Public Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of EducationCompulsory public unions threaten individual worker rights and cost taxpayers billions. Reforms to the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act are needed to restore and protect workers’ rights. No one—including government employees—should be blocked from leaving a union. To increase government integrity and accountability, policies should be adopted that ensure all special interests groups, including government unions, interact with the state government on a level playing field.
Government Accountability
Three Ways Government Unions Marginalize Members
Unionization doesn’t guarantee representation. Penn State graduate assistants may soon learn this lesson. Shortly after the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled the graduate assistants can unionize, the Pittsburgh Federation…
Media
Read More: Three Ways Government Unions Marginalize MembersEducation
Transparency a Must for Philly School Board Nominations
“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” These words are as true today as…
Media
Read More: Transparency a Must for Philly School Board NominationsEducation
New Board, New Opportunities in Philadelphia School District
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney recently appointed a 13-member nominating panel that will shape the district’s new school board. High on the panel’s list of requirements should be instilling a…
Media
Read More: New Board, New Opportunities in Philadelphia School DistrictPublic Union Democracy
Unions Send $1B of Members’ Dues to Liberal Groups
No one should be forced to fund values they disagree with—yet that’s exactly what’s happening to union members. Dues collected from workers’ paychecks, often at taxpayer expense, are used for…
Media
Read More: Unions Send $1B of Members’ Dues to Liberal GroupsPublic Union Democracy
2017 Labor Reform Roundup
Is Pennsylvania a worker-friendly state? According to our updated, comprehensive report grading each state’s public sector labor laws’, the answer is no. Pennsylvania ranks a measly “D” compared to others…
Media
Read More: 2017 Labor Reform RoundupEducation
Taxpayers Notch Another Win Against Ghost Teaching
Reading residents received an early Christmas present this week, as the city’s teachers’ union agreed to reimburse taxpayers for the costs of ghost teaching in the Reading School District.
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Notch Another Win Against Ghost TeachingPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Timeline
Paycheck protection is a commonsense reform that moves Pennsylvania a significant step closer to ethical government. Though recently stalled in the House, a brief history of paycheck protection demonstrates…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection TimelinePublic Union Democracy
Fifty State Labor Report 2017
We've updated a nationwide comparison of public sector labor laws - Pennsylvania again scores a D.
Report
Read More: Fifty State Labor Report 2017Public Union Democracy
SB 166 Falls Short in the House
Last night, Pennsylvania’s government union leaders preserved their exclusive political privilege. By a close vote of 90-102, the state House voted down SB 166 which would have prohibited…
Media
Read More: SB 166 Falls Short in the HousePublic Union Democracy
House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources
This Monday, House lawmakers have a chance to vote for landmark ethics reform, Senate Bill 166 Passing this legislation – and sending it to the Senate and governor for approval…
Media
Read More: House Nears Vote to Protect Public ResourcesPublic Union Democracy
SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government
Pennsylvania has a golden opportunity to enact good government reform, so it’s worth reiterating why SB 166, which House lawmakers continue to debate, deserves legislative approval and the governor’s…
Media
Read More: SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA GovernmentPublic Union Democracy
It’s Time to Enact Paycheck Protection Once and For All
Here's the bottom line: Taxpayers shouldn't be the middleman for anyone's political agenda, which is why Pa. needs SB 166.
Commentary
Read More: It’s Time to Enact Paycheck Protection Once and For AllPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform
Pennsylvanians deserve state and local government that enforces ethical standards across the board. Yet for years, a glaring exception has allowed government union leaders alone to use public resources to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Good Government ReformPublic Union Democracy
Four Reasons to Pass SB 166
A House committee passed SB 166 last month to end taxpayer-funded collection of campaign money. Here are four reasons this legislation should garner the full support of House members…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Pass SB 166Public Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Toolkit
Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions as well as union membership dues, a portion of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paycheck Protection ToolkitPublic Union Democracy
Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society
In Pennsylvania, government unions enjoy a wealth of legal and political privileges not awarded to other organizations. Here are just a few: Government unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the…
Media
Read More: Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal SocietyPublic Union Democracy
Why Government Should Not Play with Politics
Government should never collect campaign contributions. House committee members agreed yesterday, passing legislation (SB 166 and HB 1174) that stops the taxpayer-funded collection of campaign contributions for government…
Media
Read More: Why Government Should Not Play with PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources
Today, the House State Government Committee passed legislation that protects public resources, a good government reform prioritizing ethics over political privilege. The first piece of legislation, SB 166, prohibits…
Media
Read More: State House Committee Votes to Protect Public ResourcesPublic Union Democracy
Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign Contributions
The House State Government Committee recently advanced SB 166, which restores integrity to an unfair system by stopping taxpayer-funded collection and distribution of campaign contributions for any entity. We explain…
Memo
Read More: Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign ContributionsEducation
Another Step Forward for Kids
Governor Wolf allowed HB 178, an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code, to become law on Sunday. The bill is a big win for Pennsylvania's families. It includes three…
Media
Read More: Another Step Forward for KidsEducation
School Reforms Put Families and Students First
State lawmakers embraced a trio of significant reforms with the passage of HB 178—an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. The legislation would expand a popular scholarship program, protect…
Media
Read More: School Reforms Put Families and Students First