skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Hegseth could lead troops who'd face getting fired for actions he's done in the past; Strong Santa Ana winds return for SoCal; Southeast Asian refugees in MA fear deportation, seek Biden pardon; RSV rise puts Indiana hospitals on alert; CT lawmakers urged to focus on LGBTQ+ legislation.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Special Counsel's report says Donald Trump would have been convicted for election interference. Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth faces harsh questioning from Senate Democrats, and law enforcement will be increased for next week's inauguration.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

"Drill, baby, drill" is a tough sell for oil and gas companies in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, rising sea levels create struggles for Washington's coastal communities, and more folks than ever are taking advantage of America's great outdoors.

Labor group urges elimination of 'union-busting' tax breaks

play audio
Play

Wednesday, October 25, 2023   

Tax breaks for companies engaging in what sometimes are illegal union-busting tactics could be prohibited by new federal legislation.

Labor groups, including in Pennsylvania, contend companies hire consultants who threaten workers with termination for exercising their right to unionize and then claim the cost of those consultants as a tax deduction.

Elena Lopez, senior legislative specialist for the Communications Workers of America, said it means people are organizing for better pay and working conditions, but taxpayers are subsidizing efforts to stop them.

"Companies are actively breaking the law, and they'll be rewarded for breaking the law," Lopez asserted. "We want to make sure that companies stop their anti-union behavior. This is only one piece of the puzzle, but we think it's an important piece to solve so that workers can join a union if they want to."

Lopez pointed out workers do not get a tax break for their union dues, and thinks companies' anti-union campaigns should also be classified as non-tax-deductible; the same as lobbying or corporate political speech.

Zack Tanner, an interactive news designer on strike at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and president of The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents about 100 journalists at the paper, said the "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act" is significant legislation and would affect union members.

"It's really great to see some legislation come out that could hold corporations accountable when they do these union-busting actions," Tanner emphasized. "I'm very happy to see it and I hope it progresses forward."

It has been one year since journalists and editors at the Post-Gazette walked off their jobs over wages and health care. Tanner pointed out bargaining sessions with management have brought little to no progress.

"They've said that they're looking forward to a resolution, looking forward to the strike ending and everybody getting back to work," Tanner explained. "But while they say that, they don't make any movement at the bargaining table. And then, they continue to hire replacement workers to take our jobs and continue producing the paper, which takes the leverage away from us on picket lines and makes it harder for us to achieve our goals."

The striking workers created a digital publication, the Pittsburgh Union Progress, to cover the labor dispute and serve as an alternate voice for readers. In the meantime, the Post-Gazette has a link to a question and answer page with details about their position on the union employees' health care issue.

Disclosure: The Communications Workers of America contributes to our fund for reporting on Human Rights/Racial Justice, and Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Wisconsin is one of nine states where voters are required to present photo identification to vote. The current state law has been in place since 2011. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A proposal to make Wisconsin's strict Voter ID law a constitutional amendment passed Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Assembly on Tuesday. Voters …


Social Issues

play sound

In Mississippi, where thousands of people are serving life sentences, the impact of long-term imprisonment falls disproportionately on Black …

Social Issues

play sound

One topic expected to make a big splash during Wyoming's general legislative session is property taxes at many levels. First on the agenda for the …


Feral hogs breed year-round and can have up to 12 piglets per litter, making population control difficult. (byrdyak/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The last Farm Bill allocated $75 million to reduce feral hog populations around the country but this year, funding has expired, which could be a …

Social Issues

play sound

In this year's state budget, Gov. Brian Kemp is proposing a $500 million investment to tackle a critical issue for Savannah and surrounding areas - …

Volunteer Hector Silva of Hunger Action Los Angeles prepares burritos for distribution to fire victims in Pasadena, Calif. (Sara Donis)

Social Issues

play sound

Food donations are pouring in to help victims of the Los Angeles fires, to the point donors are being asked to hold off a bit so it can all be …

Environment

play sound

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

Social Issues

play sound

In 2019, Colorado lawmakers set goals for cutting climate pollution by at least half by the year 2030, and by 90% by 2050 - compared with 2005 levels…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021