PARTIES ) The Atchison, Tc::,__.;.·,nd Santa Fe Railway Company
 TO THE ) -Co-A .^-r~ r,iner-

DISPUTE ) Transrortation-C~.. :~·.`...:_:.io:a Employees Union

 QUESTION
 AT ISSUE: To avoid loss o;: allowance as computed
 under Article IV, Section 1 and to avoid
 loss of moving expenses and five working
 days' pay under Article III, must an
 employee who knows that his position soon
 will be abolished, refrain from applying
 for positions advertised to be vacant?
 OPINION
 OF BOARD: Claimant, a Telegrapher-Clerk at Cadiz, California,
 was officially notified on August 23, 1965, that his
 position was abolished effective August 31, 1965. He
 thereupon bid a vacant Telephoner-Printer-Clerk position at San
 Diego, California. Bids closed out on August 23, and on August
 24, Claimant was declared the successful bidder but was held on
 his Cadiz position until August 31.

 According to Carrier, Claimant voluntarily exercised his seniority by bidding prior to the actual abolishment of his position. The organization contends that since Claimant was notified that his position was being abolished his move was not a voluntary one but the result of Carrier's action. He did remain at Cadiz until August 31, when his position disappeared, and after that date he occupied the San Diego position.

 A move which is the result of Carrier's abolishment of a position cannot be defined as a voluntary exercise of seniority. As the organization points out, it is not even in the self-interest of Carrier for an employee to wait until his position is actually abolished before bidding a vacant position,
 AWARD 170. '15
 Case No. TCU-33

 ,_ :,.:i s:.;cn to commence what may be a chain of displacements, each o~::~ v:: which may require compensation to affected employees.

 In this case Claimant was officially notified that .....~ pus1tion was u~.i:;; abolished and once that occurred his -.o-,e t,,',._ no' "t::=o normal caercise of his Pcniority...by reason or a voluntary action," i:x the wards of Article 1V, Section 3.

 A W A R D
In the circumstances of a case like this, the answer to the Question is No.

 Milton Friedman
 Neutral Member

 Dated: July X , 1971
        Washington, D. C.