September 19th 2025 – The Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM), together with the coalition of unions representing workers on the Long Island Rail Road, announced on September 15th that they are formally requesting the appointment of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) after more than two years of stalled negotiations with the MTA and LIRR.
In the release from the White House:
Disputes exist between the Long Island Rail Road Company and certain of its employees represented by certain labor organizations. The labor organizations involved in these disputes are 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.
Section 9A(c) of the RLA provides that the President, upon such request, shall appoint an emergency board to investigate and report on the disputes.
NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 9A of the RLA, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Establishment of Emergency Board (Board). There is established, effective 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 18, 2025, a Board composed of a chair and two other members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President to investigate and report on these disputes. No member shall be pecuniarily or otherwise interested in any organization of railroad employees or any carrier. The Board shall perform its functions subject to the availability of funds.
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TCU President Artie Maratea said, “Gov Hochul – It is clear that President Trump respected the process, your hands were never tied you were simply playing political games!…TCU looks forward to the next step in the process and presenting our case to the appointed Arbitrators. Our members can be assured TCU will always do what it takes to achieve the best contract for our members.”
Click here to read the release from the White House.
Click here to read the letter that establishes PEB 253.