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EO 13679Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13679

Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Its Locomotive Engineers Represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

This executive order establishes a second emergency board to investigate an unresolved labor dispute between SEPTA and its locomotive engineers represented by BLET, after a first emergency board's recommendations were rejected. The board will select the most reasonable final offer from each party and report to the President, while maintaining a 60-day cooling-off period preventing strikes or lockouts.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 62323

Impact dates

  1. End of cooling-off period (60 days after report submission)

  2. Board submits report to President with selected most reasonable offer

  3. Parties submit final offers to Board

  4. Board established effective 12:01 a.m. EDT

Key directives

  • Establish three-member emergency board effective October 13, 2014
  • Parties submit final offers within 30 days of Board creation
  • Board selects most reasonable offer and reports to President within 30 days of receiving final offers
  • Maintain status quo conditions for 60 days after report submission per RLA section 9A(h)
  • Board terminates upon report submission
  • Records transferred to National Mediation Board upon termination

Timeline

Immediate

  • Board established effective October 13, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
  • Cooling-off period begins (from earlier RLA request date)

Near term (90d)

  • Final offers due within 30 days of Board creation (by approximately November 12, 2014)
  • Board report due within 30 days after final offers (by approximately December 12, 2014)
  • Cooling-off period extends 60 days after report submission

Long term

  • Potential for renewed bargaining or congressional action if dispute persists after board process concludes

Risks & tensions

  • Second emergency board indicates first mediation failed; parties remain far apart
  • Binding selection of 'most reasonable offer' may leave both parties dissatisfied, risking future disputes
  • Cooling-off period provides temporary stability but does not guarantee resolution
  • RLA emergency board process is procedural; no enforcement mechanism beyond delay
Executive Order 13679: Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Its Locomotive Engineers Represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen · Executive Orders