PUBLIC LAW BOARD N0. 2439
PARTIES Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
TO
and
DISPUTE Southern Pacific Transportation Company (Pacific Lines)
STATEMENT "1. That the Carrier violated the provisions of the current Agreement
OF-CLAIh~ when on July 15, 1980 it dismissed Mr. Westley E. Eden from service on
charges not sustained within the hearing record, said action being un
duly harsh and in abuse of discretion.
2. That Mr. Westley E. Eden be returned to the service of the Carrier
with se4;iority and all other rights restored unimpaired', that he be com
pensated for all wage loss suffered beginning June 4, 1980 and continu
ing until such time as he is reinstated to his rightful position, and
that his personal record be cleared of any charges placed thereon as a
result of the formal hearing."
FINDINGS
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 was removed from service on June 4, 1980 pending a formal investigation. He
r
was charged with certain irregularities concerning the purchase of gasoline which was
charged on a company credit card. Following the investigation, Claimant was dismissed
from service.
On the date in question, the Company truck assigned to the welding gang to which Claimant
was assigned was out of service. Claimant was required by his foreman to utilize his
personal vehicle to accomplish the work designated by the Carrier during the time
when the Company truck was disabled. According to the testimony; Calimant, in good
faith, obeyed the instructions of his supervisor concerning the use of his own car to
perform the work in question. He never questioned the compensation which would be al-
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Towed concerning the use of his vehicle. On April 29, Claimant admittedly used the
Company credit cardto purchase ten gallons of gasoline which he put into his personal
car. Pie then proceeded to use that car to perform Company business.
Subsequently,
Claimant was made aware of the fact that he would be allowed compensation at the rate
of 23¢ per mile for the use of that vehicle on Company business.
An examination of the transcript of the investigation reveals a number of anomalies.
First, it is clear that Claimant attempted to cover up the purchase of gasoline for his
vehicle using the Company credit.card but later admitted, at the hearing, that that
was indeed what the gas was used for. It is also clear that he did not know at the
time that he put gasoline in his car, that some compensation was to be allowed him for
using his vehicle for Company business. It is also clear that Rule 30(d) of the Agreement which provides for the 23¢ per mile allowance does not contemplate an employee - .
using his private vehicle to haul or transport Company equipment or for other work purposes.
While 'the Board recognizes that Claimant had had a previous disciplinary incident involving dishonesty, the circumstances involving the incident herein are beclouded. -
At worst, Claimant.can be charged with having used poor judgment and having lied about
that poor judgment. The dishonesty, per se, is of a minor variety at worst. While it
is clear that Carrier was correct in determining that Claimant was guilty, it is this
Board's observation that the penalty imposed under the circumstances herein was severe,
harsh and arbitrary. There are varying degrees of dishonesty just as there are varying
degrees of other types of infractions of rules. In this instance, the Board concludes
that Claimant shall be reinstated to his former position with all rights unimpaired but
without compensation for time lost as the penalty for his questionable actions.
AWARD
Claim sustained in part; Claimant will be returned to work in his
former position with all right unimpaired but without compensation
for time lost. The period of out of work will be considered a
disciplinary layoff-in view of the infraction contained in the
original charge.
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ORDER
Carrier will comply with the Award herein within thirty (30) days
from the date hereof.
I.M. Lieberman, Neutral-Chairman
L.C. Scherling, Carrier ember 87.E. F eming, Employee Mem er
January
24,
, 1981
San Francisco,,CA