Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Encyclopedia
The Transportation Trades Department, AFL–CIO (TTD) is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL–CIO. It was founded in February 1990 to provide AFL-CIO-affiliated unions whose members work in the transportation industry or who build transportation infrastructure a unified policy-making voice on transportation issues. The TTD had 32 member unions as of November 2009.
The TTD is divided into five sections, each of which covers a different area of transportation: Railroads, trucking, aviation, mass transit, and maritime transportation. Each section is headed by a president of a union in that transportation sector. Although maritime trade unions are free to join the TTD, most have not, and the TTD works closely with its sister department, the Maritime Trades Department
.
, and James Kennedy, President of the Transportation Communication Union
, began advocating for a new, unified transportation trades department after the abolition of the Railway Employees Department in 1980. The idea was not well-received until after 1987, when the Teamsters
(a major transportation union) reaffiliated with the AFL-CIO.
At its founding, the TTD represented 1.4 million (10 percent) of the AFL-CIO's 14 million members. Richard I. Kilroy was named the first president of the new department. Walter Shea (director of the Eastern Conference of Teamsters in Washington, D.C.) was elected Secretary-Treasurer. James Kennedy, who was also the executive director of the Railway Labor Executives' Association, was named the TTD's first (and, at the time, only) full-time professional staff person.
The United Transportation Union
did not join the TTD at its formation.
The TTD's inaugural convention was held in early October 1990 in Washington, D.C., with representatives from its 24 member unions (who represented more than 1 million members). The largest delegations came from the Teamsters, the International Association of Machinists, and the Association of Flight Attendants
. Other unions well-represented at the convention included the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
, Communications Workers of America
, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, Transport Workers Union
, Transportation Communication Union, United Auto Workers
, and the United Steelworkers of America. Richard Kilroy was elected to a five-year term as TTD President.
) Secretary-Treasurer.
Shea's term of office ended in 1995, and Ron Carey
, President of the Teamsters, was elected to take his place. But Carey was expelled from the Teamsters in July 1998 by federal government monitors after allegedly accepting illegal donations for his Teamsters re-election campaign, and Sonny Hall, President of the Transport Workers Union of America
(TWU), was elected TTD president.
Hall retired at the end of his five-year term in 2003, and Edward Wytkind was elected president of the Transportation Trades Department.
joined in 1992, becoming the 26th union affiliated.
The International Longshoremen's Association
and its autonomous division, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
, affiliated in 2001, bringing the TTD's membership total to 32.
The TTD is divided into five sections, each of which covers a different area of transportation: Railroads, trucking, aviation, mass transit, and maritime transportation. Each section is headed by a president of a union in that transportation sector. Although maritime trade unions are free to join the TTD, most have not, and the TTD works closely with its sister department, the Maritime Trades Department
The Maritime Trades Department AFL-CIO
-External links:*...
.
Formation
Efforts to create a department within the AFL-CIO which united all transportation unions began in the 1960s. The effort received a boost two decades later when Richard I. Kilroy, President of the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline ClerksTransportation Communications International Union
The Transportation Communications International Union or TCU is the successor to the union formerly known as the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and includes within it many other organizations, including the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters that...
, and James Kennedy, President of the Transportation Communication Union
Transportation Communications International Union
The Transportation Communications International Union or TCU is the successor to the union formerly known as the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and includes within it many other organizations, including the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters that...
, began advocating for a new, unified transportation trades department after the abolition of the Railway Employees Department in 1980. The idea was not well-received until after 1987, when the Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
(a major transportation union) reaffiliated with the AFL-CIO.
At its founding, the TTD represented 1.4 million (10 percent) of the AFL-CIO's 14 million members. Richard I. Kilroy was named the first president of the new department. Walter Shea (director of the Eastern Conference of Teamsters in Washington, D.C.) was elected Secretary-Treasurer. James Kennedy, who was also the executive director of the Railway Labor Executives' Association, was named the TTD's first (and, at the time, only) full-time professional staff person.
The United Transportation Union
United Transportation Union
The United Transportation Union is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a broad-based, transportation labor union representing about 125,000 active and retired railroad, bus, mass transit, and airline workers in the United States....
did not join the TTD at its formation.
The TTD's inaugural convention was held in early October 1990 in Washington, D.C., with representatives from its 24 member unions (who represented more than 1 million members). The largest delegations came from the Teamsters, the International Association of Machinists, and the Association of Flight Attendants
Association of Flight Attendants
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is a union representing Flight Attendants in the United States. In 2011, AFA represents nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants at 24 airlines, making it the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100% on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in...
. Other unions well-represented at the convention included the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is a labor union founded in Marshall, Michigan, on May 8, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Footboard. A year later, its name was changed to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, sometimes referred to as the Brotherhood of Engineers...
, Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, Transport Workers Union
Transport Workers Union
Transport Workers Union may refer to:* The Transport Workers Union of America* The Transport Workers Union of Australia* The Swedish Transport Workers' Union...
, Transportation Communication Union, United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
, and the United Steelworkers of America. Richard Kilroy was elected to a five-year term as TTD President.
Presidents and Executive Directors
In July 1991, Kilroy was defeated for re-election as president of his home union by Robert A. Scardelletti. James Kennedy resigned from the TTD in the wake of Kilroy's defeat, and Edward Wytkind, assistant executive director of the department, became executive director. Although Kilroy stepped down (as expected) as TTD president at the department's October executive board meeting, the TTD did not immediately name either an interim or permanent successor. Instead, the TTD said Secretary-Treasurer Walter Shea would "assume the duties of the presidency" until February 1992. The TTD executive board subsequently elected Shea president and V.M. Speakman (president of the Brotherhood of Railroad SignalmenBrotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen is a labor union in the United States and Canada. It represents workers who install and maintain signal systems on rail transport networks...
) Secretary-Treasurer.
Shea's term of office ended in 1995, and Ron Carey
Ron Carey (labor leader)
Ronald Robert Carey was an American labor leader who served as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1991 to 1997. He was the first Teamster General President elected by a direct vote of the membership...
, President of the Teamsters, was elected to take his place. But Carey was expelled from the Teamsters in July 1998 by federal government monitors after allegedly accepting illegal donations for his Teamsters re-election campaign, and Sonny Hall, President of the Transport Workers Union of America
Transport Workers Union of America
Transport Workers Union of America is a United States labor union that was founded in 1934 by subway workers in New York City, then expanded to represent transit employees in other cities, primarily in the eastern U.S. This article discusses the parent union and its largest local, Local 100,...
(TWU), was elected TTD president.
Hall retired at the end of his five-year term in 2003, and Edward Wytkind was elected president of the Transportation Trades Department.
New member unions
The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO originally had 24 member unions at its formation in 1990. It has had several new members join over the years. The United Transportation UnionUnited Transportation Union
The United Transportation Union is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a broad-based, transportation labor union representing about 125,000 active and retired railroad, bus, mass transit, and airline workers in the United States....
joined in 1992, becoming the 26th union affiliated.
The International Longshoremen's Association
International Longshoremen's Association
The International Longshoremen's Association is a labor union representing longshore workers along the East Coast of the United States and Canada, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and inland waterways...
and its autonomous division, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots or MM&P is a United States labor union representing licensed mariners. It is the marine division of the International Longshoremen's Association....
, affiliated in 2001, bringing the TTD's membership total to 32.
Issues
Two of the main purposes of the Transportation Trades Department are to influence national transportation policy and to speak as a unified voice for the concerns of organized labor on transportation issues. Included among the more notable issues in which the TTD has played a major role are:- The 1991 national railroad strike.
- Safety issues (including drug and alcohol testing) in rail, truck, and air transportation.
- Trucking deregulationDeregulationDeregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
and the North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade AgreementThe North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
. - Railroad mergers, such as the Burlington NorthernBurlington Northern RailroadThe Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa FeAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayThe Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
and the Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
with the Southern Pacific, and the breakup of ConrailConsolidated Rail CorporationThe Consolidated Rail Corporation, commonly known as Conrail , was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeast U.S. between 1976 and 1999. The federal government created it to take over the potentially profitable lines of bankrupt carriers, including the Penn Central Transportation Company and...
. - ShippingShip transportShip transport is watercraft carrying people or goods . Sea transport has been the largest carrier of freight throughout recorded history. Although the importance of sea travel for passengers has decreased due to aviation, it is effective for short trips and pleasure cruises...
deregulation. - AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
reform. - Port, rail, and air transport security issues after the 9/11 attacks, and aid for workers in transportation sectors affected by the events.