Decenas de miles de californianos están dejando pasar el tiempo sin solicitar un crédito fiscal federal al que tienen derecho, y perdiendo así miles de dólares. El "Earned Income Tax Credit" (Crédito Fiscal por Ingresos Ganados) es un programa federal especial que complementa las percepciones de trabajadores y familias con bajos ingresos.

Ante esta situación, John Chiang, Controlador del Estado, y Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor del Consejo del Condado de Los Ángeles, se han aliado en el California Childrens Defense Found (Fondo para la Defensa de los Niños en California), y en la "Greater Los Angeles EITC Campaign Partnership" (Sociedad para la Campaña del EITC en la Gran Ciudad de Los Ángeles), con el fin de difundir el mensaje y promover que estas devoluciones de impuestos se hagan efectivas.

Y es que son demasiados los californianos que batallan para poder llevar la comida a su mesa, y que irónicamente además están dejando "el dinero en la mesa". Casi el 20 por ciento de las familias que tienen derecho una devolución de impuestos sobre ingresos ganados, están dejando pasar el tiempo sin solicitarla. El Controlador del Estado, John Chiang, dice que para mucha gente, este crédito fiscal puede ser un salvavidas en estos difíciles momentos de crisis económica.

"Especialmente para quienes pasen por momentos difíciles, conseguir una devolución adicional hasta de cuatrocientos dólares les ayudará a pagar gastos esenciales como renta, o comida o gas."

La "Sociedad para la Campaña del EITC" en Los Ángeles también sugiere a los californianos con bajos ingresos que aprovechen los centros "Volunteer Income Tax Assistance" (Apoyo Voluntario en el Impuesto sobre Ingresos), instalados por todo el estado. Los sitios VITA, por sus siglas en inglés, ofrecen la preparación gratuita de la declaración de impuestos y el llenado de formas en internet para ayudar a que las familias reciban su dinero más pronto.

El Supervisor del Condado de Los Ángeles, Mark Ridley-Thomas, dice que el EITC puede ponerles dinero en el bolsillo a quienes lo necesitan más.

"Es una buena cantidad, así que queremos animar a todos a que la aprovechen, están en su derecho de hacerlo y sólo podría significar más dinero en su bolsillo, particularmente en este momento de crisis económica."

Tanto Chiang como Ridley-Thomas tienen esperanzas de que surta efecto la campaña que ya se puso en marcha para ayudar a estos trabajadores de bajos recursos, y a sus familias, a que reclamen el dinero que por derecho les pertenece.

Hay más información sobre la "Greater Los Angeles EITC Campaign Partnership" y los centros "Volunteer Income Tax Assistance" en www.ftb.ca.gov. En Los Ángeles, llame al 211 o visite
www.eitc-la.gov.




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A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could have implications for the country's growing labor movement. Justices will hear oral arguments in Starbucks versus McKinney today to determine if the bar should be raised for the National Labor Relations Board when it seeks to impose court-ordered injunctions on companies.

David Groves, communications director with the Washington State Labor Council, said the Supreme Court could further undermine the power of the NLRB, the independent federal agency that protects employees' rights.

"We already have weak labor laws in this country that have such minor penalties for breaking union organizing laws that companies routinely do it, and this is another opportunity for them to weaken labor laws even further," he argued.

The case involves Starbucks' firing of seven employees in Memphis during their union campaign in 2021. The coffee company says it rehired the workers and denies wrongdoing. If the justices rule in favor of Starbucks, it could make it harder for the NLRB to seek court orders.

Groves said the law states that workers have a right to organize unions in their workplace without coercion or retaliation from their employers.

"That's all fine and good but if the penalty's not significant enough, then they'll just go ahead and break that law and consider it the cost of doing business if they have to pay a fine two years down the road," he explained.

Groves said his and other labor organizations support the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act in Congress, which would strengthen labor laws, including providing greater authority to the NLRB.


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The U.S. House has approved a measure to expand the Child Tax Credit. It would help 16 million children from low-income families in Indiana and nationwide. Despite bipartisan support, the bill is stalled in the Senate. Advocates praise the credit's pivotal role in combating child poverty, pointing to its effectiveness in the past, and especially during the pandemic, when it was broadly expanded.

Candace Baker, an Indianapolis mother of 4, said the previous tax-credit expansion worked for her family, and she wants it reinstated.

"Having a child, and I had to get on some government-assistance programs. My grandmother never did because she just didn't want that stigma over her, but I utilized those services when I had a child. I didn't want to either, but I'm like, I need this support," she explained.

Congress approved expanding the Child Tax Credit in 2021. However, the expansion has expired, leaving families without vital assistance. As the Senate deliberates, pressure mounts on lawmakers to prioritize the needs of struggling families and secure passage. Opponents believe taxpayers who don't work should not be eligible. Some Republicans also contend the provision may incentivize parents to leave the workforce.

Families reeling from the pandemic received between $300 and $360 per month per child from the expanded tax credit. It lifted 3.7 million children from poverty. Baker currently works for a food bank in Indianapolis where she says she is able to help neighbors in need and give back to the community.

"Being able to be a voice for those who have no voice - that is my motto. Even though where you start, you don't have to stay there. So, that is my biggest motto that I stand on: You may start here, you may be on government assistance, you may be in poverty, but that does not have to be your end game," she said.

Families who benefited from the increased aid were more than twice as likely to pay their overdue rent during the initial stages of the pandemic. The Child Tax Credit did not pass in time for this year's tax deadline, and its prospects for the future are uncertain.


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Washington joins a handful of states to do away with mandatory meetings for employees on political or religious matters.

Sometimes known as captive audience meetings, the gatherings were seen as a way for employers to give their opinions on subjects like unionization, and held potential consequences for employees who didn't attend. Lawmakers passed a bill this session allowing workers to skip the meetings without repercussions.

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, a sponsor of the bill, said we live in a divided society where emotions run high on political topics.

"This bill simply protects employees to have a real choice on whether or not to attend a meeting called by their boss to be told about some political or religious issue," Keiser explained.

Keiser pointed out the legislation is nonpartisan. For instance, employers could not force employees to attend anti-union meetings, but also could not force them to attend a meeting about the importance of reproductive rights. The bill takes effect June 6.

Keiser noted the bill likely got across the finish line this session because of the uptick in union organizing and support for labor. She added there are widely known stories of Starbucks managers, for example, requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings while the employees organized the workplace.

"Employees have been forced to attend meetings to listen to the boss or the employer basically tell them why they shouldn't join a union," Keiser observed.

Washington is the sixth state to pass a law prohibiting attendance at captive audience meetings. Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota and New York have passed similar laws in recent years. Oregon passed a law allowing workers to skip such meetings without repercussions in 2010.


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