Form 1 NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD
THIRD DIVISION
Award No. 37388
Docket No. SG-37217
05-3-02-3-153

The Third Division consisted of the regular members and in addition Referee Robert Perkovich 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.
Form 1 Award No. 37388
Page 2 Docket No. SG-37217
05-3-02-3-153

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




The Claimants at all relevant times herein were Signal Foremen assigned to Signal Gang No. 15314 with headquarters at Lafayette, Louisiana. On December 5 and 6, 2000 the Carrier utilized the services of an outside contractor to use directional boring to install conduit to house signal cable and wires to be used for highway grade crossings.


The Organization contends that in doing so the Carrier violated the parties' Agreement because there was a source from which the equipment in question could have been rented and thus, the Carrier should have rented the equipment and trained bargaining unit employees so that they would not lose the work in question. The Carrier denies that the source from which the Organization contends the equipment could have been obtained was in fact available. Thus, we find that we are faced with irreconcilable facts that preclude us from resolving the claims. Accordingly, becuase the Organization bears the burden of proof, we are compelled to reject the claim.








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 24th day of February 2005.