Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate Disputes Between the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and Certain of Its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations

President Bush established a five-member Emergency Board to investigate labor disputes between Amtrak and eight rail unions under the Railway Labor Act. The Board must report within 30 days of its December 1, 2007 creation, during which time neither side may alter working conditions. The Board terminates automatically upon submitting its report.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 67827

Impact dates

Dec 31, 2007
Board must report to President (30 days from creation)
Dec 28, 2007
Status quo freeze ends (30 days after report submission)
Dec 1, 2007
Emergency Board effective date

Key directives

Establish five-member Emergency Board effective December 1, 2007
Board members must have no financial or other interest in railroad employee organizations or carriers
Board must report to President within 30 days of creation
Maintain status quo conditions from Board creation through 30 days after report submission
Board records transferred to National Mediation Board custody upon termination
Board terminates upon report submission

Who is ordered

President · Executive Office of the President

Timeline

Immediate

Board established at 12:01 a.m. EST December 1, 2007
Status quo freeze on working conditions begins

Near term (90d)

Board must report by December 31, 2007
30-day cooling-off period after report submission

Long term

No structural changes; temporary intervention expires upon report submission

Risks & tensions

Binding arbitration not imposed; report is advisory only, leaving dispute resolution uncertain
Status quo freeze may harden positions if either side expects political intervention
Vague 'availability of funds' condition for Board operations creates minor execution risk