Public Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the Country
Key Findings During the 2023–24 election cycle, the four biggest public sector unions—the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and American Federation…
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the CountryCompulsory 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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative Session
Three critical bills stalled last week amidst a flurry of last minute legislative activity. Failure to reform pensions, repeal the e-cigarette tax, and prohibit ghost teaching were missed opportunities that…
Media
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Ghosts in the Education Machine
If Pennsylvania students miss three days of school without an excuse, the law says they must be reported. But across the commonwealth, certain teachers have been absent for years—without consequences…
Commentary
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Unions Profit by Restricting Workers’ Choices
The gold standard for labor reform is right-to-work, according to the conventional wisdom. However, our latest policy report…
Media
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Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…
Press Release
Read More: Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ ExpensePublic Union Democracy
APSCUF Threatens Faculty
This morning, APSCUF, the union representing 5,000 faculty at the State System of Higher Education schools, went on strike. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, one…
Media
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Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions
Election season is in full swing, but so is the fall legislative session. This time of year elected officials walk a narrow line to avoid the illegal practice of using…
Media
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New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ Burden
New union contracts will make state government more expensive, according to two analyses released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). The IFO projects contracts negotiated by the Wolf Administration…
Media
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Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in Court
David Smith and Donald Lambrecht were up against a powerful foe: Gov. Wolf and an executive order that granted a sweetheart deal to a union at their expense. In a…
Media
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Teachers’ Union Deceives on Dues Donations
Last week, the Commonwealth Court ordered the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to investigate Mary Trometter's allegation that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) used her union dues to support Tom Wolf's run…
Media
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Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly Students
Philadelphia's teacher shortage is making headlines, and city council is demanding the district solve the problem. A classroom without a permanent teacher is certainly unfair to students, yet Philadelphia teachers…
Media
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