Fighting Against Seattle’s Job-Killing Beverage Tax

Welcome to the headquarters of Teamsters Local 174’s fight against the introduction of a tax on pre-sweetened and diet beverages in the City of Seattle. Check in here for regular updates, news, photos, and to learn what you can do to help.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

On February 21, 2017, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray proposed a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages for the City of Seattle. On April 27, 2017, the proposed tax was lowered to 1.75-cents-per-ounce, but expanded to include diet beverages as well.

Similar taxes have already been implemented in several other major cities in the United States, most recently in Philadelphia, where a 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened and diet beverages went into effect on January 1, 2017.

The effects of this tax have been disastrous for jobs in the Beverage industry in Philadelphia. According to the Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 830, Danny Grace, the effects have been:

• Beverage companies as a whole have seen their sales decrease between 40%-54%
• Pepsi Philadelphia has announced a first round of layoffs of between 80-100 employees.
• Teamster commissioned salespersons for Pepsi have seen their weekly take home pay decrease between 50% to 70% due to lost sales in the market
• Coca-Cola has initiated layoffs of approximately 30% of its work force in Philadelphia
• Canada Dry/7-UP and Dr. Pepper has initiated layoffs of 35 employees

The tax proposed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray would be 1.75 cents per ounce, which is over 16% higher than the tax that went into effect in Philadelphia.

The Teamsters have been fighting hard against this tax on every front, including press conferences, news interviews, one-on-one meetings with members of the Seattle City Council, public comment during Seattle City Council meetings, producing an op-ed detailing our opposition to the tax, and more.

We will not stop fighting until this job-killing tax has been scrapped!

PHOTOS:

These photos are from:

Beverage Tax Coalition Press Conference — April 4, 2017

Seattle City Council Press Conference — April 27, 2017

Seattle City Council Meeting — May 3, 2017

HOW CAN I HELP?

You can help the cause by calling the Seattle City Council at 206-684-8888 and telling them to VOTE NO on the Beverage Tax.

Not sure what to say? Here are some sample scripts to read:

For Teamsters employed in the Beverage Industry
“My name is __________ and I am an employee at ___________. I am calling to voice my opposition to the proposed Beverage Tax. This type of tax has already proven itself to be a job killer in other cities. Good jobs like mine in the beverage industry, with good pay, benefits, and pensions, have been lost as a direct result of taxes on soda. I am afraid of what will happen to my job if this tax goes into effect. I can’t afford to lose my job! Please, please tell the Council to vote against this tax.”

For those not employed in the Beverage Industry
“I am calling to voice my opposition to the proposed Beverage Tax. This type of tax has already proven itself to be a job killer in other cities. Good beverage industry jobs with good pay, benefits, and pensions, have been lost as a direct result of taxes on soda. These are the types of jobs that the City Council should be working to protect, not destroy. You need to find another way to raise revenue that doesn’t place the burden on the backs of the people who can least afford it.”

PRESS COVERAGE AND LINKS:

• May 3, 2017: KIRO 7 News article — with quote and video from Teamster Adam Murphy
• April 27, 2017: Keep Seattle Livable For All Coalition Press Release — with quote from Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks
• April 27, 2017: Q13 Fox article — with quote and video from Local 174 Business Agent Pete Lamb
• April 27, 2017: Seattle Met magazine article –with quote from Pete Lamb
• April 27, 2017: The Stranger article — with quote from Pete Lamb
• April 27, 2017: KOMO 4 News article — with quote from coalition press release
• April 27, 2017: Seattle Channel video coverage of the Beverage Tax — including interview with Pete Lamb
• Website of the “Keep Seattle Livable For All” Coalition