ARTICLE XVI - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1 - Court Approval

     This Agreement is subject to approval of the courts with respect to participating carriers in the hands of receivers or trustees.

Section 2 - Effect of this Agreement

     (a) The purpose of this Agreement is to fix the general level of compensation during the period of the Agreement, and is in settlement of the dispute growing out of the notices served upon the carriers listed in Exhibit A by the Organization signatory hereto dated on or about January 3, 1977 and July 19, 1977 (wage and rules); February 15, 1977 and August 1, 1977 (health and welfare and dental), and proposals served on June 13, 1977 by the carriers for concurrent handling therewith.

     (b) This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement by and on behalf of each of said carriers and their employees represented by the Organization signatory hereto-, and shall remain in effect through March 31, 1981 and thereafter until changed or modified in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.

     (c) Except as provided by paragraph (d) of this Section 2, the parties to this Agreement shall not serve nor progress prior to January 1, 1981 (not to become effective before April 1, 1981) any notice or proposal for changing any matter contained in:

     (1) this Agreement,

     (2) Section 2(c) of Article XV of the Agreement of January 27, 1972, and

     (3) proposals of the parties identified in Section 2(a) of this Article except proposal B of the carriers' June 13, 1977 notice.

and any pending notices which propose such matters are hereby withdrawn.

     (d) Pending notices properly served under the Railway Labor Act covering subject matters not specifically dealt with in Section 2(c) of. this Article XVI and which do not request compensation need not be withdrawn and may be progressed under the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended. Similarly, new proposals properly served under the Railway Labor Act covering subject matters not specifically dealt with in Section 2(c) of this Article XVI and which do not request compensation may be served and progressed under the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.

     (e) This Article will not bar management and committees on individual railroads from agreeing upon any subject of mutual interest.

SIGNED AT WASHINGTON, D. C. THIS 25TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1978.