Catherwood LibraryILR School

As the New Jersey Transit’s ongoing labor impasse continues, with a strike narrowly averted by the creation of the 248th Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) on Wednesday, the latest PEB made significant inroads into the male-dominated history of railroad labor management. Three women make up the board, a first in the 78-year history of the PEB. Created in 1937, the PEB has had at least one female member only 7% of the time, with the percentage of female arbitrators even fewer at 3%. The historical accomplishment follows closely upon the heels of the National Mediation Board’s acceptance of three new female members in June, bringing the NMB to a female majority for the first time in 81 years. The PEB has until August 14th to make non-binding settlement recommendations; Wednesday’s creation of the PEB does prevent a strike from occurring for 240 days.