ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13429Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13429

Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between Metro-North Railroad and Its Maintenance of Way Employees Represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters

President Bush establishes a second Presidential Emergency Board under the Railway Labor Act to investigate an unresolved labor dispute between Metro-North Railroad and its maintenance-of-way employees represented by the Teamsters union. The three-member board must receive final settlement offers from both parties within 30 days of its April 6, 2007 creation, then select the most reasonable offer and report to the President within 30 days thereafter, while maintaining status quo conditions throughout the process.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 18101

Impact dates

  1. Board must submit report to President (30 days after offers due)

  2. Status quo maintenance period ends (60 days after report submission)

  3. Parties must submit final offers for settlement

  4. Emergency Board established effective date

Key directives

  • Establish three-member Emergency Board effective April 6, 2007
  • Board members must have no financial or other interest in railroad employee organizations or carriers
  • Parties submit final settlement offers within 30 days of Board creation
  • Board selects most reasonable offer and reports to President within 30 days of receiving offers
  • Maintain status quo conditions from request date through 60 days after report submission
  • Board records transferred to National Mediation Board upon termination
  • Board terminates upon report submission

Timeline

Immediate

  • Board established effective April 6, 2007
  • Status quo conditions locked in (no changes permitted from request date through 60 days after report submission)

Near term (90d)

  • Parties must submit final offers by May 6, 2007 (30 days after Board creation)
  • Board must submit report to President by June 5, 2007 (30 days after offers due)
  • Board terminates automatically upon report submission

Long term

  • Potential for continued labor dispute if parties reject second board's recommended settlement
  • Possible congressional or further executive action if dispute remains unresolved

Risks & tensions

  • Second emergency board follows failed first board (EO 13417), suggesting entrenched positions and elevated risk of future strike if this process fails
  • 60-day cooling-off period after report provides limited window for parties to accept or reject; unclear what happens if rejected
  • 'Subject to availability of funds' qualifier in Section 1 creates minor uncertainty about Board operations
  • Regional commuter rail disruption would affect NYC metro area if parties reject second board and proceed to self-help after cooling-off period
Executive Order 13429: Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate a Dispute Between Metro-North Railroad and Its Maintenance of Way Employees Represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters · Executive Orders