(a) The authorized representative of the organization may make a written request to any terminal company party to this Agreement that the seniority roster on such company be placed on the bottom of a contiguous seniority roster of a designated owning line party to this Agreement, with all prior rights and responsibilities maintained. Representatives of the organization, the terminal company, and its designated owning line shall meet within thirty (30) days thereafter to discuss implementation of such request.

    (b) If a terminal company has more than one owning line covered by this Article, the terminal company employees (as a group) shall designate the owning line on whose roster all such employees will be placed.

    (c) An employee covered by this Article who exercises seniority on the designated owning line shall be treated as a new employee, provided, however, that such employee shall be credited for all of his train and engine service with the terminal company involved for purposes of rules pertaining to vacation qualification and rate progression.

    (d) An employee covered by this Article who exercises seniority on the designated owning line shall be governed by the collective bargaining agreement of such owning line.

(    a) If the parties have not reached agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt of the organization's proposal, either party may refer the matter to final and binding arbitration as set forth in this Section.

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    (b) The arbitrator shall be selected by the parties. If they fail to agree within five days from the date notice of the submission to arbitration is received from the moving party, either party may request a list of five potential arbitrators from the National Mediation Board, from which the parties shall choose the arbitrator through alternate striking. The order of such striking shall be determined by coin flip unless otherwise agreed by the parties. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties.

    (c) The arbitrator's jurisdiction shall be limited to unresolved issues concerning how the seniority rights of employees covered by this Article will be established on the designated owning line's seniority roster. The arbitrator's decision shall be rendered within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the appointment is accepted.

    This Article shall become effective June 1, 1996 and is not intended to restrict any of the existing rights of a carrier except as specifically provided herein.