( Express and Station Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE:



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


(a) The discipline entry of sixty (60) demerits imposed upon Scrap Cutter, Mr. George W. Johnson, Jr.., by letter over the signature of Mr. D. L. Stubbs, Superintendent of Locomotives, at Sayre, Pennsylvania on September 13, 1974, following a hearing and investigation held on September 5, 1974 was unjust, unfair and excessive.

(b) Mr. Johnson's record be cleared of the charge and the sixty (60) demerit discipline entry be expunged from his record.

OPINION OF HOARD: This is a discipline case involving a Scrap Cutter,
Claimant Johnson, working in the Stores Department facility at Sayre., Pennsylvania, who was charged and found guilty with being absent from work on four specific dates in August and September, 1974. He was assessed 60 demerits and the Organization appeals this discipline.

The transcript submitted to this Board indicates that Claimant had a "very erratic work attendance" record, even though he had only been in the employment of the Carrier for a very short period of time, i.e.9 since May, 1973. The excuses offered by Claimant were vague, frivolous and lacking in substance and Carrier could properly conclude that Claimant was a malingerer who was not interested in devoting himself to his railroad employment. We feel the assessment of discipline was reasonable under the circumstances..





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 not violated.


                      A W A R D


        Claim denied.


                          NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                          By Order of Third Division


ATTEST:
        xecutive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 18th day of arch 1977.

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