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
Budget Opens Door for Prevailing Wage Reform
Before taxpayers are asked to give more for Pennsylvania’s transportation needs, are current transportation tax dollars being spent wisely? That’s the question several lawmakers are asking, as time winds down…
Media
Read More: Budget Opens Door for Prevailing Wage ReformPublic Union Democracy
Nation Laughs at Pennsylvania
The state government liquor store union is once again running ads showing a young girl at a funeral mourning a parent killed by a drunk driver, then claiming this will…
Media
Read More: Nation Laughs at PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?Public Union Democracy
Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?Public Union Democracy
Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…
Media
Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?Public Union Democracy
Of Unions and “Limited Resources”
After a lament in the American Prospect about how the Left is being outmatched and left behind in state-based advocacy, now The Nation has chimed in with its…
Media
Read More: Of Unions and “Limited Resources”Public Union Democracy
Union Poured Member Dues into Defeating Liquor Privatization
They’re a familiar sight in the state Capitol, wearing mustard-colored T-shirts emblazoned with their union’s logo. Now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported on how United Food and Commercial Workers…
Media
Read More: Union Poured Member Dues into Defeating Liquor PrivatizationPublic Union Democracy
Temper Tantrums Taint Liquor Debate
My four-year old niece likes to get her own way. When things going south—she has to take a nap, or worse, Dora the Explorer is over—no matter how much you…
Media
Read More: Temper Tantrums Taint Liquor DebatePublic Union Democracy
PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business Leaders
Media
Read More: PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business LeadersPublic Union Democracy
Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!
What does a Middle Eastern battlefield from biblical times have to do with where you buy your booze? Actually, quite a lot. At the Commonwealth Foundation, we call the government…
Media
Read More: Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!Public Union Democracy
Unsinkable: The True Story of Pennsylvania’s Sinking Pension System
The politics of pensions encourage lawmakers to "grant lavish benefts in good yearsand [decide] not to pay in bad years - precisely what created the current crisis."…
Poll
Read More: Unsinkable: The True Story of Pennsylvania’s Sinking Pension SystemEducation
New Bills Constitute Attack on Cyber Schools
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and a trio of legislators today unveiled a package of bills aimed at reducing cyber school growth and limiting the popular schools’…
Media
Read More: New Bills Constitute Attack on Cyber SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
Union Politics Hinder Prosperity
Businessman Jerry Shenk argues in today’s Harrisburg Patriot-News that tough economic realities forced lawmakers to reexamine union privileges in their traditional strongholds of Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana—and that Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Union Politics Hinder ProsperityPublic Union Democracy
Lottery Agreement Better Than Union Guesstimate
AFSCME’s counter proposal to the Pennsylvania Lottery private management agreement (PMA) provides no guaranteed revenue for senior services, no new jobs and no protections for taxpayers if profits fall…
Media
Read More: Lottery Agreement Better Than Union GuesstimatePublic Union Democracy
Union Attacks Won’t Improve Lottery
AFSCME Council 13, the union representing state lottery employees, released its “Alternatives” to a lottery private management agreement. However, their document doesn’t represent a serious counter-proposal that would…
Media
Read More: Union Attacks Won’t Improve LotteryPublic Union Democracy
Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery Cliff
From the greatest generation to the latest generation, our senior citizens have sacrificed to make Pennsylvania safe and prosperous. Our seniors deserve world-class care and assurance that their growing needs…
Memo
Read More: Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery CliffPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors
Here’s a letter to the editor I wrote identifying the connections between special interest groups who oppose a lottery contract, and their motives for undermining a deal that would generate…
Media
Read More: Government Union Cronies Collude Against SeniorsPublic Union Democracy
Private Lottery Management FAQ
To protect seniors from future service cuts, the Corbett administration is seeking a private management agreement (PMA) to ensure Lottery profits will meet seniors' needs. Lottery services company Camelot submitted…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Private Lottery Management FAQPublic Union Democracy
The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas
A faux-grassroots group funded by government unions is protesting a proposed contract for a private company to manage the Pennsylvania Lottery. The deal would guarantee a minimum of…
Media
Read More: The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ ChristmasPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Tighten Squeeze
Following the passage of Right to Work in Michigan, pundits are wondering about the prospects of similar reform here in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer correctly notes Right…
Media
Read More: Government Unions Tighten SqueezePublic Union Democracy
Are You a Freeloader?
Yesterday, Jon Delano of KDKA Pittsburgh asked the question: Could Pennsylvania be next for right-to-work legislation? As you know from the lessons learned from Michigan’s recent passage…
Media
Read More: Are You a Freeloader?