Rail and Air Labor Relations: National Mediation Board Made Progress on GAO Recommendations but Needs to Address Management Issues

NMB, created by a 1934 amendment to the Railway Labor Act, plays a critical role in helping airline and railway carriers resolve labor disputes to avoid work stoppages. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 included a provision for GAO to evaluate NMB programs and activities every 2 years. GAO previously issued four reports between 2013 and 2020 that included a cumulative total of 17 recommendations to NMB. As of its 2020 report, NMB had implemented seven of those recommendations.

This fifth report examines the extent to which NMB has taken actions to fully implement GAO’s remaining 10 open recommendations; and NMB’s process to identify, track, and address management and oversight challenges. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and regulations; examined NMB documents, plans, policies, and practices; and interviewed officials from NMB, NLRB IG, and an NMB advisory group.