PUBLIC LAW BOARD NUMBER 3932
Award Number: 2
Case Number: 2
PARTIES TO DISPUTE
BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY EMPLOYEES
and
NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION (AMTRAK)
STATEMENT OF CLAIM
"This claim is on behalf of Mr. D. Keeley for time made
by T. Fulton.
On Friday, March 16, 1984, Mr. Fulton was used to
travel a burro crane from QX yard to Paoli from 3:30
P.M. to 5:30 P.M. On Saturday, March 17, 1984, Mr.
Fulton was used to install a switch point and stock
rail at point and stock rail at Paoli interlocking and
then pilot the crane back to QX yard.
As I explained to you in our phone conversation on
Friday morning, this work was done in the Philadelphia
work zone and accrues to the Philadelphia Division
(sic) gang before the gang located in Downingtown.
In light of this violation of Rules 14 and 55, I am
claiming a total of 8 hours at time and one-half."
FINDINGS
At the time of the dispute in question, Claimant was
employed as a foreman at Carrier's Philadelphia Division. By
letter dated March 28, 1984, the Organization filed claim on
behalf of Claimant seeking compensation on the grounds that
Carrier improperly allowed a non-zone 4 employee to perform
service in zone 4 on March 16, 1984 and March 17, 1984. Carrier
denied the organization's claim by letter dated April 11, 1984.
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-The issue to be decided in this dispute is whether Claimant
was entitled under the Agreement to perform the work in question
on the specified dates.
The Organization contends that Carrier violated Rules 14 and
55 of the Agreement when it allowed a zone 2 employee to perform
service in zone 4 on the dates in question.
Initially, the Organization cites Rule 14, covering
"Seniority Districts - Working Zones", and argues that this rule
prohibits Carrier from allowing employees from zone 2 to perform
service in zone 4 absent specific circumstances, which the
Organization alleges are not present in the instant dispute.
Specifically, the organization cites Section C of Rule 14 which
states "...work ...will be advertised to the working zone..." The
Organization contends that this section indicates that only
District Gangs, under Rules 89 and 90, may perform work outside
of their normal territory. The Organization further contends
that the employee in question was not performing service in
accordance with Rules 89 and 90, and that therefore Rule 14 is
fully applicable to the dispute at hand. The Organization
maintains that the language of Rule 14 is clear and prohibits
Carrier from assigning "cross-zone" service.
The Organization additionally argues that Carrier has failed
to provide any evidentiary support for its position that the
service in question was proper under the Agreement. The
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PLB 3932 - Award #2
Organization initially argues that Rule 79, cited by Carrier, has
no applicability to the present dispute, since that rule only
covers emergency situations and is in effect only a "pay" rule.
The organization further argues that Carrier's allegation
concerning the propriety of cross-zone service when such service
involves overtime lacks any evidentiary or contractual support.
Finally, the Organization maintains that Carrier has failed to
justify its failure to call Claimant for overtime service on the
dates in question, since Claimant was the senior qualified
employee in zone 4 on those dates.
The position of the Carrier is that the cross-zone service
complained of in this case is proper under the Agreement, and
that the Claim has no merit.
Initially, Carrier argues that neither Rule 55 nor Rule 14
was violated on the dates in question. Carrier argues that Rule
55 applies to overtime service and the limits placed on Carrier
regarding that service. Carrier maintains that the Organization
has failed to establish that Claimant's rights were violated
under Rule 55 or any other provision dealing with overtime.
Carrier further maintains that on both of the dates in question
the zone 2 employee performed service within the confines and
long-standing application of Rule 55.
Carrier further argues that Rule 14 was not violated in any
way. Carrier maintains that Rule 14 does not prohibit it from
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using employees in cross-zone service, and that the Organization
has failed to point to any specific language under Rule 14 to
support its claim. Carrier argues that Rule 14 is only
applicable when a change in work zones occurs or positions within
work zones are advertised, which it alleges did not take place in
the present case. Carrier therefore argues that Rule 14 fails to
substantiate the Organization's position, since both Claimant and
the employee in question had Southern District seniority,
indicating that both employees were properly entitled to perform
the service in question.
Carrier argues additionally that both the Agreement and past
practice indicate that such service (cross-zone) is both
contemplated and accepted. Carrier cites several provisions of
the Agreement which it alleges indicate that such service is
contemplated, since those provisions dictate procedure and
compensation for such service. Carrier additionally cites the
work schedule of the Penn Coach Yard Wire Train to support its
allegation that cross-zone service is and has been performed on a
regular basis.
Finally, Carrier cites the fact that the Organization filed
a Section 6 Notice on August 21, 1984 in an attempt to modify the
present Agreement to disallow cross-zone service. Carrier
maintains that the Section 6 Notice is conclusive proof that the
Agreement currently does not prohibit such service, since
otherwise the organization would have had no reason to file the
PLB 3932 - Award No. 2
Section 6 Notice.
After review of the record, the Board finds that the
Organization's Claim must be denied.
This case involves the identical issue dealt with by this
Board in Case No. 1. In that case, we found that the
Organization failed to sustain its burden of proof regarding the
alleged violations. We find that the Organization has similarly
failed in the present case to establish any violation of the
Agreement. -
As stated in our findings in Case No. 1, the key provision
relied upon by the Organization is Rule 14, and, as in Case No.
1, we find here that Rule 14 in no way prohibits Carrier from
assigning cross-zone service. There is no language in Rule 14
that indicates in any way that Carrier may not utilize an
employee for cross-zone service. Section C of Rule 14, cited by
the Organization, merely indicates that certain work will be
advertised to the working zone, and that working zones shall not
be changed without agreement. The Organization has failed to
point to any specific provision in Rule 14 that Carrier violated
through its actions in the present case. Similarly, we find that
Rule 55 in no way prohibits Carrier from utilizing an employee
for cross-zone service. The organization has failed to establish
that any overtime rights of Claimant were violated by Carrier.
We therefore find Rule 55 unsupportive of the Organization's
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claim.
As stated in Case No. 1, we find that, contrary to the
Organization's position, Carrier has established that cross-zone
service is relatively commonplaces and that other provisions of
the Agreement indicate that such service is acceptable, so long
as Carrier follows travel and compensation procedures. Finally,
the Organization's Section 6 Notice serves as persuasive evidence
that the current Agreement does not prohibit the complained of
practice.
AWARD
Claim denied.
Neutral MembE~'
Ur
Carrier Membe
r
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