Hearing Testimony

Chairman Mica, Ranking Member Rahall and members of the Committee, I am pleased to present the views of transportation labor on the topic of today’s hearing – competition for intercity passenger rail in America. This year alone I have appeared twice before this Committee to express our opposition to the privatization and break-up of Amtrak and appreciate the opportunity today to explain why we are strongly opposed to the legislation proposed by Chairman Mica and Subcommittee Chairman Shuster.

Everybody agrees that America desperately needs new investment in its transportation system and infrastructure. In 2009, a report from the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission concluded that our country must invest $172 billion each year simply to maintain its existing transportation infrastructure. The costs to invest in new transport systems like modern transit and high-speed rail will require a major boost in investment.

Amtrak and its employees have a positive story to tell – a story that cannot be ignored as this Committee considers various proposals to advance passenger rail, including measures designed to boost private sector participation. Amtrak ridership is on the rise with growth reported in each of the last 16 months. Annual ridership records were set in seven of the last eight fiscal years. On the Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak is operationally in the black as NEC performance metrics continue to improve. And now that the company has stable senior management with a long-term vision and a Board committed to Amtrak’s growth and expansion, the future of the company is promising – that is, if Congress gives Amtrak and its workforce the chance to succeed.

The consequences of distracted driving confront our affiliated unions and their members on a daily basis, and we understand the need to improve safety in the operation of motor vehicles. There is no question that more must be done to combat distracted driving, including limiting the use of communication devices. As Congress and regulators move forward in this effort, they must also recognize the role that mobile communication devices play in the transportation sector. When limits or bans are imposed on the use of communication devices the workplace for our members changes, and any rules must reflect this reality. It is therefore necessary that clear policy govern the use of communication devices for transportation workers.

On behalf of the 32 member unions of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), thank you for inviting me to testify on the financing provisions of the federal surface transportation programs. These are perilous economic times.  The workers that our unions represent face unprecedented economic risks.  Overall, unemployment and under-employment are high, the earning power […]

BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROADS, PIPELINES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS  May 14, 2008 On behalf of the 32 member unions of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and specifically the 10 unions that make up our Rail Labor Division, thank you for inviting me to testify on Amtrak Reauthorization. The […]

STATEMENT OF EDWARD WYTKIND, PRESIDENT TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO ———– BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ———– ON SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY April 16, 2008 On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) I want to thank you for inviting me to testify this morning on surface transportation in the […]

STATEMENT OF LARRY I. WILLIS, GENERAL COUNSEL TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ON THE TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) and […]

STATEMENT OF EDWARD WYTKIND,  PRESIDENT TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROADS, PIPELINES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL RAIL SAFETY PROGRAM Chairwoman Brown, Ranking Member Shuster and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.  As you know, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) consists of 32 […]

WRITTEN STATEMENT OF EDWARD WYTKIND, PRESIDENT TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES On behalf of the 32 member unions of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and specifically the 10 unions that make-up our Rail Labor Division (RLD), thank you for […]