Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared his thoughts on the current national political landscape, the importance of infrastructure investment and the ongoing efforts to enhance safety and job creation in the industry.
Regan emphasized the critical role of infrastructure investment in creating jobs and strengthening the economy. He highlighted the success of the Biden administration's initiatives, which have led to the creation of over 1.7 million construction and manufacturing jobs, including 700,000 in the transportation sector. Regan said these investments are vital for the success of local communities.
Regan believes the Trump administration's approach to union relations will pose challenges. However, he expressed cautious optimism about potential policy shifts. Regan stated his readiness to collaborate with any administration as long as it prioritizes the workers.
One of the pressing issues Regan discussed was the need for enhanced safety standards in the rail industry. He highlighted the East Palestine train derailment from Feb. 2023 as an example of why there needs to be better safety standards in the industry. He called for stronger regulatory measures to prevent such incidents and emphasized the importance of congressional action to bolster safety protocols.
To hear more from Regan, listen to the show above.