Labor Union

Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

en:Transportation Trades Department, AFL–CIO (TTD) logo 2010 (link)
Website:

ttd.org/

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

52-1673883

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,780,851
Expenses: $2,515,280
Assets: $3,932,053

Founded:

1990

President:

Greg Regen

Type:

Labor Union Coalition

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO is a coalition of 33 unions that advocate for unionized workers and labor unions’ institutional interests in the transportation industry. The TTD tends to support left-of-center economic goals, including increased labor regulations, increased infrastructure spending, opposition to privatization, and support for more security mandates for transportation workers. The TTD PAC, an associated political action committee, primarily donates to Democratic candidates.

The TTD has two members sitting on the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy as of 2021. 1

Policy Advocacy

Opposition to Ride-Sharing Companies

In October 2019, the TTD released “The Costs of Doing Business,” a report to lawmakers on how ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft allegedly undermine public transportation and harm workers. The report criticized ride-sharing companies for evading regulations, lobbying for local, state, and federal funding, diminishing local public transportation budgets, and exploiting workers by classifying their drivers as independent contractors without traditional employment rights, such as a state-guaranteed minimum wage and overtime pay. 2

Infrastructure

In July 2021, the Transportation Trades Department joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO in endorsing President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion “Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework.” 3

In February 2020, the TTD released a recommendation plan for the federal government to expand its infrastructure spending. The plan recommends increasing the federal gas tax to pay for the Highway Trust Fund, and to increase expenditure by unspecified amounts on roads, bridges, railroads, ports, and airports, all of which should be worked on by union members. 4

Jones Act

The Transportation Trades Department supports the Jones Act, a law dating from 1920 that requires all maritime trade between U.S. ports to be conducted by ships that are built, owned, and operated by U.S. citizens. The Jones Act has come under scrutiny in recent years due to its negative economic impact on far-flung U.S. states and territories, such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam, which are forced to pay high costs for rare U.S.-operated ships from the mainland U.S. In the first quarter of 2019 alone, the TTD directed a significant portion of its $262,200 worth of lobbying expenditure towards supporting the Jones Act. 5

Department of Transportation Mask Mandate

In October 2020, the Transportation Trades Department sent a petition to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting that DOT mandate the use of face masks on all public transportation primarily to protect transportation workers from the COVID-19 pandemic. DOT rejected the petition but restated the official position that all passengers should follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations to wear masks on public transportation. 6

Rail Security

In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Transportation Trades Department led efforts to mandate increased railroad security, often against the priorities of private rail companies. In 2004, then-TTD CEO Edward Wytind advocated for mandatory “rigorous security training” for all rail employees, and stricter federal regulations on the hauling of hazardous material. 7

Opposition to Mergers

The Transportation Trades Department has consistently opposed the mergers of transportation companies, particularly railroad companies. In 2016, the TTD successfully led an effort to block the merger of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Norfolk Southern, two of the largest private railroad companies in North America. 8

Political Spending

As of September 2021, the Transportation Trades Department’s PAC has contributed $60,000 to political candidates and PACs this year. Since 2002, the PAC has typically spent around $150,000 each election cycle, peaking at $193,000 in the 2020 cycle. 9

The TTD PAC gives predominately to Democrats. In the 2020 cycle, 84% of contributions went to Democratic candidates, compared to 74 percent in the 2018 and 2016 cycles. 10

References

  1. “Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy (LAC).” Office of the United States Trade Representative. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://ustr.gov/about-us/advisory-committees/labor-advisory-committee-lac.
  2. “The Costs of Doing Business.” Transportation Trades Department. October 2019. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://ttd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/THE-COST-OF-DOING-BUSINESS-Why-lawmakers-must-hold-the-ride-hailing-industry-accountable-TTD-report.pdf.
  3. Bolton, Alexander. “Business, Labor Groups Endorse Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.” Transportation Trades Department. July 8, 2021. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://ttd.org/news-and-media/business-labor-groups-endorse-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/.
  4. “Investing in U.S.” Transportation Trades Department. February 2020. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://ttd.org/2020-infrastructure-platform/.
  5. Ericson, Camille. “The special interests lobbying to uphold the century-old law hampering relief to Puerto Rico.” Open Secrets. June 4, 2019. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/06/lobbying-to-uphold-the-jones-act-hampering-puerto-rico-relief/.
  6. Kelley, Alexandra. “US Department of Transportation rejected mas mandate on public transportation.” The Hill. October 5, 2020. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/519680-us-department-of-transportation-rejected-mask-mandate-on.
  7. “Government, industry lax on rail security, AFL-CIO tells Congress.” Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. May 6, 2004. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=10348.
  8. “AJOT Covers TTD’s Tae On CO-NS Merger.” Transportation Trades Department. April 11, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://ttd.org/news-and-media/ttd-in-the-news/ajot-covers-ttds-take-on-cp-ns-merger/.
  9. PAC Profile: AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.” Open Secrets. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/spending-section
  10. PAC Profile: AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.” Open Secrets. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/spending-section

Coalition Members

  1. Air Line Pilots Association (Labor Union)
  2. Amalgamated Transit Union (Labor Union)
  3. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (Labor Union)
  4. American Train Dispatchers Association (Labor Union)
  5. Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (Labor Union)
  6. Communications Workers of America (CWA) (Labor Union)
  7. International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) (Labor Union)
  8. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) (Labor Union)
  9. International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) (Labor Union)
  10. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (Labor Union)
  11. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) (Labor Union)
  12. International Longshoremen’s Association (Labor Union)
  13. International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (Labor Union)
  14. International Union of Operating Engineers (Labor Union)
  15. Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) (Labor Union)
  16. Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (Labor Union)
  17. National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Labor Union)
  18. National Association of Letter Carriers (Labor Union)
  19. National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (Labor Union)
  20. National Federation of Public and Private Employees (Labor Union)
  21. Office and Professional Employees International Union (Labor Union)
  22. Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (Labor Union)
  23. Transport Workers Union of America (Labor Union)
  24. Transportation Communications International Union (Labor Union)
  25. Unite Here (Labor Union)
  26. United Auto Workers (UAW) (Labor Union)
  27. United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) (Labor Union)
  28. United Steelworkers (USW) (Labor Union)
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1956

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,780,851 $2,515,280 $3,932,053 $1,000,986 N $0 $2,610,793 $122,598 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,690,498 $2,251,725 $3,381,258 $990,090 Y $0 $2,535,006 $119,078 $620,329 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,635,670 $2,393,600 $3,142,777 $969,728 N $0 $2,465,213 $98,779 $829,146
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,542,481 $2,482,597 $2,827,474 $1,005,785 N $0 $2,395,393 $113,006 $693,476 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,534,556 $2,347,817 $2,709,521 $986,130 N $0 $2,377,038 $115,417 $662,086 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,448,732 $2,263,935 $2,659,991 $966,903 N $0 $2,315,571 $116,375 $638,215 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,425,729 $2,307,283 $2,455,568 $954,615 N $0 $2,355,779 $77,429 $628,041 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,383,433 $2,299,857 $2,161,822 $915,580 N $0 $2,347,643 $42,781 $600,422 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $2,451,383 $2,151,543 $1,942,015 $888,322 N $0 $2,326,456 $32,306 $592,098 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

    400 N CAPITOL ST NW STE 861
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001-1555