PARTIES)) ATCHISON, TOPE'?. AND SANTA FE TRAILIWAY COMPANY
TO )
DISPUTE) BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY MIPLOYEs

STATEP-1ENT OF CLAIM: That the Carrier's decision to dismiss Machine Operator Roger Lee Casey on August 24, 1954 was in violation of the current Agreement anti in abuse of discretion; The Carrier will not be required to reinstate Mr. R. L. Casey to his former position with seniority and all other rights restored unimpaired and with compensation for all wage loss suffered.

FINDINGS: This Public Law Board No. 1582 finds that the parties :er~re Carrier and employee within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, and that this Board has jurisdiction.

In this dispute the claimant had been employed as a tracia.-un in 1979. On August 17, 1984 the claimant was operatiad a tie-handling machine and was in the procass of moving the machine along :with the remainder of the equipment assign=d to the Gan,-, to the work location for the day. The sang had stopped an:i the claimant removed himself from the Tie-Fandler and was standing beside it. "Ma claimant was notified to atten.44 a formal investigation on August 24, 1984. The claimant was charged with possible violatio of Rules 2 and 6, General Rales for the Guiaa-a of Employes 1978 Form 2626 Standard, =n connection witz his allegedly :laving in his possession a bag of marijuana while employed as a ~aachine operator or. Tie Gang 31 in the vicinity of M.P. 40 on the C. V. District August 17, 1984. The investigation was held as scheduled and psrsuant to the investigation the claimant was found guilty and .lid- .
·missed from the service of the :artier.

'he claimant admitted having possession of the bag of marijuana, but claims he found a small plastic bag laying just inside the rail and when he picked it up and put it in his pocket, the Carrier's Assistant Roadmaster approached him and asked him to hand aim tie bag. The transcript of record contains 32 pages of testiL:oay -~Jhizn has been studied by the Board. After review of all the evidence, it is tae qpinion of the Board that the Carrier is justified in its decision. *There is no basis to overrule the decision of the Carrier.

AWARD: Claim denied.



                          · 4

                          Preston J~. ;tioore. G.-Lairaan


Date at Chicago, Illinois August 19,1985

Union r.1e=er

Carrier ,.,e.gher