(a) Following a decision by the mediator to end the mediation proceedings, employees of a collective bargaining unit may engage in a strike for a limited time if a majority of the employees in that collective bargaining unit vote by secret ballot to do so. The limit of the strike is determined by the interest of the health, safety, or welfare of the public.

(b) The corporation may apply to the superior court in the judicial district in which the strike is occurring for an order enjoining the strike. A strike may not be enjoined unless it can be shown that it has begun to threaten, or is about to threaten, the health, safety, or welfare of the public. A court, in deciding whether to enjoin the strike, shall consider the total equities in the particular case, including the impact of a strike on the public and the extent to which an employee organization and the corporation have met their statutory obligations.

(c) If an impasse or deadlock still exists after the issuance of an injunction, the parties shall submit the dispute to binding arbitration. The railroad labor relations agency shall appoint an arbitrator selected by the parties by mutual consent. If the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the railroad labor relations agency shall appoint an arbitrator from a list of arbitrators knowledgeable in railroad labor agreements. The arbitrator shall fashion the award the arbitrator considers equitable.

(d) Notwithstanding (a) - (c) of this section, an organization and the corporation may mutually agree to submit a dispute to binding arbitration at any time.