US President Joe biden has signed an executive order preventing a national strike by US railway workers that would have crippled already-stressed containerised supply chains.
By creating a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), the Biden administration heads off any potential disruption that could have occurred upon the expiration at midnight last Sunday of a National Mediation Board-mandated cooling off period.
The executive order prevents the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen from striking and 12 other unions from engaging in secondary picketing, encompassing 155,000 workers, reports IHS Media.
''Keeping supply chains running means keeping America's railways running,'' the White House said in a statement.
The PEB, which consists of arbitrators and negotiators familiar with the labour issues being contested, now has 30 days to issue a nonbinding recommendation to the two sides.
Rail carriers and unions then will have 30 days to review the general recommendations and come to a deal or declare an impasse, which would extend the date before which a strike cannot occur to mid-September.
Robert Hawkins, an attorney representing railroads at Cozen O'Connor, said a PEB involved in a freight rail dispute cannot exist beyond 60 days, so Congress would need to step in under the Railway Labour Act to prevent a strike or related job actions.
As of September 17, Congress can send legislation to the White House to stall any strike while it crafts a binding agreement to resolve the dispute.
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By creating a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), the Biden administration heads off any potential disruption that could have occurred upon the expiration at midnight last Sunday of a National Mediation Board-mandated cooling off period.
The executive order prevents the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen from striking and 12 other unions from engaging in secondary picketing, encompassing 155,000 workers, reports IHS Media.
''Keeping supply chains running means keeping America's railways running,'' the White House said in a statement.
The PEB, which consists of arbitrators and negotiators familiar with the labour issues being contested, now has 30 days to issue a nonbinding recommendation to the two sides.
Rail carriers and unions then will have 30 days to review the general recommendations and come to a deal or declare an impasse, which would extend the date before which a strike cannot occur to mid-September.
Robert Hawkins, an attorney representing railroads at Cozen O'Connor, said a PEB involved in a freight rail dispute cannot exist beyond 60 days, so Congress would need to step in under the Railway Labour Act to prevent a strike or related job actions.
As of September 17, Congress can send legislation to the White House to stall any strike while it crafts a binding agreement to resolve the dispute.
SeaNews Turkey
