Beyond the Crossroads James Stem National Legislative Director United Transportation Union May 27, 2009

What We Are Working On for Railroad Employees Safe Work Environment Our Job Security Our Health Care Our Pensions

Elections Have Direct Consequences on YOU and Your Family !!

Elections Matter “The federal role in transportation should be more limited than it is today.” -Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, 2/26/2008

Elections Matter “We will invest in jobs to expand transit capacity and modernize transit systems. “We will invest in jobs to allow Amtrak to add and modernize cars and engines and upgrade its tracks. “We will invest in jobs to expand airport capacity and make safety improvements. “We will invest in jobs to build and rehabilitate and make safer roads, highways, bridges and ports.” “We at the Department of Transportation are ready to go.” -Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, 2/17/09

Economic Recovery Bill Total: $48 billion for Transportation Investment  High Speed Rail  $8 billion for intercity passenger rail  Aviation  $1.1 billion airport cap. projects  $200 million for FAA facilities  1 billion for security grants  Maritime & Ports  $160 million for ferry program  $4.6 billion for Army Corps of Engineers  Transit  $8.4 billion for transit  $12 billion in House  $3 billion Nadler-DeFazio amendment  Security grant funding  Highways  $27.5 billion for highways  Amtrak  $850 million for capital grants  $450 million for security cap. grants

Comparing the Omnibus & Stimulus

What’s Missing ? We must have: (1) A National Transportation Policy that connects with (2) A National Energy Policy Both Policies Must Be Balanced

The Economy …….??

All job losses have been in the private sector Source: Prospect.org

Figure 1. World Industrial Output, Now vs Then World industrial output is dropping faster than during the Great Depression

Figure 2. World Stock Markets, Now vs Then World stock markets are falling faster than during the Great Depression

Relative Payroll Employment Growth by Decade Source: contraryinvestor.com

I told my son’s friends at his graduation party that they can only have one beer. Kids, go figure.

Transportation Funding -Creates and maintains Middle Class Jobs -Provides new economic interactions -Supports other infrastructure improvements -Stimulates slumbering economy -Provides for future growth of transportation systems

Now is the Time to Be Bold Historic opportunities similar to the Great Depression –Catenaries in Northeast Corridor built as a WPA Project After the World War II, the citizens of Great Britain implemented National Health Care coverage for every citizen in times of economic crisis

Transportation Safety Part of equation of new funding formulas Necessary Operational requirement Integral part of long term sustainability Demands high level of commitment and professionalism in operations

Rail Safety The top priority of rail operations - including all internal departments of railroads: track inspections, equipment inspections, signal systems and grade crossing inspections, communications equipment, operating practices, hazmat transportation requirements, train placement, and the training of all personnel.

Questions ?