The Professional & Technical Employees Union (PTEU) is one
of several new coalition partners to join TFT in recent months as tax reform
became a "front burnerî issue.
PTEU represents about 30 staff employees at PACE International
Union, a union of 320,000 workers based in Nashville. As staffers running the
national unionís education, computer, communications, legal and organizing
programs, PTEU members see first-hand the effect of policies that harm low-income
and working families.
"Meaningful tax reform is within reach in Tennessee, but
we all need to speak up and not let this opportunity pass," said PTEU member
John Enagonio. "Our members work nationwide helping union workers meet
the challenges of a corporate-dominated economy, and this is an opportunity
for us to help make things a little more fair back home in Tennessee."
The staff union is also concerned that revenue to support public
services and education would continue to run sharply behind needs. Much of Middle
Tennessee is growing rapidly, yet the economic growth frequently outpaces municipal
and state revenue because both state and local tax systems rely too heavily
on sales taxes.
A poorly-structured tax system invites special-interest lobbyists
and legislators to create loopholes, making the problems even worse. With
unfair taxes becoming the rule statewide, cities and counties are also caught-up
in a game of waiving various local taxes for large businesses in the name of
"economic development."
Enagonio and PTEU Vice President Frank Burger participated in
Grassroots Assembly Day earlier this year. While direct support of TFT is a
new step, PTEU is a founding member of Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network,
an economic justice group, and has worked extensively in issue coalitions with
groups such as Tennessee State Employees Assn. and the Tennessee Education Assn.
"Let's make Tennessee both a great place to live, and a great
place to buy your groceries," Enagonio said.
