Public Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election CyclePennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.
Related Issues
Government Accountability
It’s Apparent PA’s Not Transparent
Parties and perks on taxpayers' dime was the headline-grabbing news from Pennsylvania's Auditor General investigation of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC). His findings underscore the need for government transparency. The SRBC,…
Media
Read More: It’s Apparent PA’s Not TransparentPublic Union Democracy
A Voice for Workers or Political Puppet Master?
Once again, government unions are among the biggest political spenders in Pennsylvania. While we must wait weeks for a final tally of election spending, unions have already spent another $5…
Media
Read More: A Voice for Workers or Political Puppet Master?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania’s #1 Special Interest Problem
A solution that makes the problem worse is no solution at all. Yet, recent calls for campaign finance reform and a natural gas severance tax would do just that—selectively…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s #1 Special Interest ProblemPublic Union Democracy
New Lawsuit Challenges Union Resignation Restrictions
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court freed all public sector workers from paying agency fees to a union they didn’t join. Since then, many workers who are dissatisfied with…
Media
Read More: New Lawsuit Challenges Union Resignation RestrictionsPublic Union Democracy
Labor Unrest…From Union Employees
Imagine: you are a hard-working custodian who scrubs bathrooms and vacuums hallways for a company you’ve always respected. It’s an honest job, and when the company tells you it values…
Media
Read More: Labor Unrest…From Union EmployeesPublic Union Democracy
Crucial Janus Legislation Deferred
To enact important reforms before the end of legislative session, Pennsylvania lawmakers must run bills on a tight schedule. Unfortunately, on Wednesday House leadership removed a Janus enforcement bill (HB 2571) from consideration—meaning…
Media
Read More: Crucial Janus Legislation DeferredPublic Union Democracy
Top 10 Recipients of Government Union PAC Contributions
Government unions have spent more than $120 million since 2007 to advance their fiercely partisan and political agenda. As the graphic below shows, Democratic candidates receive the most direct PAC donations from…
Media
Read More: Top 10 Recipients of Government Union PAC ContributionsPublic Union Democracy
Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571
HB 2571 is a commonsense reform that benefits public sector workers and aligns Pennsylvania law with the U.S. Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME decision. Here are five reasons it must…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571Education
Unions and their Impact on Teachers
Conventional wisdom tells us unions are good for teachers. But is this true? While teachers’ unions have certainly benefited union leadership, rank and file teachers should carefully evaluate the…
Media
Read More: Unions and their Impact on TeachersPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions ?’All-In’ for Wolf, Give Over $10 Million in Political Support
Pennsylvania’s government unions have crossed the $10 million mark in political support for Gov. Tom Wolf, according to a Commonwealth Foundation analysis of the latest campaign filings. Since 2013, government…
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions ?’All-In’ for Wolf, Give Over $10 Million in Political SupportPublic Union Democracy
Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?
From teachers’ strikes to the significant U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, government unions catapulted into the national spotlight this year. Yet union direct political engagement has remained strong for…
Media
Read More: Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?Public Union Democracy
Lawmakers Must Prioritize Pro-Worker Legislation
With a few session days left, lawmakers must prioritize legislation to align state law with federal law and tell workers their rights. HB 2571 enforces the U.S. Supreme Court decision…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Must Prioritize Pro-Worker LegislationPublic Union Democracy
Enforcing Janus
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME is a landmark decision for public sector workers—yet is not self-enforcing. It's time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to defend public sector employees' new-found rights…
Media
Read More: Enforcing JanusPublic Union Democracy
Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election Privacy
Today, Rep. Maureen Madden and Rep. Thomas Mehaffie introduced anti-worker legislation that would strip government workers of privacy rights in workplace elections and give union leaders workers’ personal information. HB…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election PrivacyPublic Union Democracy
Legislation Moves to Enforce Workers’ Rights
In the first full session day after the landmark Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court decision, the state House Labor Committee passed legislation to protect the rights of public sector…
Media
Read More: Legislation Moves to Enforce Workers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger Voice
Today, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee passed several crucial bills supporting government workers’ constitutional rights. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger VoiceCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life Sentences
In this second blog in our Safe and Smart series, we tackle Pennsylvania’s practice of sentencing offenders to life without parole (LWOP). LWOP is coming under greater scrutiny from people across the…
Media
Read More: Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life SentencesPublic Union Democracy
Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care Workers
In early 2015 Governor Wolf issued an executive order unionizing home care workers throughout Pennsylvania, many of whom care for their own relatives. The state Supreme Court recently upheld the order. By…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care WorkersCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation System
CF’s newest policy brief, Safer Communities, Smarter Spending, provides a unique look at the problems in Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. The commonwealth’s incarceration rate is too high. Its supervision…
Media
Read More: Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation SystemPublic Union Democracy
Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ Rights
This Labor Day marks ten weeks since the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that government employees should not be forced to pay a union or risk losing their…
Media
Read More: Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ RightsCriminal Justice Reform
Safer Communities, Smarter Spending
About 95 percent of those confined to state prison will eventually re-enter society. This is why reformers must focus attention on reducing recidivism and balance "tough on crime" practices of the past…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Safer Communities, Smarter Spending