the wires, excepting under conditions of an
emergency nature such as accidents, personal injuries, washouts, fires, engine failures or other similar causes.'
With exceptions that have been in effect on this railroad prior
to agreement entered into in 1922, which I will give you as a result
of my investigation into this matter, these rules will be carried out."
The "exceptions," Organization argues, "in effect prior to 1922 were those
having to do with emergencies only, the same exception pin-pointed by
General Manager Pelter."
Argument in Carrier's behalf that it was a past practice for this Carrier
to handle train orders in the manner complained of loses weight in the light
of the parties' first agreement, containing both scope and train order rules,
dated January 16, 1922. Yet Carrier's General Manager Palter felt it necessary
just 8 months later to advise his subordinates that-
"It is not our purpose to require conductors to handle train
orders, excepting under conditions of an emergency nature, such as
accidents, personal injury, washouts, fires, engine failure, or such
other similar causes."
If there had been such a past practice on this property, then the Agreement of January 16, 1922 and General Manager Palter's letter agreement of
August 14, 1922, should have ended it, or isolated it to the situation then
obtaining. Most certainly the Palter agreement should have stopped any
expansion of such practice.
8687-65
854
For us to here sustain argument in behalf of Carrier that-
"the Train Order rule, by reason of its restrictive language, only
reserves to Telegraphers (or Dispatchers) the handling of train
orders at points where an operator is employed;"
would be to say to this Carrier that it may eliminate all telegrapher jobs
with impunity and, having done so, may assign their work to anyone it
chooses without restriction. To do so would completely wipe out the Scope
Rule of the Agreement.
Finally we find the Carrier citing the Memorandum Agreement of January 3, 1951 between the parties which, it alleges-
"provides that at places where neither an agent or operator is
regularly employed any person designated by the railway may copy
written train lineups or other instructions transmitted over the railway's communication system or otherwise, and that no employee
represented by the telegraphers' organization shall have or make any
valid claim or grievance by reason thereof. Conversely, the agreement provides that at points where an agent or operator is regularly
employed, such employe will be used to perform such work, and that
if such occurrence is during the hours such agent or operator is not
on',duty but is available, and such agent or operator is not called to
perform the work, he will be allowed a call payment therefor."
We are here concerned with train orders, not line-ups.
The January 3, 1951 agreement is concerned with the desire of this
Carrier-
"to transmit by its communication system or otherwise, written
train line-ups or other instructions to its section and bridge foremen
or others whose duties necessitate the operation of track motor cars
or other work equipment * * *: '
If the confronting agreement rules were intended as Carrier argues in the
instant case, there would have been no necessity for it to negotiate a special
agreement with the Organization to cover the transmission of written train
line-ups or other instructions to its section and bridge foremen.
It is not, therefore, illogical to assume that the Agreement itself was a
bar to the handling of such information in the manner desired.
While the January 3, 1951 agreement offers us nothing to follow here,
the manner in which it proved to be a solution to a problem in which both
parties were vitally concerned is of interest, because there the Carrier chose
what we lbelieve was the proper course of action: negotiation with the Telegraphers' Organization.
We have every appreciation of the problems facing this nation's railroads.
They must and should take advantage of every opportunity available to permit of safe, efficient and economical operation of their properties within the
legal and agreement limitations within which they must function. This
includes the practical use of the products of the modern age in which we live.
But where a Carrier binds itself by agreement, as this Carrier has here,
to assign certain work it wishes to have performed to those qualified workmen
coming within such class, it must negotiate with the Organization representing such class if it wishes to have such work performed in a mamier other
than provided by such agreement. It is likewise the duty of the Organization
8687-66
S55
involved to meet such problems in a realistic manner, mindful of the fact that
the eventual outcome will injure or benefit Carriers and Organizations equally.
For the reasons herein set forth we will sustain part (1) of the claim.
With respect to part (2) of the claim, we note Organization argument
that the Carrier action complained of deprived "many employes from full-time
work. We ask only that the Carrier shall pay for the days that these several
points functioned as train order offices. There is no question but what the
Carrier would be required to compensate an idle conductor or trainman for a
day's pay if a telegrapher had been substituted to perform any of their work."
We are not, however, concerned here with the conductors' or trainmen's
agreements. We will sustain part (2) of the claim only to the extent of
allowing-as the Train Order Rule itself does in cases of emergency-payment
of a call to each claimant for each of the violations charged and here
sustained.
FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the
whole record and all the evidence, finds and holds:
That both parties to this dispute waived hearing thereon;
That the Carrier and the Employes involved in this dispute are respectively Carrier and Employes within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act,
as approved June 21, 1934;
That this Division of the Adjustment Board has jurisdiction over the
dispute involved herein; and
That the Agreement was violated.
AWARD
Part (1) of the claim sustained.
Part (2) sustained only to extent of payment of a call, in accordance with
Opinion.
NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
By Order of THIRD DIVISION
ATTEST: A. Ivan Tummon
Executive Secretary
Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day of January, 1959.
DISSENT TO AWARD NO. 8687, DOCKET NO. TE-8801
Award 8687
covers the identical issue between the same parties-whether
Telegraphers have the exclusive right to handle train orders at points where
Telegraphers are not employed-that was heretofore resolved by denial
Award 7976.
Award 8687
is in gross error for the following reasons, among others:
(1). By
finding that
the practice on the property both before
and after adoption of the currently applicable, and previously similar,
Scope and Train Order Rules, upon which Award 7976 was based,
was in error, and this in face of the fact that the Telegraphers' submissions are replete with statements to the effect that the subject
8687-67
856
matter of the dispute before this Referee has -been in controversy
ever since the first Agreement was negotiated between the parties
effective January 16, 1922. There certainly can be no better evidence
of the existence of the long practice relied upon in
Award 7976 than
the admission thereof by the Telegraphers in making the subject
matter one of controversy throughout the long period the practice is
demonstrated by Carrier to have existed.
(2). By usurping the function of negotiation stipulated to be
that of the parties (Carrier and Organization) by the Railway Labor
Act, when-
(a) it attempts to grant the Telegraphers the new rule
which the record discloses they had long sought-the exclusive right to handle train orders at points where Telegraphers are not employed. The fact that the Telegraphers had
long sought a rule is controlling evidence that their negotiated Agreement did not grant them that right; and
(V) by granting compensation to the "senior idle employe, extra in preference" on a call basis under the Train
Order Rule "for each day train orders were so handled at
each of the points specified" (in Item 1 of Statement of
Claim). By so doing, the Award ignores the plain language
of the Train Order Rule, which restricts its application to
points where Telegraphers are regularly assigned and available when train orders are handled by others at such points.
The Train Order Rule contains no reference, either expressly
or impliedly, to handling of train orders at points where
Telegraphers are not employed, hence it cannot possibly
provide a pay basis therefor. Further, the Call Rule clearly
has application only to regularly assigned Telegraphers
called to perform service outside hours of regular assignment, hence it cannot have application to extra Telegraphers.
In numerous Awards, this Division has held it to be contrary to our
proper function to place a meaning upon language of rules other than that
which is clearly and unambiguously expressed therein, for to do so would be
contrary to our proper function-apply rules as they have been written by the
parties and not to look beyond the language of a rule plainly and unambiguously expressed. (Award 7718.)
The Award is in further error:
(1). By accepting as fact the handling of the claims on the
property, as asserted by Employes, without any substantive showing
in the record in support thereof, and this despite the fact that it was
pointed out that this Board has long held that disputes can only be
resolved from the record before it. See
Third Division Awards 5726,
6299, 6424; First Division Award 15921, and Interpretation to First
Division Award 15162. By acceptance of this Employes, mere assertion without substantive evidence in the record, this Award goes to
the opposite extreme of the position taken by the same Referee in
his Awards 7851, 8091, and 8284, wherein he held evidence actually
submitted to be unacceptable;
(2). In failing to follow denial
Award 7976, involving the sane
issue, the same Agreement, and the same parties. In such situations
8687-68
857
our Awards universally hold that the prior Award, unless palpably
wrong, should govern, and prior
Award 7976 has not been shown to
be palpably wrong.
(3). By asserting that the Carrier had made no defense to this
claim when it did properly rely, for its defense thereto, upon the
records in the two prior cases handled by this Division on the same
identical issue between these same parties. The individual points and
time claims in this particular case are of no moment when the issue
admittedly is the same-whether Telegraphers have the exclusive
right to handle train orders at points where Telegraphers are not
employed. See
Awards 3130, 6228, 8008, 8105, 8106, 8107, 8119, 8215,
and 8300 cited.
The Railway Labor Act, under which this Referee was appointed to act
as referee in this case, stipulates its General Purposes, in part, to be:
"(5) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all
disputes growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or
application of agreements covering rates of pay, rules, or working
conditions."
Clearly, this Referee, to have complied with that quoted stipulation, was
obligated under the legal principle of res adjudicata, and especially in the
absence of new evidence or evidence that had not been taken into account
before, to follow the conclusions arrived at in
Award 7976, in order that there
be a finality in the litigation of the same issue (see Third Division Award 6935,
and Fourth Division Awards 793, 990, 993), and to give substance to the
stipulated requirement of Section 3. First (m), of the Act:
"*
' * the awards shall be final and binding upon both parties to
the dispute, * * *."
The record in this dispute discloses it covers a period from May 8, 1953,
to and including June 18. 1955, a total of 772 days, and involves 41 points
where no Telegraphers are employed. During this entire period the Train
Dispatchers issued a grand total of 164 train orders, or approximately onefifth of a train order, on an average, per day. Certainly, it cannot be said in
the absence of any contractual obligation to that effect, as here, that any
Carrier had negotiated to, or can be required to, maintain full-time positions
for the handling of a fraction of a train order per day, as set forth above.
Such a requirement is contrary to public interest.
This Award attempts to write into the Agreement between the parties
that which the Employes failed to obtain in direct negotiations, and, further,
attempts to add to the Train Order Rule something not contained therein.
For the foregoing reasons, among others, Award 8687 is palpably wrong
and we dissent thereto.
Isl
C. P. Dugan
/s/ J. F. Mullen
/s/ R. M. Butler
/s/ W. H. Castle
/s/ J. E. Kemp