(Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE:


STATEMENT OF CLAItd: "Claim of the System Committee of the Brotherhood that:

(1) The Agreement was violated when the Carrier failed to schedule and hold an investigation which was timely and properly requested in conformance with Article 110 Rule 91(b) (1) (System File B-1870).

(2) As a consequence of the above, Trackman J. Be Harperp Jr# shall be reinstated with Seniority and all other rights unimpaired., his service record shall be restored and he shall be compensated for all wage loss suffered."

OPINION CF BOARD: Claimant was formerly employed by the Carrier as a
trackmano having entered the service on April 4e 1977. The Carrier contends that claimant was furloughed in force reduction on November 19j, 1978, and failed to comply with Rule 78., which reads:



                  Docket Number MW-23260


The Carrier contends that after the expiration of seven calendar days of date laid off, claimant's personal record was closed in accordance with Rule 78.

Rule 78 is self-executing and there is no proof in the record that claimant did file his name and address within the time specified in the rule.

When claimant was notified by the Carrier that he had not filed his name and address., it was then up to the claimant to come forward with information as to when he filed his name and address and who he filed it with.

It is our considered opinion from the record before use that claimant has not proved that he complied with the provisions of Rule 78 within the time specified therein.

As we have decided the dispute on its merits., it is not necessary to pass upon the procedural issue raised.

        FLINGS: 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

        That the Agreement was not violated.


                      A W A R D r ___


        Claim denied.


                              NATIONAL RAILROAD AAJ1STMENT_BOARD'.

                              By Order of Third Division

ATTEST: a'

      Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of January 1981.