( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama intervened Saturday in Philadelphia 's rail strike , signing an executive order that puts union workers back on the job while they continuing negotiating with a regional transportation authority . The order calls for the creation of a Presidential Emergency Board to mediate the differences between the workers and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority , putting the roughly 450 employees back to work on Sunday morning . The employees are covered under the Railway Labor Act , which means a federal mediation board may intervene to work with the parties to resolve contract disputes . Under the order , the board has 30 days to make recommendations to end the dispute . Obama issued the order at the request of Gov . Tom Corbett . `` It is imperative that parties continue to work toward an agreement for the benefit of the tens of thousands of people who use SEPTA rail every day , '' Corbett said in a written statement . The dispute between the engineers and electrician unions and SEPTA revolves around pay raises and pensions . The strike affected 13 lines that serve the suburbs and the Philadelphia International Airport , officials said . It includes engineers who drive or operate the commuter rail lines , said Jerri Williams , spokeswoman for the transportation Authority . The lines affected carry about 60,000 commuters daily , which is 10 % of the total ridership in the Philadelphia area , she said . `` As long as these workers show up for their regularly scheduled Sunday shifts , regional rail service will be restored to full Sunday operations in the morning , '' Williams said . French rail workers extend strike . CNN 's Joe Sutton and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report .
NEW : Full service expected to be restored Sunday morning , the authority says . Obama signs an executive order to create a board to investigate issues . This affected 13 lines in the suburbs , Philadelphia International Airport . Lines carry about 500 commuters daily .