Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD Award No. 26778
THIRD DIVISION Docket No. MW-26546
88-3-85-3-290
The Third Division consisted of the regular members and in
addition Referee Edwin H. Benn when award was rendered.

(Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes PARTIES TO DISPUTE:



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

(1)(a) The Carrier violated the Agreement when it required Messrs. J. S. Craig, L. Slavin, H. Douglas, E. Dickson, W. Allison, G. Young, A. Plant, G. Wright, W. McKinnon, W. Siwarski, N. Welch, M. Zimmerman, J. Madron, C. Race, K. Briscoe, W. Crook, A. Affonsa, J. Wright and K. Harris assigned to either Gang Z-172, Gang Z-182 or Gang Z-192 to suspend work for four (4) hours on December 12, 1983.

(b) The Carrier violated the Agreement when it required Messrs. J. S. Craig, L. Slavin, H. Douglas, E. Dickson, W. Allison, G. Young, A. Plant, D. Williams, G. Wright, J. Williams, W. Siwarski, G. Addison, B. Sudler, N. Welch and R. Merlini assigned to either Gang Z-172 or Gang Z-182 to suspend work for two and one-half (2 1/2) hours on December 13, 1983 (System File NEC-BMWE-SD-834).

(2)(a) Because of the violation referred to in Part (1)(a) hereof each claimant listed therein shall be allowed four (4) hours of pay at their respective straight time rates.

(b) Because of the violation referred to in Part (1)(b) hereof each claimant listed therein shall be allowed two and one-half (2 1/2) hours of pay at their respective straight time rates."

FINDINGS:

The Third Division of the Adjustment Board upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds that:

The carrier or carriers and the employe or employes involved ii this dispute are respectively carrier and employes within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act as approved June 21, 1934.

This Division of the Adjustment Board has jurisdiction over the dispute involved herein.


Form 1 Award No. 26778
Page 2 Docket No. MW-26546
88-3-85-3-290

Due to weather related reasons, on December 12, 1983, Gangs Z-172, 182 and 192 of the Carrier's Panel Renewal System were required to suspend work after working four hours. Although the Carrier asserts that on December 13, 1983, Claimants were given the option of continuing work (a fact that does not determine the outcome of this case in light of our ultimate holding), on that date work was suspended for Gangs Z-172 and 182 after working five and one-half hours, again due to weather related factors. Although the gangs in issue have an authorized force of ten or more (Z-172 had an authorized force of 12; Z-182 had 13 and Z-192 had 14), on the relevant dates those gangs had less than ten employees actually reporting for duty. The Carrier compensated Claimants for time actually worked on December 12 and 13, 1983. The Organization seeks additional pa to eight hours pay for each day.















Form 1 Award No. 26778
Page 3 Docket No. MW-26546
88-3-85-3-290

Thus, Rule 52 permits payment of less than eight hours for shortened work days due to weather related conditions for gangs of ten or more. Under the circumstances of this case, we do not agree with the Organization that Rule 52 is inapplicable because the actual number of employees reporting for work on the days in issue was less than ten per gang. It is undisputed that the gangs were authorized at levels in excess of ten employees per gang. A fair reading of Rule 52 is consistent with the Carrier's position that the overall makeup of the gang dictates application of the Rule. We find nothing in the record to indicate that the Carrier has manipulated the levels of the gangs so as to always keep the levels at more than ten or has made work assignments is order to avoi Indeed, if such evidence existed, we would sustain the Claim. However, in this case, the record demonstrates that the Organization has not met its burden of showing a Rule vi





                          By Order of Third Division


Attest:
      Nancy J. ev - Executive Secretary


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day of January 1988.