(The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department issued the following news release on April 11.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. –- The following statement was issued by Sonny Hall, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, in reaction to today’s votes by the House-Senate conference committee on the 2003 war supplemental appropriations legislation to provide 26 weeks of jobless benefits for laid off airline industry workers.
“A bipartisan group of lawmakers has taken a major step forward in helping laid off airline industry workers and their families cope in the midst of the terrible economic downturn in this critical part of the nation’s economy. On behalf of these workers, we say thank you.
“Tonight’s action is a recognition by Congress that real people lie at the heart of this historic and highly-publicized crisis facing the airlines — men and women who have lost their jobs and each day struggle to support their families. It was a congressional acknowledgment that these workers – whose unemployment rate is three times the national average and whose prospects for being rehired are bleak – have been the economic victims of a terrible set of circumstances since September 11.
“We thank those courageous lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for their decisive action today, and urge swift and final approval of the airline industry and worker assistance measures by both houses.”
TTD represents 35 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org