By Larry I. Willis
Here in America, there’s this idea that if you are dedicated and work hard, you can make a good life for yourself and your family. It’s called the American Dream, and it is a promise our country was founded on. But for too many who work behind the scenes making the aviation industry profitable, the […]
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By Larry I. Willis
By recognizing social and economic justice as one and the same, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. understood the immense power working people have when they come together. He saw union representation as the clearest path out of poverty and into the middle class, and fought for the rights of all people to have good […]
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By Larry I. Willis
I was proud to join labor leaders earlier this week at the AFL-CIO’s leadership summit Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: There is Power in my Union. Survivors of workplace sexual harassment are taking back power by sharing their stories. The movement they have started is shaping national conversation and forcing Americans to confront and […]
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By Larry I. Willis
On the campaign trail and as president, Donald Trump has continually shined a spotlight on America’s growing transportation and broader infrastructure crisis — and promised to do something about it. Now, as he prepares for his first State of the Union address, the president is expected to once again push his vision for rebuilding America. […]
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By Larry I. Willis
President Trump turned some heads last week when he claimed credit for zero commercial aviation fatalities in 2017, calling it a record safety year. Putting aside the fact that this safety record was based on global statistics – there hasn’t been a U.S. commercial aviation fatality in the last eight years – we hope the Administration will […]
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By Larry I. Willis
Think about the last time you or a family member flew on a commercial airplane. It may surprise you to learn there is a pretty good chance that the aircraft had maintenance work performed at a repair station located in a foreign country. Why does this matter? Even though foreign-based repair stations are certified by […]
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By Larry I. Willis
When Diane Rude accepted a position as a Minneapolis bus driver, she thought she was signing up for a good, middle-class job that would allow her to take care of her family and save for retirement. She never expected to have to fight for her life. But that’s what happened when a troubled passenger wrapped […]
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By Larry I. Willis
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the economy and how well it’s doing. The unemployment rate has steadily fallen for years now, and jobs are being created. But wages? Not so much. The latest jobs report shows that while the unemployment rate remains low, wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. Instead, they are […]
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By Larry I. Willis
For hardworking members of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.), the reflagging of a vessel to U.S. registry by the New York-based commercial shipping company, Liberty Maritime Corp/Liberty Global Logistics (Liberty), should be a happy occasion. It should mean good jobs and wages for members of America’s oldest maritime labor union. But thanks to a […]
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By Larry I. Willis
What do health care and infrastructure have in common? Most of us would say not much. Unfortunately, some House Republicans, including some of our friends, are insisting that if the repeal of Obamacare goes down today then “we can’t do infrastructure.” In the words of my teenage daughter — “wait, what?” Putting aside the problems […]
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