Bal Harbour, Fla.
Whereas the United States and Canada have the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, and the free, secure and timely flow of goods and services across the borders is essential to continue and grow that trade relationship; and
Whereas the AFL-CIO recognizes that the state of Michigan and the Province of Ontario alone have the largest trading relationship in the world, with over $50 billion annually crossing at the Detroit/Windsor Gateway or 34 percent of this bilateral trade; and
Whereas the busiest border crossing in North America, the Detroit/Windsor gateway, is currently experiencing time-consuming delays and backups because of continually growing commercial and commuter traffic congestion as well as Homeland Security issues; and
Whereas the Canada-US-Ontario-Michigan Border Transportation Partnership January 2004 Planning/Need and Feasibility Study showed that 84,000 regional jobs are at risk and that we need added capacity at this border; and
Whereas the economic well being and the preservation of thousands of union jobs in Michigan and Ontario are dependent upon the continued free and secure trade that requires an additional competitive border crossing now; and
Whereas thousands of union members travel between Michigan and Ontario across the Ambassador Bridge and lose countless man-hours waiting to cross the border; and
Whereas action must be taken to secure additional capacity that includes a new Detroit/Windsor border crossing in order to ensure the continued and future growth of well-paying union jobs, and prevent the further loss of manufacturing jobs in this region; and
Whereas the AFL-CIO has reviewed the border infrastructure plan known as the “Jobs Tunnel” put forth by the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) and has concluded that this plan will solve the border crisis at Detroit/Windsor gateway now. The plan will create a high- tube rail tunnel and convert the existing, twin-tube rail tunnels to a two-way dedicated truck tunnel for use by commercial trucks between Detroit and Windsor that will provide the foundation for future job growth and economic stability. Eliminating delays at the border will allow for more products to flow into and out of manufacturing plants across Michigan and the United States; and
Whereas officials of the DRTP have committed to employing only union labor in the construction of the Jobs Tunnel in both Detroit and Windsor and are willing to participate in a Project Labor Agreement to facilitate this process; and
Whereas the UAW, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Michigan AFL-CIO, the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO and the Greater Detroit Construction and Building Trades Council have fully endorsed this project; therefore
Be it resolved that the AFL-CIO supports the DRTP Jobs Tunnel project which will provide immediate, competitive and additional commercial truck-handling capacity, and
Be it further resolved that the AFL-CIO encourage the Michigan Congressional delegation, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to support this project and work to ensure that the necessary funds and infrastructure support are provided to ensure its completion.