Get Updates


Policy

Oppose the Amash Amendment to H.R. 702

By Admin

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to oppose the Amash amendment to H.R. 702, the crude oil export bill.  While TTD is not taking a position on the underlying legislation due to a lack of consensus between our affiliated unions, we have long worked with our member […]

Read More

TTD Calls for Increased MSP Funding

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to comment on the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Maritime Security Program (MSP). By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliated unions that represent workers in all modes of transportation, including those who work on vessels providing sealift support under MSP.[1] We therefore have a vested interest in this rulemaking. In addition, we endorse the comments that USA Maritime filed on behalf of several TTD member unions and others, including the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, ILA (MM&P), the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) and the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP).

Read More

TTD, Unions and Partners Urge Exclusion of Hair Testing Provisions from House Surface Transportation Bill

By Admin

On behalf of the undersigned labor, medical professional, and civil rights organizations, we urge the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to reject efforts to allow hair to be used for federal drug tests before the validity and reliability of this testing method can be determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, we request that the current hair specimen testing proposals under consideration in Congress, including Section 32611 of the DRIVE Act (H.R. 22) and the Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2015 (H.R. 1467/S. 806), not be included in the House surface transportation bill.

Read More

TTD Supports the Gold Standard in Drug Testing, Opposes Unsubstantiated Hair Specimen Testing

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Request for Information Regarding the Use of the Hair Specimen for Drug Testing. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions that represent workers in all modes of transportation including those who would be directly impacted by any changes made to the current Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. We therefore have a vested interest in this notice. In addition to the comments that follow, we endorse those submitted independently by TTD affiliates, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU).

Read More

VOTE AGAINST PARTISAN COMMERCE BILL

By Admin

Dear Senator: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to express our opposition to S. 1732, the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015 and urge you to vote against it during markup. This is not a position that we arrive at lightly. For America’s workers, a long-term surface transportation […]

Read More

TTD Supports Proposal to Medically Certify Drivers with Diabetes

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write in support of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Qualifications for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Drivers; Diabetes Standard. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions representing workers in all modes of transportation, including those who are medically certified to operate a CMV. We therefore have a vested interest in this rulemaking. In addition to the comments that follow, we endorse those separately filed by TTD affiliates, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail Transportation Union – Transportation Division (SMART-TD).

Read More

TTD Asks Senators to Remove Anti Worker Section from Port Performance Act

By Admin

As the Commerce Committee considers marking up the Port Performance Act (S. 1298), I urge you to remove or significantly modify language in the bill (currently Section 4) that would improperly mandate the federal collection of port performance data leading up to and during maritime labor negotiations. This language would misuse statistics to tilt the balance against port workers in collective bargaining disputes and undermine the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by needlessly politicizing the agency’s data collection process. If this language is not removed or modified, we will strongly oppose the bill and urge Commerce Committee members to vote against it during the markup.

Read More

U.S., European Unions Agree: Ground NAI Scheme

By Admin

BEFORE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC Application of Docket No. OST‐2013‐0204 NORWEGIAN AIR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED for an exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and a foreign air carrier permit pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41301 (US‐EU Open Skies) JOINT ANSWER OF AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL‐CIO, EUROPEAN COCKPIT ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION […]

Read More

Critical Vote Alert for THUD Appropriations Amendments

By Admin

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, I urge you to vote NO on the amendment offered by Rep. Meehan to the FY16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. The Meehan amendment would put unreasonable constraints on Amtrak’s ability to operate a national passenger rail system. This amendment would effectively prevent […]

Read More

Critical Vote Alert for THUD Appropriations Amendments

By Admin

Dear Representative: As the House continues consideration of the FY16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, we urge you to stand with labor in support of a safe, efficient transportation system by taking the following votes:  Vote NO on the two amendments offered by Rep. Sessions (TX-32). The first amendment would eliminate the Sunset […]

Read More