A grievance arbitration tribunal that an individual railroad and a single union covered under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) can jointly form to resolve minor disputes about specific types of grievances that the parties designate. Public Law 89-456 authorizes individual railroads and unions to jointly set up special boards of adjustment or individually to request that the National Mediation Board form an alternative grievance arbitration tribunal called a Public Law Board.

Parties may voluntarily agree to send select types of grievances to a special board of adjustment because the tribunal often is more familiar with the intricacies of their collective bargaining agreement and can hear and decide the dispute more promptly than the National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB). Under the RLA, the NRAB has jurisdiction to arbitrate any minor dispute in the railroad industry and hear any appeal from a special board of adjustment or public board decision.

For more information, see Practice Note, Railway Labor Act: Overview.