Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between American Airlines and its Employees Represented by the Allied Pilots Association

This executive order creates a three-member emergency board to investigate a labor dispute between American Airlines and its pilots' union (Allied Pilots Association) under the Railway Labor Act. The board must report within 30 days, during which time neither party may change existing working conditions without mutual agreement.

Federal Register Open PDF 62 FR 7653

Impact dates

Apr 16, 1997
Status quo conditions freeze ends (30 days after report submission)
Mar 17, 1997
Board report to President due

Key directives

Establish three-member Emergency Board effective February 15, 1997
Board members must have no financial or other interest in airline employee organizations or air carriers
Board to report to President within 30 days of creation
Maintain existing conditions for 30 days after report submission
Board records to be maintained by National Mediation Board after termination

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Emergency Board established effective February 15, 1997
President to appoint three board members
Status quo conditions freeze takes effect

Near term (90d)

Board must submit report to President within 30 days of creation
30-day cooling-off period continues after report submission
Board terminates upon report submission

Long term

Potential precedent for future airline labor disputes under Railway Labor Act
Records transferred to National Mediation Board custody

Risks & tensions

Dispute 'threatens substantially to interrupt interstate commerce' per National Mediation Board finding
Board effectiveness contingent on 'availability of funds'
Vague whether 30-day report deadline runs from signing date or actual appointment of members
Cooling-off period may merely delay rather than resolve underlying labor dispute