Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and its Conductors Represented by the United Transportation Union

This executive order establishes a three-member emergency board to investigate a labor dispute between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and its conductors represented by the United Transportation Union under the Railway Labor Act. The board must report within 30 days, and both parties are prohibited from changing working conditions for 120 days from the board's creation.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 19917

Impact dates

Aug 10, 2004
Status quo period ends
May 12, 2004
Board report due to President
Apr 12, 2004
Emergency board established

Key directives

Establish 3-member emergency board effective April 12, 2004
Board to investigate and report on SEPTA-conductor dispute
Board report due within 30 days of creation
120-day status quo period from board creation
Board members must have no financial or other interest in railroad employee organizations or carriers
Records to be maintained by National Mediation Board after termination
Board terminates upon report submission

Timeline

Immediate

Emergency board established effective April 12, 2004
30-day reporting clock begins
120-day status quo period begins

Near term (90d)

Board report due by May 12, 2004
Status quo period continues through August 10, 2004

Long term

Board terminates upon report submission
Records transferred to National Mediation Board custody

Risks & tensions

Narrow geographic scope limits national structural impact
Standard Railway Labor Act procedure—routine mechanism for rail labor disputes
30-day timeline is compressed; board may have limited ability to broker settlement
Status quo requirement may frustrate either party seeking leverage
No enforcement mechanism specified if parties violate status quo period