Upon the whole record, after hearing, the Board finds that the parties herein are Carrier and Employees within the meaning of the 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 had entered Carrier service on May 8, 1984. Fits last day of appearance at work was on August 9, 1985 and thereafter he was absent without authority. Carrier notifed Claimant by letter dated June 24, 1987 of an investigation with respect to his absence from August 9, 1985 through June 24, 1987. The hearing was postponed by agreement between the Organization and the Carrier and was finally rescheduled for October 1, 1987. A notice of the hearing was sent to Claimant by Certified Mail but was returned to the Carrier marked "Unclaimed". Claimant did not appear at the hearing but was represented by an Officer of the Organization. Further there was no objection indicated in the record of the hearing with respect to continuing in his absence.
The record revealed that Claimant indeed was absent for the period charged by Carrier without authority. There is no indication whatever of his expression of interest or desire in returning to his job. Nor has there been any contact with him by either Carrier or Organization since his initial absence.