WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued today by Sonny Hall, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
“There is no joy this holiday season for the over 830,000 Americans who will lose their unemployment benefits at the stroke of midnight tonight. The White House and the Republican leadership in Congress had a chance to help those who are struggling in our failing economy but instead stonewalled efforts to extend and improve unemployment benefits and to help laid-off workers pay for health care insurance. Worst of all, Congress adjourned while working Americans suffer.
“President Bush recently announced his support for helping the unemployed. We welcome his call for action but are puzzled as to why his Administration failed to urge passage of jobless benefits legislation when Congress was actually in session and working. In fact, when transportation workers mobilized throughout the year behind legislation to assist laid-off airline and Boeing workers with extended unemployment benefits and health care assistance, this Administration joined Republican Leaders in blocking the legislation.
“A closer examination of the President’s recent announcement also leaves much to be desired. The Bush plan would help only those workers whose benefits run out on December 28, but would do nothing for the estimated 95,000 workers who will exhaust their benefits each week in the months ahead. While the President’s proposal goes further than the House Republicans were willing to go, it offers no hope to those who will suffer in 2003 as our anemic economy continues to sputter.
“For the over 150,000 laid off workers in the airline industry, this is yet another bitter pill to swallow. They watched terrorists on 9/11 use their industry as a weapon of destruction, didn’t get a nickel when Congress gave $15 billion to the airlines, and this month saw the Bush Administration deny federal loan assistance to United Airlines, in violation of clear Congressional intent. Now aviation workers brace for more job cuts as USAirways and United attempt to emerge from bankruptcy and other air carriers threaten more layoffs.
“Washington has let down workers in this country, particularly those who have given so much to rebuild America’s airlines from the economic devastation of 9/11. It is inconceivable that this Administration and Congress would enter into a new bidding war to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans while allowing jobless benefits to expire.
“Congress and the President must act to help America’s unemployed with extended and improved jobless benefits, health care assistance and a real stimulus plan that puts people back to work through emergency federal spending on our transportation system and infrastructure.”
TTD represents 35 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org