National Mediation Board (NMB) | Practical Law

National Mediation Board (NMB) | Practical Law

National Mediation Board (NMB)

National Mediation Board (NMB)

Practical Law Glossary Item 6-517-3021 (Approx. 2 pages)

Glossary

National Mediation Board (NMB)

An independent federal agency charged with administering the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The NMB's primary duties are:
  • Investigating who is the appropriate representative of a carrier's employees to resolve representation disputes.
  • Holding elections or using other means such as union authorization card counts to ascertain the employees' choice of a representative, if any.
  • Determining:
    • election rules; and
    • voter eligibility.
  • Investigating alleged interference with elections.
  • Ordering reruns of elections or other remedies for election interference.
  • Certifying election results and unions as representatives of crafts or classes.
  • Mediating collective bargaining disputes, also known under the RLA as minor disputes.
The NMB consists of three members selected by the President and confirmed by the Senate for three-year terms.