Policy

In the wake of two bus fires in less than five months, and persistent violations of basic safety and operational rules, federal and local officials must do a better job of regulating so-called curb-side bus operators that provide service between major cities in the Northeast, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.  Failure to […]

Our nation’s air traffic controllers, technicians and other employees work together to safely guide nearly 90,000 planes each day.  These highly skilled men and women work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our nation’s skies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) engages in collective […]

Comments of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO Before the Department of Justice Criminal History Background Checks; Request of Comments, Docket No. OLP 100 The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) is pleased to submit these comments in response to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request for comments regarding criminal history background checks. By way of background, […]

STATEMENT OF GEORGE  J. FRANCISCO, JR. RAIL LABOR DIVISION, TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPT., AFL-CIO   BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION AND RELATED AGENCIES ON THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD’S PROPOSAL TO IMPOSE SECTION 3 FILING FEES (NMB DOCKET NO. 2003-01N)   APRIL 15, 2005   On behalf of the Rail Labor Division […]

DOT Proposed Changes to Charter Rules Regulating Foreign Direct Air Carriers

The Honorable Annette M. Sandberg Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration c/o Docket Management Facility U.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, SW Nassif Building, Room PL-401 Washington, DC 20590-0001 RE:   Hours of Service of Drivers, Docket No. FMCSA 2004 19608 Dear Administrator Sandberg: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I am […]

The safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials and toxic chemicals is a vital national interest, particularly in a post 9/11 world. It is critical that the safety laws surrounding hazmat transportation are maintained and enforced, and that employees in this perilous environment are well prepared for and protected from the risks they face on […]

A scathing report recently issued by the Inspector General (IG) at the U.S. Department of Transportation confirms what transportation workers have known for years -the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) must be more aggressive in policing safety at the nation’s railroads.Transportation labor has long argued that the FRA is too cozy with the industry it regulates […]

As Amtrak prepares to fight for its very existence, its own Board of Directors has abandoned its fiduciary responsibility and instead appears willing, at the direction of the White House, to put the carrier into bankruptcy. While the Board’s strategy to dismantle Amtrak from within is being directed by an Administration that has long sought […]

Over three years have passed since the horrific events of 9/11, yet amazingly too little has been done to secure our nation’s transportation network from another terrorist attack. Sufficient resources have not been allocated, common-sense requirements have not been imposed, and too often employees and their unions have not been enlisted as true partners in […]