Union Allowed to Stalk in Pennsylvania

A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlights special state laws governing labor unions. For example, four states, including Pennsylvania, have anti-stalking laws, but exempt labor unions from this prohibition.

Pennsylvania’s anti-stalking law reads:

This section shall not apply to conduct by a party to a labor dispute as defined in the act of June 2, 1937 (P.L.1198, No.308), known as the Labor Anti-Injunction Act, or to any constitutionally protected activity.

Note that the specific definition of stalking in Pennsylvania applies only to actions that create “reasonable fear of bodily injury” or “substantial emotional distress.” So why are unions permitted to stalk individuals involved in a labor dispute?

For more on the anti-stalking exemption, including AFL-CIO boss Rick Bloomingdale’s defense of the exemption (while also suggesting it is unnecessary because his union never engages in stalking behavior), check out this story from PA Independent.

For more on government unions’ special privileges that harm taxpayers, children and their own members check out our policy brief The Squeeze.