Policy

Chairman Max Baucus Senate Finance Committee 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC  20510 Ranking Member Charles Grassley Senate Finance Committee 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC  20510 Dear Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley: As the Senate works to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, I urge you to ensure that transportation […]

Dear Senator: As the Commerce Committee continues to review the Administration’s cross-border trucking program, I wanted to share with you the attached policy statement recently agreed to by the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD).  As you will see, the statement calls for an end to the pilot program and specifically voices our opposition to opening […]

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 […]

Chairman David E. Price Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Room B-307 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515   Dear Chairman Price:   As you know, there are a variety of troubling cutbacks in President Bush’s 2009 budget.  I write today to address one of these issues, the cuts in the Port Security Grant Program. […]

Dear Representative:   On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) I urge you to support H.R. 2768, the Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (“S-MINER Act”) when the House considers this bill today.  This legislation will provide the nation’s mine workers critically important health and safety protections designed to prevent crippling […]