Washington, DC — Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to yesterday’s Senate confirmation of Deirdre Hamilton as a Member of the National Mediation Board:
“The Senate confirmation of Deirdre Hamilton to the National Mediation Board (NMB) brings meaningful change to the lives of frontline rail and aviation workers by returning the Board to a pro-worker majority and restoring its mission to uphold the rights of workers to form and join unions.
“Over her decades-spanning career representing workers before federal courts and with the NMB on issues ranging from union elections to contract enforcement and dispute claims, Ms. Hamilton has developed a deep expertise of the Railway Labor Act and cultivated a comprehensive understanding of how it impacts working people.
“With her experience, integrity, and commitment to fostering strong labor-management relations, Ms. Hamilton will make an excellent public servant. We applaud the Senate for confirming her position on the Board and we thank President Biden for nominating this truly accomplished professional.
“Our nation’s rail and aviation workers have kept our country moving throughout the pandemic. We owe it to them to maintain a National Mediation Board that respects their right to protect themselves on the job by bargaining collectively and forming unions. With Ms. Hamilton’s confirmation, I know the Board will make great strides in improving labor-management relations and uplifting frontline workers. I look forward to Ms. Hamilton’s contribution to the mission of the NMB.”