Press Releases and Statements

WASHINGTON, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues the following statement in response to news accounts of leaked European Commission (EC) proposals to include aviation and maritime services in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade deal currently under negotiation: “Recent press reports of ‘leaked’ documents confirm what we’ve known […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement on President Obama’s four-year surface transportation investment proposal: “We’re pleased that the President has declared it a priority of his Administration to fix the surface transportation funding crisis that is threatening our economy and American competitiveness. Today’s announcement for a $302 […]

HOUSTON—Transportation unions are pushing back against a torrent of wrongheaded policies and business models that threaten the quality and safety of the nation’s transportation system and middle-class jobs. “We are taking aim at changes in our industries–and failed public policies–that are leading to the steady decline of the world’s largest transportation system and erosion of […]

#DenyNAI Campaign Presses Ahead WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement in response to the Irish government’s approval of an Air Operator Certificate to Norwegian Air International: “We are disappointed that the Government of Ireland has sanctioned Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) launch of a ‘flag of convenience’ airline that threatens […]

OSLO, NORWAY—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement following a two-day unity meeting in Oslo, Norway, with U.S. and European labor leaders to expand opposition against Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) flag of convenience airline: “We took aim today at Norwegian Air’s plan to scour the globe for cheap labor and game […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “There may never again be an individual who will do as much as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., did to ensure both our economic and personal freedoms in his life-long quest for […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement on the pending retirement of House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Rep. George Miller (D-CA): “Working people will lose a fierce advocate when Rep. George Miller retires in 2015. Throughout his astounding 40 years of public service, George Miller has had made […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement in response to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) final rule on Aircraft Repair Station Security [Docket No. TSA-2004-17131]: “We are extremely disappointed with TSA’s final rule on aircraft repair station security released earlier today. The final rule further rolls back already weak security […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Statement by Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind on the departure of DOT Deputy Secretary John Porcari, effective Dec. 31: “John Porcari has been a steady and effective leader throughout his nearly five years as President Obama’s DOT deputy secretary. He implemented a historic transportation economic recovery package that helped the nation […]

WASHINGTON, DC—The threat of unscrupulous school bus contractors transporting our nation’s students and the working conditions of drivers are among the topics featured at today’s School Bus Summit hosted by the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD). “During this summit we will drill down on the challenges faced by school bus drivers in a fast-changing industry […]