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
Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy
Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…
Commentary
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A Day in the Life of a Union Dollar
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com A Day in the Life of a Union Dollar Does Most PSEA Spending Support Teachers? Think Again. September 3, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—James…
Press Release
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Pa. Teachers Exit Unions, Reclaim Freedom
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Pa. Teachers Exit Unions, Reclaim Freedom Coercive Unionism in Pa. School Districts Drives Teachers to Find Alternatives September 1, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—On the…
Press Release
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Putting Students First in Chester Upland
Although Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent actions have thrown Chester Upland School District into a state of turmoil, local unions in the district are rising above politics and…
Media
Read More: Putting Students First in Chester UplandGovernment Accountability
Too Close for Comfort: Gov. Wolf and SEIU
New documents obtained by the Commonwealth Foundation (publicized by the Post-Gazette in a recent story) show a frightening closeness between Gov. Wolf and union leaders, particularly leaders at the SEIU. In…
Media
Read More: Too Close for Comfort: Gov. Wolf and SEIUEducation
Audio: Helping Teachers Speak Out
Teachers across Pennsylvania are being forced to contribute their hard-earned dollars to partisan politics and organizations they do not agree with. Some brave teachers–such as Linda Misja and…
Media
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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