PARTIES TO DISPUTE:


STATEMENT OF CLAIM:









OPINION OF BOARD: As a threshold issue Carrier contends that this matter was not
handled in the usual manner on the property and hence is barred.
The appeal process is at issue and is contained in Rule 38 of the April 1, 1973
Agreement. The procedure established under that Rule for appealing claims such
as that herein is as follows:

                    Locket Number MS-24121 Page 2


        1. Claim is filed with immediate supervisor designated to receive claim.


        2. If declined, the appeal is to the Superintendent.


        3. If declined the appeal is to the General Manager.


          4. If declined the appeal is to the highest designated officer, in this instance the Vice President-Administration.


The record indicates that Claimant herein never appealed the Superintendent's decision of May was clearly not handled on the property in the usual manner as required by Section 3, First (i) of the Railway Labor Act. The Board has no choice but to dismiss the claim.

        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 Hoard has jurisdiction over the dispute involved herein; and

        That the claim is barred.


                        A W A R D


        Claim dismissed.


                            NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                            By Order of Third Division


ATTEST:
      Nancy J. DD~fri - Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of July 1984.