PUBLIC LAW BOARD NO. 5483
PARTIES UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION )
AWARD NO. 40
TO - AND
CASE NO. 40
DISPUTE PADUCAH & LOUISVILLE RAILWAY, INC.)
STATEMENT OF CLAIMV
Claim of Brakeman S. A. ICinchloe, Louisville, KY, for payment of all time
lost when suspended from service for period of ninety (90) days,
. subsequent to investigation conducted on August 12, 1996. Claim also
includes payment for attending investigation and reimbursement of any and
all out of pocket medical expenses incurred by the Claimant.
HISTORY OF DISPUTE:
On July 10, 1996 Claimant worked an assignment as Brakeman on Local CLC-1
from Cecilia, Kentucky to Louisville, Kentucky and returning to Cecilia. The last
physical work Claimant performed prior to the end of his tour of duty was to throw the
switch at the Russell Tracks at Cecilia. After Claimant went off duty and during his drive
home he noticed some discomfort in his back. By the time he arrived home the
discomfort had become noticeable pain to the point-where Claimant applied a heating pad
while resting on the couch, did not eat dinner and went to bed.
The following morning the pain was more severe, and Claimant reported early for
his 11:00 a.m. assignment, spoke by telephone with the Trainmaster and arranged to have
a form to report a personal injury faxed to him. Such forms were not available at Cecilia.
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During his tour of duty on July 1 I Claimant filled out the form and gave it to his
Conductor who took it to Louisville at the end of the crew's tour of duty. The Carrier's
Trainmaster, who was not on duty when the Conductor arrived in Louisville, received the
personal injury report on the morning of July 12. -
By letter of July 19, 1996 the Carrier notified Claimant to appear for formal
investigation in connection with the incident. After postponements the investigation was
held on August 12, 1996. By letter of August 21, 1996 the Carrier notified Claimant that
as a result of evidence adduced at the investigation he had been found guilty of not .
properly reporting a personal injury on July 10, 1996 in violation of Carrier operating
Rule 840 and Safety Rule No. 1 for which he Was suspended from the Carrier's service
for a period of ninety days.
The Organization grieved the discipline. The Carrier denied the grievance. The
. Organization appealed the denial to the highest officer of the Carrier designated to handle
such disputes. However, the dispute remains~unresolved, and it is before this Board for
final and binding determination.
FINDINGS'
The Board upon the whole record and all the evidence finds that the employees
and the Carrier are employees and Carrier within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act,
as amended, 45 U.S.C. §§ 151, et sea. The Board also finds it has jurisdiction to decide
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the dispute in this case. The Board further finds that the parties to the dispute, including
Claimant, were given due notice of the hearing in this case.
The Organization raises a number of procedural objections to the discipline in this
case. However, we find it unnecessary to address those objections in view of what we
believe to be the lack of substantial probitive evidence in the record supporting the
finding of guilt on Claimant's part.
Operating Rule 840 provides in pertinent part that "[EJmployees must make an
immediate oral and written report to the supervisor-or employee in charge of any personal
injury suffered while the employee was on duty or on company property . . . ." Safety
Rule No. 1 requires in pertinent part that "[E]mployees must report promptly to the
proper authority any injury sustained on duty or on company property . . . ." We must
egret with the Organization that both rules are subject to the proviso that the injured
employee realize or have reasonable knowledge of an injury before the reporting
requirements of the rules apply.
On July 10, 1996, the date the Carrier found Claimant failed to report a personal
injury in violation of the stated rules, Claimant was unaware of any discomfort in his
back until driving home. Even though the pain increased that evening, Claimant was off
duty. When, on the morning of July 11 Claimant experienced substantially greater pain
and related it to throwing the switch to the Russell Tracks, Claimant reported to work
early in an attempt to secure a personal injury form which was not available at Cecilia.
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Whatever may be said of the content of the conversation between the Trainmaster
and Claimant on the morning of July 11, which is in serious dispute, the fact remains that
on July 10 the duty to report an injury which is the subject matter of operating Rule 840
and Safety Rule No. i had not arisen. Accordingly, the record does not substantiate
Claimant's guilt. It follows that the claim has merit.
AYAiil
Claim sustained.
The Carrier will make this award effective within thirty days of the date hereof.
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Q~r MpehtKrir
DATED:
William ger, Chairman and Neutral Member
B. R. Wigent
Employee Member