Washington, DC — The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and its 32 affiliated unions zeroed in on policies that both create and protect good, middle-class transportation jobs and ensure those jobs are safe for the workers who perform them at today’s fall Executive Committee meeting.
“At a time when the middle class eludes too many Americans, our vast transportation system has the power to create the kinds of jobs and economic growth that are so desperately needed,” said TTD President Larry I. Willis. “We must also safeguard our transportation system from threats and ensure frontline workers have the training and resources they need to perform their duties.”
Transportation labor leaders discussed their priorities with Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“We have a real opportunity to work together, invest in and support a 21st-century transportation system and infrastructure, and create good jobs that are critical to America’s economy,” Chairman Shuster said. “I appreciated today’s opportunity to talk with TTD members and I look forward to working together to develop real, long-term solutions for our nation’s transportation challenges.”
“Transportation workers play a key role in keeping America’s economy moving,” Sen. Schatz said. “Congress should return the favor by focusing our transportation policy on creating good jobs and protecting workers’ rights.”
TTD’s Executive Committee took positions on key transportation issues, including:
- Driverless commercial vehicles: protecting workers and wages
- Supporting the Jones Act
- Holding foreign aircraft repair stations to the same high standards as domestic stations
- Protecting Amtrak and other passenger rail employees from assault
- Ensuring commercial airline pilots receive adequate training
- Putting the proper policies in place to deal with sleep apnea and fatigue in the bus, rail and truck sectors
Transportation labor unions also renewed their commitment to shaping a national transportation infrastructure package that prioritizes middle-class job creation and economic growth.
“We are at a critical point in our history: the economy is changing, our infrastructure is failing, and too many Americans feel left behind by a system that favors the wealthy,” Willis said. “Now more than ever, we must work with Republicans and Democrats to invest boldly in our nation’s transportation system to create and sustain the kinds of jobs working Americans can raise families on, and rebuild our country.”