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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Pa. Tracking Poll: Biden Faces Political Headwinds on Eve of Pa. Visit
Harrisburg, Pa., December 7, 2023 – As President Biden prepares for his ninth visit to Pennsylvania in 2023—his most-visited state aside from Delaware, his home state—he is struggling to connect with…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Tracking Poll: Biden Faces Political Headwinds on Eve of Pa. VisitPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Spent Over $708 Million on Near-Exclusively Leftist Causes
Harrisburg, Pa., December 7, 2023 — The four largest public-sector unions—the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME),…
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions Spent Over $708 Million on Near-Exclusively Leftist CausesPublic Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the Country
Key Findings The four largest government unions, the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Service Employees International…
Executive Summary
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the CountryPublic Union Democracy
Union bosses or real estate moguls? Tracking the PFT’s finances
Originally published at Center Square One reason Philadelphia workers may choose – or feel compelled – to join a union is the promise of access to special funds to…
Media Hit
Read More: Union bosses or real estate moguls? Tracking the PFT’s financesPublic Union Democracy
Taxpayer-Funded Strikes Would be Bad for All Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, Pa., November 15, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation highlighted major problems with House Bill (HB) 1481. If passed, this legislation will provide unemployment benefits for striking workers, effectively forcing taxpayers…
Press Release
Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Strikes Would be Bad for All PennsylvaniansPublic Union Democracy
Unions are hurting taxpayers and Pennsylvania’s economy
Originally published at The Patriot-News The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike recently reached Dauphin County, with 145 employees at the Mack Trucks remanufacturing plant in Lower Swatara Township walking…
Media Hit
Read More: Unions are hurting taxpayers and Pennsylvania’s economyPublic Union Democracy
Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety
Originally published at RealClearPolicy More workers have gone on strike in the first nine months of 2023 than in all of 2022. Philadelphia alone saw strikes at Temple University, Rutgers University,…
Media Hit
Read More: Union Pandering Disguised as Railway SafetyPublic Union Democracy
UAW Ain’t Nothin’ Compared to Public Sector Unions
Originally published at Townhall For the media and union executives, the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against automotive plants in Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan is the gift that keeps…
Media Hit
Read More: UAW Ain’t Nothin’ Compared to Public Sector UnionsGovernment Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady Activities
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new webpage dedicated to exposing the myriad of shady actions that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has engaged in…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady ActivitiesGovernment Accountability
Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo Op
Originally published in The American Spectator Earlier this month, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced, with great fanfare, that he is implementing “automatic voter registration” in the Keystone State.
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo OpPublic Union Democracy
Commonwealth Foundation Supports Advancement of Senate Bill 399
Harrisburg, Pa., September 19, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee advanced Senate Bill 399, a critical piece of legislation that brings urgently needed transparency to the…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Supports Advancement of Senate Bill 399Public Union Democracy
This Labor Day, ask yourself: Are unions living up to their promises?
Originally published at The Hill Within days of signing legislation protecting the rights of public employees, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was sued twice by the…
Media Hit
Read More: This Labor Day, ask yourself: Are unions living up to their promises?Public Union Democracy
Government Union Contracts Increase Again
Summary Pennsylvania elected officials routinely and secretly negotiate billion-dollar labor contracts with government union leaders from whom they often receive political donations. These labor contracts are a major cost of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Union Contracts Increase AgainPublic Union Democracy
PA Needs to Empower Workers—Not Union Executives
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 950, which proposes a state constitutional amendment empowering public sector union executives. Unfortunately,…
Media Hit
Read More: PA Needs to Empower Workers—Not Union ExecutivesPublic Union Democracy
Uprooting the Teachers Unions
Originally published at The American Mind Across the country, teacher union leaders and leftist pundits frequently malign educational choice expansion as an insidious plot to “dismantle public education”…
Commentary
Read More: Uprooting the Teachers UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadership
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In a stunning admission of incompetence, Jerry Jordan, the boss of Pennsylvania’s largest teachers’ union, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, admitted he only…
Media Hit
Read More: Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadershipPublic Union Democracy
These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania House
Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times Last November, Pennsylvania Democrats captured the state House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. Behind the flip was…
Media Hit
Read More: These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania HousePublic Union Democracy
Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950
May 3, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 950, a constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right” to organize and collectively bargain…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950Public Union Democracy
HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of Workers
Summary House Bill 950 proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution creating a “fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively” for both private and public sector employees.[1]The…
Fact Sheet
Read More: HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of WorkersPublic Union Democracy
Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. House
May 1, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee today advances House Bill 950, a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right”…
Press Release
Read More: Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. HousePublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950
Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie: Good afternoon. Thanks to Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie for the invitation to testify on this resolution, and thanks to the rest of the committee for your…
Testimony
Read More: Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950