Public Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
Key Findings The four largest government unions—American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—lost…
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsCompulsory 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.
Public 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 FirstGovernment Accountability
Union Advantages Yield Undue Influence
In today’s political landscape big money is usually associated with corporations and industries like oil or gas, however, government unions are the most advantaged special interest in Pennsylvania. CF’s Nathan…
Media
Read More: Union Advantages Yield Undue InfluenceEducation
Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves
Admist the budget stalemate, there is some welcome news out of Harrisburg. Within a single week, thousands of home care workers, educators, and taxpayers were relieved from the governor’s punitive…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful MovesPublic Union Democracy
Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers
For public employees forced to subsidize union politics—or lose their jobs—a U.S. Supreme Court announcement yesterday signals a potential end to this workplace coercion. The Court indicated it will…
Media
Read More: Good News for Forced Union Fee PayersPublic Union Democracy
Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching Fight
The free ride is over for one local teachers' union. This week, The Morning Call reported on a major change to ghost teaching in the Allentown School District. The…
Media
Read More: Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching FightEducation
Diverse Students Need Diverse Choices
Were a doctor to give every patient an aspirin regardless of their diagnosis, most would consider the doctor unqualified. Sure, the patients with a fever or a headache might be satisfied, but…
Media
Read More: Diverse Students Need Diverse ChoicesPublic Union Democracy
UFCW Fined for Misreporting Terrible Anti-Privatization TV Ads
Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has persistently generated corruption scandals as it manages the state-run liquor system. Now, the loudest advocate for retaining this inefficient and unpopular…
Media
Read More: UFCW Fined for Misreporting Terrible Anti-Privatization TV AdsPublic Union Democracy
News Release: Majority of Union Employees Want Worker Voting Rights
Regular elections are foundational to representative democracy. Yet thousands of Pennsylvanians who work in the public sector are bound by a single vote held more than four decades ago to…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Majority of Union Employees Want Worker Voting RightsPublic Union Democracy
Erie Suspends Costly Ghost Teaching
Someone in Erie must have called the ghostbusters. Last August, the Erie School District and the Erie Education Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ending ghost teaching in…
Media
Read More: Erie Suspends Costly Ghost TeachingEducation
News Release: Wolf Rewards Ghost Teacher, Union Campaign Contributor with Cabinet Nomination
Failing to show up for work is usually grounds for dismissal, but for Gov. Wolf, it’s reason for promotion. In nominating Jerry Oleksiak as the next Secretary of Labor &…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Wolf Rewards Ghost Teacher, Union Campaign Contributor with Cabinet NominationPublic Union Democracy
New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf Administration
Despite having his home health care executive order struck down by the Commonwealth Court last year, Gov. Wolf seems intent on funneling state money to his pals at the Service…
Media
Read More: New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf AdministrationEducation
Op-Ed: Contract Secrecy Plagues Public Schools
Taxpayers were kept in the dark, only to be slipped a $395 million bill—along with the admission that there’s no way to pay for it—at the 11th hour. These secret…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Contract Secrecy Plagues Public SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
Ghost Teachers Exposed by NBC Philadelphia
The ghost teaching phenomenon is continuing to garner major media coverage—this time, a multi-part NBC10 Philadelphia investigation. Investigative reporter Mitch Blacher gets to the bottom of union work on school…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Exposed by NBC PhiladelphiaPublic Union Democracy
Balancing Pennsylvania’s Budget: Tax or Reform?
Government unions are rallying in Harrisburg, demanding more money from Pennsylvanians to justify an even larger state budget. It’s worth asking, how did we get here again? And what…
Media
Read More: Balancing Pennsylvania’s Budget: Tax or Reform?Education
Will Philly Union Contract Require State Bailout?
Philadelphia’s new teacher contract could be so expensive as to require teacher layoffs to pay for it. But there’s another way the $395 million pact could be financed: with…
Media
Read More: Will Philly Union Contract Require State Bailout?Education
Philly Union Contract Underscores Need for Transparency
On Monday evening, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) voted to approve a new labor contract with the School District of Philadelphia. Scant details have emerged on…
Media
Read More: Philly Union Contract Underscores Need for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in Reading
Across Pennsylvania, school districts are struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of education driven by unsustainble penion expenses. Yet, a special perk built into over 20 percent…
Media
Read More: Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in ReadingPublic Union Democracy
News Release: House Committee Protects Rights of Religious Objectors to Unionism
Most Pennsylvanians take for granted the right to donate to charities they believe in. But for some, this right is routinely violated. Under state law, public employees who object on…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: House Committee Protects Rights of Religious Objectors to UnionismPublic Union Democracy
Why PA Needs Paycheck Protection
Commentary
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