News and Media

WASHINGTON, DC—In comments submitted to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed rulemaking, TTD agreed with the agency that “deficiencies” exist with safety and oversight of contract aircraft repair stations and that new rules are needed to address this problem. However, TTD still believes more needs to be done. If maintenance work is going to be […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind releases this statement in anticipation of President Obama’s State of the Union address on February 12: “The President has a chance tomorrow night to make the case for rebuilding our nation, beginning with the expansion of our depleted transportation system and infrastructure. “On President Obama’s watch, […]

[By Keith Laing of The Hill]   The largest collection of unions that represents transportation workers is urging President Obama to go big on their industries in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. “The president has a chance tomorrow night to make the case for rebuilding our nation, beginning with the expansion of […]

[As posted by Kathryn Wolfe in Politico] Most transportation policy-watchers expect President Barack Obama to offer up a comment on infrastructure during his State of the Union speech — just not much of one. One transportation lobbyist says the president will mention infrastructure “in passing. It seems to be a fairly consistent theme. The big […]

WASHINGTON, DC—The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) applauds the Department of Labor (DOL) for issuing a final rule today that guarantees flight crew members are not denied Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections. With passage of the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act in 2009, Congress established new FMLA leave eligibility requirements that addressed […]

[By Larry Ehl of Transportation Issues Daily] USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood will be a tough act to follow. Image – Jonathon Maus, BikePortland. Here are excerpts of reaction from all corners of the transportation industry to USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood’s resignation announcement. President Obama: “As Secretary of Transportation, he has fought to create jobs and […]

[By Keith Laing of The Hill] Transportation unions are urging President Obama to appoint a staunch defender of federal road and transit funding to replace outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. LaHood announced he was retiring this week, forgoing a second term and setting off a scramble among observers to figure out who might replace him […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issued the following statement following the announcement of the imminent departure of Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: “Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s departure from the President’s Cabinet is a loss for the nation as we strive to address America’s mounting passenger and freight transportation needs. “Secretary […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement on Senate passage of the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R.152): “Thanks to Senate action last night residents and businesses in New York, New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast will soon receive long overdue federal relief from the devastation of […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement as the nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. saw early on that it was the labor movement that could propel our citizens out of poverty and hopelessness and set them firmly on a path to […]