116 STAT. 1292 PUBLIC LAW 107-217—AUG. 21, 2002 prices charged for mass transit services, prices that are substantially aifected by labor costs, since more than two-thirds of operating costs are attributable to labor costs; (3) labor costs incurred in providing mass transit in the national capital area have increased at an alarming rate and wages and benefits of operators and mechanics currently are among the highest in the Nation; (4) higher operating costs incurred for public transit in the national capited area ceumot be offset by increasing costs to patrons, since this often discourages ridership and thus undermines the public interest in promoting the use of public transit; (5) spiraling labor costs cannot be offset by the governmental entities that are responsible for subsidy payments for public trsuisit services since local governments generally, and the District of Columbia government in particular, are operating under severe fiscal constrednts; (6) imposition of mandatory standards applicable to arbitrators resolving arbitration disputes involving interstate compact agencies operating in the national capital area will ensure that wage increases are justified and do not exceed the ability of transit patrons and taxpayers to fund the increase; and (7) federal legislation is necessary under section 8 of Article I of the United States Constitution to balance the need to moderate and lower labor costs while maintaining industrial peace. (b) PURPOSE.— The purpose of this chapter is to adopt standards governing gu-bitration that must be applied by arbitrators resolving disputes involving interstate compact agencies operating in the national capital area in order to lower operating costs for public transportation in the Washington metropolitan area. §18302. Definitions In this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) ARBITRATION.—The term "arbitration"— (A) means the arbitration of disputes, regarding the terms and conditions of employment, that is required under an interstate compact governing an interstate compact agency operating in the nationed capital area; but (B) does not include the interpretation and application of rights arising from an existing collective bargaining agreement. (2) ARBITRATOR.—The term "arbitrator" refers to either a single arbitrator, or a board of arbitrators, chosen under applicable procedures. (3) INTERSTATE COMPACT AGENCY OPERATING IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA.— The term "interstate compact agency operating in the national capital area" means any interstate compact agency that provides public transit services and that was established by an interstate compact to which the District of Columbia is a signatory. § 18303. Standards for arbitrators (a) DEFINITION. —In this section, the term "public welfare" includes, with respect to arbitration under an interstate compact— (1) the financial ability of the individual jurisdictions participating in the compact to pay for the costs of providing public transit services; and
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