Agreed Upon Questions & Answers
1. Q. For each buyout accepted under Article VIII of the agreement, is the minimum number of Reserve Board positions reduced on a one-for-one basis?
A. Yes, for each active employee working on the territory covered by this agreement and holding a seniority date prior to September 15, 1980; for employees hired after September 15, 1980, three (3) such employees must accept buyouts as provided in Article X (11) to reduce the Reserve Board by one.
2. Q. Does a protected employee, as provided by the crew consist agreement of September 15, 1980, have the option to place on a second brakeman/helper position?
A. Yes, if the employee has the seniority.
3. Q. In the application of Article IX, Guaranteed Extra Board, if the Carrier reduces the Board at the initial 120 day adjustment, would those positions reduced from the Guaranteed Extra Board be added to the Reserve Board?
A. Yes.
4. Q. After the initial 120 day adjustment, will the number of available Reserve Board positions ever fall below this number?
A. No.
5. Q. If the Carrier adjusts the Guaranteed Extra Board after the initial 120 day adjustment, is the Reserve Board adjusted accordingly?
A. No.
6. Q. What options are available to employees if there are subsequent reductions in positions?
A. Exercise of seniority as at present.
7. Q. What options are available to eligible employees who cannot hold a must-fill position, the Guaranteed Extra Board or the Reserve Board (second brakeman/second helper positions) as a result of the reduction of the number of regular jobs?8.
The employee goes furloughed in the same manner as he/she would before this agreement unless he/she has rights under the protective provisions of the August 25, 1964 and March 1, 1968 Crew Consist Agreements.
If an employee is displaced, may he/she displace to a Reserve Board?
A. Yes.
9. Q. If an employee works part of the year, qualifies for a vacation and is on the Reserve Board for a part of the year, is Reserve Board pay included in the computation of the employee's 1/52 for vacation purposes?
A. Reserve Board pay is not counted towards qualifying for a vacation but will be included in the computation of their 1/52.
10. Q. If an employee qualifies for vacation but is on the Reserve Board when it comes time for their vacation, how will he/she be compensated?
A. The employee will receive vacation pay as calculated under the vacation agreement. The employee will not receive Reserve Board pay in addition to the vacation pay.
11. Q. Will the Productivity Fund payments be used as an offset for any guarantee provisions?
A. No.
12. Q. If an employee voluntarily exercises seniority from the Guaranteed Extra Board to a temporary vacancy, is the employee entitled to the Guarantee provisions of Article III of this Agreement?
A. No, they have removed themselves from availability on the Guaranteed Extra Board.