WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transportation labor will mobilize behind congressional efforts to pass a multi-year highway/transit reauthorization bill that boosts spending levels, ensures safety and security standards and does not “weaken or undermine” workers’ rights under collective bargaining and prevailing wage statutes. This is the message delivered today by the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO at a hearing on the upcoming reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
“The labor movement is prepared to make the case across the country for a strong TEA-21 reauthorization bill that keeps America moving forward,” said Edward Wytkind, executive director of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), in his testimony before the House Highway and Transit Subcommittee. He said Congress has an opportunity to build on the achievements of the landmark act in creating additional good paying jobs, inspiring economic development, and ensuring safe and efficient transportation choices. “Congress must make a financial commitment to our transportation infrastructure investment programs commensurate with the high expectations placed on our transportation system by the American people,” Wytkind said.
TTD said that the 1998 TEA-21 law has created millions of good jobs, brought transit ridership to a record 9.6 billion, increased highway use 12 percent, and has “sparked an economic chain reaction that has put millions of Americans to work, modernized our infrastructure, boosted property values, and generated unprecedented economic growth.” Building on these achievements, he said, must be the ultimate goal in the shaping the future of federal transportation spending.
Consistent with the longstanding views of transportation labor, TTD called for the highest possible funding levels and budget “firewalls” to prevent these key dollars from being siphoned away for other purposes. Without these fiscal guarantees, Wytkind added, “our transportation network will submerge into a state of disrepair, rendering cities and states powerless to address their infrastructure and mobility needs.”
The labor movement, he vowed, will remain vigilant in ensuring that the re-write of TEA-21 does not “become a vehicle to advance measures that undermine federal standards” protecting workers’ rights and safety. Two specific laws he cited were Section 13(c) of the Federal Transit Act, which provides for collective bargaining and other job rights in mass transit programs, and Davis-Bacon. These key laws, which have led to unprecedented labor-management cooperation and stability in the transportation industry, must apply to all TEA-21 programs including so-called “innovative finance” initiatives such as State Infrastructure Banks, or SIBs. Wytkind also warned against ill advised proposals that would result in “selling off our transportation network” through risky privatization schemes that offer false promises of cost savings and harm service.
Addressing safety and security, Wytkind regretfully noted that it is “unfortunate that we now must consider trucks, trains, buses, subways and bridges as potential venues for terrorism.” He urged Congress to adopt policies that offer strong protection for employees and passengers, including rigorous training for workers. He urged the Subcommittee to support highway safety programs such as driver training, vehicle registration, and adequate safety inspection facilities, particularly if – “over our objections” – the Bush Administration proceeds with plans to open the U.S.-Mexico border to “potentially unsafe and poorly regulated Mexico-domiciled trucks and buses.” TTD called for small commercial passenger vans to be required to comply with all federal driver and vehicle regulations. Moreover, TTD opposed any proposals to roll back the ability of the Department of Transportation or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to carry-out their vital workplace safety roles, specifically condemning proposals to “remove OSHA jurisdiction over hazardous material worker protection enforcement.”
For a copy of the testimony, visit www.ttd.org.