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In a unique partnership between business and labor, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), AT&T and Verizon have joined forces in opposition to the excise tax in the Senate version of the health care reform bill and of the provision that affects the Medicare Part D subsidy for prescription drug coverage.

Despite attempts by the Senate Finance Committee to mitigate the harmful effects of the so-called "Cadillac" tax, or excise tax, on health care plans, the final bill recently approved by the committee would still slam one-third of health care plans, according to new congressional data analyzed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Moreover, there would be a $7,600 average tax increase between 2013 and 2019 on taxpayers affected by the tax. Middle income taxpayers making $50,000 to $75,000 affected by the tax would see their taxes increase 1.4 percent while millionaires affected would see their tax increase just 0.1 percent, showing the regressive nature of the tax.