Affiliates Re-Elect Wytkind, Willis
ATLANTA, GA—The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and leaders of its 32 member unions convened their winter convention over the weekend, celebrated TTD’s 25th anniversary, and rolled out their 2015 policy agenda. With most major transportation investment bills pending this year, including the rewrite of aviation, surface transportation, and passenger rail laws, TTD affiliates embraced an agenda that is focused on finding solutions to long-simmering problems.
“2015 must be about holding those we elected accountable to the American people who grow weary of a transportation system that is falling apart and an economic recovery that is still leaving too many behind,” said TTD President Edward Wytkind. “The agenda we have rolled out offers prescriptive solutions to a wide range of issues that touch every aspect of our transportation system and its workforce – from modernization, safety, and worker protections to collective bargaining, trade policy, and the role of transportation investment as an engine for middle class job creation.”
Transportation unions had an opportunity to discuss their agenda with two Republican lawmakers and Peter Rogoff, under secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, who reviewed the administration’s continuing push for Congress to stop kicking the can on funding a long-term transportation investment vision.
DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx sent a message to TTD on the eve of the 25th anniversary meeting. “TTD and its affiliated unions have consistently been on the front lines working to advance a strong transportation investment and safety agenda that keeps America moving and expands transportation job creation,” Foxx said. “The Department of Transportation will continue to work with our transportation union partners to ensure that the traveling public, businesses, and workers have access to strong, modern, and safe transportation systems and infrastructure.”
Rep. Peter King (R-NY-2) discussed working together with TTD affiliates to expand GOP support for transportation labor’s agenda. “I had a critical opportunity to sit down with transportation union leaders today to discuss the importance of job creation, collective bargaining, and increased safety for America’s transportation workers,” said King. “I look forward to working together with them and the Republican conference to find bipartisan solutions to our transportation infrastructure crises and to ensure we are supporting transportation workers’ jobs and rights in the proposals we advance.”
The Executive Committee also welcomed U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) to discuss pressing transportation and jobs issues. “Whether it’s by way of ground, water, or air, our economy is reliant upon an efficient transportation system,” said Rep. Davis. “Investing in transportation and infrastructure means investing in good-paying, American jobs. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to work with TTD to support policies and investments to help build a 21st century transportation system.”
AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka urged TTD member unions to participate vigorously in the federation’s Raising Wages campaign and, as part of that effort, “hold politicians accountable” when they fail to advance transportation infrastructure investments and the middle class jobs they create.
Madeline Janis, director of LAANE’s Jobs to Move American coalition, which TTD joined in 2013, gave an update on the growing momentum across the country for rewarding high-road employers that bid on public rail car and bus procurements.
Wytkind and Secretary-Treasurer Larry I. Willis were reelected as President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively. “We are honored to have received this vote of confidence from our member unions and will continue to commit ourselves to improving the lives and jobs of transportation workers across the nation,” said Wytkind and Willis.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Weinberg, elizabethw@ttd.org, 202-628-9262
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