Hundreds of Tobacco Workers Protest Against Proposed Tobacco Tax Hikes
June 16 2009 - 1:21PM
PR Newswire (US)
RALEIGH, N.C., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than 400
employees of Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies
rallied in Raleigh today to express opposition to N.C. Governor
Perdue's proposed $1 per-pack increase in the state's excise tax on
cigarettes. The rally was preceded by a march around the General
Assembly building. Employees, many of whom wore T-shirts reading,
"North Carolina needs more jobs, not more taxes," carried hand-made
signs protesting proposed tobacco-tax hikes. "What a great turn-out
from our employees," said Daan Delen, chairman, president and chief
executive officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. "We are sending
a clear message to the governor and those who support an increase
in these taxes. The production and manufacture of tobacco remains
vitally important to our state's economy. The governor's proposed
$1 per-pack tax increase will cause job loss and economic hardship
for thousands of North Carolinians. "North Carolina's smokers pay
more than $500 million to the state in tobacco taxes each year
already," Delen said. "The 50,000 N.C. workers whose jobs are tied
to tobacco paid millions more in income and property taxes. The
tobacco companies in the state pay billions of dollars of wages,
benefits, and corporate taxes to the state. Of all 50 states, North
Carolina uniquely benefits from the growing, production and sales
of tobacco - it makes no sense to try to run these high-paying jobs
out of our state, particularly during a recession," he said. Tommy
Hickman, senior vice president of operations for R.J. Reynolds,
highlighted how difficult it would be to replace tobacco jobs in
the state. "Tobacco industry jobs pay about twice the state's
average private-industry wages," said Hickman. "If you tax these
jobs out of existence, where are these families going to find
comparable jobs? We know what's happened to textile and furniture
jobs in our state. Do we want the same to happen to tobacco jobs?"
Hickman asked. Also joining the protest were the mayors of
Winston-Salem, Tobaccoville and King as well representatives from
the North Carolina legislature. ABOUT US Reynolds American Inc.
(NYSE:RAI) is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company;
Conwood Company, LLC; and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc. --
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is the second-largest U.S. tobacco
company. The company's brands include five of the 10 best-selling
cigarettes in the United States: Camel, Pall Mall, Kool, Winston
and Doral. -- Conwood Company, LLC is the nation's second-largest
manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products. Its leading brands are
Kodiak, Grizzly and Levi Garrett. Conwood also sells and
distributes a variety of tobacco products manufactured by Lane,
Limited, including Winchester and Captain Black little cigars, and
Bugler roll-your-own tobacco. -- Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company,
Inc. manufactures Natural American Spirit cigarettes and other
additive-free tobacco products, and manages and markets other
super-premium brands. Copies of RAI's news releases, annual
reports, SEC filings and other financial materials are available at
http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/. DATASOURCE: Reynolds American
Inc. CONTACT: Frank Lester, +1-336-829-9642, or Maura Payne,
+1-336-741-6996, both of Reynolds American Inc. Web Site:
http://www.rjrt.com/
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