It’s still not too late to sign up. The May 17 event promises to be motivating and encouraging for all transportation workers.

The agenda is packed with distinguished speakers, including ALPA’s president, Capt. John Prater. The event’s expected speakers will include Rep. Neil Abercrombie (Hawaii); Rep. Shelley Berkley (Nev.); Sen. Joe Biden (Del.); Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.); Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.); Sen. John Kerry (Mass.); Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio); Rep. George Miller (Calif.); Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.); and Gov. Thomas Vilsack (Iowa).

ALPA has put together its own pre-rally event to celebrate its pilots for their dedication, solidarity and sacrifices. Just sign up, and you’ll be taken care of. Details (transportation, hotel accommodations, etc.) for the event are available at Crewroom.alpa.org. Click on the Transportation Day of Action 2007 logo.

The main event will take place in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall, with ALPA’s pre-rally event at 10 a.m. behind the Rally’s main stage on the National Mall, between 3rd and 4th streets. You won’t miss the ALPA folks—they’ll be the ones with the round ALPA signs.

Greedy corporations and a heartless administration began an all-out assault on transportation workers after 9/11. Managements and anti-worker politicians used bankruptcy, oil prices, the Iraq War, and even the threat of liquidation as anti-union weapons.

This year, however, airline pilots and other transportation workers are taking their professions back. The airline industry will see a healthy profit, providing unions an opportunity to renegotiate with their managements now—rejuvenating destroyed pensions, shrunken paychecks, trashed work rules, and shattered lives.

“The only way we can stop the ‘race to the bottom’ and take back what is rightfully ours is to work together, with cooperation and mutual support,” Prater says. “Whatever harms one pilot harms the entire profession. Show your mutual support for the entire transportation industry by attending the 2007 Transportation Workers Day of Action on May 17.”