WASHINGTON—The Communications Workers of America wants companies where its members work to pledge in writing that
they will increase employees’ pay if Congress cuts corporate taxes. The union asked Verizon, AT&T, and six other corporations to commit to giving workers a $4,000 raise every year that the corporate rate is reduced to 20%. “President Trump and the Republican Congress have been trying to sell this corporate tax cut to working families by making big claims about wage increases, investment, and job growth that don’t seem to be supported by the evidence,” CWA President Chris Shelton said. “We’re going straight to the people who know how corporations plan to spend the billions of dollars being handed over to them—the CEOs—and asking them if they intend to keep the promises that Trump is making on their behalf.” The Trump administration has claimed that if the corporate tax rate were cut from 35% to 20%, a typical American would make $4,000 more a year. No companies were willing to pledge that they’d raise pay: A Verizon spokesperson said it would not discuss wages until contract negotiations begin in 2019, while AT&T said its increased investment would create jobs.
