On The Hill
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…
After Another Temporary Patch, Aviation Workers Need a Final FAA Bill
Posted OnMarch 1, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union of America is calling on the House and Senate to finally finish a final Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill by May 10 – a deadline that gives Congress more than enough time to complete negotiations on vitally important legislation that would advance several TWU pro-worker goals. The House voted…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…
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…
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,
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…
FTA ISSUES LANDMARK DIRECTIVE ON TRANSIT WORKER ASSAULTS
Posted OnDecember 20, 2023 byThe General Directive requires all transit agencies serving urbanized areas with at least 50,000 residents to immediately conduct a risk assessment for assaults on transit workers in their systems. The agencies must then work with frontline transit workers (through Safety Committees established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to develop mitigation strategies that prevent the kinds of assaults at their property. These plans and the assessment must be submitted to the FTA for review, data collection, and policy development.Read More…
10-Hour Rest Rule for Flight Attendants Finalized By FAA
Posted OnOctober 4, 2022 by“We won the fight to guarantee flight attendants at least 10 hours of rest back in 2018 when Congress made this change. TWU did not wait on the FAA; we led the way by securing 10 hours minimum rest at Southwest Airlines, for our Local 556 members, early this year. Today, the FAA has finally acknowledged that 10 hours of rest has to be a minimum for the hard-working flight attendants who keep us safe at 30,000 feet.”Read More…
The Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act Will Close Safety Loopholes, Return Union Jobs to the U.S.
Posted OnSeptember 29, 2022 byThe Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO – the largest union representing airline workers – has been fighting to end offshoring aircraft repair and overhaul.
Today, the TWU is proud and encouraged that the House voted 374-52 to pass the bipartisan Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act, (H.R. 7321, formerly known as the Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act) which will close the loopholes that incentivize airlines to move airline maintenance out of the country and onto less safe standards. When this bill becomes law, it will return tens of thousands of good, union jobs to the U.S.Read More…
Huge Victory for Transportation Workers: Court Ruling Allowing Meal & Rest Breaks for Flight Crews Still Stands
Posted OnJune 30, 2022 byFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2022 Contact: Denise Romano, dromano@twu.org Huge Victory for Transportation Workers: Court Ruling Allowing Meal & Rest Breaks for Flight Crews Still Stands In a huge victory for transportation workers, a motion to overturn a 9th Circuit Court ruling extending meal and break protections to California-based flight crews, was denied by…Read More…