Policy

The reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is at a critical juncture.  President Bush continues to publicize his staunch opposition to a fully-funded reauthorization bill, and most recently has threatened to veto any legislation over $270 billion.  Despite this intense political pressure from the White House, Congress must pass a…

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The U.S. aviation industry and its employees continue to recover from the severe economic effects of the September 11 attacks.  While the major air carriers are showing limited signs of improvement, they are still struggling in a strained U.S. economy to return to profitability and at the same time meet the increased security costs necessitated…

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America’s workers are suffering through what ivory tower economists like to call a “jobless recovery.”  Those who would tell out of work transportation and manufacturing workers that the economy is recovering fail to recognize that the 3 million workers who have been laid-off since 2001 are still looking for good jobs with no relief in…

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It is deeply troubling that part of the debate over reforming the U.S. Postal Service has – thanks to  some ill-advised recommendations of a presidential commission – become a forum for some to advance proposals that would severely undermine the collective bargaining rights of postal employees.  Congress must reject the poorly conceived collective bargaining recommendations…

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Offshore oil and natural gas exploration is pushing deeper into the Gulf of Mexico – often up to 200 miles off the coast with plans to go even farther – yet air traffic infrastructure to support the helicopter flights that service these operations has not kept up.  Insufficient facilities and equipment exist in the Gulf…

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Instead of committing to a fair and balanced approach in negotiating outstanding collective bargaining agreements with it workers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) appears intent on using a misguided interpretation of the law to allow the agency to unilaterally impose the terms and conditions of a contract.  For thousands of FAA employees – members of…

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Over two years have passed since the attacks of September 11.  Shockingly, no meaningful guidelines have been established to address the woefully inadequate security training for flight attendants – the first responders in the sky, many of whom were the first victims in the attacks of September 11. The original language on flight attendant security…

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Despite the fact that our seaports are extremely vulnerable to terrorist attacks, foreign controlled terminal operators continue to resist measures that would greatly enhance the security of the infrastructure at seaports, our seaport workers and the people living in neighboring communities.  The single-minded approach of these terminal operators that increased productivity and bottom-line profits outweigh…

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