By Larry I. Willis
Raising funds for infrastructure falls under the jurisdiction of the Ways and Means Committee. They’ve put together subcommittees to focus on many of our major national needs: health care, social security, tax policy, trade, and so on. But when it comes to infrastructure, that hasn’t been the case.
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Each year, hundreds of Americans are seriously injured or killed by locomotives when they intentionally or accidentally wander onto tracks or drive into the path of oncoming trains. While much has been done in the last two decades to mitigate these fatalities, it is clear more must be done to ensure rail grade crossing and […]
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This summer, the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) allowed the freight carrier Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCSR) to operate freight trains in the United States with crews from Mexico. TTD President Larry I. Willis joined America’s Workforce Radio host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to discuss this concerning decision, and its implications, in a recent interview. The decision […]
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By Larry I. Willis
There is little disagreement among lawmakers, frontline workers, government agencies, and even rail carriers themselves that freight rail in this country must be held to the highest safety standards and oversight rules. Yet, as we speak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is allowing foreign crews, originating in Mexico, to operate in the U.S. without assurances […]
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By Larry I. Willis
Labor Day 2018 marks a pivotal moment for working people in this country. Sustained, coordinated attacks on the rights of working families to have a union voice have led to one of the greatest wealth gaps in our nation’s history. Stagnating wages for workers means that while tens of millions of Americans are forced to […]
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As the calendar flips towards hurricane season, communities along the coasts are getting ready to tackle dangerous storms and surging flood waters. Yet while many are thinking of ways to make their community safer and stronger, the usual suspects are preparing to use these natural disasters as an excuse to trot out the same tired, […]
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Chairman John Thune (R-ND) announced the Senate will take-up FAA Reauthorization over the next few weeks – potentially good news for aviation workers. But the details of this bill matter and are still being worked out by Senate leaders. If done right, FAA Reauthorization can and should advance important safety priorities, protect U.S. jobs from […]
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By Larry I. Willis
While right-wing think tanks and anti-government ideologues have always criticized Amtrak’s long-distance routes, questions are now being raised about whether or not Amtrak itself supports a national system.
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As part of the Congressional response to our nation’s opioid crisis, the Senate Commerce Committee passed the Fighting Opioid Abuse in Transportation Act last week. There is no question that drug and alcohol abuse has no place on our roads, rail networks, aviation system, or in maritime commerce, and transportation labor is committed to that […]
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By Larry I. Willis
In 1897, when public transit was practically unheard of, America’s first subway system opened, setting the stage for public transportation throughout the country and across the world. At the time of its construction in 1913, Grand Central Terminal was the largest construction project in New York City’s history, and one of the first all-electric buildings […]
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