As part of a consolidated effort to block anti-worker provisions inserted into the proposed FAA Reauthorization bill, 19 transportation-related unions issued a joint statement urging passage of a clean FAA Reauthorization, without drastic and unnecessary changes to the Railway Labor Act:
“We remain strongly committed to passage of a clean FAA Reauthorization bill. An aviation safety and security bill is no place to impose unrelated and controversial labor provisions that will ultimately serve to harm both airline and railroad workers. The proposed Railway Labor Act changes would drastically rewrite a statute that was crafted by labor-management cooperation and has not been changed for over 75 years without the agreement of both employer and employee representatives. Airline and rail workers would suffer significant losses as contracts are jettisoned, collective bargaining rights are cut and legal hurdles will be placed in the way of gaining a voice at work.
Rewarding the House Republican Leadership’s desire to rewrite decades of long standing labor law in a flash by inserting an unrelated and controversial labor provision in a much needed aviation safety and security bill, without notice, hearing, or debate, sets an extremely dangerous precedent. We urge the Senate to delete the provisions of the bill that would amend the RLA and pass the clean FAA Reauthorization that all concerned recognize this country sorely needs and supports.”
Click here to read the entire statement.
The IAM and TCU/IAM also sent a letter protesting the changes to members of the House and Senate. “We are particularly disturbed that this law undermines the rights of railroad workers and airline workers without so much as a hearing or open deliberation on its creation … We urge Congress to pass a clean FAA reauthorization bill that does not cripple the rights of railroad employees,” the letter stated.
Click here to read the House letter and here to read the Senate letter.
