Reference M. A. Kotter's letter to you dated June 30, 1993 granting your request for a thirty (30) -day extension of your leave of absence, effective July 1, 1993_ through July 30, 1993.

Due to your failure to return to work on August 2, 1993, following your leave of absence that ended on July 30,-1993, you must forfeit- all seniority rights as per Rule 15, Paragraph E . . . which reads in part: ITAn employee failing to report for duty on or before the expiration of their leave of absence will-forfeit all seniority rights, unless an extension is grated."

:-_ -4370 -

5, 1993 and then was given three extensions of the-leave,-ending

July 30, 1993.--- The Claimant contended that he had been in touch

with the Manager, Gangs by telephone both before and after-July-30 and, according to the Claimant, was advised the matter-of--a_-leave extension was under consideration. The Manager, Gangs agreed that he did have telephone conversations with the Claimant, but each time he advised the Claimant that there would be no Leave extension and that he must report for work.

Despite these conflicting interpretations of the conversations between the Claimant and the Manager,_ Gangs, two things are certain. First, the Claimant does not assert that he had actually received a leave extension prior to August 2. Second, the Claimant failed to report for work on August 2 or thereafter.

Rule 15 is clear and unambiguous. Having not received a leave

extension beyond July 30- and having failed to report for work

thereafter, the Rule is, self-executing. The Board has no basis to -

find that the Carrier improperly placed the Rule in effect in

relation to the Claimant.

A W A R Q -