(Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE:


STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Claim of the System Committee of the Brotherhood that;

(1) The Carrier violated the Agreement when it used Construction Supervisor L. J. Smith instead of J. E. Spruell to perform service as a foreman on each work day dur both dates inclusive (System File 1-12/1:-304-18).

(2) Mr. J. E. Spruell be allowed one hundred seventy-six (176) hours of pay at the foreman's straight time rate and forty-seven and one-half (47-1/2) hours of pay at the foreman's time and one-half rate because of the violation referred to in Part (1) hereof.

OPINION OF BOARD: A work train, with three Track Sub-department machines
(with MW operators) was engaged in picking up scrap rail and other track scrap between Mile Post 359 and Mile Post 405. The machine operators -- all of whom were qualified to work without supervision -- were instructed by the Assistant Division Engineer and Roadmaster to clear the right of way of all scrap. Mr. L. J. Smith, Supervisor of Construction, was with the work train most of the time. MW alleges that Smith was acting in the capacity of Foreman in violation of the Agreement. Carrier denied the allegation.

To prevail MW bore the burden of proving by convincing substantial evidence of probative value that Smith was -de facto performing the duties of a Foreman's position. The evidence of record does not satisfy the burden. Consequently, we are compelled to dismiss the claim for failure of proof.





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

                  Docket Number MW-19550


        That the claim must be dismissed for failure of. proof-


                    A W A R D


        Claim dismissed.


                          NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                          By Order of Third Division


ATTEST
Executive Secretary

Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of July 1973,