Hot News for March 2010
Vote March 2 for Bill White for governor
... and then join us for...
Tarrant County Democratic Party's
Primary Night Election Watch Party
Tuesday, March 2 Watch the primary election results from across the state!
7:30 PM - 10:30 p.m.
The Pour House 2725 West 7th St.
Fort Worth, TX
76107 Let us know you're coming by clicking HERE.
Remember to vote March 2 for Bill White for governor!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2010
CONTACT: Jenifer McCormick 202-628-9262 jeniferm@ttd.org
Transportation Trades Department Outlines Agenda in 20th Anniversary Meeting Executive Committee is Joined by DOT Sec. LaHood, Rep. Oberstar, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Orlando, FL – Transportation union leaders gathered Sunday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and to discuss their agenda for the upcoming year. Joined by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, the group of 32 unions discussed important policy issues and conducted elections for its leadership.
“In tough economic times, transportation workers help keep their local economies healthy, while building the infrastructure America needs to compete in the global economy,” said Secretary LaHood. “Workers represented by the Transportation Trades help to keep Americans safe and moving forward on planes, trains, buses, ships and automobiles.” “Transportation holds America together. Our highways, railroads, airways, waterways, ports and mass transit make us one nation, instead of a patchwork of 50 individual states,” Oberstar said. “However, it is the men and women who build, operate, and maintain these systems that make American transportation work. We, as a nation, owe a great debt to them, and to their collective voice, TTD.”
“For 20 years, the Transportation Trades Department has brought the voices of transportation workers to the debate,” said Edward Wytkind, president of TTD. “Moving forward, we will continue this important work. We will insist that the interests of workers are protected and represented as Washington writes the laws and regulations that affect transportation workers and the system in which they work.”
In TTD’s officer elections, Wytkind was re-elected as President. He has been president of the organization since 2003, and served as its executive director for 13 years before then. Larry Willis was elected as Secretary-Treasurer, effective April 1. Willis is currently and will continue to serve as TTD’s chief of staff and general counsel. He will replace outgoing TTD Secretary-Treasurer Patricia Friend, President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), who will retire from the AFA toward the end of the year.
TTD’s executive committee adopted a strong statement in support of the 600 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30. These workers at a borox mining plant in Boron, California have been locked out by employer Rio Tinto, which is trying to force an extremely concessionary contract on the workers. TTD leaders also discussed priority issues and approved full policy statements that can be found at www.ttd.org.
“With national unemployment still at record levels, transportation workers need jobs and transportation investments are a proven way to create them,” Wytkind said. Additionally, “this past year has been rife with examples of the need to strengthen safety and security in our transportation systems. From the underwear bomber to several rail transit accidents to pirate attacks on U.S. mariners, we will continue to advocate for safety and security standards that address the realities workers face and that serve the public interest.”
As articulated in the policy statements, TTD will work for progress on the following issues:
Creating jobs by rebuilding our transportation network
Job creation began with the Recovery Act, which created and saved millions of jobs. But the work is not done. Workers need swift action on a robust jobs bill and additional investments in transportation programs with a proven history of job creation. More delay and partisan quarreling will not put a single American to work – significant investment in our transportation system and infrastructure will. <more>
Constantly evaluating and upgrading aviation security
The attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day 2009 was a clear reminder that our aviation system remains a target of extremist aggression and that security procedures must continually be evaluated and upgraded to meet emerging threats. Aviation workers understand the security vulnerabilities that exist in our system and have been vocal advocates for closing known loopholes, greater federal investments in screening and other technologies, and forward-looking policies to meet the evolving security challenges we face. One lesson learned from the December 25th attack is that terrorists will not hesitate to attack a U.S. carrier by circumventing security procedures at foreign locations. This bolsters the argument that one level of security must be required of all contract aircraft repair stations, where a growing percentage of maintenance and repair work is now done on U.S. passenger aircraft. <more>
Federal jurisdiction over rail transit safety
Recent accidents at transit agencies in Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. illustrate a clear need for increased federal safety oversight of rail transit operations. It is significant that the Obama DOT is seeking to regulate rail transit safety, consistent with the historic role it has played in safety oversight of commercial airlines and freight and passenger rail operations. We applaud the Obama Administration for its work on this initiative but urge the DOT to listen to the input of front-line employees and their unions and consider carefully the financial realities facing public transportation agencies across the country. <more>
Protecting workers in international aviation trade agreements
Globalization of our aviation system is posing new challenges for our government and Congress. As the United States enters into new and expanded international aviation agreements, these agreements must be balanced, legitimately promote U.S. aviation, and protect the interests and jobs of U.S. aviation workers. While we support efforts to create additional international opportunities for U.S. carriers, these opportunities cannot come at the expense of U.S. airline jobs, collective bargaining rights, and safety and security standards that are so important to our aviation system. We also urge the Obama Administration to clearly state its opposition to relaxing our foreign ownership and control rules, not only in the context of U.S.-EU talks but as the U.S. prepares for open skies talks with China later this year. <more>
Protecting the maritime industry and its workers from pirates
Last year, two U.S.-flag ships, the LIBERTY SUN and the MAERSK ALABAMA, were attacked by heavily armed pirates off the coast of Somalia while transporting humanitarian aid on behalf of the U.S. government. Transportation labor urges the U.S. government to prevent acts of piracy in the short-term through immediate military and other government assistance and over the long-term through international engagement. Specifically, transportation labor believes the most effective means to prevent and repel acts of piracy is for our government to immediately provide U.S.-flag vessels operating in high risk waters with on-board armed force protection. <more>
###
The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org.
888 16th Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC, 20006
Opening Remarks from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at February 25, 2010 Tele-conference with State Federation, Area Labor Federation and Central Labor Council leaders
Welcome and thank you for the opportunity to talk you today. You are the basic building blocks of the labor movement -- Labor Councils and State Federations.
When I say the AFL-CIO, I want you to know I’m thinking about all of you, not just the national headquarters.
This call comes at a great time. Things are hot on two key issues for working people: Health Care and Jobs.
I want to talk a little about each of them and then I want to hear from you.
I said things are hot:
-
I just got back from an international meeting of labor leaders. Our topic was the Global Jobs Crisis.
-
Tomorrow I’m going to Evansville Indiana to fight for 1100 jobs at Whirlpool. They want to shut the plant down and move the work abroad.
-
That’s bad enough. It gets worse. A top Whirlpool exec sent a threatening letter to the members of IUE/CWA Local 808. If they protest the loss of these jobs, and I quote: “these negative activities will only hamper employees when they look for future jobs.”
-
Negative activities? Closing the factory is the negative activity. Fighting to save your job it is about as positive an activity as you can get.
-
One more thing. I don’t like threats. Never did. I don’t back down when companies threaten. Ask Pittston Coal Co. Our labor movement won’t back down. Whirlpool can take that threat and ... you get the picture.
-
Saturday, it’s Titusville Florida. The fight is for 7000 jobs at NASA.
-
Next Monday we have a Town Hall meeting in Orlando talking about the fight for jobs.
-
Next Tuesday, the AFL-CIO Executive Council is taking up a proposal for a massive Jobs Campaign.
That’s a full hot week on jobs. I hope it is the beginning of a jobs campaign of unprecedented size, scale and audacity. That’s what we need to win. More on jobs in a minute.
Let’s talk about health care. It’s hot again. A block from here, President Obama is holding a White House health care summit with Congressional leaders.
The summit is going on right now. Let me offer some preliminary thoughts.
-
We really are closer than ever to big health care reform.
-
The proposals from the President are better than the Senate Bill because of your work.
-
You made the Senate and the White House rethink their position.
-
Your hard work and the work of our unions built an anti-excise tax firewall in the House.
-
Because of labor, the entire excise tax was pushed back 5 years for all of America.
-
Because of labor the excise tax threshold was raised by thousands.
-
Please let everyone know what a difference they made.
-
We hope the President, the House and the Senate smash the Republican blockade and pass a good bill.
-
f they are ready to do that, we are ready to stand with them.
-
We are still not happy about some of the details of the proposal. We will keep trying to improve it right to the last minute, and even after the bill is passed in the implementation period.
-
On a policy note, I’m glad the focus has shifted back to the insurance companies where it belongs.
-
Can you believe them? Announcing 39% rate hikes. Want to know why we need health care reform? The insurance companies, that’s why.
-
When the insurance companies gather in DC on March 9th they will get the welcome they deserve. Labor will be a big part of the angry crowd.
-
Any chance any of you have to show your anger at the insurance companies and the politicians they own, take it.
-
I’ll have more to say about the end game strategy for health care reform after the White House Summit is over.
Let me also offer my appreciation for the phone calls about the appointment of Becker and Pearce to the NLRB. Labor flooded the White House switchboard. The White House definitely heard us.
Getting the NLRB back up and running is just one step for workers rights. We are not taking our eyes off of the goal of passing the Employee Free Choice Act. We are going to fight for it and we are going to get it.
Now let’s talk jobs.
When I was on the Bill Moyers show he asked me what’s the #1 issue for working people. I said: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.
That’s going to be the main focus of the Executive Council meeting.
Like I said, I am calling for a massive Jobs Campaign.
We need to think big and act big. Bigger than anything we have ever done.
We need size, scale and audacity.
Here’s why.
We have a real jobs crisis in America.
-
Tens of millions looking for work.
-
40% of the unemployed have been out of work for over 6 months. That’s the highest since Unemployment Insurance started and they began to keep records.
-
The American jobs machine is dead in the water.
-
No work for college grads, high school grads, drop-outs.
-
1/3 of young workers have to live at home with their parents.
-
Our states and cities and school boards are going broke with huge public sector cuts and layoffs scheduled for this year.
I could go on.
This comes on top of thirty or more years of our economy going the wrong way. So we have a jobs crisis and an economic crisis.
I wish that was all we faced.
We also have a serious political crisis.
Millions of working class voters are angry and confused.
-
They feel betrayed by their government.
-
They think Washington cares more about Wall Street than about their streets.
-
I am talking about union members as well as the general public.
-
I know the Senate passed a Jobs Bill, and I welcome it.
-
I believe Harry Reid when he says there is more to do and that more will be done.
-
I’m saying he better move fast. America’s working families are running out of patience.
-
More to do? He got that right. It is a small first step.
-
The next steps have to come pretty fast, because people need action now. We need UI and COBRA extended. Not just for 30 days either.
-
And then we need fast action financial relief for states.
-
We need money for infrastructure right now.
-
We need direct job creation programs right now.
-
We got to get the banks lending again, starting with local community banks.
-
This welcome small first step is nowhere near enough to turn around the way working people are looking at things politically in 2010. That includes union members.
-
Half of our members voted for Scott Brown.
-
As many of our members think the tea-baggers are pretty good as think they are no damn good.
-
Members are asking us what did we get from searching for that elusive 60th vote? Not much.
-
Millions of angry and confused voters equals a serious political crisis in 2010.
I believe a massive jobs campaign led by America’s unions is the best response to this economic and political situation. Maybe even the only response with a chance of making a difference.
I think we have no choice. We build this campaign or we get beaten down on the job, in our communities and at the polls.
As bad as this situation is, I am not depressed. I am excited. This crisis is also an opportunity.
If we develop a jobs fight with size and scale and audacity, we win.
-
A big jobs campaign gets us on the road to refashion the economy.
-
A big jobs campaign re-energizes the labor movement.
-
A big jobs campaign changes the way America looks at unions.
-
A big jobs campaign sets the stage for a 2010 election about issues that matter to the American people.
That’s what I am proposing.
Here’s my thinking about this big jobs campaign.
To start, this Jobs Campaign is not a 16th Street effort.
It has to be built on three strong pillars:
First, our unions.
-
The internationals, the regional and district councils, the locals.
-
That is where the millions of union members are.
-
Not at 16th street.
In fact, many unions are way ahead of us in this jobs fight. Two examples among many:
-
The IAM America Needs Jobs Now campaign and their work with the unemployed.
-
The work by AFSCME and the AFT working with other unions to fight for fiscal relief for the states to stop 1,000,000 public sector layoffs in 2010.
The way I see it, these efforts and others like them are part of the AFL-CIO Jobs Campaign, not in conflict with it.
Second, the organizing centers of the entire labor movement – State Federations, Area Federations, Labor Councils.
I think the stronger the links on every level between all our unions and the AFL-CIO structures, the stronger our fight.
Third, the community. This is not just a union fight. We speak for our members, but we also should speak for every person in America who has a job or needs one. We need to speak to all of America. We need much more community outreach and partnering than we have had. We need the majority of America working for jobs for everybody who needs a job.
I want to talk about the full plan with all the union presidents at the Executive Council and then come back and talk about it with you.
Today I want to stress one important piece of the campaign: action.
Remember, we need more audacity. We need to be in the street more.
We are starting with a March Mobilization from March 15 – March 26.
We are targeting the big banks that are a big reason why the economy is in such a big mess.
Our message is Good Jobs Now, Make Wall Street Pay.
I probably don’t have to convince you to target the big banks.
-
They gambled away our wealth.
-
They got a trillion dollar bailout
-
They took our money for fat bonuses.
-
They use our money to lobby congress against financial reform so they can keep gambling.
-
They won’t lend money to businesses that could create jobs.
-
They foreclosed our homes.
Have I said enough?
I have a single task for every State Fed and Labor Council leader on the phone.
Sign up today to have an action in your town as part of the March Jobs Mobilization.
The fight is on.
You go next. Cities all across the country saying Good Jobs Now – Make Wall Street Pay.
We’re not stopping until we win.
Thank you.
Now I want to hear from you about how you are getting into this fight.
>>> See it on YouTube <<<
