Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION
Award No. 37102
Docket No. SG-37026
04-3-01-3-608

The Third Division consisted of the regular members and in addition Referee Francis X. Quinn 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 I Award No. 37102
Page 2 Docket No. SG-37026
04-3-01-3-608



It has been established that a person is not an unassigned Signalman until he or she first acquires a Signalman position. Several key Rules use variations of "assign," such as "assigned," "assignments," or "assigning," within their specific context. Rules 51, 52, 53, and 55 compel the conclusion that being assigned means regularly holding one of the Class 1 positions listed in Rule I after having been promoted to that class of positions. The term "Signalman" does not automatically accrue to an Assistant Signalman until he/she completes training and "acquires" or is promoted to the Signalman position in Class 1. Such was not the case herein. The Claimant was an Assistant Signalman. The claim lacks merit.








This Board, after consideration of the dispute identified above, hereby orders that an Award favorable to the Claimant(s) not be made.


                      NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD

                      By Order of Third Division


Dated at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day of July 2004.