Public Union Democracy
Unions should be about employees, not about politics
Originally published at The Hill “I’ll be honest with you,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a recent podcast interview. “I’m a Democrat, but they have f—ed…
Read More: Unions should be about employees, not about politicsPennsylvania 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.
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Public Union Democracy
Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis
Study Reveals Most States Earn Low Grades in Public Employee Rights, Taxpayer Protections November 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania is one of 22 states ranking an abysmal “D” or “F” for…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor AnalysisPublic Union Democracy
Transforming Labor
Executive Summary In the last five years, Americans have seen an unprecedented sweep of public sector labor reforms across several states. Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana—and most recently, West Virginia in…
Report
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A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania
From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…
Media
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Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?
Dwight K. Schrute is an employee at Dunder Mifflin—a fictional Scranton paper company featured in NBC’s The Office. And he just may be the key to overcoming the city’s very…
Media
Read More: Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?Public Union Democracy
Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections
Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections Taxpayers Help Union Leaders Target U. S. Senate, State Attorney General Races November 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Government union leaders have poured nearly…
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. ElectionsPublic Union Democracy
Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative Session
Three critical bills stalled last week amidst a flurry of last minute legislative activity. Failure to reform pensions, repeal the e-cigarette tax, and prohibit ghost teaching were missed opportunities that…
Media
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Ghosts in the Education Machine
If Pennsylvania students miss three days of school without an excuse, the law says they must be reported. But across the commonwealth, certain teachers have been absent for years—without consequences…
Commentary
Read More: Ghosts in the Education MachinePublic Union Democracy
Unions Profit by Restricting Workers’ Choices
The gold standard for labor reform is right-to-work, according to the conventional wisdom. However, our latest policy report…
Media
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Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…
Press Release
Read More: Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ ExpenseEducation
APSCUF Threatens Faculty
This morning, APSCUF, the union representing 5,000 faculty at the State System of Higher Education schools, went on strike. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, one…
Media
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Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism
What are the roots of conservatism? How has conservatism and its messengers changed over time and what are the consequences for the nation? Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of ConservatismGovernment Accountability
How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?
Why are taxpayers being charged for money left unspent? This question is posed by NBC 10 reporter Mitch Blacher to public school administrators in southeastern Pennsylvania districts. An NBC investigation…
Media
Read More: How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?Education
Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?
In June, CF published a searchable database showing fund balance data for each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts as of 2015. Given the recent…
Media
Read More: Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?Government Accountability
Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. Pensions
In a recent interview with Stephanie Renee, host of WURD AM’s The Mojo, Nathan Benefield discussed the roots of Pennsylvania’s pension crisis and how to fix it. Pension debt has stacked up…
Media
Read More: Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. PensionsPublic Union Democracy
Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions
Election season is in full swing, but so is the fall legislative session. This time of year elected officials walk a narrow line to avoid the illegal practice of using…
Media
Read More: Top Ten Recipients of Government Union ContributionsGovernment Accountability
New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ Burden
New union contracts will make state government more expensive, according to two analyses released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). The IFO projects contracts negotiated by the Wolf Administration…
Media
Read More: New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ BurdenPublic Union Democracy
Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in Court
David Smith and Donald Lambrecht were up against a powerful foe: Gov. Wolf and an executive order that granted a sweetheart deal to a union at their expense. In a…
Media
Read More: Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in CourtGovernment Accountability
Teachers’ Union Deceives on Dues Donations
Last week, the Commonwealth Court ordered the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to investigate Mary Trometter's allegation that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) used her union dues to support Tom Wolf's run…
Media
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Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly Students
Philadelphia's teacher shortage is making headlines, and city council is demanding the district solve the problem. A classroom without a permanent teacher is certainly unfair to students, yet Philadelphia teachers…
Media
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Local Union Complains About Transparency
The school board and the local teachers union in the West Shore School District are in conflict. The two sides have been unable to agree on a contract for two…
Media
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Faculty Benefits Driving Up Tuition Costs
APSCUF—the union representing faculty at state-owned universities—has begun a vote to authorize a strike. One of APSCUF's complaints with the proposed contract is higher health care expenses. In…
Media
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