View source for National Mediation Board

{{Infobox Government agency
| agency_name     = National Mediation Board
| nativename      = 
| seal            = National_Mediation_Board_Seal.gif
| seal_width      = 140
| seal_caption    = NMB Seal
| formed          = June 21, 1934<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVMAN-1998-06-02/pdf/GOVMAN-1998-06-02-Pg617.pdf|title=U.S. Government Manual|work=GPO|year=1998}}</ref>
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States]]
| headquarters    = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| employees       = 38 (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Performance and Accountability Report, FY2021 |url=https://nmb.gov/NMB_Application/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FY-2021-NMB-Performance-and-Accountability-Report-PAR.pdf |publisher=National Mediation Board}}</ref>
| budget          = $14.3 million (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Performance and Accountability Report, FY2021 |url=https://nmb.gov/NMB_Application/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FY-2021-NMB-Performance-and-Accountability-Report-PAR.pdf |publisher=National Mediation Board}}</ref>
| chief1_name     = [[Loren Sweatt]]
| chief1_position = Chairman
| website         = {{url|www.nmb.gov}}
}}
The '''National Mediation Board''' (NMB) is an [[independent agency]] of the [[United States government]] that coordinates [[labor-management relations]] within the U.S. railroads and airlines industries.

==History==
The board was established by the 1934 amendments to the [[Railway Labor Act]] of 1926 and is headed by a three-person panel of Presidential appointees.

NMB programs provide an integrated [[dispute resolution]] process to meet the statutory objective of minimizing [[strike action|strikes]] and other work stoppages in the [[airline]] and [[railroad]] industries. The NMB's integrated processes specifically are designed to promote three statutory goals:

* The prompt and orderly resolution of disputes arising out of the negotiation of new or revised [[collective bargaining]] agreements;
* The effectuation of employee rights of self-organization where a representation dispute exists; and
* The prompt and orderly resolution of disputes over the interpretation or application of existing agreements.

==Contracts==
Under the Railway Labor Act, an airline or railroad union contract does not expire; it remains in force and amendable until a new contract is ratified by the union members or either side exercises "self-help," which could be a [[strike action|strike]] by employees or a [[lockout (industry)|lockout]] by management. Before this can happen, the NMB-appointed [[mediation|mediator]] must declare an impasse in negotiations, which starts a 30-day cooling off period, during which negotiations continue. Once the 30-day period has passed, either side is free to exercise self-help, unless the [[President of the United States|President]] authorizes a Presidential Emergency Board, which issues non-binding recommendations followed by another 30-day cooling off period. The [[US Congress]] also has the power to impose a contract, as they did for [[2022 United States railroad labor dispute|railroads in 2022]].

==Board members==
The Board is composed of three members, nominated by the [[President of the United States]], with the [[List of positions filled by presidential appointment with Senate confirmation#Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|advice and consent of the Senate]], for terms of three years. The terms are staggered, so one term expires on July 1 every year. At the end of their term of office a member may continue to serve until a successor takes office, or they are themselves confirmed for another term.<ref name="USC">{{USCode|42|2000e-4}}</ref> 

The board annually designates a member to act as chairman. Two members of the board constitutes a quorum.<ref name="USC" />

===Current board members===
The current board members {{as of|lc=y|df=US|2024|12|22}}:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nmb.gov/NMB_Application/index.php/board-members/ |title=Board Members |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=NMB.gov |publisher=National Mediation Board |access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Position
! Name
! Party
! Sworn in
! Term expires
|-
! Chair
| {{sortname|Loren|Sweatt}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2024|04|02}}
| {{dts|2026|07|01}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Linda|Puchala}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2009|05|21}}
| {{dts|2027|07|01}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Deirdre|Hamilton}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2022|01|25}}
| {{dts|2025|07|01}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations]]
* [[Newlands Labor Act]]
* [[National Labor Relations Board]]
* [[Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (United States)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official|http://www.nmb.gov/}}
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-mediation-board National Mediation Board] in the [[Federal Register]]

{{Woodrow Wilson}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1934 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1934]]
[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]]
[[Category:Labor relations boards]]
[[Category:Mediation]]

{{US-gov-stub}}