PARTIES Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
_TO and -
DISPUTE: Southern Pacific Trans-portation Co. (Western Lines:
STATEMENT - "1. That the Carrier violated the-provisions
OF CLAIM: of the current Agreement a i, -in a lett-e-·_
dated January 3, 1986, it dismissed Laborer
Operator· M. L. Linde from its service on the
basis of unproven charges, said action being -
excessive, unduly harsh and in abuse o!
discretion.
2_ Carrier shall noun exonerate Mr-. Linde of all
charges and reinstate him to his former
position with the-Carrier with seniority and
all other - rights restored unimpaired and
compensated for all wage loss suffered."
FINDINGS
Upon the whole record, after hearing, the Board finds that the
parties herein are Carrier and Employees within the meaning of tht
Railway Labor Act, as amended, and that this Board is duly
constituted under Public Law 89-456 and has jurisdiction of the
parties and the subject matter.

Claimant herein was involved in an on-duty accident on October

1985, together with other, employees. As a result, all of the employees were required to take urinalysis tests to determine; whether, or, not they had been exposed to drugs or alcohol. One result of that test showed Claimant to be positive for, both marijuana as well as amphetamines and methadone. Thereupon, he

                                                  e;~ u39-1~4


was removed from service pending an investigation. At the request of Petitioner, the investigation was postponed to December 19, 1985 and at that investigation, Claimant admitted that the drugs were properly found in the urinalysis. Furthermore, he had participated in the Employee Assistance Program and Drug Rehabilitation Program prior to the, investigation. Carrier's records 'indicate that Claimant had not contacted the Carrier, or the Employee Assistance Counsellor, since March of 1986, despite overtures by the Counsellor and- the local Organization Chairman. Since rehabilitation was not successful from the Carrier's point of view, it had no choice but to terminate him.


From the Board's point of view, the facts in this matter, are clear and unequivocal. Claimant was found guilty of being under thcinfluence of drugs while on duty and did not deny that status. While he entered the Rehabilitation Program, he made no attempt to secure his position back at the complexion of that Program ever, th,ougf· requested to do so by several individuals- Carrier was within its prerogative to determine that termination was the only answer and the Board so holds.

. a ~t3~ -la='j

3
AWARD

      Claim denied.


                    ~..' ,7,<

                __-____-iy-_____---______-_____

                I. ht. Lieberman, Neutral-Chairman


        Su-

        -rL, r Er-rt-p~cy-e-e-M--em--be-r-,-

        uart, ~,~r5e~r Mlermr,&er F. Foose,


San Francisco, California Se ptember~J~1988