PARTIES ) THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY
TO THE ) and
DISPUTE ) TRANSPORTATION-COMMUNICATION EMPLOYEES UNION

QUESTIONS
AT ISSUE: 1. Did Carrier violate Article III when it,
without first following the procedure set
forth in Sections 2 and 3 of said Article
III, reclassified the position of agent at
Snyder, Texas to agent-telegrapher effect
ive at the close of business August 22, 1967
and coincident therewith moved the agent
telegrapher from the freight station to the
passenger station, and also coincident
therewith abolished the first shift
telegrapher-clerk position in the passenger
station at Snyder?











OPINION OF BOARD: The Organization withdrew Question No. 1.

With respect to the second Question, the evidence indicates that a decline in business led to the abolition of a position. Coincidentally, Carrier established the work location for all employees at a renovated passenger station. Previously, the Agent had worked in the freight station. The two locations were within 600 feet of one another at Snyder, Texas.

                                    Case No. TCU-92-W


A diminution in business, leading to the abolishment of a position, comes squarely within the ambit of Award No. 7 of this Committee. Such action does not constitute an operational or organizational change within the meaning of Article III.

Establishing a work location for all employees at a common site a -short distance away is not an operational change, as was contended. If an employee is moved to another desk in an office, to a different office across the hall or to renovated facilities a couple of hundred yards distant, Article III is not thereby brought into play.

                          A W A R D


            1. Question No. 1 was withdrawn.


            2. The answer to Question No. 2 is No.


                        Milton Priedman

                        Neutral Member


Dated: Washington, D. C.
        March 17, 1972


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