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.
Government Accountability
A Transparent Win for Taxpayers
Today the Senate took a significant step to make state government more transparent and accountable by approving SB 644 and SB 645. Here’s a brief description of the…
Media
Read More: A Transparent Win for TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact:717-671-1901 State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills Lets Public in on Secret Government Union Talks Worth Billions of Dollars May 6,…
Press Release
Read More: State Senate Passes Financial Transparency BillsEducation
Wolf’s Education Doctrine
Governor Wolf has wasted little time crystalizing his vision for public education—and it doesn’t look promising for families supportive of school choice. If his first few months are any indication…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Education DoctrineEducation
Wolf’s Education Agenda Discourages Choice
Gov. Tom Wolf has wasted little time staking out his vision for public education, and it doesn’t appear to have much room for school choice. In a recent…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Education Agenda Discourages ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Teachers Inspire New Legislation
No one should be forced to fund political activity that they don’t support. Jane Ladley, a teacher in Chester County, didn’t want her dues money being spent on partisan political…
Media
Read More: Teachers Inspire New LegislationHealth Care
Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme
A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…
Media
Read More: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization SchemeGovernment Accountability
Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward
Government union contract negotiations—long shrouded in secrecy behind closed-door meetings—are one step closer to openness and transparency. Today, a series of bills passed the Senate State Government Committee that will…
Media
Read More: Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move ForwardPublic Union Democracy
PA is One Step Closer to Outlawing Harassment
Sarina Rose, VP of Development for Post Brothers Apartments, knows firsthand what its like to be harassed. She was verbally berated and threatened in a Philadelphia restaurant. But because the…
Media
Read More: PA is One Step Closer to Outlawing HarassmentGovernment Accountability
Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate Openness Sought in Closed-Door Negotiations Costing Billions…
Press Release
Read More: Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in SenatePublic Union Democracy
This Unionization Scheme is About Money
I am angry. As my colleague Dawn pointed out last week, ballots were mailed to home health care workers asking them whether or not they want to be represented by the…
Media
Read More: This Unionization Scheme is About MoneyPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers
In 2015, Gov. Wolf issued an executive order paving the way for unionization of homecare workers in Pennsylvania. These workers provide in-home medical and personal care. Many of these workers are…
Memo
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care WorkersPublic Union Democracy
Wolf Only One NOT Calling Home Care Action Unionization | NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Gov. Wolf Only One NOT Calling Home Care Action Unionization Unionization Not a Secret to Self-Described Home Care Union…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Only One NOT Calling Home Care Action Unionization | NEWS RELEASEPublic Union Democracy
“This is Not a Union Ballot”
This is not a union ballot, according Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary for Gov. Wolf. The ballot you see was mailed to a home health care worker. Gov. Wolf…
Media
Read More: “This is Not a Union Ballot”Public Union Democracy
Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening Now
Two lawsuits filed in Commonwealth Court last week say Gov. Wolf’s February executive order is an illegal attempt to unionize thousands of Pennsylvania homecare workers. But…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening NowHealth Care
Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union Gift
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation (717) 671-1901 Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union Gift SEIU & AFSCME Rush Union Vote After Lawsuits Expose…
Press Release
Read More: Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union GiftEducation
Trapped: One Teacher Tells His Story
Frank is a high school teacher in Lackawanna County who has been frustrated with the NEA’s support of abortion for a long time: “I just don’t want to see any…
Media
Read More: Trapped: One Teacher Tells His StoryPublic Union Democracy
“Ludicrous” Union Dues Skim Faces Lawsuits
On Monday, two separate lawsuits were filed in response to Gov. Wolf’s February executive order which opens the door to unionizing tens of thousands of home health care…
Media
Read More: “Ludicrous” Union Dues Skim Faces LawsuitsPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf’s Executive Order Hurts Home Health Care Recipients
Our friends at the Fairness Center (TFC) filed a lawsuit this week defending against stealth unionization of homecare workers across Pennsylvania. In their lawsuit, TFC argues Gov. Wolf’s…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Executive Order Hurts Home Health Care RecipientsGovernment Accountability
Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
State union contracts worth billions of taxpayer dollars would be available for public inspection before being signed by the governor, if proposals unveiled by two state Senators become law. The…
Media
Read More: Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has ComeEducation
Trapped: One Teacher’s Story
Frank is a high school teacher in Lackawanna County who has been frustrated with the NEA’s support of abortion for a long time: “I just don’t want to see any…
Media
Read More: Trapped: One Teacher’s StoryPublic Union Democracy
Empowering Public Employees
The laws governing Pennsylvania’s labor unions are fraught with problems. They confer numerous privileges to unions—government unions in particular—at the expense of public employees and taxpayers. This isn’t how our…
Media
Read More: Empowering Public Employees