CWAers Join Nationwide Protest Against Corporate Tax Dodgers

In White Plains, N.Y., members of CWA Local 1103 spotlight how Verizon’s stiffs workers and taxpayers.

On April 17, Tax Day, across the country, activists from CWA and other unions, the AFL-CIO, Move On and other members of the 99% Spring coalition called on corporations and the 1% to pay their fair share in taxes.

In Washington, D.C., CWA activists joined a Tax Day march on the IRS. Joining Jobs with Justice, SEIU, AFL-CIO and others, the protesters drew attention to the inequality in the tax system that forces most Americans to pay more taxes than General Electric, Boeing, DuPont, Wells Fargo and Verizon Communications put together. Afterward, they continued to raise awareness about the wealthiest 1 percent's loopholes and tax breaks at a "Billionaire Block Party" at John Marshall Park.

Twenty-six major corporations paid no federal income tax, despite raking in billions of dollars in profits, between 2008 and 2011, according to a new report by Citizens for Tax Justice. In fact, these companies actually made more money after taxes than before taxes over the past four years, thanks to IRS rebate payments.

CWAers in Racine, Wisx., members of Local 4611, demonstrate on Tax Day.

Wells Fargo was the most profitable tax evader, grossing $21.6 billion in tax subsidies during the four-year period, according to the non-partisan, non-profit research study. GE came in second with $10.6 billion, and Verizon placed third by pulling in $7.7 billion. They were followed by Boeing, which garnered $6 million in tax subsidies.

In fact, few firms actually pay the full 35 percent corporate tax rate. Last year, another study by the Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that 280 corporations paid on average only half that amount.