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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Education
How the PFT Fails Philadelphia
By standing in the way of tens of millions of new dollars for Philadelphia classrooms, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has revealed its true identity—a self-interested,…
Media
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How PFT Fails Philadelphia Students, Teachers & the Poor
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PFT Leaders Use Students & Teachers as Pawns in a Political Game Leaders Block Millions of Dollars from the…
Press Release
Read More: How PFT Fails Philadelphia Students, Teachers & the PoorPublic Union Democracy
Yesterday’s Paycheck Protection Vote
Thanks to your voices, yesterday afternoon the state Senate suddenly voted on an aspect of “paycheck protection.” Senator Scott Wagner proposed an amendment yesterday that would end the taxpayer-funded collection…
Media
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How PFT Fails Phila. Students & Teachers Revealed at Union Rally Tomorrow
PFT’s Failings Highlighted at Union Rally Tomorrow Union Leaders Playing Politics with Children’s Futures At tomorrow’s union rally in Philadelphia, Commonwealth Foundation will be distributing informational fliers to…
Press Release
Read More: How PFT Fails Phila. Students & Teachers Revealed at Union Rally TomorrowEducation
PFT/AFT: Politics Before Health Care
The recent decision by the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) to cancel the school district’s contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)—and require teachers to pay up to 13…
Media
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Union-Backed Report Rife with Hypocrisy
Three union-affiliated groups released a report alleging that Pennsylvania charter schools defrauded taxpayers to the tune of $30 million since 1997. Predictably, this story has been greeted…
Media
Read More: Union-Backed Report Rife with HypocrisyEducation
School Funding Doublespeak
How can school funding be “slashed” yet “technically rise”? Take a look at this excerpt from a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, (emphasis mine): Education funding to…
Media
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Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark Case
Jane Ladley was a special education teacher in Chester County for more than 25 years until she retired this year. She may have left teaching, but she has a bone…
Media
Read More: Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark CasePublic Union Democracy
Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension Systems
Most workers are shortchanged by Pennsylvania’s public employee pension programs, according to two recent studies. The Urban Institute gives Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) an “F”…
Media
Read More: Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension SystemsPublic Union Democracy
Is This What Democracy Looks Like?
An astounding 93 percent of union members had no role in choosing the union currently representing them, according to a new report authored by Dr. Daniel DiSalvo of the…
Media
Read More: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?Education
Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting Children
Legislation to protect children from predators in the classroom has stalled in Harrisburg. Union executives are standing in the way. Currently, teachers who sexually abuse or have…
Media
Read More: Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting ChildrenEducation
Lies from PSEA Leadership
Repeating the same lie over and over does not make it magically come true. Yet this hasn’t stopped the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) leadership from an…
Media
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Union Lobbying Holds Back Lottery Performance
Illinois’s decision to terminate its lottery private management agreement with Northstar is being misinterpreted as proof that Pennsylvania dodged a bullet by failing to approve a private lottery management…
Media
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Education Spending Poll
Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania voters underestimate the amount the state spends on education. And when informed of the facts, support for boosting education funding by hiking taxes dropped significantly.
Poll
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Audio: 81% in PA Support Employee Freedom
Should workers be penalized for leaving a union? 81 percent of Pennsylvanians say “no.” So why hasn’t a policy change happened to free workers from having to pay a…
Media
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Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership
As part of National Employee Freedom Week, we sat down with two western Pennsylvania teachers who successfully left their teachers’ unions last year. John Cress is a middle school…
Media
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Teachers Call for More Freedom, Choices
Heather Lister and Joe Connolly are both Pennsylvania educators, and they couldn’t be more different. Heather is a 25-year-old library media specialist and a registered Democrat. Joe is a veteran…
Media
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For Teachers, Knowledge is Power
Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…
Commentary
Read More: For Teachers, Knowledge is PowerPublic Union Democracy
New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a Choice
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 New Poll: 81 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Worker Freedom This is National Employee Freedom Week, Educating Union Employees…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a ChoiceGovernment Accountability
Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for Politics
“Public resources are not supposed to be used for partisan political purposes.” So says Barry Kauffman of Common Cause PA in a Tribune Review article. What Mr. Kauffman…
Media
Read More: Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for PoliticsEducation
Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-Teacher
It seems clear that there is widespread agreement—across party lines and ideological barriers—that we must address school seniority rules and tenure reform. Check out this stunning video from MSNBC’s Morning…
Media
Read More: Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-Teacher