SENIORITY ROAD AND YARD
(a) Seniority Dates Brakemen/Yardmen. Brakemen/yardmen rights will date from the day and time they pass the required examinations as recorded in the Personal Record Bureau. However, when two or more experienced brakemen/yardmen are hired and are examined on the same day, men first hired will date ahead of men subsequently hired, and provided further that when two or more student brakemen/yardmen are hired and after completion of the required student training are examined as a class, employees first hired who pass the examination will date ahead of those subsequently hired and, provided finally, that except in case of sickness, students who are not available for service after completion of the examination forfeit all seniority rights.
In cases where both experienced brakemen/yardmen and students are examined on the rules on the same day in the same class; the experienced brakemen/yardmen will be accorded preferred seniority position as of that date and class.
(b) Seniority Date ‑ Conductors: Conductors' rights shall date from the time they pass examination for promotion to conductor. If because of leaves of absence, sickness or other causes beyond his control, a man is unable to present himself for examination for promotion In his regular turn, his roster standing will not be affected, provided he arranges to qualify in accordance with Rule 71 of this agreement.
(c) May Work Either as Foreman or Conductor: A conductor who elects to protect regular assignment as engine foreman in preference to working on regular assignment as conductor will not lose his conductor's rights; a conductor who elects to protect regular work as conductor in preference to working a regular assignment as engine foreman will not lose his date as engine foreman.
(d) Physically Disabled ‑ Seniority: Employees covered by this agreement retired under the Railroad Retirement Act for physical disability shall retain seniority rights until they reach the age of sixty‑five years.
(e) Seniority Terminates Age Seventy: The established seniority rights of employees covered by this agreement shall automatically terminate co‑effective with the date the employee reaches the age of seventy years, and no person shall be employed as trainman/yardman after reaching the age of seventy years.
(f) Exchange of Seniority: Exchange of seniority between trainmen/ yardmen from one seniority district to another will be permitted subject to the approval of and conditions agreed to between the Director of Labor Relations and the General Chairman.
(g) Prior Right Engine Foreman to Road Conductor: Trainmen holding prior rights as engine foremen who have passed the required examination for promotion to conductor may exercise their seniority rights to freight service and remain there a sufficient time to qualify as conductor, without impairment of their engine foreman's date; provided, however, that if at the expiration of the required six months in freight service such engine foremen are in line for a regular job as conductor, they may give up job as brakeman and displace any junior conductor on the seniority district or exercise their seniority rights back into the yard and continue thereafter to protect engine foremen's work until such time as they my elect to accept service as a conductor regularly.