FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2023
Contact: Jonna Huseman, jhuseman@twu.org
Safety and Union Jobs Must be Prioritized in Autonomous Vehicle Legislation
John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, (TWU) issued this statement following the announcement of a House Energy & Commerce hearing on autonomous vehicle legislation:
“Since our founding, the TWU has led the fight to ensure new technologies in transportation are safe for both workers and the passengers we serve. We will work against any legislation that fails to properly regulate autonomous vehicles, preserve our safety standards, and sustain and create good, union jobs. Any legislation on this issue must prioritize working families’ needs in a technological transition, make it clear that the existing level of safety on our roads is the absolute minimum for any new technology, and cover the full scope of autonomous vehicles as they will potentially operate in the real world—personal cars, commercial trucks, and public transportation. In the House of Representatives, the Energy and Commerce Committee will have to work closely with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on any bill that could accomplish these critical objectives.
“While, so far, the committee majority’s draft falls short on these core tenants, Representative Dingell’s proposal shows that there is a path forward for pro-worker, pro-safety AV legislation. This proposal, the product of years’-long discussions between the TWU and many other stakeholders, prioritizes pro-worker technologies, holds AV companies accountable for proving their products are truly safe, and makes it clear that commercial AVs will need to live up to the high standards working people have created for safety. If paired with a strong bill to place appropriate guardrails on the application of autonomous vehicle technology in the commercial and public transportation sectors, it is legislation that could earn our support. Representative Dingell’s legislation is a serious attempt to build a pro-worker future for our transportation sectors and to ensure emergent transportation technologies meet the highest safety standards.
“We do not want to flood our streets with untested, unproven driverless cars. The potential negative consequences for public transportation demand meaningful input and involvement from all stakeholders, especially frontline workers who operate and maintain these systems on a daily basis. The TWU looks forward to working collaboratively with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to deliver a comprehensive legislative package that creates and sustains good, union jobs while raising the level of safety on our roads.”