STATEMENT Disciplinary case of Charles P. Norris, Trackman,
 ' OF .
 CLAIM : Urbana, Ohio, who was dismissed on September 19, 1977.
 FINDINGS : Under the progressive discipline policy provided for
 in the January 26, 1973 Agreement for unauthorized
 absenteeism, claimant received a written warning on
 March 8, 1977 because of an unauthorized absence on that
 date. He was suspended for five days because of another
 absence without permission on July 14, 1977. When he
 was absent a third time without authorization on
 ._ July 26, 1977, he received a ,45-day suspension. Fin
 ally, he was dismissed as a result of unauthorized ab
 sences on August 29, 30 and 31 as well as September 1


The Agreement of January 26, 1973, provides that the progressive discipline policy "shall be applied uniformly." That does not mean that Carrier must impose discipline for exactly the same number of absences in every case. It rightly should have considerable latitude in applying the Agreement so long as"its actions are reasonable and are based on acceptable explanations.
employes were dismissed for unauthorized absences. In each instance,
 they were allowed three episodes, each~ everal absences, before dig
 missal. In the present case, unlike those situations, each episode
 is limited to just one absence; while that might not be improper
 under same circumstances, Carrier has offered no persuasive explana
 tion for restricting claimant to that extent. It has not, for
 example, shown that claimant's single absence was as serious as a
 group of several absences in the other situations.
 We areftisfied, therefore,. from an analysis of these records that Carrier followed the pattern of the two other cases (Nos. 3 and 7) in administering discipline here. In the absence of some reasonable explanation for the difference, claimant's dismissal was premature.
 We will direct Carrier to reinstate claimant with seniority rights unimpaired but without back pay.
 ._. _ . ` . ~a 3- ltwD. /3
 AWARD: Claimant reinstated without back pay.
 Adopted at Philadelphia, Pa., ' 1979.
                            44 ~,t T~


              Harbid M. W4~ston, Chairman


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 Carrier Meznt~r Employe Member