PUBLIC LAW BOARD NUMBER 3932
Award Number: 4
Case Number: 4
PARTIES TO DISPUTE
BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY EMPLOYEES
and
NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION (AMTRAK)
STATEMENT OF CLAIM /
"This claim is on behalf of D. Alley for time
made by G. Villano.
On March 6, 1984 (8 hours) and March 7, 1984
(8 hours), Mr. Villano was used to operate a
burro crane to remove rail at Brill
Interlocking. This work accrues to the
Philadelphia Division as per Rule 14 of the
Agreement. If additional help was needed on
these days, Mr. Alley should have been
utilized on an overtime basis ahead of Mr.
Villano, who holds a position in the
Baltimore Division.
Due to this violation of Rules 14, 55, and
56, I am claiming 16 hours at time and onehalf for Mr. Alley. Please advise if this
claim will be honored and the pay period in
which it will be paid."
FINDINGS
Claimant, at the time of the dispute in question, was
employed as a burro crane operator at Carrier's Philadelphia
Division. By letter dated March 17, 1984, the Organization filed
Claim on behalf of Claimant seeking compensation on the basis
that Carrier allowed a zone I employee to perform service in zone
4 on March 6 and 7, 1984, in violation of the Agreement.
3Y
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.The issue to be decided in this dispute is whether Claimant
was entitled under the Agreement to perform the service in
question.
The position of the Organization is that Carrier violated
the Agreement when it allowed a zone 1 employee to perform
service in zone 4, thereby depriving Claimant of his rightful
assignment. Specifically, the Organization contends that Carrier
violated Rules 14, 55 and 56 of the Agreement.
Initially, the Organization cites Rule 14 of the Agreement
to support its allegation that Carrier may not utilize employees
for cross-zone service except under limited circumstances. The
Organization maintains that no such circumstances existed on the
dates in question, and that Carrier was therefore prohibited
under Rule 14 from using a zone 1 employee to perform service in
zone 4. The Organization further maintains that Rules 55 and 56
were violated on the dates in question through Carrier's use of
the zone 1 employee in zone 4. Finally, the Organization alleges
that other provisions of the Agreement prohibit Carrier from
violating the integrity of work zones through the use of
employees in cross-zone service. The Organization contends that
the clear language of the Agreement provides that Carrier may not
use an employee on a foreign zone in order to deprive an employee
from the home zone of his rightful service.
The position of the Carrier is that it may require an
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PLB 3932 - Award No. 4
employee to perform service in a zone other than his designated
zone without violating the Agreement. Carrier maintains that the
Agreement in fact recognizes and authorizes such service.
Initially? Carrier argues that none of the rules cited by
the Organization prohibits cross-zone service. Carrier argues
that Rule 14 nowhere states that an employee from one zone cannot
perform service in another zone. Carrier maintains that Rule 14
only prohibits it from changing a work zone without agreement,
which it did not do in the present case. Carrier further
maintains that Rules 55 and 56 have no relevance to the claim at
hand since the work performed was not at an overtime rate.
Carrier argues that no rule under the Agreement prohibits crosszone service, and that several provisions indicate that such
service is contemplated. Carrier specifically cites Rules 42, 63
and 79 to substantiate its position that such service is
contemplated under the Agreement. Carrier additionally cites the
schedule of the Penn Coach Yard Wire Train where cross-zone
service was performed on various occasions, as well as other
examples of previously performed cross-zone service. Carrier
maintains that this evidence clearly establishes that both the
Agreement and past practice support its position. Finally,
Carrier cites the fact that on August 21, 1984, the Organization
filed a Section 6 Notice seeking to change Rule 56 to prohibit
the cross-zone service complained of in this case. Carrier
argues that this Notice serves as conclusive evidence that the
present Agreement does not prohibit such service.
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After review of the record, the Board finds that the
Organization's claim must be denied.
This case presents facts similar to those before this Board
in Case No. 1. As we stated in that dispute, the Organization
has the burden of establishing that the work in question was
reserved for Claimant under the Agreement. we find in the
present case that the Organization has failed to meet that
burden.
The Organization has failed to cite any provision of the
Agreement prohibiting Carrier from utilizing an employee in
cross-zone service. Rule 14 nowhere indicates that Carrier may
not utilize such service. Rule 14 only prohibits the changing of
work zones without agreement. Further, the Board finds that
Rules 55 and 56 do not support the Organization's claim, since it
has not established that Claimant was entitled to perform
overtime on the dates in question. Carrier has demonstrated that
such service has been performed previously, and that the
Agreement contemplates such service so long as certain procedures
are followed. Finally, the Organization's Section 6 Notice
serves as further evidence that no Agreement prohibition exists
concerning cross-zone service. In sum, the Organization has
failed to establish, and we fail to find, any specific
prohibition against the type of service performed in the present
case.
PLB~3932 - Award No. 4
AWARD
Claim denied.
/N4utral Membe
Carrier Member'
Or $nization Member
DATE:
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