Monthly Archives: April 2014

The AFL-CIO 2014 Executive PayWatch report shows that the U.S. CEOs were paid 331 times more than the average worker.

Today, the AFL-CIO unveiled the 2014 Executive PayWatch report. According to the data, U.S. CEOs pocketed, on average, $11.7 million in 2013 compared to the average worker who earned $35,293. That means CEOs were paid 331 times that of the average worker.

Many of the CEOs highlighted in PayWatch head companies like Walmart. In 2013, CEOs made 774 times more than those who work for minimum wage. And while many of these companies argue that they can’t afford to raise wages, the nation’s largest companies are earning higher profits per employee than they did five years ago. In 2013, the S&P 500 Index companies earned $41,249 in profits per employee, a 38% increase.

This year, PayWatch highlights five low wage companies through worker testimonials at Walmart, Kellogg’s, Reynolds, Darden Restaurants and T-Mobile.

“CEO Executive PayWatch calls attention to the insane level of compensation for CEOs, while the workers who create those corporate profits struggle for enough money to take care of the basics,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “This database is relevant to every community in the country. And we’ll use this data to organize and mobilize to lift millions of workers out of poverty and to strengthen the middle class,” said Trumka.

PayWatch can be found at http://bit.ly/PayWatch2014. PayWatch is a comprehensive searchable online database tracking the excessive pay of CEOs of the nation’s largest companies.

A new report explains how Walmart uses taxpayers to receive tax breaks and tax subsidies to boost profits.

Walmart workers and taxpayers in Phoenix delivered a $7.8 billion tax bill to Rob Walton, Walmart Chairman, in reaction to the news that the country’s largest retailer and richest family received an estimated $7.8 billion in tax breaks and subsidies in 2013. A report released yesterday by Americans for Tax Fairness showed how Walmart and the Waltons dodged taxes, exploited loopholes, and took advantage of taxpayer subsidies, while many of its workers were forced to rely on taxpayer-funded programs like food stamps and Medicaid. The full report can be read at http://bit.ly/WMTaxes.

The taxpayers hand-delivered the bill to Walton’s home in Paradise Valley, outside Phoenix.

“Like most Americans, I work hard, pay my taxes and play by the rules. Why can’t America’s richest family pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of us,” said Venanzi Luna, a Walmart worker who undersigned the bill. Walmart made a $16 billion profit in 2013, and the six Walton heirs, who own more than 50% of Walmart shares, saw their wealth grow to $148.8 billion—more wealth than 49% of American families combined.

The report by Americans for Tax Fairness found that, “…the American public is providing enormous tax breaks and tax subsidies to Walmart and the Walton family, further boosting corporate profits and the family’s already massive wealth at everyone else’s expense.”

The breakdown provided in the report showed where the estimated $7.8 billion in subsidies and tax breaks occurred.

• Walmart receives an estimated $6.2 billion annually in mostly federal taxpayer subsidies. Walmart pays its employees so little that many of them rely on food stamps, healthcare and other taxpayer-funded programs.
• Walmart avoids an estimated $1 billion in federal taxes each year. It uses tax breaks, loopholes, and a strategy known as accelerated depreciation that allows it to write off capital investments considerably faster than the assets actually wear out.
• The Waltons avoided an estimated $607 million in federal taxes on their Walmart dividends which are taxed at a much lower rate than income from salaries and wages.

The report also estimated that $7.8 billion is enough to hire 105,000 new public school teachers.

“Many Walmart workers like me are struggling to cover the basics even though we’re working at the country’s largest employer,” said Anthony Goytia. Goytia has been working at Walmart for two years and sometimes relies on food stamps and Medicaid because he is not getting the hours he needs.

“Even though Walmart is making $16 billion in profits, the Waltons seem to think the American people should be providing them another $8 billion in tax breaks. When the richest family in America isn’t paying its fair share, it’s no wonder that our children’s schools, our roads and basic public programs are getting cut left and right.”

Marketplace recently revealed that Walmart is the biggest beneficiary of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps. Walmart takes 18% of all food stamp dollars-or $13 billion in revenue.