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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 8, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The President has established, by Executive Order, Presidential Emergency Board No. 228 to make recommendations for the settlement of the current dispute between certain railroads represented by the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of its employees represented by the Transportation Communications International Union. The Board is effective May 8, l996.

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has notified the President that this dispute is critical and a strike would have an immediate and adverse effect on the public. On this recommendation, the President has created the Emergency Board to investigate and report on the current dispute between over 50 railroad and railway companies and their employees. The Emergency Board must report its findings and recommendations for settlement to the President within 30 days.

The President appointed Rolf Valtin of Virginia to serve as chair of the Board, and Gil Vernon of Wisconsin and Herbert L. Marx, Jr., of New York to serve as Members.

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