WASHINGTON, DC – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, issued the following statement today in reaction to the Obama Administration’s intent to nominate Randy Babbitt as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration:
“Transportation labor applauds the President’s choice of Randy Babbitt to be the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA needs a leader who is respected by all elements of the aviation industry and who understands the critical importance of front-line aviation workers. Randy Babbitt’s nomination answers this call.
“The FAA is at a critical moment in its history. Budget and management problems have prevented the agency from expanding and modernizing the system. Safety reforms are long overdue. And the agency’s broken collective bargaining system needs to be reformed. Randy Babbitt will provide the leadership the FAA needs to work through these challenges, better protect workers, and serve the flying public.
“We urge the Senate to confirm Randy Babbitt so the essential work of building a 21st-Century aviation system can proceed.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org.
