Press Releases and Statements

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement regarding Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to reject federal high speed rail funding for Florida: “For the 12 percent of Floridians who remain unemployed, Gov. Scott’s decision to kill high speed rail in Florida is tragic. Rather than using […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement regarding an attempt to repeal National Mediation Board union election rules in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill: “Fairness and democratic union elections are on the line with a measure in the pending House FAA bill – to […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), made the following statement opposing Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) amendment to strip safety and health protections for flight attendants from S. 223, the pending aviation reauthorization bill: “Sen. Rand Paul seems to believe that flight attendants, of all people, are undeserving of […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), made the following statement following President Obama’s State of the Union speech from last evening: “In his State of the Union address, President Obama upped the ante in the debate about investing in our crumbling transportation system and infrastructure.  Not since President […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement in response to Republican Study Committee proposals to slash or zero out funding for mass transit, Amtrak, high speed rail, Essential Air Service program, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: “These proposed cuts would deal a major […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement as America pauses to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “As we honor Martin Luther King, Jr., let us carry out his work by fighting for a stronger and more just economy that lifts the lives […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement regarding BNSF Railway Company’s request for a U.S. government waiver to have their trains inspected in Mexico. TTD today also submitted official comments to the Department of Transportation in response to BNSF’s request. “There are key functions in […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement regarding legislation to kill funding for the high speed rail program in the wake of efforts by the Governors-elect in Ohio and Wisconsin to derail these jobs-creating rail initiatives in their states: “With today’s jobless report showing almost […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement following a meeting today with President Obama, Secretary Geithner, Secretary LaHood, and a number of governors and mayors about building the support needed to move a significant transportation investment initiative forward: “The President today has transformed the debate […]

WASHINGTON, DC — Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement praising last night’s passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010: “We are pleased that the House and Senate have passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act that includes several important reforms that will improve the work environment […]