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.
Education
Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
In 2015, several states took action to improve the functionality of their public charter school laws. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania’s 130,000 charter students—as well as the thousands of students on currently…
Media
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Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues
Seeing a political attack ad on TV is nothing new. You probably roll your eyes and change the channel. But what if you learned you unwittingly helped put that ad…
Media
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Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues
Million-Dollar Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues America Works USA’s Ads Make Case for Paycheck Protection January 21, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Seeing a political attack ad on…
Press Release
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The Undemocratic Nature of Government Unions
The Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) entrenches compulsory unionism among public sector workers. It stacks the deck in favor of powerful union executives, limiting state workers and teachers…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Undemocratic Nature of Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Voting for Your Union
Imagine if a political party could stay in power for four decades without facing reelection. Thankfully, we have regular elections in this country. But for Pennsylvania teachers, this is reality.
Media
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Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect
Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect Less than 1 Percent of Teachers had Chance to Elect Their Union January 19, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—As the country prepares for a…
Press Release
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Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions
In the public’s eyes, labor unions have traditionally been the voice of working people. However, a closer look at how unions run their own…
Fact Sheet
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Pay Up or Get Fired
Imagine being told you have a choice: Write a check for $450 to an organization you don’t support, or lose your job. For tens of thousands of teachers across Pennsylvania…
Media
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Freedom on the Horizon for Pa. Teachers?
How much money will you have to pay a private political organization just to keep your job this year? If this question sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is—unless you…
Commentary
Read More: Freedom on the Horizon for Pa. Teachers?Public Union Democracy
A Governor’s Resolution List for 2016
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf promised he would take state government in a “different direction” and grow the middle class. He pledged to do this by making Pennsylvania a magnet for…
Media
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Union Dues Fund New Political Attack Ads
America Works USA launched a new round of political attack ads opposing the latest state budget. These highly misleading ads again talk about “cuts to education.” However, the…
Media
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Tax Hike of Christmas Past?
Given the rumblings of an imminent vote on higher income taxes, it's important to remember what happened 12 years ago (nearly to the day!) with our state budget. Ed Rendell was…
Media
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Philly Union Priorities: Politics over Teachers
How would you feel if your employer took funds meant for your health insurance and spent them on partisan politics? Sadly, this is a reality for thousands of teachers in…
Media
Read More: Philly Union Priorities: Politics over TeachersGovernment Accountability
Union Political Spending in the 2015 Pennsylvania Elections
The problem isn't that unions give a lot, or even that they dominate political spending. The problem is that government union dues and campaign contributions are collected at taxpayer expense…
Memo
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Unions’ Pass to Harass Comes to End
Unions' Pass to Harass Comes to End Wolf Signs Bill Closing Union Violence Loophole November 5, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Eight days after anti-harassment bill HB 874 hit his desk,…
Press Release
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Dear Kids
On October 21, more than 100 days after his veto touched off Pennsylvania’s ongoing state budget impasse, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…
Media
Read More: Dear KidsGovernment Accountability
Union Dues fund SuperPAC Attack Ads
Pennsylvanians for Judicial Reform—a new “SuperPAC” (technically an “Independent Expenditure Committee”) registered in August—has spent about $2.5 million on attack ads in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. Who…
Media
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Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill
Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill Governor Has until November 7 to Sign Union Intimidation Bill November 2, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Philadelphia construction executive Sarina…
Press Release
Read More: Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence BillPublic Union Democracy
The Voluntary Deductions Facade
Paycheck protection detractors defend using taxpayer resources for partisan politics by insisting union members can voluntarily deduct political donations from their paychecks, but this excuse misses the point. Taxpayers aren't offered a choice. They're…
Media
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Justice for All
Sarina Rose counted on the justice system to punish the person who harassed her during a labor dispute. The system let her down. The Philadelphia Inquirer covered her ordeal…
Media
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Ball in Wolf’s Court to End Union Violence Loophole
Ball in Wolf's Court to End Union Violence Loophole Stalking, Harassment, Threats Currently Legal in Labor Disputes October 27, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Stalking, harassment, and personal threats…
Press Release
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