White House Meeting with Airline and Airport Executives
February 10, 2017 — Yesterday's White House Airline/Airport Executive Meeting was concerning as it relates to job security and safety regulations.
Specifically, the President said the following:
"I know you're under pressure from a lot of foreign elements and foreign carriers. I've been hearing that a little bit. At the same time, we want to make life good for them also. They come with big investments -- in many cases, those investments are made by their governments. But they are still big investments."
"So we want to help you realize these goals by rolling back burdensome regulations."
Full text of public remarks >
A follow up article in The Street stated:
Given that the U.S. already has "the safest aviation system in the world," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, doesn't want to see it diminished.
"The flying public enjoys aviation regulations we fought to achieve," Nelson said in an interview. Among them: rest requirements, no smoking or knives on planes, and crew training. "Each regulation includes careful review and input from all stakeholders," she said.
Also, Nelson said, Trump's statements "show a complete disregard for enforcing trade agreements or protecting and promoting U.S. jobs" that are endangered by the Middle East three and Norwegian Air International.
"President Trump can't afford to get this wrong," Nelson said.
"I know you're under pressure from a lot of foreign elements and foreign carriers. I've been hearing that a little bit. At the same time, we want to make life good for them also. They come with big investments -- in many cases, those investments are made by their governments. But they are still big investments."
"So we want to help you realize these goals by rolling back burdensome regulations."
If President Trump is serious about U.S. jobs and supporting the U.S. aviation industry, he should talk to the people who make it fly — the unions who are led by crew members representing nearly 200,000 of their flying partners. The people on the front lines who interact with/keep safe the millions of U.S. travelers on our planes. The people who live in the communities and support the small businesses that count on our safe, reliable and yes, regulated service.
The flying public enjoys aviation regulations we fought to achieve including training for pilots, Flight Attendants and maintenance, EPA oversight for safe water, FDA standards for safe food, safe air without poisonous pesticides, no smoking, flame retardant cabin interiors, maintenance standards, rest requirements for crew after a deadly crash, no knives on planes, coordinated security to protect people in the air and on the ground as well as our nation's economy. And current regulations under review like stopping annoying, unsafe calls on planes. Each regulation includes careful review and input from all stakeholders. The result is the safest aviation system in the world.
Aviation "trade agreements" were negotiated to ensure fair competition to maintain a strong U.S. aviation industry that serves our small communities, transports our troops and provides good U.S. jobs. Foreign airlines are not playing by the rules and Norwegian wants to change the rules entirely, which will result in no U.S. aviation industry at all. Losing our industry that accounts for more than 5% of U.S. gross domestic product, contributes $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs. Statements made at the meeting are contrary to promises of good jobs and a focus on national security.
President Trump can't afford to get this wrong and our Flight Attendant union will use every means possible to make sure he and the traveling public understands what's at stake.
