A GW Law School alumnus and former adjunct professor will chair a Presidential Emergency Board designed to resolve an ongoing dispute between major freight rail carriers and their unions.

President Barack Obama appointed Ira Jaffe and four other members to the board last week after more than a year of unresolved contract negotiations between freight carriers and the 11 unions representing about 92,000 railway workers.

“It is public service of the highest level for individuals in my profession,” Jaffe said. “It is an honor to serve with such distinguished colleagues to attempt to resolve the pending dispute.”

The board has 30 days to issue a report to the president regarding the dispute.

The 1977 graduate served as an adjunct professor at the law school from 1981 until 1984, teaching courses in labor law, collective bargaining and labor arbitration as well as agency and partnership.

Jaffe has presided over more than 4,000 cases regarding industrial labor disputes, both in the public and private sectors, and has served on three former presidential emergency boards. He also serves on 60 permanent arbitration boards dealing with labor issues.