Press Releases and Statements

Washington, DC — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement on the President’s nomination of Sarah Feinberg as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration: “We strongly support the President’s nomination of Sarah Feinberg to lead the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). At a time when the safety of our passenger […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in advance of a House vote on a short-term extension of expiring highway and transit investment programs: “Today we are urging a YES vote on H.R. 2353, a short-term extension of expiring highway/transit programs that will keep pressure on lawmakers and […]

Congress Must Focus on Completing Long-Term Bill   Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement regarding ongoing deliberations by lawmakers over passing legislation to extend expiring federal highway and transit programs: “Years of congressional inaction on a long-term surface transportation bill has harmed our economy. As highway and transit […]

Washington, DC— Today the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and its 32 member unions hosted a Roundtable with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to urge action on a broad policy agenda unveiled by TTD unions in February: “Washington, DC is too often defined by dysfunction and inaction,” said TTD President Edward Wytkind, following the Roundtable. “Today’s […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the Senate markup of the Positive Train Control (PTC) extension bill:  “A five-year extension of the deadline by which Positive Train Control (PTC) technology must be implemented cannot be considered in a vacuum or in isolation. Rail employees, first responders, […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the House passage of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA): “Today the House of Representatives took an important step to sustain Amtrak, America’s national passenger railroad. The overwhelming vote today on the floor of the House […]

ATLANTA, GA—The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and its 32 affiliated unions waded into every major transportation policy debate in Washington and focused on expanding transportation investments, reforming safety policy, protecting workers’ rights, and rejecting job-killing trade policies. “2015 must be the year when we break the stalemate on funding our badly deteriorated transportation system […]

Affiliates Re-Elect Wytkind, Willis   ATLANTA, GA—The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and leaders of its 32 member unions convened their winter convention over the weekend, celebrated TTD’s 25th anniversary, and rolled out their 2015 policy agenda. With most major transportation investment bills pending this year, including the rewrite of aviation, surface transportation, and passenger rail […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to attempts by Norwegian Air International (NAI) allies to promote NAI’s flag of convenience scheme: “Today’s press event by travel industry special interests felt like a walk through a twisted fantasy world – a world where a rogue airline […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the markup of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015: “We are pleased that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bipartisan passenger rail bill that provides multi-year investment for Amtrak while rejecting ill-advised attempts to force unwanted […]