PARTIES ) Erie Lackwwanna Rai1·_ray Company
TO THE ) and
DISPUTE ) Transportation-Cc;nnunication Employees Union

QUESTIONS
AT ISSUE: 1. Is Carrier permitted to abolish a position,
or more than one position prior to the time
it has a corresponding attrition credit, or
credits, as contemplated in Article I, Sec
tion 5?





OPINION OF BOARD: The Organization members of the Disputes Committee withdrew the first two questions and the Award therefore is limited to the third question.

The answer to that question is found by applying the Interpretation of Article III as it was adopted by the parties on November 24, 1965. Page 10 of the interpretations provides

t..;tu'2D No.
Case No. TCU-')_-']

are reaui^?d either ;4hen tii

under sae

agree;.:~nt i:: effect prior to iebruary 7,

jai uizou-c coi:_ erence and agreement with representatives of the Organizations.

Len i-nplementing agreement is therefore not required if Carrier was not obliged to confer with and reach agreement with the organization prior to effectuating the proposed change. The Organization has cited an early Award of the Third Division on this property; No. 5384, in support of its position. However, more significant is the determination of Public Law Board No. 167 in Award No. tlsv=aich considered the application of the schedule agreement to the precise question that has been submitted to t:W s Committee: the propriety of abolishing the position at Carlton Hill, New Jersey and having tae Agent-Operator at Rutherford, New Jersey perform whatever work was to be done.

In denying the claim the Board held, in part, on August 15, 1968, as follows:

Despite the divergent statements, the thrust of the Organization's contentions is predicated upon the premise that if any work remained at Canton Hill which was being performed by the organization's Rutherford Ticket Agent-Operator, a dualization agreement was required. ,

Our Board has carefully considered this aspect. Unquestionably a dualization agreement would have obviated t-ais dispute. However, while we would suggest and urge such,

                                        Case No. TCL-Z-::


          r;e do of i-~lieve roe have tine To-,.:or to

          ~:~:ec; u:1~:-~,rti:~s to no<;a-'.:i.zlte one under LCes nrovalenc nerein.


`i.-<=t 'L~.:., cc:d:~ic~c::,d T.lird i:,11 _sion :'riard 5;,:-, a=
_.._ ,... c:'-,.u..:... _ r·~-~a :._.... c.1'- sc"=ciul% ztIi-rce;aent 6ic
reau_:-e prior. actreemrnt wi'Lii the Organization. The issue was
... ._ ,..,_ ~C.~..__ ~...: .~..,.._..__-. ...:Si',., :n -Ci._1~3~.1'. CO 1nzor
In,:et and apply t:I7e scaodiule agreeiitent, and the Board 's conclusion
Certainlv was nol unrea^onaJ31e. in liG-It of tile ruling o,' P. i,.
Boa rd 1.67, anC3 rt'.r--,Uiint 'Lo Pa·'(". In of tl:e Interoretations, can
1.m`.)1C.~=nting a^reemcai't 4.%as rcl.= necessary. Thereore, Articlc ICI
wa.`., not violated t.~x' Carr ier `s action.

                      A W A R D


              The answer to Question No. 3 is No.


                          Milton Friedman

                          Neutral Member


Dated: July a~, 1971
      Washington, D. C.


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