Austin Workers' Allies Decry Trump Tax Plan, Urge Paid Sick Leave

AUSTIN, TX — Work Strong Austin, a coalition of community organizations advocating for working families, released a video calling attention to the Trump tax cuts they say will have a corrosive effect on workers while enriching corporations.

On Dec. 22, 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent starting this year. Under the plan, the top individual tax rate will drop to 37 percent. All told, the plan cuts income tax rates, doubles the standard deduction and eliminates personal exemptions.

Substantial gains to corporations under the plan have yielded considerable debate as to its true aim. The corporate tax cuts are permanent, while the individual changes expire at the end of 2025. Work Strong Austin's video buttresses the skepticism, featuring an actor portraying corporate interests reveling in a flurry of dollar bills to the tune of Verdi's La donna è mobile.

Concurrent to raising awareness on the tax cut, Work Strong Austin also is calling for passage of an ordinance that would require all local companies to provide sick leave to their employees. Austin City Council members are scheduled to consider passage of the ordinance in February.

Related story: Austin Workers' Advocates Urge Paid Sick Days Ordinance Passage

“Trump just gave Austin businesses one of the largest tax cuts in history, but an estimated 223,000 Austin workers still don’t get paid sick time," the video text reads. "Tell Austin City Council: Austin families deserve better.”

The group referenced a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy finding that Texas corporations and pass through businesses will receive an estimated $11.1 billion in 2019. The final legislation, according to the Institute, “would provide most of its benefits to high-income households and foreign investors while raising taxes on many low- and middle-income Americans.”

Advocates for the Austin working class estimate that 223,000 men and women working in Austin don't get paid sick days while 40 cities, states, and other governments have established mandatory paid sick leave for private employers across the country. The current ordinance being considered by Austin City Council can be found here. The group also provided a fact sheet on the overall benefits in providing paid sick days to workers.

In related news, advocates for the working class will stage a community briefing on the proposed paid sick days ordinance that is sponsored by council member Greg Casar and co-sponsored by council members Delia Garza, Ann Kitchen and Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Tovo.

The community briefing will take place at the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library located at 1161 Angelina St. on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Workers and business owners are expected to attend, alongside city council members and representatives from Work Strong Austin, Center for Public Policy Priorities, Fight for $15, Unite HERE, Young Labor Leaders - Austin, and Workers Defense Project,

Work Strong Austin comprises various local groups dedicated to improving the lives of working families in Austin, including: The Center for Public Policy Priorities; Fight for 15; Unite Here Local 23; Young Active Labor Leaders- YALL in Austin; and Workers Defense Project. The coalition provides updates on Twitter via its handle @WorkStrongATX.

>>> Photo by Charles Koh on Unsplash