AWARD NO. 422
Case No. 455
PUBLIC LAW BOARD NO. 1582
PARTIES) THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY
TO )
DISPUTE) BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY EMPLOYEES
STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Carrier's decision to remove former Colorado
Division Trackman R. S. Martinez from service, effective
July
23,
1987, was unjust. Accordingly, Carrier should be required to rein
state Claimant Martinez to service with his seniority rights unim
paired and compensate him for all wages lost from
July
23, 1987.
FINDINGS: This Public Law Board No. 15_82 finds that the parties
herein are Carrier and Employee within the meaning of the Railway
Labor Act, as amended, and that this Board has jurisdiction.
In this dispute the Carrier notified the claimant by letter dated
July
24, 1987 to attend a formal investigation on August 13, 1987
to develop the facts and place his responsibility, if any, concerning his possibly reporting for duty on Thursday,
July
23, 1987
at Las Vegas and Springs, New Mexico under the influence of alcoholic,
beverages or intoxicants in possible violation of Rules 1, 2, 6, 16,
31A and 31B, General Rules for the Guidance of Employes, 1978, Form
2626 Standard. Pursuant to the investigation the claimant was found
e guilty and was removed from service.
Roadmaster Hernandez testified that his territorial responsibilities
included the Raton, Santa Fe' and Las Vegas Sections. He stated that
the claimant was a member of Las Vegas Section 23. He testified on
the morning of
July
23, 1987 the claimant arrived late at the depot
and the Section left him, and he drove to Springs, New Mexico where
the crew was scheduled to unload ballast with the work train.
Mr. Hernandez testified there was a possibility the claimant was
under the influence, and when the claimant reported to Springs, he
asked the claimant to blow his breath in his face. Ile testified he
smelled alcohol.
Foreman D. C. Martinez testified that on the morning of
July
23,
1987 the claimant was to report to his Section. He stated that
when the claimant reported, he was not drunk or anything, he just
smelled like liquor. He testified that he told Track Supervisor
Medina that the claimant was not fit for work, and he smelled like
liquor.
Track Supervisor Medina testified that the foreman advised him
that he could smell liquor on the claimant, and then he talked
to the claimant, and he also smelled liquor on him, and he asked
~$$~.- Award No. 422
Page 2
the claimant if he had been out the night before, and the claimant
said "Yes." He stated he called for the Roadmaster but could not
find him, and he then transported the claimant to Las Vegas.
Supervisor Medina further stated that when they arrived in Las Vegas
Roadmaster Hernandez asked the claimant to take off his sun glasses
and to blow in his face, and the Roadmaster then took the claimant
out of service pending an investigation. lie testified the claimant
was not stumbling and did not have the appearance normally associated
with an intoxicated person.
The claimant testified that he had not been drinking that day or the
night before. The claimant contends he was at
a
bar the night before
but was not drinking, and the alcohol which the witnesses smelled
must have been on his clothes.
The Board has reviewed the 24 pages of the transcript and all of the
exhibits submitted by the parties. The evidence is sufficient for
the Carrier to find that the claimant was guilty as charged. The
claimant has a poor record. There is no ,justification for setting
the discipline aside.
AWARD: Claim denied.
Preston(_Y. Moore, chairman
in-ion dember
Carrier Member