ERIE L&CKI~WASINt1 RkILUAY CQWANY


STiTaiyD'T OF CLAM:
        1. The Carrier violated the effective bgreement by rearranging its welding forces as of September 1963 in such a manner as to eliminate the Eastern District Foreman position, assigning one single Welding Foreman for the entire System,, New York to Chicago, thus, increasing the duties and responsibilities of the existing Leading ?!elders, without proper compensation being paid to them.


        2. The 3 Leading Welders, John Sheets, Jr., C, E. Gregory and R. W, Hugaboon, Eastern District, be now paid the difference between what they received at t:· e Leading Welders rate of pay and what they should have received at the ?fielder Foreman rate of pay from Sept. 10, 1963 until such time the violations referred to are corrected.


        3. The Q Leading Welders, E. C. Shoemaker, K. Shepard, J. :z. Rorr, Jr., and R. L. DeVore, Western iiistrict, be now paid the difference between what they received at the Leading Welders rate of pay and what they should have received at the Welder Forerants rate of pay from September 10, 1963 until such time the violations referred to are corrected.


FIDDIIGS: The Critical question is whether lcad welders are required to perform
 significant duties of foremen, Tho record indicates that there are
 seven crows, each consisting of one lead welder and one helper and
 that all fourteen employes are under one foreman. Formerly, 'shore had been two
 foremen and four crews. It also appoars that some of the lead welders work at
 times directly under the Division Engineer, have little working contact with the
 Welder Foreman end are required to send time and distribution reports to the
 $eeounting Department, a function previously performed by foremen, and to pre
 pare requisitions and other written reports.

 While these facts indicate that the leaders' duties have been increased to some extent, the record does not ostablish that their responsibilities and authority have been expanded to such a degree that. they should receive foreman's rather than lead welders' pay. Indeed, Claii:~ants are receiving leaders, rather than welders' pay only because they are called upon to perform some supervision and to prepare time slips and written reports of material requisitions and related matters. See Third Division Award 7835.
 Say ~~I - ,~w~ of

 In our view, the evidence does not justify a finding that the authority and functions of lead welders have been so broadened as to entitle them to foreman's status and pay. The claim accordingly, twill be denied.

 AWARD: Claim denied.

          Adopted at New York, N.Y. this 29th day of October 1968.


                  /s/Harold Ni. Weston

                    HAROLD Ni. WESTON, fEiJTRAL


/s/A. J. Cunningham , /s/R. A. Carroll
 i~ploye member Carrier P:ember

 .,__ -_2_ Award No. 21
 Item Nos. 126-i27