Public Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of EducationCompulsory 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
Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural Gas
A rehashed report from Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania assert that Marcellus Shale drillers spent $8 million on campaign contributions and $41 million on lobbying in…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural GasEducation
Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?
The second lowest-performing school district in Pennsylvania is asking for more time to improve but refusing recommended reforms. Unfortunately, more time is not something students and families in York City…
Commentary
Read More: Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?Government Accountability
Audio: Election Lessons
This week a “Republican wave” swept the country and propelled many fiscally conservative governors to reelection. And in Pennsylvania, candidates that ran on pension reform, liquor privatization, choice in education,…
Media
Read More: Audio: Election LessonsPublic Union Democracy
Missing the Wave
Last night, candidates embracing free-market policies not only won legislative seats across Pennsylvania and our country, but in states like Wisconsin, Michigan—and even Illinois—gubernatorial candidates who made the case for…
Media
Read More: Missing the WavePublic Union Democracy
Audio: Teachers & Taxpayers Still Need Paycheck Protection
It’s important to note—especially during election season—that one group of private organizations has an advantage over all others when it comes to funding their political agenda. That group is public…
Media
Read More: Audio: Teachers & Taxpayers Still Need Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
What are Their Priorities?
At at time when teachers are complaining about having to buy school supplies for their students, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) reported spending $3,764,154 from union dues…
Media
Read More: What are Their Priorities?Education
Victory for Student Safety
In an important step for safety in the classroom, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill that will put an end to the abhorrent practice of “passing the…
Media
Read More: Victory for Student SafetyPublic Union Democracy
Teachers Pay the Price for their Unions’ Politics
CF recently attended a Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) rally with the goal of bringing our message directly to the teachers and families of Philadelphia. What exactly is our…
Media
Read More: Teachers Pay the Price for their Unions’ PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Unions Bankroll Candidates on the Backs of Taxpayers
Government unions have not been reluctant to use their exclusive political privilege to finance candidates this election cycle. According to an AP analysis, four of the top ten…
Media
Read More: Unions Bankroll Candidates on the Backs of TaxpayersEducation
Audio: PFT Fails Students, Teachers & the Poor
Matt Brouillette and other members of Commonwealth Foundation were on the ground at the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) protest yesterday, handing out fliers and letting teachers know how PFT…
Media
Read More: Audio: PFT Fails Students, Teachers & the PoorEducation
How the PFT Fails Philadelphia
By standing in the way of tens of millions of new dollars for Philadelphia classrooms, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has revealed its true identity—a self-interested,…
Media
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How PFT Fails Philadelphia Students, Teachers & the Poor
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PFT Leaders Use Students & Teachers as Pawns in a Political Game Leaders Block Millions of Dollars from the…
Press Release
Read More: How PFT Fails Philadelphia Students, Teachers & the PoorPublic Union Democracy
Yesterday’s Paycheck Protection Vote
Thanks to your voices, yesterday afternoon the state Senate suddenly voted on an aspect of “paycheck protection.” Senator Scott Wagner proposed an amendment yesterday that would end the taxpayer-funded collection…
Media
Read More: Yesterday’s Paycheck Protection VoteEducation
How PFT Fails Phila. Students & Teachers Revealed at Union Rally Tomorrow
PFT’s Failings Highlighted at Union Rally Tomorrow Union Leaders Playing Politics with Children’s Futures At tomorrow’s union rally in Philadelphia, Commonwealth Foundation will be distributing informational fliers to…
Press Release
Read More: How PFT Fails Phila. Students & Teachers Revealed at Union Rally TomorrowEducation
PFT/AFT: Politics Before Health Care
The recent decision by the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) to cancel the school district’s contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)—and require teachers to pay up to 13…
Media
Read More: PFT/AFT: Politics Before Health CareEducation
Union-Backed Report Rife with Hypocrisy
Three union-affiliated groups released a report alleging that Pennsylvania charter schools defrauded taxpayers to the tune of $30 million since 1997. Predictably, this story has been greeted…
Media
Read More: Union-Backed Report Rife with HypocrisyEducation
School Funding Doublespeak
How can school funding be “slashed” yet “technically rise”? Take a look at this excerpt from a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, (emphasis mine): Education funding to…
Media
Read More: School Funding DoublespeakEducation
Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark Case
Jane Ladley was a special education teacher in Chester County for more than 25 years until she retired this year. She may have left teaching, but she has a bone…
Media
Read More: Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark CasePublic Union Democracy
Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension Systems
Most workers are shortchanged by Pennsylvania’s public employee pension programs, according to two recent studies. The Urban Institute gives Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) an “F”…
Media
Read More: Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension SystemsPublic Union Democracy
Is This What Democracy Looks Like?
An astounding 93 percent of union members had no role in choosing the union currently representing them, according to a new report authored by Dr. Daniel DiSalvo of the…
Media
Read More: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?Education
Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting Children
Legislation to protect children from predators in the classroom has stalled in Harrisburg. Union executives are standing in the way. Currently, teachers who sexually abuse or have…
Media
Read More: Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting Children