P-~;;:3; .=rotherhood of :iaiatznance of Pray Lmployes
TG
DISPL'T:4' The Atchison* Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company
S'=Am'ihT -Claim in behalf of former Plains Division :rackman
CF CLALM H. 3hon, Jr. for reinstatement with seniority,
vacation and all benefit rights unimpaired, account
the claimant being unjustly removed from service
for ~:eing aosent without authority."
FINDINGS Zpon the whole record, the Joard finds that the
parties herein are Carrier and mployes within the meaning of the
Railway Labor ,Ict# as amended, and that this -oard is duly constituted
under Public Lasr 89-456 and has jurisdiction of the parties and the
subject matter. .
Claimant, who had been absent without proper authority in excess of ten days, was notified by letter dated ::ay 12, 1981, that




The organisation, in submitting this claim, allege a violation of Rote 13 - Discipline.

                                      Page No. 2


:,e have carefully reviewed the entire record and rind no probative evidence that Claimant complied with the provisions of yattar of Understanaing dated July 13, 19a1. Under the provisions of said letter, Claimant had twenty days from dray 12, 1981, to request a formal investigation if he felt that he had been unjustly dealt with. This he did not do. In tact, the record reveals that Claimant waited some seven months to pursue the matter. It Was Claimant's sole responsibility to request a fo-mai investigation within the prescribed time limit and by not doing so, admitted that he had been absent in excess of 10 days without proper authority. He, thereby, relinquished his seniority and employment under the provisions of the July 13, 1976 Letter of Understanding.
.ve are left no alternative other than to apply the Rule as vritten and find that Claimant forfeited his seniority and employment and Carrier did not violate the Agreement.

1aAL?D Claim denied.

                                  Clarence fi . tier g on

                                  Neutral `ember


    -;iifier Member Organization >-efrber


Dated at Chicago
February 22,_1933.