President Donald Trump set up a special mediation board to prevent a strike on the nation’s largest commuter rail, the Long Island Rail Road.
The White House established a Presidential Emergency Board that will oversee negotiations in a dispute between the LIRR and a coalition of five unions, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. The labor groups made the request rather than follow through on their threat to strike as soon as Sept. 18. A shutdown would upset the commutes of about 3 million people who live on Long Island and rely on the rail to get to New York City for work, school and entertainment.