AFL-CIO Opens Convention With Democratic Stars

WASHINGTON — Transportation labor flexed its political muscles July 20 at the start of the third national convention of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Department, getting support for issues important to their membership from several Congressional leaders.

The July 20-21 convention in here marked the 10th anniversary of the 30-union department, which represents about 2.7 million of the nation’s 16-million transportation workers. The 250 delegates to the convention were scheduled to vote on a host of policy resolutions, including measures calling for revisions to the hours of service regulations for truck and bus drivers and regulations designed to reduce the threat of repetitive stress injuries.

In addition to speeches by International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa Jr. and Transport Workers Union President Sonny Hall, union officials heard from a host of politicians, most of them Democrats. They included Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the second ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee. Vice President Al Gore was scheduled to address the convention July 21.

Young is in line to chair the Transportation Committee in the next Congress if Republicans retain control of the House.

For the full story, see the July 24 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.