In The News
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…
Senate Makes Progress on Pro-Worker FAA Bill, More to Come
Posted OnFebruary 8, 2024 byTWU International President John Samuelsen said the markup is a “great development” but the House and Senate “must seal the deal and pass final legislation.”
“Our front-line airline flight attendants and boots-on-the ground mechanics have been waiting far too long for Congress to adopt critically important measures needed to address long-standing problems – like unhinged passengers attacking and abusing crewmembers, and greedy airline executives sending aircraft to questionable repair shops in China, and other low-wage countries, for maintenance and repairs.”Read More…
Transportation Technology Newsletter #17
Posted OnJanuary 25, 2024 byTWU leaders descended on the CES tech show and co-sponsored the 5th Annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit, together with the AFL-CIO, its Technology Institute and several unions.Read More…
The TWU Pushes For Big Boost in Transit Funding
Posted OnJanuary 18, 2024 byJan. 18, 2024
The Transport Workers Union strongly supports proposed legislation allocating $80 billion in operating funds for transit agencies to operate more rail and bus service. The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) today, would allocate $20 billion a year for four years for agencies “to make substantial improvements” to systems in our cities, towns and rural communities.
“This legislation would dramatically improve the lives of working men and women,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “It would replace the government’s current transit funding scheme, which is completely asinine and void of common sense. Transit agencies would be able to increase and improve bus and rail service so working communities don’t just survive but thrive.” Click ‘Read More’ for the full statement,
JetBlue Purchase of Spirit Blocked
Posted OnJanuary 16, 2024 byA federal judge issued a ruling Tuesday blocking JetBlue Airways proposed purchase of Spirit Airline. The judge sided with the U.S. Justice Department that the merger would violate anti-trust laws aimed at maintaining competition and consumer choice in the marketplace. Passengers who rely on Spirit’s low fares would be harmed in that the cost of flying either airline would likely increase, the judge ruled. Consolidation of the industry to just a few major carriers has resulted in higher prices. TWU International President John Samuelsen issued the following statement.
Stop the Assaults!
Posted OnJanuary 8, 2024 byTWU International President John Samuelsen calls for more federal action to finally bring an end the plague of violence facing the transit operating workforce. “Transit workers are outrageously getting attacked and abused every single day,” Samuelsen writes in this Op-Ed published by The Hill.Read More…