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

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.