Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between New Jersey Transit Rail Operations and Its Locomotive Engineers Represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
This executive order establishes an Emergency Board under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) to investigate and report on a dispute between New Jersey Transit Rail Operations and its locomotive engineers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). The Board, consisting of a chair and two members appointed by the President, is tasked with producing a report within 30 days. While the Board is operating, the existing conditions out of which the dispute arose must remain unchanged for up to 120 days (the status-quo period). The Board’s records will be kept by the Office of the President during its existence and later by the National Mediation Board. The Board terminates after it submits its report. This action, authorized by section 9A of the RLA, does not by itself settle the dispute but is intended to facilitate resolution through investigation and timely reporting.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose: Creates an Emergency Board to investigate and report on the dispute between NJ Transit Rail Operations and its locomotive engineers represented by BLET.
- 2Board composition and ethics: A chair and two additional members, all appointed by the President; members cannot have financial or other interests in any railroad employee organization or any carrier.
- 3Reporting timeline: The Board must report its findings to the President within 30 days of its creation.
- 4Status-quo protection: For 120 days from the Board’s creation, the parties must maintain the existing conditions out of which the dispute arose (no unilateral changes unless the parties agree).
- 5Records and termination: The Board’s records are initially the President’s records and, after termination, are maintained by the National Mediation Board. The Board terminates once it submits its report.