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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
Teacher’s Bill of Rights: PA Educators Should be Free to Teach
Teacher’s Bill of Rights: PA Educators Should be Free to Teach Removing Workplace Barriers Will Foster Best Learning Environment in Public Schools August 25, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—Mary…
Press Release
Read More: Teacher’s Bill of Rights: PA Educators Should be Free to TeachEducation
Why Teachers Need a Bill of Rights
Mary loves teaching culinary arts, but she doesn’t want her name used in political mailers. Jane spent a career in the classroom, but she can’t donate the money she earned…
Media
Read More: Why Teachers Need a Bill of RightsGovernment Accountability
Transparency is the Antidote to Quid Pro Quo Politics
Did Attorney General Kathleen Kane promise a sweetheart deal to union leaders in exchange for support of her controversial chief of staff? According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, enough evidence exists to…
Media
Read More: Transparency is the Antidote to Quid Pro Quo PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension Reform
Pennsylvania government unions rely on disproven myths to lobby against pension reform. Their actions, however, demonstrate they don't believe their own snake oil, and offer their employees' the same retirement plans…
Media
Read More: Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension ReformPublic Union Democracy
Pension Hypocrisy: Union Leaders Offer 401(k)s to Own Employees
Pension Hypocrisy: Union Leaders Offer 401(k)s to Own Employees For Biggest Opponents of Reform it’s ‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’ August 20, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—For…
Press Release
Read More: Pension Hypocrisy: Union Leaders Offer 401(k)s to Own EmployeesPublic Union Democracy
Pension Reform to Protect my Kids
Legislative leaders have rightly rejected a so-called pension reform “compromise,” a plan that fails to address the problems in our pension system and continues to put our kids and grandkids on…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my KidsEducation
Pension Reform to Protect my Kids
I chose teaching because I enjoy interacting with students and helping them learn. My science classes show students that certain actions yield predictable results. With this in mind, I am…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my KidsGovernment Accountability
New Contract, Still no Transparency
The newest state contract with AFSCME—the union representing more than 30,000 state workers—was signed earlier this week. The contract was agreed to in April, then ratified by…
Media
Read More: New Contract, Still no TransparencyEducation
Discouraging Signs in York City
The consequences of Gov. Tom Wolf’s lock-step fealty to public sector union interests are being felt across the state and particularly in York City—where one of Wolf’s…
Media
Read More: Discouraging Signs in York CityEducation
Union Politicking Shows Need for Mary’s Law
Political mailers supporting candidates are par for the course during elections—unless those mailers are sent by government unions and funded with members’ dues. Then, they’re illegal. But that didn’t stop…
Media
Read More: Union Politicking Shows Need for Mary’s LawPublic Union Democracy
The Elephant in Gov. Wolf’s Reception Room
A few recent articles and editorials have directed attention to political contributions by gas drillers, while ignoring a far larger and more powerful interest group—government unions. The fact is, political spending…
Media
Read More: The Elephant in Gov. Wolf’s Reception RoomEducation
Strange Arguments Against Seniority Reform
An amusing opinion article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes aim at pending legislation that would protect high-performing teachers and change incentives in persistently failing schools. Authors Adam…
Media
Read More: Strange Arguments Against Seniority ReformPublic Union Democracy
The Law Should Not Condone Violence
Yesterday, Ironworkers Local 401 union leader Joseph Dougherty was given a 19 year prison sentence for encouraging sabotage and intimidation to advance his union’s interests. The judge in the…
Media
Read More: The Law Should Not Condone ViolenceEducation
Lawsuit Inspires Teacher to Speak Out
Over the weekend, Adam Brandolph of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review penned an excellent story on James Williams, a Mercer County science teacher standing up for his rights against the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lawsuit Inspires Teacher to Speak OutPublic Union Democracy
A Double Shot of Liquid Courage
It shouldn’t take a double shot of liquid courage to finally end Prohibition in Pennsylvania. With pension deficits, revenue shortfalls, PLCB ethics violations, and consistent popular support, this should be…
Commentary
Read More: A Double Shot of Liquid CouragePublic Union Democracy
Wolf’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ Approach Blocks Progress
In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf urged dissenters, “If you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It's not good…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ Approach Blocks ProgressPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf Does Understand Economics
Last Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation passed by the general assembly that would allow private retailers to sell wine and liquor. As my colleague Bob pointed out,…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Does Understand EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to Wolf
Yesterday, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation to free homeowners from skyrocketing property taxes, make school budgets go further, and protect public employees from politics. SB 1 bill reforms…
Media
Read More: Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to WolfGovernment Accountability
Contract Transparency Still Critical
Harrisburg is abuzz as the budget battle continues. With high profile legislation on liquor privatization, pension and education reform receiving much attention, it’s easy to lose sight of a fundamental…
Media
Read More: Contract Transparency Still CriticalGovernment Accountability
An Update on Union Contracts
Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee moved SB 644 and SB 645—bills which would provide taxpayers greater information about contracts with government unions—to the House floor.
Media
Read More: An Update on Union ContractsEducation
House Votes to Protect Excellent Teachers
Seniority-based teacher furloughs may soon become a relic of the past for Pennsylvania public schools. On Tuesday evening, the state House approved Rep. Stephen Bloom’s HB 805—the Protecting…
Media
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