Teamsters 853 members at Gillig bus manufacturing got a big boost from Local 853 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien last week. In 2020 legislation called the Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Funds Act was created. This bill was created and passed to prevent federal dollars from being allocated to foreign, state-supported, companies like Chinese bus manufacturing companies BYD and CRRC. However, there was a loophole in the legislation that allowed federal funds to still flow to these companies.
Teamster Local 853 leadership in conjunction with International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien have been working diligently to advocate for the over 500 Gillig jobs that are impacted by this loophole. Below is a letter to Congressional Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Angie Craig (D-MN) in support of a bill these representatives penned called the Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act. This bill would further limit the federal purchase of vehicles manufactured by Chinese-owned or operated companies.
This legislative fight directly impacts 500 Teamster 853 members who work at Gillig, building American-made buses.
Teamsters Local 853 would like to thank General President Sean O’Brien, representatives U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Angie Craig (D-MN) and the lobbyists who brought this matter to their attention, and for their continuing efforts to safeguard American security and union jobs. Please stay tuned as we keep you up to date on the results of these efforts and the passage of this legislation.
read the Letter below
