McLEAN, Va.— This Labor Day, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is proudly joining the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), to recognize and thank frontline transportation workers for their service and sacrifice, and remind Americans that aviation workers are #EssentialAlways.
During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, ALPA pilots were able to fulfill their essential roles in distributing vaccines, transporting medical personnel and PPE and keeping supply chains open. While their efforts during the pandemic undoubtedly saved lives, transportation labor unions want to remind America that their members, and the duties they perform, are essential always.
“This weekend, as our nation honors the social and economic achievements of workers, airline pilots will continue to be on the job, ushering passengers and crucial cargo to destinations around the world, and fueling our nations’ economic recovery,” said Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA president. “ALPA pilots and the highly unionized aviation workforce have helped the United States earn our position as the world leader in aviation. The risk-based, data-driven safety culture that pilots have helped create across the industry and on every flight is a key reason why U.S. air transportation is so safe.”
The #EssentialAlways campaign comes at a historic crossroads for this dedicated workforce. As the United States continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress and the Administration are pursuing transformational investments in infrastructure as part of the president’s build back better agenda.
“Frontline transportation workers power the most advanced economy in the world by operating, maintaining, and building the most complex transportation network on earth,” said TTD President Greg Regan. “Whether they’re helping people get to home, work, or school, moving the goods and raw materials we all rely on, delivering our mail, seeing us through a crisis, or building transportation projects of the future, these dedicated professionals have always been essential to the fabric of America, and they always will be.”
Transportation unions are encouraging the general public, elected leaders, and members of transportation and infrastructure community to join the campaign by following and engaging with the hashtag #EssentialAlways on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and to watch and share this video explaining the important role transportation workers played before and during the pandemic, and the role they will play for years to come.