NATIONAL RAILROAD ALI7USTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION Docket Number MW-24829
Paul C. Carter, Referee
(Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
PARTIES TO DISPUTE:
(Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company
STATEMENT OF CLAIM: 'Claim of the System Committee of the Brotherhood that:
(1) The dismissal of Driver-Laborer D. M. Draper for alleged 'threatening
and intimidating statements' to his supervisors on June 17, 1981, was without
just and sufficient cause, unwarranted and in violation of the Agreement (System
File D-25-81/MW-16-81).
(2) The claimant shall be reinstated with seniority and all other
rights unimpaired, his record cleared and he shall be compensated for all wage
loss suffered, including overtime pay."
OPINION OF BOARD: Prior to his dismissal from service, claimant, with about
eleven years of service, was employed by the Carrier as a
Truck Driver-Laborer. On June 24, 1981, he was notified to report for formal
investigation to be held at 10:30 A.M., June 26, 1981:
·...
to develop facts and place responsibility, if any, in
connection
with your alleged acts of disloyalty, intemperance and insubordination
during your tour of duty as Truck Driver-Section Laborer, Ephraim
Section on June 17, 1981, when you allegedly made threatening and
intimidating statements to your supervisors.'
The investigation was held as scheduled, and a copy of the transcript
has been made a part of the record. A review of the transcript shows that the
investigation was conducted in a fair and impartial manner. None of the
claimant's substantive procedural rights was violated. Following the investigation, claimant was not
In the investigation it was developed that Track Supervisor D. L.
Parry was in charge of the territory on which claimant was working. R. C.
Floyd was the foreman in charge of the section. About 9:30 A.M., June 17,
1981, Mr. Parry had a discussion with the claimant, the foreman, and other
members of the section gang. He testified in the investigation:
wQ.
What was the conversation that you had with Mr. Draper
concerning?
A . ... Then I told Mr. Draper what I expected out of him and referred to the fact that if I
this time Lbug (the claimant) said, if somebody is trying to
fire me, they will end up spending a few days in the hospital
and that is what lead up to that."
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Award Number 24549 Page 2
Locket Number MW-24829
"Q. Was there any doubt or any question in your mind when Mr.
Draper made this remark to you that was referring to anyone
else, but you?
A. I thought he was referring to either me or Bob."
"Q. Mr. Parry, was this threat of spending a few days in the hospital
reiterated a few days later by Mr. Draper to you?
A. Later on that night a conversation took place on the phone. Be
said, 'My mouth does get me in a lot of trouble.' Be said he
did mean that about somebody spending some time in the hospital."
* * *
"Q. When Mr. Draper indicated that someone was going to spend time
in the hospital who was in the immediate vicinity when he made
that comment?
A. Myself and the section foreman of the Ephraim Section.
Q. Was he speaking to you and the foreman when he made that
comment?
A. Yes, he was."
The Section Foreman corroborated the testimony of Supervisor Parry,
and in addition, stated that claimant had his finger in the foreman's face when
the remark was made.
Claimant's testimony in the investigation was evasive. In answer to
direct questioning, claimant stated:
"Q. Both Mr. Parry and Mr. Floyd testified that subsequent to this
you indicated to them that if you were fired or disciplined
for some petty thing then someone was going to spend some time
in the hospital, is that correct?
A. To a certain extent - it could have been that I was going to
go home and beat my dog and take him to the hospital or I could
have meant that I was going to take my wife to the hospital to
have her child. I didn't mention anyone's name.
Q. Did you shake your finger in Mr. Floyd's face?
A. Not that I recall.
Q. If that is what you could have meant, what did you mean.
A. Just a figure of speech.
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Award Number 24549 Page 3
Locket Number MW-24829
·Q. 1 think Mr. Parry indicated that later in
a
phone
conversation with him that you stated in the phone conversation
you were dead serious about putting someone in the hospital if
you were disciplined or dismissed. Did you make that statement.
A. No, I wasn't dead serious. "
Claimant went on to again say that he could have meant his dog or his
wife when he made the statement about someone going to the hospital.
The investigation contained substantial evidence that claimant did
threaten the Supervisor and the Foreman. Such conduct on the part of an employe
simply cannot be condoned.
The record also shows that claimant was previously dismissed for
insubordination on June 1, 1977, and reinstated on a
leniency basis
some thirty
days later. We notice that claimant's prior record was raised in the handling
of the dispute on the property. It wes proper for the Carrier to consider
claimant's prior record in arriving at the discipline to be imposed for his
actions on July 17, 1981.
The Board considers the discipline imposed not excessive, considering
the nature of the offense - threatening supervisory personnel, and coupled with
claimant's prior record.
FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record
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
Claim denied.
NATIONAL RAILROAD ALVUSTMENT BOARD
By Order of Third Division
Attest:
Nancy J. BLsvge -Executive Secretary
Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of November, 1983