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

President Biden establishes a three-member emergency board under the Railway Labor Act to investigate an unresolved labor dispute between New Jersey Transit Rail Operations and its locomotive engineers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. The board must report within 30 days, and both parties are barred from changing working conditions for 120 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 89 FR 60791

Impact dates

Nov 22, 2024
End of 120-day status quo period for working conditions
Aug 24, 2024
Board report due to President
Jul 25, 2024
Emergency Board effective date

Key directives

Establish Emergency Board with chair and two members appointed by President
Board members must have no financial or other interest in railroad employee organizations or carriers
Board to investigate and report on the dispute
30-day reporting deadline from board creation
120-day maintenance of conditions prohibition on both parties
Records to be maintained by National Mediation Board after termination

Timeline

Immediate

Emergency Board established effective 12:01 a.m. EDT July 25, 2024
120-day status quo period begins on working conditions

Near term (90d)

Board must submit report to President within 30 days (by August 24, 2024)
Status quo period continues through November 22, 2024

Long term

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

Risks & tensions

Standard RLA procedure but narrow scope limits broader precedent
Dispute resolution depends on voluntary party acceptance of board recommendations
Funding availability caveat may delay operations if appropriations constrained