Obama orders second emergency board in SEPTA-union debate
The president's decision averts a potential strike that would shutter the transit authority's Regional Rail lines.
FOR THE SECOND time in four months, President Obama has spared Regional Rail riders a big headache.
Obama, at the request of SEPTA, yesterday called for the formation of a presidential emergency board that will help mediate an ongoing dispute between the transit authority and one of its labor unions, according to a statement from the White House.
More importantly, the creation of the board will prevent the union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, from striking, effectively shutting down Regional Rail lines.
Under the board, BLET members are required to continue working for 120 days, during which negotiations will continue.
Jerri Williams, a SEPTA spokesperson, described those talks as "productive."
"We've narrowed our differences, and we're still working out the details," she said, noting that a rule requiring train operators to wear uniforms is the final point of contention.
Obama formed the initial board in June to end a strike called by BLET and another union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. It expires tomorrow.
IBEW reached an agreement with SEPTA in August, according to Williams.