NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

PUBLIC LAW BOARD N0. 4370


BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY EMPLOYES

and

BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY


AWARD NO. 38

Case No. 38









On July 21, 1990, a derailment occurred. and employes were called for overtime assignment in connection therewith. Employes junior to the Claimants were called, and the Organization states the Claimants should have been called under Rule 21 (d), which states in pertinent part as follows:

      Senior employes in their respective ranks and gangs will, if available, be called or used to perform overtime work.

                                                  ~I3~o- 38


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The Carrier contends that the Claimants were not called simply because their telephone numbers were not on file, and they were not listed in the local telephone directory. (Both Claimants live in outlying communities.) The Claimants insist that their numbers were available.

Neither the Claimants nor the Carrier can clearly demonstrate the validity of their assertions. It appears that, shortly after the claim was initiated, steps were taken to insure that a complete list of telephone numbers became available. A repetition of this controversy is thus avoidable.

There is no showing that there was any deliberate failure to call the Claimants in favor of junior employees. Given the conflict in factual assertions, the Board is unable to assign responsibility or resolve the matter.


                        A W A R D


      Claim dismissed.


                        6


              HERBERT L. MARX, Jr., Neutral Referee


NEW YORK, NY
DATED: October 30, 1992