Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Presidential·Exec Order

Trump Creates Emergency Board to Avert Long Island Rail Road Strike

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

2 months ago·View on White House

Key Points

  • President Trump is creating a second "Emergency Board" to step in and help settle a contract dispute between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and several of its labor unions. This follows a previous attempt to solve the problem in late 2025 that did not result in an agreement.
  • The goal of this board is to prevent a strike or lockout that would shut down the busiest commuter railroad in the country. This affects hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the LIRR to commute into New York City every day.
  • The board will consist of three neutral experts who have no financial interest in the railroad or the unions. Within 30 days, both the railroad and the unions must submit their "final offers" for a new contract to this board.
  • The board will then have another 30 days to review the offers and pick the one they believe is most reasonable. This "final offer" process is designed to encourage both sides to be fair so their proposal is the one chosen.
  • By law, the railroad cannot change work rules and the unions cannot go on strike while the board is working and for 60 days after they finish their report. This ensures the trains keep running while the legal process plays out.
Labor EmploymentTransportationEconomy

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(2)
Union Member
Helps

Union members get a neutral board to review their contract offers, preventing immediate strike action while protecting their bargaining position.

Federal Employee
Helps

Federal workers who commute on LIRR continue to get to work reliably during the dispute resolution process.

State Impacts

New YorkNY
Positive

Prevents LIRR service disruption for over 300,000 daily commuters traveling to jobs in New York City and surrounding areas.

ConnecticutCT
Positive

Connecticut commuters who use LIRR connections continue to access jobs in New York without strike disruptions.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Mid-February 2026 (30 days after board creation)

Final contract offers due from both sides

The railroad and unions submit their best and final proposals to the board for consideration.

Mid-March 2026 (60 days after board creation)

Board issues final decision on contract

The board selects which side's offer is most reasonable, and parties have 60 more days before they can strike or change conditions.

Source Information

Signed By

Document Type

Executive Order

Official Title

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

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.