June 30, 2022

Transportation is Healthcare. Transportation is Access.

WTS International acknowledges that the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any right to abortion, and overruled both Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), drastically impacts the progress made for gender equality in our workforce, eliminating legal protections for women, girls, and those seeking reproductive healthcare across the U.S.

As an organization dedicated to attracting, connecting, sustaining, and advancing women and those underrepresented in the transportation industry, we will continue to advocate for policies that provide options for women, and all people requiring reproductive healthcare. Additionally, we recognize that our members in the United States no longer have the same access or choices as many of our international members, influencing our organization’s #OneWTS vision.

WTS International believes that all people have a constitutional right to make choices regarding their own body, and that healthcare is a human right. We believe offering comprehensive health benefits and covering necessary travel expenses will enhance employers’ abilities to recruit and retain diverse talent in the workforce. We advocate for policies that expand accessibility to needed services. Understanding that access is transportation, we support the funding of public transportation and other transportation initiatives that offer access for an individual, especially in communities that are disproportionately affected.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of WTS International’s mission and vision, and that includes the diversity of opinion. We understand that our members have different lived experiences, and we value each member’s individual beliefs. In alignment with the WTS vision and mission of equity and access, we feel that we must firmly stand for individual choice. We also recognize that the right to choose impacts more than women, and we advocate that all options remain accessible to those making the decision.

Over the coming weeks, WTS International is committed to hosting programming around the following topics to assist in further informing our membership:

- The basics of HIPAA protection and rights

- General medical terminology in employer benefit plans

- Legal rights under an employer paid health insurance plan

WTS International believes this statement is aligned with our mission and vision: advancing women, advancing transportation. We remain committed to advocating for equality, civil liberties, and human rights on behalf of our membership.