WASHINGTON, D.C. — Meeting today in Washington, the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) united behind an unequivocal declaration that transportation unions cannot support legislation to reimburse the airlines for their staggering war and terrorism related costs unless more than 150,000 laid-off aviation industry workers receive jobless benefits and hiring preference for the thousands of federal airport security jobs remaining unfilled.
“Our government must come to grips with the fact that airline security is a national responsibility and has become an important part of our national defense and homeland security,” the transportation labor leaders declared.
Pointing out the industry’s massive financial losses and job cuts, transportation unions also declared that airline workers have “no short- or intermediate-term hope of being rehired” as well as a “growing sense that government leaders are indifferent to their needs” in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Last fall, legislation advanced by Senator Jean Carnahan (D-MO) reached the Senate floor, but was “killed by a minority bloc of unsympathetic Republicans who waged a filibuster,” the statement declared. The TTD Executive Committee spent Tuesday morning meeting with Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), and others to discuss the plight of these workers.
Specifically, the TTD policy statement urged Congress, prior to leaving for the campaign trail, to assist laid-off aviation industry workers with:
— Six months of extended unemployment insurance;
— 75 percent health care subsidies;
— Training & Re-training programs; and
— Mandated preferential hiring rights for thousands of unfilled aviation security jobs at the Transportation Security Administration.
Urging Congress and the President to “insulate the airlines, their employees and passengers from paying the astronomical price for national security responsibilities . . . ” the transportation labor leaders urged Congress to meet these critical needs through “national security and defense funding mechanisms.”
According to the TTD, this would include:
— At least one year of terrorism/war risk reinsurance coverage;
— Reimbursement for security mandates, including costs for cockpit fortification;
— Lifting of restrictions on airlines carrying U.S. priority mail and other freight; and
— Resources for updated anti-terrorism worker training.
Loan Guarantee Program Not Meeting Congressional Intent
In a separate resolution, TTD stated that the federal loan guarantee program created by last fall’s airline bail-out bill has failed to live up to “the expectations of Congress,” as the Airline Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) has strongly deviated from the intent of Congress through “a bureaucratic and unwieldy process as well as grossly unrealistic demands for employee wage and other concessions.”
“Nothing in the emergency relief legislation was intended to saddle applicants with such onerous requirements that would actually deter air carriers from taking advantage of this important assistance,” transportation union said. “Moreover, it was not Congress’ intent to permit the ATSB to exercise such broad powers to directly intervene in the collective bargaining process as it has on several occasions. For example, right out of the box the ATSB tried to impose a 7-year wage freeze on the employees of America West as a condition for granting that carrier a loan guarantee.”
Noting that only a fraction of the available aid has been granted, the TTD resolution urged Congress to modify the legislation creating the ATSB to ensure the airline bail-out legislation works as Congress intended. “Otherwise, the airline rescue package passed with such fanfare last fall is doomed to failure and several airlines may not survive the current financial tailspin,” the Executive Committee said.
For copies of both resolutions, visit www.ttd.org
TTD represents 35 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries.