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August 1943 the superintendent of equipment wrote General Vice Chairman M. J. McGuiness as follows:

"Chicago, Illinois

August 26, 1943

13.5

Mr. M. J. McGuiness, Vice Gen'l. Chairman

Brotherhood Railway Carmen

15316 Parkgrove Ave.

Cleveland, Ohio

Dear Sir:

In connection with our recent meeting here in Chicago at which time you presented the subject of train crews coupling up air on trains at Blue Island.

This was our Norpaul train crews which we found were doing this work at Blue Island.

For your information the Superintendent has issued positive instructions to all his train crews operating out of this point that this practice must be discontinued at once.

I personally feel that this is permanently eliminated and if you happen to see any individual violations the crew will be immediately disciplined by their superior officers.

I believe this will correct any past condition that we have had at that point.

Yours truly

Signed/W. L. Houghton
Sup't of Euipment"

Following this and in February 1944 the yard master coupled air hose on a train, and under date of February 11, 1944 Mr. Holt Carman at Blue Island made claim for 8 hours pay on account of this yard master coupling the hose. Claim for pay is made on account of yard master Bella coupling air on C & E.I. Del'y track No. 23 Eng. 333.

This claim was allowed by General Foreman Mr. L. W. Dobbins, his letter dated March 7, 1944 which reads in part as follows:

"At this meeting it was agreed by all concerned that Management would allow 8 hours time where the yard master performed work belonging to the Carmen's Organization."

On March 25, 1944 Mr. E. H. Burwell Carman at Blue Island made claim for four hours pay account of trainmen crews coupled the air hose on the 6:30 P. M. Pere Marquette delivery Engine No. 260, 25 cars. This claim was allowed as per General Car Foreman Dobbins letter dated September 11, 1944 which reads in part as follows:

'We will allow the four hours as requested by Mr. Burwell."

July 6, 1944, Carman A. C. Holt made claim for pay for four hours account of the train crew coupling air hose on nine (9) cars. Claim allowed by the Car Foreman.

On October 20, 1944, Messers; Meyers and Furnick Carmen at Blue Island made claim for pay on account of train crew coupling air hose on train B A2 Engine 2348, 35 cars departed at 1:44 A. M. This claim was allowed by Local Car Foreman.

On January 28, 1945 claim for pay was made by the Carmen on the Argo seniority roster (Argo in on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad) on account of Car Foreman Mr. Palerno coupled air hose on trains on January 19, and 26. This claim was allowed by the Superintendent of Equipment and he wrote the following letter to the Local Chairman of the Carmen.

"329 LaSalle Street Station
Chicago 5, Ill. May 17, 1945

Mr. A. A. Amelung

Local Chairman

Brotherhood Railway Carmen 12637 Greenwood Avenue

Blue Island, Ill.

Dear Sir:

Your letter April 24th, with further reference to claim in connection with Mr. Palerno having coupled air on January 19th and 26th.

You will recall at the meeting that it was understood that there would be a four hour allowance to Emil Esposito and four hours to Edward Masankowski.

For your information these claims are allowed in the first half of May payroll.

Yours truly

Signed/W. L. Houghton

Superintendent of Equipment
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad

On January 21, 1946 the following bulletin was posted in the Blue Island territory.

"All Carmen.

Effective 7:00 A. M. January 22, 1946, Carmen will couple Hose and make terminal air tests on all trains departing from the East and West Yards at Blue Island, Illinois.

Signed/H. K. Cassel, Car Foreman"

In 1945 a dispute arose in connection with foreign road trainmen coupling air hose in the Blue Island territory. This dispute was also settled by the

Superintendent and General Vice Chairman M. J. McGuiness through conference and correspondence and comformation thereof as follows:

"February 6, 1946

Mr. M. J. McGuiness

Brotherhood Railway Carmen Of America

15316 Parkgrove Avenue

Cleveland 10, Ohio

Dear Sir:

To confirm our meeting here in Chicago this date in connection with Statement of Facts and claims pertaining to the operation at Old Blue Island Yard and at LaGrange.

I have hereby agreed that we will discontinue the practice at once and perform the work at both locations, namely Old Blue Island Yard and LaGrange with I.H.B. R.R. Carmen forces.

With this consideration we will therefore agree to withdraw the claims and statement of facts which are now in Mr. Mitchells' possession and comply with the agreement enacted here this A. M.

It will require 30 days to abolish contracts which now exsist with foreign roads, namely the Grand Trunk Western in Old Blue Island Yard and C.B. & Q. at LaGrange. After these contracts have expired, all work at both points will be performed by I.H.B. R.R. Carmen.

Signed/W. J. Houghton

Superintendent of Equipment

4-2

I concur in this arrangement.

Signed/M. J. McGuiness

General Vice Chairman

Brotherhood Railway Carmen Of America"

Mr. Houghton's settlement with General Vice Chairman Mr. M. J. McGuiness gives this work exclusively to the carmen.

In 1949 another dispute arose in which the carmen in the East and West Bound Yards made claim for pay on account of trainmen coupling the air hose. This dispute was settled by the Superintendent Mr. S. T. Kuhn and General Chairman M. J. McGuiness and a memorandum of Agreement drawn up which reads as follows:

Memorandum of conference between the Brotherhood Railway Carmen Of America and The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company held at Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 1949, for the purpose of settling claims covering the coupling of air hose and testing of air on trains departing from Blue Island South Yard on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

Agreement was reached to allow (2) two hours each shift for each working day at the prevailing straight time rate, a total of six (6)

hours per day for the months of March, April, May, June, July, August and September, 1949.

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The parties hereto are agreed that the payment of the above listed claims by the carrier is without prejudice and does not establish a precedent and is in full settlement of satisfaction on any and all claims of such nature to and including the date of settlement.

For The Employes:

Signed/M. J. McGuiness
December 15, 1949

For The Indiana Harbor Belt
Railroad Company

Signed/S. T. Kuhn"

This was a compromise settlement, as the original claim was for eight (8) hours at time and one half rate, hence the words do not establish a precedent.

March, 1954 another dispute arose in regards to coupling of air hose in the Blue Island Yards, in which statements of facts were drawn up, the organization going ex-partee and the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, Chicago River and Inidana Railroad (known as the C. J.) going Ex-Partee. Claim of the organization as follows.

DISPUTE; CLAIM OF EMPLOYES: That the carrier violated Rules 32 and 154 of the current agreement.

That the carmen in Blue Island Yards should be compensated under Rule No. 7, paragraph C, for each instance where trainmen coupled the air hoses on trains departing from Blue Island Yards as shown in the statement of facts.

This case was settled on September 17, 1955 by General Mechanical Superintendent Mr. J. J. Wright who had jurisdiction over the I.H.B., C.R. & I. Railroad together with the New York Central Railroad Lines West. Settlement as follows.

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Referring to our letter of September 15, file 13.5, regarding Case G-1160, in regard to claim presented to Blue Island, in connection with coupling air hoses:

As brought out in our meeting on September 17, in this office we are confirming settlement of $125.00 for the 17 claims listed on the ex-parte Statement of Facts, dated Chicago, May 4, 1954 and for five claims presented up to March 31, 1955. As agreed this claim is settled with the understanding that the above was Carmens work. Therefore, you may close your file.

Very truly yours,

Signed/J. J. Wright"

The instant claim was for coupling hose only and a violation of Rules 32 and 154. It will be noted that the carrier conceded that the coupling of air hoses is carmen's work and comes under Rules 32 and 154 and that both these Rules were violated.

Again on October 11, 1955 a dispute arose in regards to the coupling of air hoses. The employes entered into an ex-parte statement of facts and made claim as follows.

DISPUTE: CLAIM OF EMPLOYE'S: That the carrier violated Rule No. 154 of the current agreement. Claim is made under Rule 7, Paragraph C, for two claims at $5.64 per claim, Messers A. J. Haslip and F. Vierum, respectfully. Mr. Lyon Master Mechanic settled these claims and wrote General Chairman M. J. McGuiness as follows.

Mr. M. J. McGuiness

General Chairman, B.R.C. Of A. 15407 Parkgrove Ave.

Cleveland 10, Ohio

Dear Sir:

"Chicago, Ill. March 13, 1957
13.5

With reference to your letter of February 21, 1956 in regard to the coupling of air on Two trains, as follows, at Blue Island Yard of I.H.B. R.R.

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Air coupled in both instances by Conductor R. T. Nevilles:

To dispose of these cases of long standing, I am agreeable to the payment of one claim each to Messers; A. J. Haslip and F. Vierum, in the amount of $5.96, in settlement of the above claims, without prejudice to the carrier and without establishing by precedent a fixed value of such claims.

If acceptable, please advise and I will progress for payment as above.

Yours truly,

Signed/T. J. Lyon

Master Mechanic

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