WASHINGTON – Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued this statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement of grant awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program:
“We applaud the Biden Administration for squarely prioritizing good union jobs in the $1.5 billion RAISE discretionary grant program.
“For the first time ever, the RAISE program prioritizes applicants that guarantee workers have the free and fair choice to join a union. In addition, the program also encourages the utilization of registered apprenticeship and local hire agreements. These actions are a historic step forward for this program.
“Transportation labor has always lauded the RAISE grant program (formerly known as TIGER) as a critical way to create good jobs while improving the design, construction, and operation of America’s transportation infrastructure.”
“Tying these investments to good-paying union jobs and instilling strong labor standards into the awarding of RAISE grant funds means that this program is more beneficial for working people and the communities who rely on our transportation network every day.
“With these pro-worker changes to the RAISE program, the Biden Administration continues to deliver on its promise to be the most pro-union Administration in history.
“We thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Buttigieg for their clear leadership and tireless efforts to create good union jobs.”