Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION
Award No. 32596
Docket No. SG-33106
98-3-96-3-404

The Third Division consisted of the regular members and in addition Referee Martin H. Malin when award was rendered.

(Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen PARTIES TO DISPUTE: (CSX Transportation, Inc. (former Baltimore and ( Ohio Railroad Company)

STATEMENT OF CLAIM :



FINDINGS :

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

The carrier or carriers and the employee or employees involved in this dispute are respectively carrier and employee 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 I Award No. 31596
Page 2 Docket No. SG-33106
98-3-96-3-404



On April 6, 1995, Carrier used an outside contractor to remove a broken pole and set two new poles. Prior to 1974, such work had been performed by employees of Western Union Company, pursuant to a specific agreement between the parties. The Organization maintained that it inherited the work when Western Union stopped performing it. Carrier denied that the work had been reserved to Signalmen since 1974.


The record developed on the property contains conflicting assertions, but is barren of any evidence as to who performed this work on the property in the more than 20 years between Western Union's having ceased performing the work and the date of the incident that is the subject of the instant claim. The Organization has the burden of proof and bare assertions do not constitute evidence. Accordingly, the claim must he denied because the Organization failed to carry its burden of proof.








This Board, after consideration of the dispute identified above. hereby orders that an award favorable to the Claimants) not be made.



                      By Order of Third Division


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 22nd day of May 1998.