Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate Disputes Between the Long Island Rail Road Company and Certain of Its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations
The order establishes a three-member Emergency Board to investigate unresolved labor disputes between the Long Island Rail Road and five unions, and freezes working conditions for 120 days while the board works.
Requires the board to report findings to the President within 30 days, giving both sides a structured federal mediation process to resolve contract disputes before any strike or lockout can occur.
What this order does
What it orders
The order establishes a presidentially appointed three-member Emergency Board, effective September 18, 2025, to investigate and report on labor disputes between the Long Island Rail Road and five unions: the Transportation Communications Union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The Board must submit its report to the President within 30 days of creation, after which it terminates. Records are to be transferred to the National Mediation Board.
For 120 days from the Board's creation, neither the railroad nor the unions may change any of the conditions underlying the disputes without mutual agreement. The Board operates subject to available funds, and the Department of Transportation bears the costs of publishing the order.
Who it affects
The Long Island Rail Road and its employees represented by five specific labor unions. Commuters and freight users depending on Long Island Rail Road service are indirectly affected, as the 120-day status quo period prevents work stoppages or unilateral changes during the investigation.
Why it matters
Millions of commuters who rely on Long Island Rail Road are shielded from immediate service disruptions. The 120-day freeze on working conditions and the mandatory federal report give both labor and management a structured path toward settlement, reducing the likelihood of a strike or lockout.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
The President appoints all three Board members, none of whom may have a financial or other interest in any railroad union or carrier. The Board has 30 days to investigate and report; it automatically terminates upon submitting that report. Separately, the 120-day status quo freeze on dispute conditions runs independently of the Board's timeline, extending well past the report deadline. Records become property of the National Mediation Board after termination. The Department of Transportation covers publication costs.
Actions and deadlines
- Emergency Board investigates disputes and reports findings to the President
- Parties to the dispute maintain existing conditions without unilateral changes
- Board terminates and records transferred to the National Mediation Board