Policy

BEFORE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC _________________________________________                                                                                   ) Application of                                                          )                                                                                   )           Docket No. OST-2013-0204 NORWEGIAN AIR INTERNATIONAL                      ) LIMITED                                                                    )                                                                                    ) or 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)                  )                                                                                    )  ANSWER OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO […]

The ability of U.S. carriers to operate domestically and compete internationally depends on having a fully functioning and efficient FAA with stable and robust financing for our aviation system and its workforce. We must also do more to ensure that important safety reforms are implemented and current rules are not needlessly reformed or revisited based simply on a broad anti-regulatory agenda.

Mr. Gerald Yakowenko Office of Program Administration Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC  20590                      RE:     Buy America Policy                                 Docket No. FHWA-2013-28186                                 Buy America Waiver Request, Chicago DOT On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, I write in response to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) notice regarding the […]

Sign the DeFazio-Grimm Letter to Oppose In-Flight Voice Communications  Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) I urge you to sign on to a bipartisan letter being led by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) to FCC Chair Tom Wheeler expressing opposition to lifting the ban that currently prohibits […]

Cosponsor the Driver Fatigue Prevention Act (S. 487) Dear Senator: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to cosponsor the Driver Fatigue Prevention Act (S. 487) introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), which was unanimously endorsed by our 32-union Executive Committee last month. The Schumer bill would improve bus safety […]

Cosponsor H.R. 3040, the Safe Freight Act  Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to cosponsor the Safe Freight Act (H.R. 3040).  Recently our 32-member Executive Committee unanimously endorsed this legislation, which bans the use of one-person train crews on our nation’s freight railroads. Just this summer in […]

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY  12224 The Honorable Chris Christie Governor of the State of New Jersey Office of the Governor P.O. Box 001 Trenton, NJ  08625 Dear Governors Cuomo and Christie: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) I urge you […]

With trade liberalization policies taking hold around the world, our government – with appropriate congressional oversight – has the responsibility to promote the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and protect the interests of its workforce. Specifically, the Administration must understand the land mines and pit falls of unscrupulous liberalization, protect against the outsourcing of critical safety and security work, oppose regulatory overreaches by foreign states, and provide stable and robust financing for our aviation infrastructure and workforce.

TTD’s Executive Committee has long taken the position that when our government invests in transportation infrastructure and rolling stock, these expenditures must be leveraged to achieve the greatest possible economic impact and U.S. job growth.  For this reason we have consistently and effectively advocated for the inclusion of strong Buy America provisions in federal transportation […]

Since its establishment in 1996, the Maritime Security Program (MSP) has been critically important to our U.S.-flag fleet, its workforce and our nation’s defense readiness.  MSP is a shining example of a federal program that promotes our national security, improves our economic activity, and creates and sustains good-paying middle class jobs, all while saving billions […]