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.
Government Accountability
Reviving the Push for Transparency
Taxpayers scored a victory last year with the passage of Senate Bill 644 (now Act 15). The new law requires the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) to provide cost…
Media
Read More: Reviving the Push for TransparencyPublic Union Democracy
Debunking Union Leaders’ Paycheck Protection Myths
It’s been said death and taxes are life’s only two certainties. Here’s a third: government union leaders’ continual misrepresentation of paycheck protection. For example, recently, the Philadelphia Federation of…
Media
Read More: Debunking Union Leaders’ Paycheck Protection MythsPublic Union Democracy
Dues-Funded Politics: Why We Need Paycheck Protection
Pennsylvania’s government union leaders are political heavyweights. As we documented in our recent analysis, their political spending far surpasses industry competitors—and relies on…
Media
Read More: Dues-Funded Politics: Why We Need Paycheck ProtectionEducation
Op-Ed: Is the Sky Falling on Children’s Education?
In the aftermath of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, opponents predict she could decimate public education. Their perspective is misguided, unsupported by facts, and ultimately harmful for the future…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Is the Sky Falling on Children’s Education?Government Accountability
Government Unions Outspend the Natural Gas Industry
Proponents of a natural gas severance tax argue the natural gas industry wields undue political influence in Harrisburg. State representative Greg Vitali laments: They [natural gas industry] just always…
Media
Read More: Government Unions Outspend the Natural Gas IndustryPublic Union Democracy
News Release: Paycheck Protection Passes State Senate
Legislation Would End Use of Taxpayer Resources to Aid Political Activity February 8, 2017, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The State Senate today passed paycheck protection legislation, SB 166, which would end the…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Paycheck Protection Passes State SenatePublic Union Democracy
Budget Solution: Stop Paying Extra for Construction Projects
'Prevailing Wage' Costs Pennsylvanians Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Yearly February 6, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—Can you imagine taking your car to the shop for a major repair, learning…
Media
Read More: Budget Solution: Stop Paying Extra for Construction ProjectsPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Solves $96 Million Problem
Yesterday, the Senate State Government Committee passed paycheck protection legislation, which would prevent taxpayer resources from being used to collect money earmarked for political activity. SB 166 and…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Solves $96 Million ProblemPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Passes Senate Committee
The Senate State Government Committee today passed paycheck protection, which ends the special privilege that lets government union leaders use public resources to collect money earmarked for politics. Since…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Passes Senate CommitteePublic Union Democracy
The Inquirer’s Problematic Budget Prescriptions
A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial urges optimism about the forthcoming state budget debate. It’s certainly well-warranted. Gov. Wolf and legislative leaders have repeatedly expressed interest in redesigning state government to…
Media
Read More: The Inquirer’s Problematic Budget PrescriptionsEducation
A Christmas Wish List for Pennsylvania
“No more lives torn apart, and wars would never start, and time would heal all hearts.” You might recognize those words from the ubiquitous-around-the-holidays song, “Grown-Up Christmas List.” Grown up? Sure.
Commentary
Read More: A Christmas Wish List for PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Watch for Sweeping Changes Outside the Beltway
The political landscape has experienced a seismic shift, and it isn't centered in Washington DC. This past weekend Kyle Peterson of the Wall Street Journal highlighted Pennsylvania and six other…
Media
Read More: Watch for Sweeping Changes Outside the BeltwayEducation
Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative Session
That's a wrap. The 2015-16 legislative session is officially in the history books. Despite a $650 million tax hike, Pennsylvanians have a lot to celebrate from the past two years.
Media
Read More: Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative SessionEducation
Details Emerge on Philly Union Negotiations
Intrepid reporter Kristen Graham of the Philadelphia Inquirer unearthed several details from contract negotiations between the school district of Philadelphia and the local teachers’ union, the Philadelphia Federation of…
Media
Read More: Details Emerge on Philly Union NegotiationsPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions’ Election Impact
One can't understate the scope of government unions' financial involvement in some of the key Pennsylvania races this fall. While final campaign finance numbers are still a few weeks away,…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Election ImpactPublic Union Democracy
The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform Wave
Lagging job growth, rising taxes and coercive union tactics created an appetite for labor reform throughout Rust Belt states. Transforming Labor, our latest policy report, ranks states on their…
Media
Read More: The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform WavePublic Union Democracy
Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis
Study Reveals Most States Earn Low Grades in Public Employee Rights, Taxpayer Protections November 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania is one of 22 states ranking an abysmal “D” or “F” for…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor AnalysisPublic Union Democracy
Transforming Labor
Executive Summary In the last five years, Americans have seen an unprecedented sweep of public sector labor reforms across several states. Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana—and most recently, West Virginia in…
Report
Read More: Transforming LaborPublic Union Democracy
A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania
From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…
Media
Read More: A Dramatic Shift in PennsylvaniaEducation
Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?
Dwight K. Schrute is an employee at Dunder Mifflin—a fictional Scranton paper company featured in NBC’s The Office. And he just may be the key to overcoming the city’s very…
Media
Read More: Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?Public Union Democracy
Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections
Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections Taxpayers Help Union Leaders Target U. S. Senate, State Attorney General Races November 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Government union leaders have poured nearly…
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections