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.
Education
Top 5 Articles of 2013
Yesterday, we gave you the 5 most popular blog posts of 2013. Today, we are highlighting the 5 most read articles of 2013 on our website. 1) The (Growing)…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Articles of 2013Education
Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013
As 2013 winds to a close, we thought we’d run down the top stories of the past year. Here are Commonwealth Foundation’s top 5 blog posts, as chosen by you…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013Public Union Democracy
The Unemployed Need Opportunities, Not Handouts
Those suggesting the federal government continue its temporary extension of unemployment benefits point to our stagnant economy and high unemployment as justification. But, in truth, these results have been caused…
Commentary
Read More: The Unemployed Need Opportunities, Not HandoutsEducation
Outdated Seniority Rules Harm Pittsburgh Students
Yesterday, we reported that the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers is trying to lower evaluation standards for teachers it had previously helped craft. Under Pittsburgh’s new system, which goes into…
Media
Read More: Outdated Seniority Rules Harm Pittsburgh StudentsEducation
Teachers’ Union Wants Lower Teacher Standards
Four years ago, Pittsburgh School District, the second-largest in Pennsylvania, embarked on an innovative effort to evaluate teachers. Administrators and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) collaborated to create…
Media
Read More: Teachers’ Union Wants Lower Teacher StandardsPublic Union Democracy
PSEA Pours $3.8 Million Into Politics
In the last year, the Pennsylvania State Education Association poured $3.8 million of its members’ dues into “political activities and lobbying,” according to its 2013 financial disclosure report. That’s an…
Media
Read More: PSEA Pours $3.8 Million Into PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Union Gave $650,000 from Teachers’ Dues to Anti-Republican Group
Remember the shadowy group, Pennsylvanians for Accountability, which ran “shell game” prime time attack ads on Gov. Tom Corbett for “bankrolling big tax cuts for his corporate backers”? The…
Media
Read More: Union Gave $650,000 from Teachers’ Dues to Anti-Republican GroupPublic Union Democracy
Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save Pensions
“They are going to take away your pension!” is a common scare tactic used by Pennsylvania government union leaders to oppose pension reform (even though private school unions have…
Media
Read More: Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save PensionsPublic 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…
Media
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…
Media
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:…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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 Taxpayers