Section 1. (a) Prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Carrier shall bulletin all available positions to employees under this Agreement. Said employees shall have the opportunity to select one of the following options: regular job, Guaranteed Extra Board or Reserve Board/second brakeman.

(b) Assignments to positions shall be made by seniority preference. It is understood all regular must-fill jobs and Guaranteed Extra Board positions will be filled initially by working employees as provided by schedule rules. (See Side Letter #6, Part 1)

(c) The Carrier shall have the right to blank one second brakeman/helper assignment for each regular-assigned (not including extra board) employee selecting the Reserve Board option. As the Reserve Board is attrited, crew consist requirements shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.

Section 2. The carrier will not reduce the number of positions below the level on the effective date of this Agreement as a result of its implementation. Except as provided in Article IX, Section 5 (b) , employees may be furloughed as a result of a subsequent reduction in the number of regular jobs and Guaranteed Extra Board positions.

Section 3. The total number assigned to the "Guaranteed Extra Board" will be determined and agreed upon by the Director of Labor Relations and the General Chairman.