BREAKING — On Thursday, May 14, the Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council (MKLDC LiUNA!) sent a cease and desist letter to “MO Tax Relief Now” following its artificial intelligence (AI) generated social media post containing union logos.
“MO Tax Relief Now” is a conservative statewide tax policy organization that was founded in 2007, now focusing on boosting the Republican plan to increase and expand sales taxes which will be put before voters either this August or November.
The organization describes itself on its website as an advocacy group and volunteer organization. However, in recent, AI generated social media posts, MO Tax Relief Now has utilized various union logos — including that of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!) — leaving community members and program supporters alike to draw connections between MO Tax Relief Now and local unions.
Missouri’s unions almost unanimously oppose the tax increase plan, which would shift the state’s tax burden dramatically onto the working-class. The plan, also, seemingly leaves open taxing union members when they pay their dues.
“It is a new low, even for corporate interests, to use artificial intelligence to steal our identity and lie to the public,” said Brandon Flinn, MKLDC LiUNA! business manager. “A computer-generated image doesn’t have a mortgage to pay or groceries to buy but our members do. To use our symbols to promote a policy that hurts working families is a moral insult and a desperate attempt to manufacture support for a dangerous proposal.”
MO Tax Relief Now’s usage of union bugs and hard hat graphics with LiUNA! logos within its social media posts has left the Laborers’ both frustrated and concerned as the union is not affiliated with the program, nor did it agree to a brand collaboration.
St. Louis’ IBEW Local 1 and United Association Local 562 also appear in the AI image.
“The truth is this is not tax relief. It is an Everything Tax,” Flinn said in a press release, May 14. “This plan shifts the tax burden away from the wealthy and onto working people by taxing more of the everyday goods and services families rely on to survive.”
And not only does LiUNA! disagree with MO Tax Relief Now’s campaign, it is additionally a question of fair use, as the organization has utilized graphics and logos on its platform without permission.
“LIUNA demands that MO Tax Relief immediately cease using our likeness and union imagery and issue a public apology to Missouri voters for intentionally misleading the public,” LIUNA stated in a press release, May 14. “The Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council will continue fighting against any scheme that raises costs on working families while delivering giveaways to the wealthy.”
