John E. Cloney, Referee


              (David J. Maxwell


PARTIES TO DISPUTE:
              (National Railroad Passenger Corporation


STATEMENT OF CLAIM:
        "Rule 21-A ABSENT WITHOUT PERMISSION"


OPINION OF BOARD: After Claimant last protected his position on December 11,
 1984, Carrier had no contact with him until January 17,
 1985, when it received a letter requesting a furlough. Thereafter Carrier
 notified Claimant it considered he had resigned in accordance with Rule 21-A.
 The Rule reads in part:

          "(a) Employees who absent themselves from work for

          fourteen (14) consecutive days without notifying

          their supervisor shall be considered as having

          resigned . . . .


        Exceptions to the Rule are not applicable here.


Numerous decisions of this Board including Third Division Award 24255 have established that a Rule such as that applicable here is self-executing. Carrier was entitled to consider Claimant's seniority terminated in conformity with the Rule.

        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.

                      Award Number 26535 Page 2

                      Docket Number MS-26921

                      A W A R D


        Claim denied.


                            NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                            By Order of Third Division


Attest:

      Nancy J. Dever - Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of September 1987.