Policy

November 8, 2023 Dear Senator: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and the thousands of workers we represent in manufacturing and electrification, we urge you to oppose the Congressional Review Act Joint Resolution 38 (S.J.Res 38). If enacted, this legislation would undermine the long term growth of our nation’s manufacturing capacity, especially […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) notice of proposed rulemaking regarding reciprocal switching for inadequate rail service. TTD consists of 37 affiliate unions representing the totality of rail labor.[1] Our affiliated unions represent workers across all railroad crafts, who are vital to keeping our railroad system operating successfully and safely every day. We appreciate the Board’s effort to address the longstanding issues with Class I railroad service, but we continue to have concerns about reciprocal switching and the current proposed rule as outlined below.

By way of background, rail labor expressed significant concerns about the Board’s 2016 proposal to require reciprocal switching in response to shipper complaints about a dearth of competition in certain locations or for certain commodities.[2] Rail labor believed that forcing railroads to engage in this practice so that select shippers could lower rates on a specific route undermines the ability of freight railroads to maintain a national network and serve all customers. Additionally, reciprocal switching can interfere with labor agreements in some cases and cause the dislocation of existing operating employees.

November 6, 2023 Dear Member of Congress: As House and Senate conferees continue to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), urges you to sign the letter (below) supporting language that would strengthen domestic content preferences for major defense programs. This language, Section 869 of H.R. […]

October 31, 2023 Dear Representative, The undersigned labor organizations, representing the totality of rail labor, write to urge you to vote against the proposed Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) fiscal year 2024 spending bill when it comes to a vote in the full House of Representatives.  The entirety of rail labor stands in opposition […]

Congressman Burlison: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), representing hundreds of thousands of rail workers across the passenger and freight rail industries, I write to strongly oppose your Freights First Act, H.R. 3893. This legislation would eliminate a federal provision that gives Amtrak trains the “right of preference” over freight trains on […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) notice of proposed rulemaking to require all railroads to generate and make available to first responders electronic train-consist information relevant to the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. TTD consists of 37 affiliate unions, including freight rail workers, first responders, and dispatchers who interact with hazardous materials on a daily basis.[1] We applaud PHMSA for taking this important step forward and encourage the agency to consider the recommended changes to the proposed rule detailed below. In addition, we endorse the comments submitted by our affiliate, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

October 13, 2023 The Honorable David H. Boulter Acting Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety Federal Aviation Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 RE:     Regulatory Definitions of On-Demand Operation, Supplemental Operation, and Scheduled Operation Docket No. FAA-2023-1857 Mr. Boulter: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to […]

October 3, 2023 Dear Senator: On behalf of the undersigned American maritime labor organizations and the thousands of American licensed and unlicensed merchant mariners and longshore workers we represent we ask that you cosponsor and support S 2862, the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023. The enactment of this bipartisan legislation will feed […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) notice of proposed rulemaking to require security vetting of certain public transportation, railroad, and over-the-road-bus (OTRB) employees. TTD consists of 37 affiliated unions that represent employees working across the transportation sector, including rail and public transit employees. We therefore have a vested interest in this rulemaking. Transportation labor has long been at the forefront of demanding the strongest federal measures to protect the transportation infrastructure and systems that have been terrorism targets. We believe that efforts to secure our transportation system must strike a balance. They should provide protection and security against the terrorist threat environment while also preserving the legitimate rights of employees. To that end, we encourage the TSA to conduct additional, proactive outreach to stakeholders, including transportation labor, as it finalizes this rulemaking.

September 25, 2023 Dear Representative: On behalf of the undersigned American maritime labor organizations and the thousands of American licensed and unlicensed merchant mariners and longshore workers we represent we ask that you cosponsor and support HR 4293, the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023. This enactment of this bipartisan legislation will feed […]