Policy Statements

Our nation’s aviation system is at a crossroads. Mergers, bankruptcies and so-called reorganizations have plagued the industry with workers and passengers too often bearing the brunt of reckless cost cutting, service and job cuts and short-sighted decisions by management.  The aviation workers we represent have been through a series of major setbacks – from the […]

With enactment of the economic recovery legislation, the nation is now embarking on a massive initiative to rebuild and expand our transportation system and infrastructure and create millions of jobs in a failing economy.  This major investment in America’s failing infrastructure also presents a historic opportunity to embrace strong Buy America policies that will grow […]

Under the Bush Administration, the National Mediation Board (NMB or the Board), has systematically failed to protect the rights of workers in the aviation and rail industries to organize and bargain collectively.  For airline and rail workers, the Bush NMB legacy will forever be a symbol of the importance of presidential elections and government appointees […]

As the federal government moves to enroll thousands of maritime workers in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, redundant state background checks and worker credentials must now be eliminated.  The TWIC program was created by Congress in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to better secure our nation’s seaports and maritime vessels as part […]

It is simply outrageous that transportation workers adversely affected by bad trade deals and reckless moves to outsource have been systemically denied benefits provided by the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.  The TAA program was created in 1962 and was designed to provide retraining, reemployment assistance, and income support to workers who lose their jobs […]

Due to an anomaly in the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) many workers in the airline industry have been unintentionally excluded from receiving protections provided for by this landmark legislation.  Since 1993, millions of American workers needing to address serious family or medical issues have found job protection and security through the FMLA.  Under this […]

Since the early days of the Bush Administration, the President has sought to grant Mexico-domiciled motor carriers unfettered access to U.S. highways.  In pursuing this policy through a recent “pilot program,” the Administration has ignored the safety and security threats posed by allowing poorly regulated and virtually un-inspected trucks to enter unencumbered onto American highways.  […]

After eight years of stonewalling by Amtrak management, nine unions were able to reach tentative collective bargaining agreements with the company on January 18, 2008.  With the remaining unions at Amtrak reaching similar agreements with the company, Congress must now ensure that the passenger carrier has sufficient funding to meet its contractual obligations to its […]

Congress and our Government must protect the public interest as the major airlines threaten to launch another era of mergers and consolidations.  Transportation labor is deeply concerned that a new wave of mergers could cascade into a massive restructuring that harms workers, passengers and the air transportation needs of communities across the nation. While news […]

Across all modes of transportation, workers have witnessed a dangerous trend to outsource and privatize key government functions at the expense of good jobs, safety and security, and the efficient and reliable delivery of basic services.  Unfortunately, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is not immune from this ideological effort.  Too often, it has attempted to […]