Fairness
Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging Divides
Jake Altman, author of Socialism before Sanders, joins Disunion: The Government Union Report podcast host David R. Osborne to discuss labor unions and their challenges. Altman, a former union leader,…
Read More: Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging DividesCompulsory 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
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…
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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…
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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
Read More: Why PA Needs Paycheck ProtectionEducation
New SRC Member Slams Ghost Teaching
Estelle Richman, appointed by Gov. Wolf to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC), was unanimously confirmed to the position today by Pennsylvania’s Senate. The SRC is tasked with overseeing Philadelphia’s…
Media
Read More: New SRC Member Slams Ghost TeachingGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Collect Millions for Government Unions
Since 2010, Pennsylvania state government has used taxpayer resources to transfer $244 million to government union treasuries. This figure includes millions for highly political activities. According to records obtained via…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Collect Millions for Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Government Union Dues Used for Politics
Since 2007, Pennsylvania government unions spent $62.7 million from membership dues on “Political Activities & Lobbying.” Including national affiliates the total reaches $342 million during the 2016 election cycle alone. Here…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Government Union Dues Used for PoliticsGovernment Accountability
Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption Loophole
Philly Corruption All-Stars, that's the title of the recent Philadelphia Citizen series featuring a decade-by-decade rundown of the most corrupt city politicians. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's reputation for political corruption…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption LoopholePublic Union Democracy
House Majority Whip: It’s Time the House Makes Paycheck Protection a Priority
During my time serving the 100th District, a handful of well-meaning residents have walked into my taxpayer-funded Lancaster County district office and requested campaign lawn signs. They have always walked…
Media
Read More: House Majority Whip: It’s Time the House Makes Paycheck Protection a PriorityPublic Union Democracy
How Government Union Dues Subsidize Partisan Politics
The 2016 election cycle reveals big spending from big labor, according to a report released by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR). NILRR discovered $1.7 billion in…
Media
Read More: How Government Union Dues Subsidize Partisan PoliticsGovernment Accountability
Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…
Media
Read More: Senate Moves Key Transparency MeasuresPublic Union Democracy
Top 10 Recipients of Government Union Money
Government unions wield enormous influence in Pennsylvania politics. Since 2010, the commonwealth’s largest government unions have spent over $71 million on politics—including $26 million in political action committee (PAC)…
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Read More: Top 10 Recipients of Government Union MoneyGovernment Accountability
Policy Memo: Government Union Political Spending Trends
Union leaders spend millions each year to further their own political agenda. Regardless of public sector employees’ personal political convictions, the highly partisan trend continued to the tune of $19 million…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Government Union Political Spending TrendsPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection: Where it Stands
In February, the state Senate passed paycheck protection, which would shield taxpayers from subsidizing government union leaders’ political fundraising. Now it’s up to the House to protect the interests of taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection: Where it StandsEducation
Op-Ed: The Cure for ‘March Madness’
While the NCAA basketball tournament had the nation on the edge of its seat, Philadelphia students faced their own version of March Madness—full of drama, heartache, and uncertainty, but with far more…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: The Cure for ‘March Madness’Government Accountability
Paycheck Protection Benefits Teachers
Providing one more reason Pennsylvania needs paycheck protection, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) uses members’ dues to mislead teachers. In the March 2017 publication of PSEA’s dues-funded…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Benefits TeachersPublic Union Democracy
Op-Ed: Time to End Special-Interest Loophole
Subverting public resources for political gain will not be tolerated. Except when it is. Pennsylvania government regularly collects and distributes tens of millions of dollars earmarked for politics on behalf of…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Time to End Special-Interest LoopholeEducation
Teachers’ Unions Dwarf School Choice Spending
When it comes to education, government union leaders are Pennsylvania’s top political spender. No contest. We recently highlighted how government unions, outspoken proponents of a severance tax, far outspend…
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Read More: Teachers’ Unions Dwarf School Choice SpendingPublic Union Democracy
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