Unions hammer at tax breaks
- Thread starter jcw
- Start date
- May 8, 2007
- 3,146
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"It's hard to understand why an organization that purports to represent the interests of workers that rely on the success of airlines would advocate for higher taxes that drive up the cost of air travel," Vaughn Jennings, managing director of government relations for the industry trade group Airlines for America. "Commercial aviation is vital to the health of North Carolina's economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs and driving $22 billion in economic activity. ... Part of what makes NC a strong market for commercial aviation is the state's currently favorable tax climate."jcw said:
WorldTraveler
Corn Field
- Dec 5, 2003
- 21,709
- 10,662
- Banned
- #3
"Industry trade groups questioned why a labor union would call for higher business costs.
""It's hard to understand why an organization that purports to represent the interests of workers that rely on the success of airlines would advocate for higher taxes that drive up the cost of air travel," Vaughn Jennings, managing director of government relations for the industry trade group Airlines for America. "Commercial aviation is vital to the health of North Carolina's economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs and driving $22 billion in economic activity. "
""It's hard to understand why an organization that purports to represent the interests of workers that rely on the success of airlines would advocate for higher taxes that drive up the cost of air travel," Vaughn Jennings, managing director of government relations for the industry trade group Airlines for America. "Commercial aviation is vital to the health of North Carolina's economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs and driving $22 billion in economic activity. "
The reporter who wrote the story in the Charlotte Business Journal failed to mention that the idiots behind this, 12billion.org, is funded by Unite Here!, and that's primarily a garment workers' and hotel workers' union, not an "airline" employee union. It claims to represent between 25,000 and 33,000 catering employees and airport foodservie concession employees.
It is certainly ironic that a union representing the lowest paid people involved in airline travel wants to increase airlines' expenses instead of focusing on raising the pay and benefits of its low-paid workers.
I doubt that any airline pilots' unions, flight attendants' unions, or unions representing mechanics, fleet service or agents are impressed by these losers.
The 12billion.org webpage even admits that there are numerous airports around the country with lower fuel taxes than CLT, including the following:
Seattle (SEA)
Phoenix (PHX)
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)
Washington, DC (IAD)
New York (JFK)
New York (LGA)
Newark (EWR)
Baltimore (BWI)
Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW)
Houston (IAH)
The last two, in Texas, have zero fuel taxes, according to 12billion.org:
http://12billion.org/files/12B-NC-Report.pdf
http://unitehere.org/industry/airports/
They assert that CHI has the highest "effective" fuel taxes, but they neglect to explain that AA and UA both employ legal schemes by which small municipalities rebate most of the fuel taxes to the AA and UA controlled subsidiaries in those states that buy all the fuel for AA and UA, respectively, and then sell it to their parent airlines.
It is certainly ironic that a union representing the lowest paid people involved in airline travel wants to increase airlines' expenses instead of focusing on raising the pay and benefits of its low-paid workers.
I doubt that any airline pilots' unions, flight attendants' unions, or unions representing mechanics, fleet service or agents are impressed by these losers.
The 12billion.org webpage even admits that there are numerous airports around the country with lower fuel taxes than CLT, including the following:
Seattle (SEA)
Phoenix (PHX)
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)
Washington, DC (IAD)
New York (JFK)
New York (LGA)
Newark (EWR)
Baltimore (BWI)
Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW)
Houston (IAH)
The last two, in Texas, have zero fuel taxes, according to 12billion.org:
http://12billion.org/files/12B-NC-Report.pdf
http://unitehere.org/industry/airports/
They assert that CHI has the highest "effective" fuel taxes, but they neglect to explain that AA and UA both employ legal schemes by which small municipalities rebate most of the fuel taxes to the AA and UA controlled subsidiaries in those states that buy all the fuel for AA and UA, respectively, and then sell it to their parent airlines.
xUT
Veteran
I thought unions can not influence politics?
I am sure no union dues are used for such idiocy... :wacko:
I am sure no union dues are used for such idiocy... :wacko:
