Policy

On behalf of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the Rail Labor Division (RLD) of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), we write in support of funding for the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill at $148.371 million. Based on the RRB’s FY 2022 budget submission and taking into account what the agency received from H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan, this modest funding request will ensure the agency is able to meet the needs of our nation’s railroad workers and their families. Additionally, annual appropriations to the RRB come directly from the agency’s own trust funds that are funded solely by employer and employee payroll taxes—not the general revenue.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Federal Railroad Administration’s request for comment on its announcement of a public meeting concerning the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee process. TTD consists of 33 affiliate unions representing workers in all modes of transportation, including railroad employees. We therefore have a vested interest in this proceeding.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Department of Transportation’s request for comments entitled Framework for Automated Driving System Safety. TTD consists of 33 affiliate unions representing workers in all modes of transportation, including drivers and other ground transportation workers whose safety, security, and livelihoods have the potential to be seriously impacted by the rollout of automated technologies.[1] We therefore have a vested interest in this policy.[1]

We, the undersigned, write in support of the Railroad Unemployment Equity and Fairness Act (REEF Act), S. 545, introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Deb Fischer (R-NE). This bipartisan bill would eliminate the legacy sequester on railroad unemployment and sickness benefits that has unfairly short-changed railroad workers and their families for nearly a decade.

Office of the Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC  20590 RE:     Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan Docket No. DOT-OST-2021-0005 On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Department of Transportation’s request for comments entitled Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan. TTD […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), our 33 affiliated unions, and millions of frontline transportation workers, I urge you to support the confirmation of Polly Trottenberg to Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and our 33 affiliated unions, I want to first thank Chairman Payne and Ranking Member Crawford for inviting me to testify before you today. I also want to recognize that this is the Chairman’s first hearing since taking over the gavel—TTD and our rail unions are looking forward to your leadership on the Subcommittee and working together on an ambitious pro-rail and pro-worker agenda.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and the millions of frontline transportation workers represented by our 33 affiliated unions, we urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and send it to the President’s desk. We also urge every Senator to reject proposals that would cut critical provisions from this package and undermine the relief so many working families desperately need.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and the millions of frontline transportation workers represented by our 33 affiliated unions, we applaud members of the House and Senate for advancing the joint budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021, which will provide desperately needed relief to workers and communities across this country. We urge you to support this package both through the committee process and on the House floor.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO and the millions of frontline transportation workers represented by our 33 affiliated unions, we applaud the proactive steps taken by the House and Senate to pass a desperately needed economic relief package. Unfortunately, many Republicans in the Senate have decided to put politics before their country by introducing nearly 1000 amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution. This effort is nothing more than a cynical delay tactic and an attempt to deny the economic and health care needs of the American people. We stand in opposition to their efforts, and urge you to vote NO on any amendment that seeks to undermine vital labor policies, programs, and protections.