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.
Education
Saving Pennsylvania’s Best Teachers
This week, Commonwealth Foundation placed billboards in Philadelphia subway stations to highlight the problem of seniority rules in our public schools. Currently, Section 1125…
Media
Read More: Saving Pennsylvania’s Best TeachersGovernment Accountability
Yes, Union Dues Fund Politics
Pennsylvania law grants government unions special privileges available to no other private organizations in the state. Union dues and even Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions are automatically deducted from…
Media
Read More: Yes, Union Dues Fund PoliticsEducation
Pa. Teacher: Union Dues Deduction is “Wage Garnishment”
Did you know school districts and other government agencies collect unions’ dues and political action committee money from payroll, just like a tax? Teachers are speaking out about this…
Media
Read More: Pa. Teacher: Union Dues Deduction is “Wage Garnishment”Government Accountability
Government Unions’ Unfair Political Privilege
Taxpayer resources should not be used for any political purposes. Every citizen and every organization—including government unions—should have an equal opportunity to engage in policy debates through a level playing field for…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Unions’ Unfair Political PrivilegeEducation
Union Abuses Force Pennsylvania Teachers to Speak Out
Did you know teachers’ unions can force many teachers in Pennsylvania to pay dues or a “fair share fee” that’s taken directly out of teachers’ paychecks? What’s more, this withholding…
Media
Read More: Union Abuses Force Pennsylvania Teachers to Speak OutEducation
TODAY: Pennsylvania Teachers Protest Union Abuses
For Immediate Release The Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Union Abuses Force Pennsylvania Teachers to Speak Out Teacher unions get special treatment; force teachers and taxpayers to…
Press Release
Read More: TODAY: Pennsylvania Teachers Protest Union AbusesEducation
How Unions Use Students as Bargaining Chips
When government unions engage in labor disputes, they use their power and monopoly to remind the public of the value of their service. However, schoolchildren should never have to bear…
Commentary
Read More: How Unions Use Students as Bargaining ChipsEducation
Let Teachers Make Their Own Union Choices
Joe Connolly is a public high school guidance counselor in central Pennsylvania. His school district recently introduced “fair share fees” for non-union workers—meaning educators like Joe will now be forced…
Media
Read More: Let Teachers Make Their Own Union ChoicesPublic Union Democracy
Is Paying Only $2.50 for Health Care Unreasonable?
If you’ve been watching back-to-school news, you’ve probably heard that teachers unions in three Pennsylvania school districts—Shaler Area, Wyoming Area and Old Forge—have gone on strike. Like…
Media
Read More: Is Paying Only $2.50 for Health Care Unreasonable?Public Union Democracy
“Money in Politics” Fosters Big Government
You probably hear a lot about “money in politics,” but rarely do pundits correctly identify the largest source of special interest political spending. According to a new report, big labor…
Media
Read More: “Money in Politics” Fosters Big GovernmentHealth Care
Burdens of Obamacare – Commentary
Say you’re working your way through college, supplementing student loans with a part-time job managing inventory at Wegmans. You make a decent hourly wage, but your health insurance benefits are…
Commentary
Read More: Burdens of Obamacare – CommentaryEducation
Unions First, Teachers & Students Last
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) might take legal action against the School District of Philadelphia for … wait for it … hiring back teachers. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission…
Media
Read More: Unions First, Teachers & Students LastPublic Union Democracy
One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?
What do preschoolers with marshmallows and Pennsylvania’s pension crisis have in common? Both demonstrate a failure to delay gratification. Dr. Joseph Horton at Grove City College compares Pennsylvania’s pension…
Media
Read More: One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?Education
Five Facts on the Philadelphia Schools Crisis
Things have reached a fever pitch in Philadelphia as the city’s school district—the eighth-largest in America—is scrambling to close its $300 million deficit and open schools on time. As protestors…
Media
Read More: Five Facts on the Philadelphia Schools CrisisPublic Union Democracy
Who’s Strangling Whom?
Jodi Hirsh wants you to believe that a shadowy, deep-pocketed, Washington-based organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has a “stranglehold on our statehouse.” That’s the claim Ms. Hirsh,…
Media
Read More: Who’s Strangling Whom?Education
PSEA’s Political Cartoon Targets Corbett, Belittles Teachers
This perspective was written by Steve Calabro, a cyber charter school educator in Pennsylvania. This latest political email alert from the Pennsylvania State Education Association—using union dues, I might add—is…
Media
Read More: PSEA’s Political Cartoon Targets Corbett, Belittles TeachersPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Break Cities
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal illustrates how government union leaders halted any reforms that may have prevented Detroit’s bankruptcy: A major expense for Detroit is the…
Media
Read More: Government Unions Break CitiesPublic Union Democracy
Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms
Why haven’t liquor privatization and pension reform passed yet here in Pennsylvania? The reason is that the true divide in the General Assembly is not between the Republicans and Democrats,…
Commentary
Read More: Big Government Party Blocks Bold ReformsPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Torpedo Agenda
The state budget deadline came and went without passage of any of the “Big Three” policy items—liquor store privatization, pension reform, or transportation tax and fee increases. It was clear…
Media
Read More: Government Unions Torpedo AgendaPublic Union Democracy
Disappointing Budget Shows Need to Keep Fighting
This past weekend was not for the political faint of heart. Special interests, led by government union bosses and crony capitalists, prevented real liquor privatization and effective pension reform from…
Media
Read More: Disappointing Budget Shows Need to Keep FightingEducation
Happy National Employee Freedom Week, America
National Employee Freedom Week is about informing workers about their rights and empowering them to exercise their freedoms. Ultimately, there are ways for workers to leave the Hotel California. We…
Commentary
Read More: Happy National Employee Freedom Week, America