Policy

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) notice regarding the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation’s (PATH) petition to extend its waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 214 (Railroad Workplace Safety). TTD consists of 37 affiliated unions representing the totality of rail labor, including roadway and track employees, and therefore have a vested interest in this proceeding. We strongly endorse the comments of our affiliates, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-Teamster Rail Conference (BMWED), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU). We respectfully request that the FRA hold a public hearing in order to receive testimony from stakeholders and other interested parties.

Specifically, PATH is requesting continued relief from the definition of “fouling a track” as defined in 49 CFR 214.7, at “certain locations within PATH’s tunnel system if certain conditions are met.” In addition, PATH seeks to allow tunnel bench walls to be considered a “place of safety” under § 214.329 (Train Approach Warning) for the safety and efficiency of roadway maintenance procedures at those locations. The rail labor organizations noted above strongly opposed PATH’s initial waiver request due to our significant safety concerns. The partial relief the FRA granted in 2018, which PATH now seeks to extend, does not adequately address these safety issues and falls short of providing sufficient protection for roadway and track workers.

November 13, 2023 The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President of the United States White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden: On behalf of the undersigned national rail labor unions, we write to unanimously recommend and support Johnathan D. Bragg to be re-nominated to serve as the Labor Member on the […]

November 8, 2023 Dear Secretary Buttigieg and Administrator Carlson, We write today to reiterate our grave safety concerns about the expanded testing and operation of automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicles. Given the recent surge in both the number of cities operating these vehicles on public streets and the number of crashes and safety incidents involving […]

As Congress continues to review and update relevant laws governing commercial aviation programs for the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), we oppose any effort to increase the pilot retirement age from age 65 to age 67. Under U.S. law, commercial airline pilots employed by airlines[1] are required to retire at age 65.

Despite what special interests claim, raising the retirement age for airline pilots will not increase the supply of pilots. Doing so will put the United States in conflict with the mandates of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), force the reopening of hard-fought collective bargaining agreements, and create training backlogs that would imperil flight schedules and upend the entire U.S. national airspace system. Importantly, such a change has not been validated by the FAA or otherwise been studied in a satisfactory manner.

November 8, 2023 Dear Senator: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and the thousands of workers we represent in manufacturing and electrification, we urge you to oppose the Congressional Review Act Joint Resolution 38 (S.J.Res 38). If enacted, this legislation would undermine the long term growth of our nation’s manufacturing capacity, especially […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) notice of proposed rulemaking regarding reciprocal switching for inadequate rail service. TTD consists of 37 affiliate unions representing the totality of rail labor.[1] Our affiliated unions represent workers across all railroad crafts, who are vital to keeping our railroad system operating successfully and safely every day. We appreciate the Board’s effort to address the longstanding issues with Class I railroad service, but we continue to have concerns about reciprocal switching and the current proposed rule as outlined below.

By way of background, rail labor expressed significant concerns about the Board’s 2016 proposal to require reciprocal switching in response to shipper complaints about a dearth of competition in certain locations or for certain commodities.[2] Rail labor believed that forcing railroads to engage in this practice so that select shippers could lower rates on a specific route undermines the ability of freight railroads to maintain a national network and serve all customers. Additionally, reciprocal switching can interfere with labor agreements in some cases and cause the dislocation of existing operating employees.

November 6, 2023 Dear Member of Congress: As House and Senate conferees continue to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), urges you to sign the letter (below) supporting language that would strengthen domestic content preferences for major defense programs. This language, Section 869 of H.R. […]

October 31, 2023 Dear Representative, The undersigned labor organizations, representing the totality of rail labor, write to urge you to vote against the proposed Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) fiscal year 2024 spending bill when it comes to a vote in the full House of Representatives.  The entirety of rail labor stands in opposition […]

Congressman Burlison: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), representing hundreds of thousands of rail workers across the passenger and freight rail industries, I write to strongly oppose your Freights First Act, H.R. 3893. This legislation would eliminate a federal provision that gives Amtrak trains the “right of preference” over freight trains on […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am pleased to respond to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) notice of proposed rulemaking to require all railroads to generate and make available to first responders electronic train-consist information relevant to the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. TTD consists of 37 affiliate unions, including freight rail workers, first responders, and dispatchers who interact with hazardous materials on a daily basis.[1] We applaud PHMSA for taking this important step forward and encourage the agency to consider the recommended changes to the proposed rule detailed below. In addition, we endorse the comments submitted by our affiliate, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).