Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
CWA Fights Special Tax Break for Comcast
Comcast is a poor corporate citizen that doesn't deserve a public tax subsidy to help fund its new Philadelphia headquarters, CWA is telling Pennsylvania lawmakers.
CWA newspaper ads and billboards in the state capital are spotlighting Comcast's abuse of its workforce and its attacks on workers and their unions as legislators return to Harrisburg for a legislative session and prepare to take up an amendment to the state's enterprise zone program that would give Comcast special tax breaks just for moving its corporate offices three blocks to a new location in Philadelphia.
Comcast has been lobbying hard for the public handout, which would remain in effect through 2015.
In addition to Comcast's dismal record on workers rights, CWA is raising concerns about Comcast's attempt to get this multi-million dollar tax subsidy, noting that the enterprise zone program was intended to create new jobs and opportunity in distressed, inner city neighborhoods, not provide special tax breaks to wealthy corporations.
A new report commissioned by CWA analyzed this controversial change to the "Keystone Opportunity Zone" program and concluded that Pennsylvania residents will be much better served by public policy that promotes real economic growth and development.
CWA District 13 Vice President Vince Maisano forwarded the analysis to legislators, writing that "this report raises serious questions about the appropriateness of using the enterprise zone program to provide a windfall of tens of millions of dollars to one company."
The report was prepared by Good Jobs First, a research group that studies state and local economic development practices. It noted that many Philadelphia property owners already oppose the deal because it would create an unfair advantage for just one company in the central business district.
The report also criticized the lack of employment retention safeguards tied to the subsidies and the ambiguous language about jobs. Some analysts have questioned using tax dollars to reward a company for moving three blocks, without creating any new jobs. Further, analysts speculated that jobs in western Pennsylvania might be relocated to the Philadelphia area to gain further benefits under the deal.
CWA newspaper ads and billboards in the state capital are spotlighting Comcast's abuse of its workforce and its attacks on workers and their unions as legislators return to Harrisburg for a legislative session and prepare to take up an amendment to the state's enterprise zone program that would give Comcast special tax breaks just for moving its corporate offices three blocks to a new location in Philadelphia.
Comcast has been lobbying hard for the public handout, which would remain in effect through 2015.
In addition to Comcast's dismal record on workers rights, CWA is raising concerns about Comcast's attempt to get this multi-million dollar tax subsidy, noting that the enterprise zone program was intended to create new jobs and opportunity in distressed, inner city neighborhoods, not provide special tax breaks to wealthy corporations.
A new report commissioned by CWA analyzed this controversial change to the "Keystone Opportunity Zone" program and concluded that Pennsylvania residents will be much better served by public policy that promotes real economic growth and development.
CWA District 13 Vice President Vince Maisano forwarded the analysis to legislators, writing that "this report raises serious questions about the appropriateness of using the enterprise zone program to provide a windfall of tens of millions of dollars to one company."
The report was prepared by Good Jobs First, a research group that studies state and local economic development practices. It noted that many Philadelphia property owners already oppose the deal because it would create an unfair advantage for just one company in the central business district.
The report also criticized the lack of employment retention safeguards tied to the subsidies and the ambiguous language about jobs. Some analysts have questioned using tax dollars to reward a company for moving three blocks, without creating any new jobs. Further, analysts speculated that jobs in western Pennsylvania might be relocated to the Philadelphia area to gain further benefits under the deal.