ARTICLE VIII
AGREEMENT ALLOWANCE

1. Each employe who qualifies under the terms of Section 2 or 3 of this Article will receive a one time Agreement Allowance in the gross amount of $3,500.

2. To be eligible to receive the payment provided under the terms of this Article, an employe must have a seniority date in train/yard service on the territories covered by this agreement on or before the effective date of this agreement, and be in active service on such territories as a trainman/yardman on the effective date of this agreement.

3. Employes who do not qualify under Section 2 because they are on approved leaves of absence, have seniority in other crafts on the Carrier and are working in one of those other crafts, are furloughed, or are out of service for disciplinary reasons, will, upon returning to active service no later than December 31, 1993 as a trainman/yardman or being assigned to a reserve board, be entitled to receive the payment provided under the terms of this Article upon completing sixty (60) consecutive days in active service as a trainman /yardman or in reserve board status, or a combination of both. Employes qualifying for the payment provided in this Article pursuant to Sections 3 above must claim the payment in writing.