Washington, D.C. – Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, issued the following statement marking the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States:
“As we pause to remember the innocent victims of the horrific terrorist attacks on America 10 years ago today, we are reminded of all the unfinished business in protecting our transportation system from terrorism threats.
“Just this weekend our government warned of a ‘specific but unconfirmed’ al-Qaeda threat again directed at our transportation system – this time at its bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. This latest threat reminds us that our elected leaders must push forward homeland security measures that better protect our transportation system and infrastructure and give transportation workers the tools and training they need.
“In the decade since the terrorist attacks, still too many front-line workers are not receiving adequate security training. We still see airlines outsourcing aircraft maintenance across the globe operating under a hodge-podge of often weak security standards and loose oversight. Work remains in ensuring security credentialing procedures for transportation workers are fair and that employees can get to their jobs and travel through the system securely and efficiently. And the transportation industry, its workers and first-responders still need additional federal assistance for the investments in security we all know are necessary in a world where the threat of terrorism is still very real.
“We will forever remember our fallen brothers and sisters from 9/11 – their service, courage and sacrifice. It is in their memory that we will never stop pushing our government and transportation employers to do whatever it takes to protect our passenger and freight transportation system, its users and its workers from the continuing threat of terrorism.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, motor carrier, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org.
