Press Releases and Statements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, flight attendants and pilots were hospitalized for what appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning on a U.S. Airways flight from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement: “For years, transportation unions have supported the call for healthy air quality in […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Transportation unions are outraged that security training for thousands of frontline transit workers across the nation will be delayed again in the wake of another missed deadline by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Transportation workers will be left to fend for themselves simply because the DHS has again defied a Congressional […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, the Senate approved the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, which reauthorizes Amtrak’s funding levels and programs. Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement: “In passing a multi-year funding plan for Amtrak, the Senate rejected the failed Bush Administration policies of attempting […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement on last night’s House passage of H.R. 2095, the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act: “It’s been a decade since rail safety laws expired in this country, and accidents have increased 29 percent during that same time. It’s high time […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Transportation unions praise the passage of Rep. Ted Poe’s (R-TX) amendment to the FAA bill that requires drug and alcohol testing for mechanics at foreign aircraft repair stations who work on U.S. aircraft.   “Why bother drug and alcohol testing U.S. mechanics if we’re not going to require the same of foreign […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 JeniferM@ttd.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Transportation unions applaud the important worker rights and safety improvements made by the FAA reauthorization bill, passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives. “This bill makes meaningful safety improvements, strong investments in our aviation system, and addresses many transportation union priorities that will […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 JeniferM@ttd.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, committed today to make priorities of rebuilding America’s failing transportation system and infrastructure, stopping outsourcing at the United States Postal Service, and protecting the income and retirement security of public transit workers. Transportation labor leaders […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 JeniferM@ttd.org WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement concerning President Bush’s anticipated request for an additional $50 billion in emergency Iraq war spending: “Where’s the President’s emergency funding request to address America’s crumbling transportation infrastructure? “In the month since […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 JeniferM@ttd.org WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement on Senate and House passage of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007: “Congress has finally taken aggressive steps to shore up many security risks in our transportation system after years […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 JeniferM@ttd.org WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement regarding reports that a minority bloc of Senators is blocking rail, transit and bus security measures in the 9/11 Commission bill: “We are utterly baffled that Senate Republicans raised procedural objections […]