(Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks PARTIES TO DISPUTE: (Norfolk and Westerrr Bailway Company

1. Carrier abused sound discretion when on October 22, 1970, i+ arbitrarily, capriciously and without just and sufficient cause, dismissed Mr, R. L. Washington, Trucker-Cleaner, Roanoke Passenger Station, Roanoke, Virginia, from its service following investigation held 2:00 P.M. on Monday, October 5, 1970.

 2. Mr. R. L. Washington shall be restored to service with seniority and all other rights unimpaired.

 3. Mr. R. L. Washington shall be compensated for all wage loss sustained by him until he is rest
OPINION CF BOARD: Claimant vas initially employed by the Carrier as a trucker
 cleaner at. its Roanoke, Virginia Passenger Station on March
 25, 1943. On September 30, 1970, in the same position, he was scheduled to re
 port for duty at 3 PM.' He did not report for duty and bad not previously se
 cured permission to be absent. Following a formal investigation on October 5,
 1970, he was dismissed from service, for failure to protect his assignment.

 The record of the hearing indicates that it was fairly and properly held; Claimant readily admitted that he had "made a mistake" in not securing prior permission to absent himself. The hearing record also shows that the Carrier secured a replacement within twenty minutes and suffered no inconvenience or extra expanse b estoppel, by virtue of a leniency plea, raised by the Carrier we find to be without merit.

 The sole issue we mist deal with concerns the appropriateness of the penalty imposed by Carrier. The record indicates two prior infractions in the course of the twenty-seven year service by Claimant: a record suspension of ten days dated Oc days dated flay 13, 1970. Both of these cases were also for failure to protect his assignment. The second offense disciplinary notice to Claimant among other matters stated: "A third offense of such a nature will result in dismissal".
                      Docket Number CL-19792


Discipline generally has three goals: punishment of an employta, correction and training of the employee, and as an example for training purposes for other employees 16065) that discipline should not be primarily punitive. Without condoning absana teeiam, and being aware of the Claimant's past infractions, we find that the discipline imposed was harsh and unreasonable. Surely three days of improper absenteeism in twenty-seven years does not warrant dismissal. We shall reinstate Claimant with all rights unimpaired, but without back pay.

        FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds and holds:


        That the parties waived oral hearing;


That the Carrier and the Employee 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 hernia; and

        That the discipline imposed vas excessive.


                      A W A H D


Claim sustained in part: Claimant shall be restored to service with seniority and otter rights mixpaired, but without pay for tine lost while out of service.

                              NATIOUL RAILROAD AWW=W BOARD

                              HT Order of Third Division


        ATTEST: Executive Secretary


        Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 20th day of December 1972.