May 26, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: Puchala Confirmed by the Senate as New NMB Member

Washington, D.C. -- The National Mediation Board (NMB) is pleased to announce that Linda A. Puchala was confirmed as a new Member of the Board by the United States Senate on Thursday, May 21, 2009. She was nominated by President Barack Obama. Ms. Puchala was sworn in as Chairman on Tuesday, May 26.

Ms. Puchala replaces outgoing Chairman Read Van de Water. Ms. Elizabeth Dougherty and Mr. Harry Hoglander remain as the other two Members of the Board.

Ms. Puchala

Linda Puchala served as the Sr. Mediator (ADR) and the Associate Director of Alternative Dispute Resolution Services of the National Mediation Board. She joined the agency in May, 1999, as a Mediator.

Ms. Puchala has 40 years of experience in Labor Relations, including work as International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, and Staff Director, Michigan State Employees Association, AFSCME, AFL-CIO.

Ms. Puchala resides in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Cleary University in Howell, Michigan. Ms. Puchala has two daughters, Jennifer Puchala of Pasadena, MD and Jessica Puchala of Grand Rapids, MI.

The NMB

The National Mediation Board (NMB) is an independent federal agency, established by the 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The Agency's integrated dispute-resolution processes for labor-management relations are designed to promote the three goals, enabling the National Mediation Board to effect its statutory mandate to minimize work stoppages in the railroad and airline industries:

• The resolution of disputes arising out of the negotiation of new or revised collective bargaining agreements;
  
  
• The effectuation of employee rights of self-organization where a representation dispute exists; and
  
  
• The resolution of disputes over the interpretation or application of existing agreements.

For further information, please refer to the agency's website at www.nmb.gov.

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