Presidential Emergency Board Schedules Hearings In SEPTA Labor Dispute
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The short-lived SEPTA strike is over and Regional rail trains are moving again, but the labor dispute involving the transit agency and the unions representing 400 engineers and electricians is far from over.
SEPTA announced Sunday that hearings will take place next week before an emergency board, established by President Barrack Obama.
READ: Obama Intervenes, SEPTA Regional Rail Strike Ends
The three-person panel of veteran mediators will hear from both sides and try to bring them together.
The Presidential Emergency Board scheduled for the week of June 23rd. SEPTA will offer their side, and the two unions involved will do the same.
"We want to be very optimistic that the members of the Presidential Emergency Board will help bring us closer to a resolution," said SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams. "We'll have to wait and see."
Steve Bruno, with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, is hopeful for a resolution.
"I don't know if I would go as far as to say optimistic," Bruno said. "I don't really know how SEPTA would feel about making any movement on the basis of the recommendations. I suppose we would have to wait and see what they were."
The board will present its recommendations by July 14 and is in effect for 240 days. If a deal isn't made by then, which would be February, another strike is possible.
READ: Complete Coverage 'SEPTA Regional Rail Strike'
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