WASHINGTON – Yesterday, America’s largest transportation labor federation, the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO (TTD), gathered dozens of U.S. labor union leaders at an Executive Committee Meeting in Washington, D.C. Looking toward the next Congress and incoming Trump-Vance Administration, the leaders outlined policy goals to support frontline transportation workers and welcomed remarks from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19).
The transportation leaders unanimously adopted six policy statements to address pressing issues affecting these workers.
First, union leaders urged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to implement regulations to protect workers and the public as autonomous technology is developed in the rail industry.
Next, with an eye toward the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill, they called on Congress to strengthen enforcement and implementation of the Build America, Buy America provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
They also urged Congress to:
- pass the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (H.R. 7029/4356) to deter assailants from committing violent crimes against letter carriers;
- opposed the Safeguarding the Supply Chain Act (H.R. 9911) which will weaken the right of longshore and shipbuilding workers to strike and bargain collectively; and
- pass the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act (H.R. 8370/S. 4334) to provide federal employee rights to these safety-critical TSA employees.
In addition, the leaders urged state officials to resolve the Washington State Ferry crisis by offering competitive wages and full collective bargaining rights to ferry workers.
As we approach a time of transition in the federal government, workers’ rights and safety protections continue to be among the highest priorities for frontline union members who build, operate, and maintain our nation’s transportation systems.
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