Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION
Award No. 36608
Docket No. SG-36409
03-3-00-3-679

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

(Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen PARTIES TO DISPUTE:


STATEMENT OF CLAIM:



FINDINGS:

The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds 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 1 Award No. 36608
Page 2 Docket No. SG-36409
03-3-00-3-679

After exercising his seniority due to closure of the Signal Shop at Roseville, California, the Claimant twice failed a Book of Rules exam. Thereafter, on or about March 22, 2000, the Carrier demoted the Claimant from S ignalman t o Assistant Signalman. This claim followed.


The Claimant died July 1, 2000. Under the unique circumstances of this case, which in the Board's opinion shall be on a non-precedential basis, we agree with the Organization t hat t he Carrier violated the relevant Rule when it demoted rather than disqualified the Claimant from his Signalman's position. The Claimant's estate shall therefore be compensated for the difference in pay between the Signalman and Assistant Signalman rate for the time from the demotion until the Claimant's death.








This Board, after consideration of the dispute identified above, hereby orders that an award favorable to the Claimant(s) be made. The Carrier is ordered to make the Award effective on or before 30 days following the postmark date the Award is transmitted to the parties.


                      NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                      By Order of Third Division


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day of July 2003.