Gov. Sherrill and Sen. Schumer Join LIUNA Members in Calling for Immediate Action.

More than 200 union construction workers rallied at the Gateway Tunnel Tonnelle Avenue construction site in North Bergen on Monday to protest the Trump Administration's cancellation of funding for the $16 billion rail infrastructure project. Members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) were joined by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and United States Senator and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The message: stop playing politics with our jobs and restore funding for Gateway now.

While the US District Court for Southern New York approved a temporary restraining order barring the Trump administration from withholding funds for Gateway, LIUNA members are demanding a full and unequivocal federal commitment to the trans Hudson rail tunnel program.

"Each day hundreds of LIUNA members and their building trades brothers and sisters report to work on the Gateway Hudson Tunnel to provide for their families,” said LIUNA General President Brent Booker. “While workers have shown up at the crack of dawn every day, the Trump Administration has failed to show up for them. We call on President Trump to stop holding our livelihoods hostage, put working people and our economy first, and immediately release funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project."

Without funding, lay-off notices were issued on Friday, February 6th affecting close to 1,000 construction workers. LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager Mike Hellstrom reminded the crowd that infrastructure investment was never a partisan issue and often garnered bipartisan support,

"The jobs of LIUNA members and other construction workers shouldn't be used as political leverage. Work to modernize America's transportation system and replace a 116-year old rail tunnel shouldn't be canceled to score political points. Nothing about canceling Gateway says American First Agenda, just the opposite. The Trump administration must get to work and release the Congressionally appropriated funds so our members can get to work building the Gateway Tunnel," said Hellstrom.

United States Senator Chuck Schumer referred to the stoppage of Gateway as senseless.

“Every day this drags on, millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted, contractors sit idle, union workers are sidelined, and the final cost of this project goes up for no reason,” said Senator Chuck Schumer.  “President Trump can end this today. Release the funds. Put workers back on the job. Restart Gateway now.”

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherril, addressed the recent court victory compelling the Trump Administration to release funds, the need to stop the political posturing, and the importance of putting construction workers back to work.

“Laborers get it done. Every day, the men and women at the Gateway Tunnel Project work tirelessly and faithfully to complete the most important infrastructure project in this country. Yet President Trump continues to play games with our jobs, our economy, and the livelihoods of families who need to keep food on the table and their bills paid,” said Governor Sherrill. “We took the president to court and won — now, the funds are ordered to be released. Release the funds, President Trump — it’s time to get back to work.”

LIUNA officials noted that many of the union’s members supported President Donald Trump in past elections but now feel betrayed by what they describe as political maneuvering that puts working families and critical infrastructure at risk.

The Gateway Tunnel Project is considered one of the most important transportation projects in the country, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers daily along the Northeast Corridor. Any prolonged shutdown or failure of the existing tunnels could severely disrupt rail service from Washington to Boston, union leaders said.

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The Eastern Region of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) represents more than 40,000 construction workers in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, Delaware, and Puerto Rico. LIUNA is at the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America, protect and support workers, and promote fair workplace standards for all.