National Mediation Board

• Pages: 469-472

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

1301 K Street NW., Suite 250 East, Washington, DC 20005

Phone, 202-692-5000. Internet, www.nmb.gov.

Chairman Elizabeth Dougherty

Members Harry R. Hoglander, Read Van de Water

Director, Mediation Services Larry Gibbons

Director, Alternative Dispute Daniel Rainey

Resolution

General Counsel, Office of Legal Mary Johnson

Affairs

Director, Arbitration Services Roland Watkins

Director, Administration June King

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The National Mediation Board maintains a free flow of commerce in the railroad and airline industries by resolving labor-management disputes. The Board also handles

railroad and airline employee representation disputes and provides administrative and financial support in adjusting grievances in the railroad industry.

The National Mediation Board (NMB) is an independent agency established by the act of June 21, 1934, which amended the Railway Labor Act of 1926

(45 U.S.C. 151-158, 160-162, 1181-1188). The Board is composed of three members, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

NMB performs a central role in facilitating harmonious labor-

management relations within the railroads and airlines industries. NMB is also authorized to resolve employee representation disputes.

Activities

Mediation NMB ensures that labor and management exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain collective bargaining agreements. If these parties fail to reach an agreement, however, either or both may apply to the Board for mediation. Following receipt of an application, NMB promptly assigns a mediator to assist the parties. NMB mediators apply a variety of dispute resolution techniques, including traditional mediation, interest-based problem solving, and facilitation, to resolve the dispute. If after such efforts the Board determines that mediation will not settle the dispute, NMB offers voluntary arbitration (interest arbitration) as an alternative approach to resolve the remaining issues. This option is rarely exercised by the parties. In situations where interest arbitration is used, an arbitrator's decision is final and binding with very narrow ground for judicial review. If this arbitration is rejected, the Board promptly releases the parties from formal mediation, triggering a 30-day cooling off period. If an agreement has not been reached by the end of the 30-day period, the parties are free to exercise lawful self-help (such as strikes...