WASHINGTON — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) sent termination notices on Wednesday to members serving on federal advisory committees:
“As America’s largest transportation labor federation, representing 39 unions and millions of skilled workers, we are concerned about the sudden suspension of federal transportation advisory committees and the termination of current committee members.
“Knowledgeable and experienced labor representatives serve on more than a dozen federal advisory committees across aviation, rail, maritime, and more. The members who serve on these committees are doing so voluntarily — because they want to make a difference for workers and the communities who rely on U.S. transportation systems.
“Safety is a fundamental responsibility of DOT’s modal agencies, and it’s crucial that workers who are affected by safety issues are provided with a voice on these committees. Labor experts have a direct stake in improving safety across the transportation sector and serve as an important counterweight on many committees dominated by industry representatives. Some of these federal advisory committees are the only forum where the modal agency, employers, and their employee representatives can address emerging concerns and safety regulations in a structured manner that provides the public with transparency. During the last year, many modal agencies have failed to schedule committee meetings, creating a backlog in timely meetings that is now exacerbated by the termination of all committee members.
“We urge the DOT to be swift with its reconstitution of these committees and demand that membership be restored to all labor representatives. We are committed to supporting the terminated labor representatives as they reapply for membership on the advisory committees.”
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Labor representatives serve on more than a dozen transportation advisory committees across federal agencies, including but not limited to:
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): Rail Safety Advisory Committee
- Federal Maritime Administration (MARAD): Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee
- Department of Transportation (DOT): Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking and Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee
- Surface Transportation Board (STB): Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, and Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health