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
Gov. Wolf Can Lead by Example on Transparency
Today Gov. Wolf unveiled a series of reforms aimed at increasing transparency and improving how government works. The plan includes limits on campaign contributions and a governmentwide gift ban. However, the governor's attempt…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Can Lead by Example on TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I do
Note: Gov. Wolf's press conference referred to below was cancelled. Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I Do Gov. Calls for Openness, Negotiates $3.6…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I doGovernment Accountability
Gov. Wolf’s Self-Created Constitutional Conflict
Rep. Bill Adolph accused the Wolf administration of creating a budget crisis during Thursday's final House Appropriations Committee budget hearing. In an op-ed published Friday,…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Self-Created Constitutional ConflictGovernment Accountability
The Price of Secret Negotiations
The cost of compensating the state's workforce is nearly $93,000 per public employee. This illustrates why Pennsylvania’s collective bargaining process, which permits the politically powerful to operate in secret, must be reformed to…
Media
Read More: The Price of Secret NegotiationsEducation
No, We’re Not Underfunding Public Schools
My latest op-ed at PennLive debunks several school funding myths that continue to haunt Pennsylvania: While local school revenue is notably high (6th in the nation), state revenue…
Media
Read More: No, We’re Not Underfunding Public SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union Members
Pennsylvania's labor laws keep union members in the dark. Union members rarely have the opportunity to voice their opinion through elections or resign their membership. A lack of transparency makes…
Memo
Read More: How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union MembersEducation
Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions
Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown MillionsPublic Union Democracy
The Pretense of Democratic Unions
Control over the largest local teachers union in Pennsylvania is up for grabs. The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is challenging the leadership of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…
Media
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A Tale of Two School Districts
North Allegheny School District and Pittsburgh School District are barely a dozen miles apart, but their budgeting approaches for the next fiscal year are worlds apart. Thanks to rising pension…
Media
Read More: A Tale of Two School DistrictsEducation
Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in Philadelphia
It's no secret that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) plucks teachers out of the classroom to work as full-time union operatives. These individuals are known as ghost teachers—and their…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in PhiladelphiaEducation
State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps
Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…
Media
Read More: State Supremes Strike Down Charter CapsGovernment Accountability
Wolf to Pension Commission: ‘You’re Fired!’
Wolf to Pension Commission: “You’re Fired!” Governor’s Pattern of Eliminating Opposition Defies Claims of Accountability February 3, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The latest casualty of Gov. Tom Wolf’s “my…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf to Pension Commission: ‘You’re Fired!’Government Accountability
Wolf to PERC: “You’re Fired!”
Gov. Wolf has a history of trying to fire individuals who won’t kowtow to his agenda. He tried to remove Erik Arneson as head of the independent Office of Open…
Media
Read More: Wolf to PERC: “You’re Fired!”Public Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House 67 Percent of Likely Voters Want to End Gov. Union Political Privilege January 26, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Paycheck protection is one step closer…
Press Release
Read More: Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in HouseEducation
Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
In 2015, several states took action to improve the functionality of their public charter school laws. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania’s 130,000 charter students—as well as the thousands of students on currently…
Media
Read More: Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawPublic Union Democracy
Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues
Seeing a political attack ad on TV is nothing new. You probably roll your eyes and change the channel. But what if you learned you unwittingly helped put that ad…
Media
Read More: Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union DuesPublic Union Democracy
Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues
Million-Dollar Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues America Works USA’s Ads Make Case for Paycheck Protection January 21, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Seeing a political attack ad on…
Press Release
Read More: Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union DuesPublic Union Democracy
The Undemocratic Nature of Government Unions
The Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) entrenches compulsory unionism among public sector workers. It stacks the deck in favor of powerful union executives, limiting state workers and teachers…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Undemocratic Nature of Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Voting for Your Union
Imagine if a political party could stay in power for four decades without facing reelection. Thankfully, we have regular elections in this country. But for Pennsylvania teachers, this is reality.
Media
Read More: Voting for Your UnionPublic Union Democracy
Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect
Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect Less than 1 Percent of Teachers had Chance to Elect Their Union January 19, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—As the country prepares for a…
Press Release
Read More: Give Public Workers the Right to Re-electPublic Union Democracy
Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions
In the public’s eyes, labor unions have traditionally been the voice of working people. However, a closer look at how unions run their own…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions