PARTIES Southern Pacific Transporation Company
 and
 DISSFUTE Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
 STATEMENT "1. That the Carrier's decision to dismiss
 WCLAIM Track Laborer Mickey West on February
 23, 1984, was in violation of the agree
 ment.
 2. That the Carrier will now reinstate Mr.
 West to his former position with seniority
 and all other rights restored unimpaired
 and with compensation 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 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 displaced from his position effective February 21, 1984. He, in turn, displaced another employee in a district adjacent to his old assignment effective the same date. The claimant, however, did not report on February 21 or on the following two days. In fact, he never reported. A hearing was subsequently scheduled following the termination at the request of the Organization. Claimant did not appear, as well, at the hearing.

 Claimant was found guilty of not protecting his assignment and of being absent without authority on the dates indicated. His failure to appear for the hearing in order to mount a defense sealed his fate. Carrier's conclusion must be deemed correct and discharge was the appropriate penalty. The Board can find no fault with a situation such as this where a claimant simply disappears.
 PLB-2439 - 2 - Award No. 97

 AWARD
                Claim denied.


                1. M. Lieberman, Neutral-CFairman


    i' . 4

    oose, °Employee Member L. cher ng, Carr er Me er


San Francisco, California

 January,?/, 1986