Baldwin Introduces Legislation to Make Tax Code Fairer for Workers and Combat Union Busting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her colleagues in introducing two bills to make the tax code fairer for workers by easing their tax burden and cracking down on corporate anti-union practices. For too long, the tax code has prioritized corporations over workers. The Senators’ Tax Fairness for Workers Act would allow workers to deduct common employment expenses such as travel and uniform costs, restoring a deduction stripped by the 2017 Trump tax law. Workers will be able to deduct business expenses, just as employers can. The bill would also allow workers to deduct their union dues. 

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act would end taxpayer subsidization of anti-union activities by preventing corporations from deducting their union-busting expenses from their taxes. Too often, workers’ attempts to organize for better pay and conditions are opposed by million-dollar, taxpayer-funded anti-union campaigns, and employers that spend at least $340 million per year hiring anti-union firms. Even after courts rule that they illegally violated their workers’ rights, the current tax code rewards corporations with tax write-offs. 

“Wisconsin has a strong tradition of respecting the hard work of our union workers, but for too long, our tax code has benefitted big corporations, not the workers who create the value,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to support the Tax Fairness for Workers Act and the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to stop rewarding big corporations for union-busting tactics and finally put our workers and their families over corporate profits.”

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is leading the Tax Fairness for Workers Act and other cosponsors include Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Murray (D-WA), Brown (D-OH), Sanders (D-VT), Bennet (D-CO), Blumenthal (D-CT), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Fetterman (D-PA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Hassan (D-NH), Heinrich (D-NM), Hirono (D-HI), Kelly (D-AZ), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Menendez (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Murphy (D-CT), Padilla (D-CA), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), Smith (D-MN), Stabenow (D-MI), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warnock (D-GA), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR).

Senator Casey is also leading the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting and other cosponsors include Senators Murray (D-WA), Wyden (D-OR), Van Hollen (D-MD), Booker (D-NJ), Schatz (D-HI), Smith (D-MN), Reed (D-RI), Murphy (D-CT), Welch (D-VT), Durbin (D-IL), Markey (D-MA), Warren (D-MA), Lujan (D-NM), Klobuchar (D-MN), Merkley (D-OR), Sanders (I-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Cardin (D-MD), Blumenthal (D-CT), Stabenow (D-MI), Padilla (D-CA), Menendez (D-NJ), Hirono (D-HI), Fetterman (D-PA), and Brown (D-OH).

Text of the Tax Fairness for Workers Act is available here.

Text of the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act is available here.

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