Establishing An Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between the Long Island Rail Road Company and Certain of its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations

9/16/2025

Executive Orders

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Action Summary

Purpose: Establish an emergency board to investigate disputes between the Long Island Rail Road Company and certain of its employees represented by multiple labor organizations.
Labor Organizations Involved: Transportation Communications Union; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Authority: Action taken under section 9A of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151-188 and 159a) at the request of the parties empowered by the RLA.
Board Composition and Appointment: A board consisting of a chair and two members, all appointed by the President, with the requirement that no member has any pecuniary or other interest in a railroad employee organization or carrier.
Reporting Requirement: The board is mandated to submit its report on the disputes to the President within 30 days of its creation.
Maintenance of Conditions: For 120 days from board creation, no changes in the dispute conditions may be made except by mutual agreement of the parties.
Records and Custody: All records of the board will be maintained as records of the Office of the President and later transferred to the National Mediation Board.
Publication Costs: Costs for publishing the order will be covered by the Department of Transportation.

Risks & Considerations

The establishment of an emergency board to investigate disputes between the Long Island Rail Road Company and its employees may not directly impact Vanderbilt University. However, it highlights the federal government’s role in labor disputes, which could set precedents affecting labor relations in other sectors, including higher education.
While the immediate focus is on the railway industry, the resolution of such disputes could influence labor policies and negotiations in other industries, potentially affecting university staff and faculty negotiations in the future.
The involvement of multiple labor organizations in this dispute underscores the importance of maintaining good labor relations and could serve as a case study for Vanderbilt’s labor relations strategies.
Vanderbilt University should monitor the outcomes of this board’s investigation as it may provide insights into federal approaches to labor disputes, which could be relevant for university policy-making and labor relations.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt Law School may find this executive order relevant for research and teaching purposes, particularly in courses related to labor law and dispute resolution.
The Department of Human Resources at Vanderbilt could use the findings from this board as a reference for best practices in handling labor disputes and negotiations.
Vanderbilt’s Labor and Employment Relations Program might incorporate the outcomes of this investigation into its curriculum to provide students with real-world examples of federal intervention in labor disputes.

Financial Impact

There is no direct financial impact on Vanderbilt University from this executive order. However, the broader implications of federal involvement in labor disputes could influence future labor negotiations and associated costs.
Vanderbilt may consider allocating resources to study the outcomes of this board’s investigation to better prepare for any similar labor issues that could arise within the university.

Relevance Score: 2 (Minor considerations for the university to address, primarily in terms of labor relations and policy monitoring.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor the outcomes of the emergency board’s investigation into the Long Island Rail Road Company disputes. Understanding the implications of labor disputes and resolutions can provide insights into labor relations and policies that may affect university operations or partnerships.
Vanderbilt Law School could consider analyzing the legal frameworks and implications of the Railway Labor Act and the establishment of emergency boards. This analysis could be valuable for educational purposes and for advising on labor relations within the university or in collaborations with external organizations.
Vanderbilt’s Department of Economics might explore the economic impacts of labor disputes and resolutions in the transportation sector. This research could contribute to broader discussions on labor economics and inform policy recommendations.

Opportunities

The executive order provides an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for Transportation and Operational Resilience to study the effects of labor disputes on transportation systems. This research could enhance the center’s expertise and influence in transportation policy and resilience planning.
By engaging with labor organizations and transportation companies, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in labor relations research and education. Hosting conferences or workshops on labor disputes and resolutions could further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative thought in this area.

Relevance Score: 2 (The order requires minor updates to processes, primarily in monitoring and research opportunities related to labor relations and transportation.)

Average Relevance Score: 3

Timeline for Implementation

Effective Date: Board established at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 18, 2025.
Report Submission: The Board must submit its report to the President within 30 days of its creation.
Maintenance Conditions: No changes in the conditions giving rise to the dispute for 120 days from Board creation, unless agreed by the parties.

The shortest deadline is the 30-day report submission requirement.

Relevance Score: 4

Impacted Government Organizations

Office of the President: The order establishes an emergency board whose records remain part of the presidential records, thereby involving the Office of the President in overseeing the investigation.
National Mediation Board: Upon termination of the board, its records are to be maintained by the National Mediation Board, integrating it into the administrative framework for labor dispute resolutions.
Department of Transportation: The department is designated to cover the publication costs for the order, marking its role in supporting the directive’s administrative execution.

Relevance Score: 2 (A few Federal Agencies are impacted by the executive action.)

Responsible Officials

The President – Responsible for appointing the Emergency Board’s chair and members and receiving the Board’s report.
Department of Transportation – Tasked with bearing the publication costs of the order.
National Mediation Board – Designated to assume physical custody of the Board’s records after its termination.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directs actions at the highest levels, including a Cabinet-level agency and the President’s direct involvement.)