Catherwood LibraryILR School

Unions and company executives are both pleased with an Obama pick for the National Mediation Board that will deal with airline negotiations. Linda Puchala is a well-known, former-union leader skilled in mediation and well-liked by both workers and management. In the recent past she has won the respect of both parties in negotiations with American Airlines and its pilots union. She is regarded as knowledgeable and fair, as well as well-versed on the Railway Labor Act. The three-member board is a key aspect of airline labor negotiations, and makes determinations about the status of negotiations; workers may not legally strike unless the board decides the parties have reached impasse. The appointment has not yet been approved by the Senate.