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
What Teachers Are Saying About Union Reform
One teacher called it “a kick in the teeth.” Another used the word “extortion.” What are these teachers talking about? The practice in Pennsylvania of teachers’ union dues…
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Read More: What Teachers Are Saying About Union ReformPublic Union Democracy
Podcast: Would You Join Matt’s Education Association?
For a small annual fee of $669, you can join Matt’s political organization called the MEA—Matt’s Education Association. You’ll join? Great! Don’t worry about writing a check. Government will withhold…
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Read More: Podcast: Would You Join Matt’s Education Association?Public Union Democracy
Teachers Decry Unions’ “Unfair” Privilege
Ellwood City public school teacher John Cress is speaking up against the forced political speech he had to pay for via his union dues to the Pennsylvania State Education Association:…
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Read More: Teachers Decry Unions’ “Unfair” PrivilegePublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Pay for PSEA Politics (Again)
Last week we highlighted a number of election-related ads the Pennsylvania State Education Association paid for using its members’ dues money—without their permission or knowledge. The state’s largest teachers…
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Read More: Union Dues Pay for PSEA Politics (Again)Public Union Democracy
Get rich quick! Start your own union
Do I have a deal for you! For a small annual fee of $669, you can join a political organization I’m starting called the MEA—Matt’s Education Association.
Commentary
Read More: Get rich quick! Start your own unionPublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Pay for PSEA Politics
“If you DON’T care about funds for your school…then by all means throw this away,” reads a June 2011 insert in PSEA Voice, the magazine of the 185,000-strong Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Pay for PSEA PoliticsEducation
Union Dues Backing Political Groups Prompted My Resignation
This perspective on union spending by Pennsylvania public school teacher John Cress originally appeared at Free to Teach, a project of the Commonwealth Foundation. I have been a middle school…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Backing Political Groups Prompted My ResignationGovernment Accountability
Obama Supporter Soured by Obamacare Ordeal
Lynn Larrick doesn't fit the usual profile of someone angry with President Obama. She's a staunch Democrat, a retired Philadelphia teacher, and a union member. But when she—like more than…
Commentary
Read More: Obama Supporter Soured by Obamacare OrdealPublic Union Democracy
How Taxpayers Subsidize Union Politics
Last year, Pennsylvania’s main government unions spent nearly $5 million of their members’ union dues on political activities that workers don’t get to approve. In 2011-12, these unions also…
Media
Read More: How Taxpayers Subsidize Union PoliticsEducation
Teacher: Forced Union Dues a “Kick in the Teeth”
This perspective on union spending by Pennsylvania public school teacher Rob Brough originally appeared at Free to Teach, a project of the Commonwealth Foundation. I left my teachers union…
Media
Read More: Teacher: Forced Union Dues a “Kick in the Teeth”Government Accountability
Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCord
State Treasurer Rob McCord received endorsements for governor last week from two government unions—UFCW 1776 and AFSCME. That means big money from union PACs to his campaign. The…
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Read More: Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCordPublic Union Democracy
Video: The Unintended Consequences of Labor Policy
Did you know that raising the minimum wage harms the low-skilled workers the policy is meant to help? Or that prevailing wage laws artificially increase the cost of public works…
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Read More: Video: The Unintended Consequences of Labor PolicyEducation
Dues Deduction For Public Sector Unions Is An Offense To Taxpayers
It was the last straw for teacher Steve Calabro. When the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) ran advertisements claiming any teacher who didn’t contribute to the union PAC was part…
Commentary
Read More: Dues Deduction For Public Sector Unions Is An Offense To TaxpayersEducation
Podcast: Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 2
Julie Raab and Keith Williams are speaking out about how union influence affects their teaching jobs. They, and many teachers across the state, are fed up with Pennsylvania’s unfair…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 2Education
Voters Support Education Reform
Pennsylvania parents and voters want education reform. A new poll from StudentsFirst shows that Pennsylvania families strongly support educational reforms, including incentives for high performing teachers (74 percent support),…
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Time to End Union Violence
Did you know that it’s illegal to stalk, harass, or threaten to use violence (and yes, weapons of mass destruction) in Pennsylvania…except if you’re a labor union (or management) in…
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Read More: Time to End Union ViolencePublic Union Democracy
Unions Fight to Block $40 Million in Taxpayer Savings
Pennsylvania legislative leaders continue discussions over increasing transportation funding. In return for higher spending, some negotiators are seeking modest, common sense reforms to the prevailing wage law. These reforms would…
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Read More: Unions Fight to Block $40 Million in Taxpayer SavingsPublic Union Democracy
Mail Bag: Union Political Spending
Several readers, in response to Nate’s op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote us claiming “Union dues can’t fund politics.” But that’s just not true. How do we know this?…
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Podcast: Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 1
Julie Raab and Keith Williams are speaking out about how union influence affects their teaching jobs. They, and many teachers across the state, are fed up with Pennsylvania's unfair…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 1Public Union Democracy
Let Commonsense Prevail
An archaic Pennsylvania law may be stretching your school district’s budget or preventing a construction project in your area from getting off the ground. The law in question is the…
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Read More: Let Commonsense PrevailEducation
Unions’ Taxpayer-Subsidized Politics
How would you feel if you were forced to pay for a political cause that worked against your own beliefs and values? Outraged? Victimized? Just plain angry? Many Pennsylvania teachers,…
Commentary
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