Press Releases and Statements

WASHINGTON — Today, the Ohio Democratic congressional delegation announced the introduction of the bipartisan Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act, led by Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) and Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06): “Public safety transcends political parties and congressional boundaries, which is why I am proud to co-lead the RAIL Act — bipartisan, commonsense legislation to prevent […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), released this statement after the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced new safety measures today: “The rail industry has repeatedly demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to self-regulate on safety. While we appreciate recent efforts to address some safety […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued this statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it is opening a special investigation into Norfolk Southern Railway’s safety practices and culture: “We welcome the NTSB’s special investigation into Norfolk Southern’s safety practices and culture. […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), released this statement about today in response to new regulatory and congressional efforts to reform rail safety: “Rail unions and workers have been sounding the alarm about safety concerns in the freight rail industry for years. “We welcome […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued this statement after the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced that the seven major U.S. freight railroads will join the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System: “We welcome today’s announcement that the seven major […]

WASHINGTON — Today, transportation labor and industry groups urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to adopt a federal framework to manage the broad impacts of new technologies on the transportation workforce. The letter from the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO and ITS America states: “With such rapid technological change […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued this statement after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a safety advisory related to the maintenance and use of hot bearing wayside detectors: “We welcome recent rail safety actions from the Federal Railroad Administration, including the safety […]

WASHINGTON  — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued this statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on the East Palestine derailment: “Rail unions and their workers are dedicated to ensuring that when railroads adopt technologies, such as wayside defect detectors, […]

LAS VEGAS  — Brightline West, America’s first true high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California, today,  announced a landmark agreement, establishing a commitment with several craft rail unions for the use of highly skilled union labor in critical jobs required to operate and maintain this historic project. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with […]

WASHINGTON – As the nation commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), all U.S. rail labor unions unanimously adopted a Resolution calling for paid sick leave.  “The lack of paid sick leave for rail workers came into the national spotlight during this last round of national contract bargaining that concluded in December,” said […]