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Federal Comments

TTD Responds to Proposed Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans

By Admin

In this NPRM, FTA requires that transit agencies receiving funds under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 and not regulated by another agency, develop and implement a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (Safety Plan). This NPRM establishes the core components that Safety Plans must contain, including methods to identify, evaluate, and minimize safety risk. Among other minimum components, Safety Plans must include training programs for personnel responsible for safety, and in certain cases, emergency preparedness and response plans. FTA requires that covered transit agencies develop their Safety Plans using a four-pillared Safety Management System (SMS) approach to ensure agencies’ unique needs are met.

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Joint Comments Opposing the Application of Norwegian Air UK Limited for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit

By Admin

The record in the NAI proceeding shows that NAI is staffing its long-haul flights with flight crew based in Thailand and employed by non-European crew supply companies on employment contracts governed by Asia law: Singapore law in the case of pilots and Thailand law in the case of flight attendants. The record in that case further shows the terms and conditions of employment for those pilots and flight attendants are substantially inferior to those that apply to pilots and flight attendants employed directly by Norwegian or its subsidiaries. The Labor Parties showed that granting NAI either an exemption or a foreign air carrier permit would be inconsistent with the public interest standards set out in the aviation statutes and the provisions of the ATA, in particular, Article 17 bis.

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TTD Responds to Public-Private Partnership Model Contract Guide

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to comment on the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Draft Availability Payment Concessions Public-Private Partnership Model Contract Guide as well as on the Labor Best Practices chapter. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliated unions in the transportation sector, including those who may be affected by a Public Private Partnerships (PPP or P3) concession agreement.

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EU Proposal to Include Aviation and Maritime Transport Services in TTIP Should be Rejected

By Admin

Dear Mr. President,

As the elected leaders of unions representing American aviation and maritime workers, we are extremely concerned by elements in the proposal for the services, investment and e-commerce chapter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) recently released by the European Union (EU). On May 10, 2013 the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) submitted comments to USTR (attached) on behalf of the undersigned unions which urged trade negotiators to resist efforts by the EU to include air and maritime transport services in the TTIP negotiations. The proposal released by the EU on July 31, 2015 confirmed that the EU is seeking to use the TTIP process as a means to undermine and dismantle many critical U.S. aviation and maritime laws and regulations at the expense of U.S. workers.

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TTD Endorses Transit Safety Improvements

By Admin

With the passage of MAP-21, Congress provided FTA the much needed authority to regulate safety across our nation’s transit systems. Codified at 49 USC 5329, the mandate requires FTA to develop a comprehensive Public Transportation Safety Program intended to improve the safety performance of transit systems. This NPRM seeks to implement several components of that Program by formally adopting Safety Management Systems (SMS) as the foundation of FTA’s safety oversight and regulations; establishing procedures for FTA to conduct inspections and audits of equipment, facilities, and operations; creating procedures for the agency to make enforcement actions against noncomplying transit agencies; and setting the framework for the National Public Transportation Safety Plan (National Safety Plan).

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TTD Calls for Increased MSP Funding

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to comment on the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Maritime Security Program (MSP). By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliated unions that represent workers in all modes of transportation, including those who work on vessels providing sealift support under MSP.[1] We therefore have a vested interest in this rulemaking. In addition, we endorse the comments that USA Maritime filed on behalf of several TTD member unions and others, including the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, ILA (MM&P), the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) and the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP).

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TTD Supports the Gold Standard in Drug Testing, Opposes Unsubstantiated Hair Specimen Testing

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Request for Information Regarding the Use of the Hair Specimen for Drug Testing. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions that represent workers in all modes of transportation including those who would be directly impacted by any changes made to the current Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. We therefore have a vested interest in this notice. In addition to the comments that follow, we endorse those submitted independently by TTD affiliates, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU).

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TTD Supports Proposal to Medically Certify Drivers with Diabetes

By Admin

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write in support of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Qualifications for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Drivers; Diabetes Standard. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions representing workers in all modes of transportation, including those who are medically certified to operate a CMV. We therefore have a vested interest in this rulemaking. In addition to the comments that follow, we endorse those separately filed by TTD affiliates, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail Transportation Union – Transportation Division (SMART-TD).

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U.S., European Unions Agree: Ground NAI Scheme

By Admin

BEFORE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC Application of Docket No. OST‐2013‐0204 NORWEGIAN AIR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED for an exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and a foreign air carrier permit pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41301 (US‐EU Open Skies) JOINT ANSWER OF AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL‐CIO, EUROPEAN COCKPIT ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION […]

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TTD Calls for Strong Safety Standards for Drone Integration

By Admin

Under this NPRM, FAA creates new 14 CFR part 107 to regulate the operation of non-recreational small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in the NAS; the certification of sUAS operators; and the requirements of the small unmanned aircrafts. Finding that sUAS are capable of safely operating in the NAS, FAA proposes this rulemaking in accordance with the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and begins the integration of small commercial UAS into our nation’s airspace.

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