(Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE.




1. Carrier acted in an arbitrary, capriciousp unjust and discriminatory manner when, without jus S. A. Black, West Norfolk, Virginia, from service of the Carrier on March 5, 1979.

2. In view of such arbitrary, capricious, unjust and discriminatory action, Carrier shall now be required to:









                    Docket Number CL-?3257


          (e) Pay Agent-Operator S. A. Black interest at the rate

    ' of eighteen (18) percent compounded annually on the

              anniversary on the claim for amounts due in Item

              2(b) supra.


OPINION OF BOARD: Claimant Samuel A. Black, Agent-Operator, was served with a
notice of investigation charging that he had been on paid
sick leave for a significant period of time when he was physically capable of
working, in violation of various rules and a Sick Leave Allowance agreement. The
investigation was held on February 23, 1979 and Claimant was sent a letter of
dismissal on March 5, 1979.

A review of the record before this Board establishes that the February 12, 1979 notice of investigation provided sufficient particularity to permit Claimant to properly prepare a defense for the allegations therein contained, and that Claimant was afforded all the procedures provided by the contract. There was substantial evidence to sustain the Carrier's decision to discipline Claimant for this serious infraction. However, given Claimant's long service, a May 1959 seniority date, the penalty of termination is too severe. Accordingly Claimant is to be returned to service but without any back pay and this discipline is to constitute a last chance warning.

        FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the 4.ole 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 tins jurisdiction over the dispute involved herein; and

        That the discipline assessed was excessive.


                      A W A R D ~. I


        Claim sustained in accordance with the Opinion. ` ~'co°o 0f,ic©- ~`ri/


                        NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                        By Order of Third Division


Attest: a

Executive Secretary t

Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 8th day of December 1981.