Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate Disputes Between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Certain of Its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations

President Obama established a three-member emergency board to investigate labor disputes between SEPTA and two unions 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 79 FR 35029

Impact dates

Oct 13, 2014
120-day status quo period expires
Jul 15, 2014
Board report due to President
Jun 15, 2014
Emergency Board effective date

Key directives

Establish three-member Emergency Board effective June 15, 2014
Board members must have no financial or other interest in railroad employee organizations or carriers
Board shall report to President within 30 days of creation
Parties prohibited from changing dispute conditions for 120 days from Board creation
Board records maintained by National Mediation Board after termination
Board terminates upon report submission

Timeline

Immediate

Emergency Board established effective June 15, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
120-day status quo period begins preventing strikes or lockouts

Near term (90d)

Board must submit report to President by July 15, 2014
Status quo period continues through October 13, 2014

Long term

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

Risks & tensions

Standard RLA procedure; temporary cooling-off period avoids immediate strike but does not resolve underlying disputes
If parties reject board recommendations, strike/lockout possible after October 13, 2014
SEPTA funding constraints may limit ability to meet union demands
Philadelphia-area transit disruption would affect ~1 million daily riders if status quo expires without settlement