Film examines tax break abuses

IP Jones and former L-524 president join panel discussion on Union Tank Car closure

A DOCUMENTARY FILM from UNITE HERE on corporate abuse of tax breaks for economic development premiered at Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 13. Union and congressional leaders heard about the issue from a panel that included AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, Boilermakers International President Newton B. Jones, UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm, and Kelly Hounshell, President of Local 524 when the closing of Union Tank Car ended the lodge.

IP Jones said, “Real economic development means investing in people, skills, and infrastructure — not playing the system to enrich a corporation at the expense of a community and its citizens.”

Hounshell had worked at Union Tank Car’s East Chicago plant for 22 years when the owners closed it to take advantage of tax breaks being offered in Louisiana. “I don’t want to see more companies taking advantage of their workers and their communities like Union Tank Car did to us,” he said.

Show Us the Tax Breaks is available on-line at showusthetaxbreaks.org.