During fiscal-year 2009, which ended Sept. 30, the National Mediation Board (NMB) closed 7,073 cases — the largest number of cases closed since FY2000.

The board began the fiscal year with 6,212 cases. During the period, 4,920 new cases were added, leaving the NMB with a year-end figure of 4,059 cases — the lowest number of pending cases in the agency’s history, according to the NMB.

During the past two fiscal years, the board received supplemental funds directed to reducing the backlog of cases pending as of Sept. 30, 2007. The initial figure of backlog cases stood at 5,551, and the NMB has reduced that to 1,030 cases, the board said. At FY2009’s end, 75 percent of the NMB’s cases were two years old or less.