PUBLIC LAW BOARD 140. 3991
JOINT COUNCIL OF CABMEN, HELPERS,
COACH CLEANERS AND APPRENTICES
Parties
to the
VS.
Case No. 26
Dispute
NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER
CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CLAIM'
The Organization seeks the reinstatement of Beech
Grove, Indiana, Carman William B. Jackson, with compensation for time lost.
FINDINGS
On August 11, 1986, Beech Grove Maintenance Facility Carman William
B. Jackson was charged with a violation of Rule F (sleeping on duty)
and Rule G (being under the influence of a narcotic). Rule 23 (Diecipline-Investigation-Appeal)_of the parties' Agreement provides in
pertinent part:
h·
(a) Employees who have been in service more than
~60 calendar days shall not be disciplined or dismissed without s fair and impartial investigation,
unless such employees shall accept such dismissal
or other discipline in writing and waive formal
investigation. Such waiver must be made in the
presence of a duly accredited representative of the
organization.
-2-
Claimant volunteered to take a urinalysis test that he allegedly
failed. He then elected to sign a waiver on August 15, 1986, in which,
among other things, he admitted his guilt and agreed to adhere to
an aftercare plan prescribed by an EAP Counselor.
By letter dated February 5, 1987, Carrier was notified that,
as of that date, Claimant had attended only one aftercare session
following his completion of a 30-day in-patient program for chemical
dependence on September 26, 1986. Carrier thereupon issued Claimant
a letter of termination for his failure to comply fully with the terms
of the waiver.
In the course of processing its appeal, the Organization raised
several questions about the appropriateness of Carrier's asking Claimant.
to take a urinalysis test and of his signing a waiver; and its failure
to grant him a hearing, as well as to take into account his problem
with Narcolepsy.
This Board can find nothing wrong with the waiver signed by Claimant. The parties' Agreement provides for such a procedure; Carrier
complied with the Agreement when Claimant signed the document in the
presence of a Union representative. Claimant thus knowingly admitted
his guilt to the charges and waived his right to an investigation.
The Organization also questioned Carrier's decision to terminate
Claimant without an investigation, upon learning of Claimant's alleged
failure to adhere to the aftercare plan prescribed by his EAP Counselor.
_3-
Carrier responded by citing prior precedent on this matter in Award
No. 12 of Public Law Board 3625 (Referee Sharp): "Once the agreement
has been violated, it becomes self executing for its consequences.
Dismissal is to be immediate."
This Board agrees with Carrier that once it has been established
that the waiver has been violated, termination is automatic. The
waiver specifically states that "I further understand that after successfully completing the initial treatment recommended by the EAP Counselor,
I will be dismissed from service unless I comply with the following .
stipulations ...." We also find some merit, however, in the suggestion
that an evidentiary hearing be held to determine solely the question
of whether a violation has taken place. If sufficient probative evidence
is adduced at this investigation to support the allegation that an
employe had not complied with the waiver, the Hearing Officer would
have no recourse but to impose the discipline mandated. Conversely,
if sufficient evidence is not provided, the terms of the waiver would
remain in effect.
Given the fact that the waiver of a formal investigation is a
bargained term and condition of the parties' Agreement, any modification
of or addition to the current procedure should be negotiated by them.
In the present case, we find-sufficient basis in the record before
us to convince us that Carrier had enough evidence in this particular
instance to conclude that a violation had taken place. Although Claimant
-a-
alleged that he had some difficulty in meeting with the EAP Counselor,
at no time did he refute the fact that he had only attended one aftercare session at the CPC Valle Vista Hospital in a four-month period.
Given Claimant's clear violation of the waiver, his termination. must
stand.
AWARD
Claim denied.
C:IJ .
C. H. Gold, Neut al Member
I t ~· v
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t: . t- S a V
,.' J. Czaczm4n, Employe Member W. Q. Cole Carrier Member
d
Date of Approval