NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION Docket Number TD
2167%+
William G. Caples, Referee
PARTIES TO DISPUTE: (American Train Dispatchers Association
(The Southern Pacific Transportation Company
( (Texas and Louisiana Lines)
STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Claim of the American Train Dispatchers Association that:
(a) The Southern Pacific Transportation Company (Texas
and Louisiana Lines) (hereinafter referred to as "the Carrier"), violated
effective Agreements between the parties, including the Memorandum of Agreement of April
12, 1967
establishing Guaranteed Assigned Dispatchers' positions,
the Analysis of that Agreement's provisions initialed by the parties, and a
Letter-Agreement of May
29, 1974
when it required Claimant Guaranteed Assigned
Dispatcher R. A. Brock to work positions other than that constituting his
regular assignment on January
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 20
and
22, 1975,
but refused to compensate him at the overtime rate for such dates.
(b) Because of said violation, the Carrier shall now compensate Claimant Guaranteed Assigned Dis
for January
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 20
and
22, 1975.
OPINION OF BOARD: On each date of claim R. A. Brock was assigned as "Guaranteed
Assigned Dispatcher" at the Central Train Dispatching Office in Houston, Texas.
There was in effect an Agreement dated April
12, 1967
between the
Association and the Carrier, a Memorandum of Agreement dated April
12, 1967
and
an Analysis of that Agreement initialled by the parties and a letter-Agreement
dated May
29, 1974,
pertinent parts of which are hereafter quoted.
Agreement (Dated April
12, 1967,
Eff. May 1,
1967)
RULE 13.
"When an extra train dispatcher is needed,
the senior extra train dispatcher shall be required to report unless prevented by physical
disability, while on leave of absence, or occupying any position referred to in Rule
14,
or for
other justifiable reasons, which reasons must be
stated in writing to the chief dispatcher with a
copy to the office chairman."
Award Number 21772 Page 2
Docket Number TD 21674
Rtn.E 16.
"(a) Temporary vacancies of less than five
(5)
working days shall be deemed to be extra work and
shall be filled as provided by Rule 13.
"(b) Other temporary vacancies or temporary
new positions; or a temporary vacancy as referred
to in paragraph (a) of this rule which continues
to exist for five
(5)
or more working days will be
filled as follows:
(1) When such temporary vacancy or
new position exists, or when it is known
that one will exist, written notice
thereof shall be promptly posted in the
train dispatcher's office, showing date
and hour of posting.
(2) The senior regularly assigned
train dispatcher who makes application
for the job not later than the first day
he performs service following the posting will be assigned, unless because of
illness or injury he is unable to perform
service, and shall remain thereon until
termination thereof, which shall be deemed
to be on the calendar day on which the assigned incumbent of the vacant position
resumes service thereon or on the calendar
day the temporary new position is abolished,
as the case may be. A train dispatcher
taking such assignment must make himself
available under the Hours of Service Act.
A regular assigned train dispatcher
filling a temporary vacancy must remain on
that vacancy until it is terminated as provided in this rule, except if another temporary vacancy wh
pay becomes available, he may move to the
higher rated position. If the first temporary vacancy still exists after expiration of
the second vacancy, he must then return to
the first temporary vacancy if his seniority
Award Number 21772 Page
3
Docket Number TD 216714
pe-.-mits, and remain thereon until such time
as that vacancy terminates or another higher
rated temporary vacancy occurs.
At the expiration of a temporary vacancy,
filled under this rule, the train dispatecher
filling the vacancy may return to his regular
position, except as provided for above, or
may displace another train dispatcher assigned
to another temporary vacancy, except that a
train dispatcher who moves up on a temprary
vacancy pursuant to this Rule 16 will rot be
permitted to return to his regular assignment,
or to move up on another assignment, on
either of the two (2) rest days of the
assignment from which he moves, except
that if he lost one (1) day due to the
Hours of Service Act in moving from his
regular assignment to the temporary assignment, he may return to his regular
assignment, or move to another temporary
assignment on the second rest day of the
assignment from which he moved, in order
to make up the day lost.
(3)
Other temporary vacancies resulting in such rearrangement of force shall
thereafter be filled as provided in paragraph (2) above and the position finally made
vacant will be filled by the senior available
extra train dispatcher.
(4)
If a train dispatcher's assigned
position has meanwhile been abolished or if
he has meanwhile been displaced therefrom,
he may exercise seniority rights pursuant
to Rule 11 to displace any junior train dispatcher.
(5)
If no regularly assigned train dispatcher shall apply for a temporary vacancy
or temporary new position as provided for
above, then such vacancy or new position
shall be assigned to extra train dispatchers in the order of their respective
seniority, and they shall remain thereon
Award Number 21772 Page 4
Docket Number TD
21674
until termination thereof or until dis
placed therefrom except as provided in
paragraph
(6)
below. If more than one
vacancy exists on the same trick on the
same date, extra train dispatchers may
elect
which
vacancy they are to fill in
the order of their seniority.
An extra train dispatcher may displace
any junior extra train dispatcher filling
another temporary vacancy or temporary new
position, but will not be required to do so.
(6)
An extra train dispatcher
who
has
been on a temporary vacancy or temporary
new position for more than thirty (30)
calendar days may, if he so desires and
seniority being sufficient, make request
in writing to the chief dispatcher to be
used as an extra train dispatcher- as per
Rule 13. In filling another temporary
vacancy or temporary new position and upon
expiration of this temporary vacancy or
temporary new position to which he moved,
if no other temporary vacancy or temporary
new position will be available within two
(2)
calendar days that he could be called
upon as per Rule 13 to protect, he will return to the position that he was formerly
on, if his seniority permits.
(c) Changes under this Rule
16
will be made
without expense to the Company."
EXCERPTS FROM:
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
(dated April
12, 1967,
effective May 1,
1967)
ANALYSIS OF PROVISIONS FOR PROPOSED
AGREEMENT FOR GUARANTEED DISPATCHER POSITIONS
Award Number 21772 Page 5
Docket Number TD 21674
(1) The Company will establish three
(3)
Guaranteed
Assigned Dispatcher positions in the Central Train Dispatching
Office at Houston . . . subject to and thereby advertised pursuant to Rule 15(b) of the schedule agr
(2) Guaranteed Assigned Dispatchers will be paid under
applicable agreement provisions, with a minimum of five (5)
days for each work week Monday through Sunday, in which fully
available.
(3)
Payment for service shall be in accordance with applicable agreement provisions, except time=and
shall be payable for either or both the sixth or seventh day of
extra work in a work week, but not in the case of the sixth or
seventh consecutive day of extra work in the work week when more
than one work week is involved.
(4)
Incumbents of Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher positions
will be used on the same basis as extra train dispatchers,
except the Guaranteed Assigned Dispatchers will be used as senior
extra train dispatchers (seniority to prevail
3s
between the
incumbents of the three such positions herein provided for),
and available Guaranteed Assigned Dispatchers shall be placed
on any remaining vacancies in preference to extra train dispatchers; and will retain their status as
Dispatchers even though filling positions bulletined for more
than five (5) days.
ANALYSIS
1. It is our understanding that the proposed guaranteed
positions would be bulletined as new positions. Is this correct?
ANSWER: Yes.
2. Would such positions be bulletined as having an assigned
work week beginning on Monday and through Sunday of each week?
ANSWER: Yes.
Award Number 21772 Page 6
Docket Number TD 21674
3. It is understood that these positions would be paid
for five
(5)
days, Monday through Sunday even if no service
was performed?
ANSWER: Yes.
8.
"A" with a seniority date of January 1, 1960, and
"B" with a seniority date of January 1, 1961 are the incumbents
of the two guaranteed positions.
':C", "D" and "E" are extra dispatchers, all three of
them are senior to "A" and "B". A temporary vacancy arise on
the. position of Assistant Chief Dispatcher 12:01 A.M. to
8:00
A.M. of 30-days duration or longer account illness of the
assigned incumbent. No regular regularly assigned train dispatcher makes application for the tempora
who is senior extra train dispatcher desires to assume it.
(1) Can "C" do so? (2) If not, must the senior of
the two guaranteed positions assume it?
ANSWER to 1: No.
ANSWER to 2: Yes.
If so, must he remain on it until the assigned incumbent
actually reports for his position?
ANSWER: Yes - except as provided in Rule (b )6 of Rule 16.
And during the time "A" is on this temporary vacancy does
he assume all the conditions of the position, including assigned
weekly rest days?
ANSWER: Yes.
During the observance of the two weekly rest days of the
position can "A" be required to perform extra service on another
position?
ANSWER: No - except where no other men available.
Would "A" be compensated at the Assistant Chief Dispatcher
rate?
Award Number 21772 Page
7
Docket Number TD
21674
ANSWER: Would be paid at the rate of the position which
he works. "Guaranteed Time" refers to time paid for on days
no service is performed.
9.
A three-week temporary vacancy exists on second trick
4:00
P.M. to
12:00
Midnight account the incumbent taking his
vacation. At the time the vacancy arise, both "A" and "B", incumbents of the guaranteed positions ar
other temporary vacancies, "C", the senior extra dispatcher is
working his telegrapher assignment.
Is "C" then entitled to assume the temporary vacancy?
ANSWER: Yes.
Must he do so?
ANSWER: Yes.
After "C" has been on the temporary vacancy three days,
"A" finishes service on the position he has been filling and
there are no other temporary vacancies.
Can "A" displace "C"?
ANSWER: Yes.
Must he do so?
ANSWER: Yes.
AGREEMENT
(Dated May
29, 1974)
"An assigned train dispatcher, other than a Guaranteed
Assigned Dispatcher protecting extra service, required
to work a position other than his regular assignment,
shall be compensated therefor at the overtime rate
of the position work, except dispatcher, if required
to protect trick train dispatcher's positions, shall
be at their chief dispatcher's rates; however, except
as provided in Rule 22, no additional payment shall
be made to such train dispatcher due to not having
worked his regular
assignment. . ."
Award Number 21772 Page
8
Docket Number TD
21674
On December
19, 1974
a temporary vacancy occurred on the first
trick Victoria District caused by the dismissal of the former incumbent of
that position. Claimant was instructed or assigned on December
18, 1974
to
protect that vacancy, and he did so until January
7, 1975.
Claimant was then
instructed to protect a vacancy on the first trick chief dispatcher's position,
Houston District which he did on January
7, 8
and
9, 1975.
Claimant was next
instructed to protect a second trick HE & WT position on January 10, 11, 12,
13
and
16, 1975
which he did. Claimant was off January
17, 18
and
19, 1975.
He was then instructed to perform service on the Houston chief dispatcher's
position January 20,
22, 23
and
24, 1975
which he did. Claim was then made
for time-and-one half rate each of the days worked January
7
through January
22, 1975,
since the first trick vacancy Victoria District to which Claimant
was assigned December
19, 1974
ceased to exist after January
22, 1975.
It is the position of the Organization "as it was throughout
handling of this dispute on the property, that Carrier violated pertinent provision of the controlli
to remain on the Victoria District vacancy until its termination, and refused
to compensate him at the rate of time-and-one half for those days when it required him to perform se
Victoria District first trick vacancy that position became his "regular assign
went" until the vacancy ceased to exist thus removing him from the wording
of the phrase in the May
29, 1974
Letter-Agreement of a "Guaranteed Assigned
Dispatcher protecting extra service."
It is the contention and position of the Carrier that a Guaranteed
Assigned Dispatcher, protecting extra service, is expressly excluded by agreement from compensation
regular assignment. "A Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher is a regular assignment,
assigned to protect extra work. Even though a 'Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher'
may take a temporary vacancy of five or more days, and takes the condition
of that position, he nonetheless remains a Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher,
and automatically reverts to protection of extra service at the end of each
assignment. The term 'takes the conditions of the assignment' means the hours,
rates of pay, and rest days of the assignment."
The question which this Board must decide is whether under the
agreements between the parties as written a "Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher"
is a regularly assigned train dispatcher or if his regular assignment is to
protect service of a particular train dispatcher assignment?
Award Number 21772 Page 9
Docket Number TD 21674
The Carrier is particular in reminding us of the limitation of
our jurisdiction to the interpretation and application of existing agreements
in accordance with reasonable rules of construction. See Third Division
Awards 7166, 8538, 8838, 9212, 10585, 16552, 19555 and 21221. The last of
which states:
"It is quite apparent that this dispute
could be resolved one way based on equity
and quite differently based on the rules.
This Board's authority, however, is restricted to only construe the rules as
agreed to and drafted by the parties."
The parties to the agreement at the time of entering into the basic
agreement in 1967 entered into an accompanying agreement which they saw fit
to analyze and initial. From this it may be determined that a "Guaranteed
Assigned Dispatcher", of which there were to be a maximum of only four whose
jobs could not be abolished for six months, who were to be guaranteed pay a
minimum of five days in each work week, were to be considered a special category of train dispatcher
"An assigned train dispatcher, other than
a Guaranteed Assigned Dispatcher protecting
extra service, required to work a position
other than his regular assignment, shall be
compensated therefore at the overtime of
the position worked. . ." (Underlining the
Board's)
The only precedent cited by the Organization, Third Division Award
5685, Guthrie, (1952), is a case involving regularly assigned train dispatchers
and interprets a rule similar to Rule 16 of the Agreement before us but that
decision does not disclose any particular supplemental agreement to the Rule or
Interpretations of the Rule there being interpreted.
In interpreting these agreements in relation to each other they
can best be interpreted that the rights and benefits provided in the supplements for a few, specifie
implies that the specified employees shall have those rights only under those
circumstances and not under the language of the basic agreement. See Award
8172, Smith:
Award Number 21772 Page 10
Docket Number TD
21674
"It is a fundamental rule of contract
construction that where items intend
to be covered thereby are specifcally
mentioned, all things not specifically
mentioned were intended to be excluded."
See also
11165, 13719, 19823.
The scheduling was in accordance with the
Agreements.
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 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
The claims are denied.
A W A R D
Claims dismissed.
NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
By Order of Third Division
ATTEST:
Executive Secretary
Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 31st day of October 1977.