News and Media

AS REPORTED BY EVAN HOOPFER FOR THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL Two unions that represent American Airlines mechanics were among a group that penned a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao expressing concern about foreign repair stations. The group of transportation unions is concerned about three issues: drug and alcohol testing, security screening for safety-sensitive personnel and oversight at aircraft repair stations.

As Reported By Joanna Marsh for Freight Waves The implementation of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) has contributed to dwindling morale and could result in creating unsafe working conditions should the federal government withhold intervention, according to union witnesses at a June 20th Congressional hearing on rail safety. “If [the rail industry] is left to self-regulate, the PSR […]

Washington, DC – Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision not to regulate crew size and to preempt current state laws that require two-person crews:  “The FRA’s announcement that it will pull back a proposed rule to require two-person crews on […]

Washington DC – Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to today’s notice from the Federal Transit Administration, abdicating their statutory responsibility to stop assaults against transit workers: “America’s public transportation workforce is in the midst of a national crisis. Thousands of bus operators and other transit […]

Larry Willis, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to today’s failed infrastructure meeting between President Trump and Congressional leaders: “President Trump sidestepped a critical opportunity to show the visionary leadership needed to rebuild this country and secure America’s standing as a global, economic leader. By putting politics before […]

Washington, DC — Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement mourning the loss of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) member Thomas Dunn: “We mourn the tragic and untimely loss of ATU brother Thomas Dunn, who was murdered while driving a bus in Tampa over the weekend. Our heartfelt condolences go […]

  Washington, DC — Larry Willis, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement honoring ATU President Larry Hanley who passed away Tuesday: “The labor movement and working families everywhere lost a true brother and friend. Larry Hanley was a charismatic leader and passionate advocate who devoted his life to fighting for […]

Washington, DC — Larry I. Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to today’s infrastructure meeting between President Trump and Democratic leadership: “By coming together and calling for trillions to be invested in our nation’s infrastructure, the White House and Democratic leadership are showing they understand the severity […]

Washington, DC – Larry I. Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement opposing the nomination of Diana Furchtgott-Roth to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology: “Frontline transportation workers need leaders in Washington who will pursue policies that promote safety, encourage and empower working people to join together, […]

AS REPORTED BY BRIAN MERCHANT FOR GIZMODO As institutional embrace of automation continues to create a mounting threat to existing jobs, unions are formally taking note. Last year, the largest Las Vegas service workers union organized a strike partly over casinos’ plans to embrace automated systems, and the union won language in the resulting contract that included protections against automation. 2018 also saw bus drivers protest against the prospect of Ohio adopting driverless buses.