In The News
TWU Tech Newsletter: Winning Contracts That Fight Autonomous Technology
Posted OnMarch 5, 2024 byThis is the monthly edition of the Transport Workers Union’s Transportation Technology Newsletter. We aim to inform and educate our members, the labor movement, the public and policymakers about developments in transportation technology – and what the TWU is doing to ensure that new technology doesn’t undermine safety or harm the livelihoods of hard-working blue-collar workers….Read More…
Statement on Cancelled JetBlue-Spirit airlines’ merger
Posted OnMarch 4, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union of America issued the following statement on the announcement that Jet Blue and Spirit airlines will no longer pursue a merger.
Our main concern throughout this process was protecting and advancing the livelihoods of our members. We achieved those goals. For our JetBlue Inflight Crewmembers, we secured 17% mid-contract raises, millions of dollars in potential bonus payments, and more.
Battle in Boston
Posted OnFebruary 29, 2024 byThe TWU fired a shot across the bow of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and its hired-gun commuter rail operator, the French conglomerate, Keolis. TWU Local 2054 in Boston warned of possible strike as Keolis pays the lowest wages of passenger rail providers in the Northeast.
“France would not tolerate an American company degrading French workers’ wages and working conditions like this,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “The TWU will fight like hell to stop Keolis from doing it in Boston.”Read More…
TWU International President Samueslen Blasts NY Gov. Kathy Hochul
Posted OnFebruary 29, 2024 byNY Gov. Kathy Hochul and her MTA have hit TWU members at the Metro-North Railroad with a litany of heavy-handed contract demands that will cause real economic harm on the blue-collar workforce.
TWU International President blasts Hochul for her treatment of TWU Local 2001 and 2055 members in this editorial published in the NY Daily News.Read More…
TWU Calls for Congressional Action to Avert Harmful Shutdown
Posted OnFebruary 27, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union is urging House and Senate leaders to work together this week to prevent a shutdown of some federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration. A shutdown would begin on March 2nd if Congress does not act. A government shutdown would halt the training of new air traffic…Read More…
STOPPING AVs FROM REPLACING BUS OPERATORS, MECHANICS, AND OTHER TRANSIT WORKERS
Posted OnFebruary 23, 2024 byAs automated cars and shuttles proliferate, The TWU has drawn a line in the sand and is taking steps to protect Bus Operators and other workers from being replaced someday by autonomous vehicle technology.
The Transport Workers Union’s Technology Task Force recently secured first-of-its kind contract language with a public transportation agency in Ohio giving the union veto power over the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The contract also says Bus Operators and Mechanics cannot be laid off, or have their wages reduced, because of new or modified technology.
The collective bargaining agreement – with the Central Ohio Transit Authority – is part of TWU’s national strategy against job killing technology. It will now serve as a template for the TWU as it negotiates new contracts in cities across the United StatesRead More…
TWU vs. NY Gov. Hochul – Round 2
Posted OnFebruary 22, 2024 byHundreds of hardworking union workers at the Metro-North Railroad are again being attacked by the Hochul-controlled MTA. The NY authority wants to impose a litany of contract changes that will significantly reduce workers income, job security, and retirement security.
“It’s a brutal attack on blue-collar workers,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said, vowing a fierce fightback campaign,Read More…
TWU Local 555 Reaches Tentative Agreement with Southwest Airlines
Posted OnFebruary 22, 2024 byTWU Local 555, representing nearly 20,000 ramp, operations, provisioning and freight agents at Southwest Airlines, reached a tentative agreement Wednesday on a contract that provides top-of-the-industry wage rates and average pay increases over 18 percent. The contract, which would provide pay increases to hardworking Southwest employees who last saw a wage increase nearly three…Read More…
TWU Issues Comments Supporting FTA’s Proposed Assault General Directive
Posted OnFebruary 21, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union strongly supports a proposed general directive from the Federal Transit Administration to specify how transit agencies must provide safeguards against assaults on transit workers. Read our full comment filed with the FTA below: February 20, 2024 The Honorable Nuria Fernandez Administrator Federal Transit Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington,…Read More…
TWU Members Rally for Flight Attendant Day of Action
Posted OnFebruary 13, 2024 byTWU members at Locals 556, 577 and 579 rallied with flight attendants at more than 30 airports across the country to demand better contracts, better work rules, and liveable wages. More than 100,000 flight attendants across the country are currently working without updated contracts. The Day of Action united flight attendants across different airlines and…Read More…