AFL-CIO's TTD thanks Foxx for engaging labor

WASHINGTON – Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, issued this statement in support of U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx’s effort to highlight the importance of investing in America’s surface transportation needs, and applauded the Secretary’s effort to engage transportation labor:

“In today’s economy, where there are too few jobs and too many potholes and aging transit systems, investing in infrastructure is an obvious and desperately-needed step that will keep America competitive. We applaud Secretary Foxx for crisscrossing the United States this week to highlight our crumbling infrastructure and the desperate need to advance a multi-year investment in our surface transportation system.

“We are also pleased that Secretary Foxx reached out to transportation unions as partners in this effort. Today we participated in a thoughtful and productive call with the Secretary during his latest stop in Louisiana and pledged our shared commitment to address the pending insolvency of the High Trust Fund and convince lawmakers that short-term stopgap funding measures will not cut it.

“Transportation should not be a partisan issue. The American people and businesses of all sizes need safe and efficient passenger and freight transportation systems. They know first-hand what it means to live with deteriorating infrastructure and transit systems that face rising demand and badly stressed budgets. “We pledge our full support to the Secretary’s effort to expand our surface transportation system, create millions of jobs and build a legacy we can be proud to pass on to the next generation. We can’t afford to wait.”