Opinion ID: 500031
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The New-Hire Appellants

Text: 142 A fourth group of claimants are the new-hire appellants. These appellants were hired by the Rock Island after its acquisition by the CNW. They received no seniority and contend that their rights were violated under the March 4th Agreement. The CNW contends that the jobs the new hire appellants received did not arise out of the work related to the Rock Island acquisition, and thus they were not deserving of any seniority under the March 4th Agreement. Clearly, if the work did not arise directly from the Rock Island acquisition, the CNW is correct. 143 These new-hire appellants have the right to have their claims submitted to a neutral arbitrator to determine whether the jobs they received arose from the acquisition and, if they did, what seniority rights are due these appellants. Appellants' claims are, of course, subject to the defense of laches. In determining whether appellants' claims are barred by laches, the arbitrator should take into account all those factors listed in section IV(D)(4)(b) of this opinion.