Washington, DC — As the U.S. begins to recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), gathered today to assess the immediate, short-term, and long-term needs of transportation workers and the systems they operate.
Recognizing that the key to sustained economic recovery for working families rests with President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, the 33 transportation union leaders also discussed capitalizing on the once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild the middle class and strengthen unions by making transformative investments in our nation’s transportation system and infrastructure.
“We have a unique opportunity to make generational investments in our nation’s transportation system and set a new, better, and more equitable course for our country. And, importantly, we have a leader in the White House who recognizes the contributions of and is prioritizing the needs of working people – including the proud union members who keep America moving,” said TTD President Greg Regan. “Transportation labor is committed to working with Congress and this administration to enhance the safety of our frontline workforce, continue creating good, union jobs in transportation, and ensure President Biden’s American Jobs Plan becomes a reality.”
Labor leaders laid out an aggressive agenda for 2021 and beyond focused on protecting and creating good, union jobs in transportation and infrastructure industries, improving transportation safety and security, and ensuring ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts prioritize the needs of working families. Specifically, TTD’s Executive Committee vowed to pursue policies that will:
- Strengthen the U.S. Flag Fleet
- Restore, strengthen and enforce ‘Fly America’ rules
- Protect the U.S. aviation industry jobs from dangerous flag-of-convenience business models
- Ensure aviation and rail employees receive the pay and workplace protections they deserve
- Ensure federally supported transportation jobs are good jobs
- Restore intercity passenger transportation services
Transportation labor leaders discussed these and other priorities with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
“As Congress advances President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, it was an honor to meet with the Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department today,” said Speaker Pelosi. “After delivering nearly $60 billion in relief for transportation in the American Rescue Plan to protect jobs and essential service, House Democrats are now seizing this once-in-a-century opportunity to create millions of good-paying union jobs with strong worker protections by revitalizing our nation’s infrastructure. Because of TTD’s leadership, working families and unions that support them will be central to helping us Build Back Better by investing in our workers and our future.”
“Our transportation network forms the foundation of our nation’s economic growth and global competitiveness. Powering that network are millions of frontline workers who deserve good jobs and have a right to be safe at work,” Trottenberg said. “I thank transportation labor leaders for their continued support and look forward to working together to ensure America’s transportation system is the safest in the world.”