Press Release

February 7, 2012
CARDIN SAYS UNDERMINING WORKERS’ RIGHTS HURTS OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND ALL WORKERS

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, voted against the conference report to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to the inclusion of provision that will unnecessarily re-write 75 years of labor laws and harm workers’ rights.

“I believe a long-term reauthorization of the FAA is critical to helping our fragile economy continue on its current course of recovery and there are many provisions within this legislation that I strongly support. However, undermining the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain their contracts, especially during this time of great change within the commercial airline industry, undermines our economy, harms working families, and has the potential to damage our nation’s fiscal health.

“America needs an efficient and modern transportation system to keep our economy moving in the right direction.  Some lawmakers forget that essential to this effort are the very dedicated FAA employees and airline workers who each day ensure the flying public travels safely across the country from airports and airfields both large and small located in nearly every corner of the U.S. 

“While there are many good provisions in the bill, including the advancement of the next generation of air traffic control technology and the Passengers Bill of Rights, I could not support a bill that weakens workers’ rights to organize and negotiate fair contracts.”

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