Public Law Board No. 3794
PARTIES Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
_TO
DISPUTE: and
CSX Transportation, Inc.
STATEMENT The dismissal of Foreman H. D. Hiers was without
OF
CLAIM: just cause and claimant shall be reinstated with
seniority and all other rights unimpaired and
compensation for all wage loss.
FINDINGS: Claimant, a section gang foreman with a good
record of service, was instructed by Roadmaster
Street to make the necessary repairs to a
damaged switch at one of carrier's customer's
facilities and to keep the time in order to bill
the customer, Southern Materials Corporation,
for the work.
Claimant took two of the six men assigned to his
gang to the switch and repaired it in less than
an hour. He then went to Southern's office and
spoke to Mrs. Stroup, an office worker there,
and obtained a voucher from her for $110 in
payment for the work. The check was made
379y ~ 3 y
payable to claimant and apparently covered his
time ($20 an hour) and the services of his crew
($15 for each of the six men). Claimant cashed
the check and told Mr. Street that there would
be no charges for the switch repairs since
little work time was involved.
Carrier cited in its submission a number of
representations made by claimant to Mrs. Stroup
when he obtained the payment. However, Mrs.
Stroup was not called as a witness and we will
not consider the hearsay.
However, it is quite apparent from claimant's
testimony that he knew that his actions were
improper. He promised that "any such incident
won't never happen again."
That claimant was extremely disloyal to his
employer on this occasion is entirely clear.
He injured the reputation of Carrier's employees
and impaired good will.
Claimant's 20 years of fine service is certainly
entitled to careful consideration and it may be
that Carrier will elect to give him another
chance to show that he can continue to be
counted on for responsible service, albeit in a
lower job classification. However, that is for
Carrier to decide.
379~f-3 ~ i
On the basis of this record, our Board is not in
a valid position to set aside or reduce the
discipline. It is not unwarranted.
AWARD: Claim denied.
Adopted
4t,
Jacksonv' lle, Florida, Yh Ai?'.' ~..
/ 7 , 1987
.
4
HAROLD
M:
WESTON, Chairman
Carrier Member Employee Member