(Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE:

(The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company

(Southern Region)


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

(1) The Carrier violated the Agreement when it assigned junior B&B Mechanic K. Brown to fill a temporary vacancy as foreman-inspector at Huntington, West Virginia on October 6, 1983, instead of assigning and using B&B Mechanic I. Wiley, who was senior, available, willing and qualified to fill that vacancy (System File C-TC-1987/MG-4421).

(2) Because of the aforesaid violation, Mr. I. Wiley shall be allowed the difference between what he should have been paid at the foremaninspector's rate and what hours."

OPINION OF BOARD: On October 6, 1983, the Carrier assigned a B&B Mechanic
junior to the Claimant to replace for one day another
employee serving as Foreman-Inspector overseeing the work of an outside
contractor. The Organization contends that the Claimant should have been
selected for the one-day assignment, based on his seniority and, according to
the Organization, his availability and qualification. The Organization relies
on Rule 2(b), which reads as follows:



The Organization properly notes that this Rule grants seniority preference in a variety of situations, including temporary vacancies.

However, Carrier points out that Claimant was assigned to an on-going project.

The record before us reveals that Carrier in the exercise of discretionary judgment concluded th day vacancy and the Organization has failed in its burden to prove a violation of the Agreement.



        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 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:
        Nancy J. r - Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of August 1987.