(Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen PARTIES TO DISPUTE:


STATEMENT OF CLAIM: "Claim of the General Committee of the Brotherhood of



hire date 9-22-69, account his position as Signal Maintainer, Sparta,
Illinois, being abolished April 7, 1978 (claim presented to Manager of
Labor Relations under date of June 5, 1978)." (Carrier file: 135-377
196 Spl)

OPINION OF BOARD: This is a claim for benefits under the National Mediation
Agreement of November 16, 1971 (Article VIII) or the IC-GMO Merger Protection Agreement of May 18, 1972 (Appendix G) which benefits accrue when an employe is required to change his point of employment in excess of thirty miles.

Before either agreement provision can be invoked the claimant must show that he was "required" to move. Such was not the case in the instant matter. The claimant had the right to displace employes junior to him on gangs that had headquarters within claimant's prior residence and work location. Absent a finding that claimant was required to move the other issues raised in this matter are moot.





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: &141946lezi=

        Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day of September 1980.