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Public Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of EducationCompulsory 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
‘Stuck in My Union’
Shalea Oliver is suing her union, because "No Pennsylvanian should have his or her rights ignored."…
Commentary
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Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government Unions
As a former public school teacher, I can tell you: plenty of false messages circulate about union membership. Is union membership required? Why do government employees belong to unions and…
Media
Read More: Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification Act
The Employee Rights Notification Act (HB 785) is exactly what its name suggests: notifying employees of their existing rights. So what are these rights, and why must workers be…
Media
Read More: The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification ActPublic Union Democracy
For Union Members, Knowledge is Power
Francisco Molina is standing up for himself and other public workers because he believes everyone deserves the opportunity to know and act on their rights. That’s the kind of bedrock…
Commentary
Read More: For Union Members, Knowledge is PowerPublic Union Democracy
PSEA Flouts SCOTUS Ruling, Bargains for Unconstitutional ‘Fair Share’ Fees in Teacher Contracts
In open disregard for the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) is bargaining to impose “fair share” fees on non-union member teachers in…
Press Release
Read More: PSEA Flouts SCOTUS Ruling, Bargains for Unconstitutional ‘Fair Share’ Fees in Teacher ContractsPublic Union Democracy
Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling Up
Curtis Thompson loves his school, his district, and helping students succeed. He considers his job as an education aide for at-risk students in the Cumberland Valley School District “an opportunity to…
Media
Read More: Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling UpPublic Union Democracy
Restoring Government Workers’ Resignation Rights
Pennsylvania government workers are no longer forced to pay union fees to keep their jobs—but government and union leaders are imposing roadblocks to exercising their rights. Here's how legislators can help.
Memo
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HB 785: Transparency or Deception
Yesterday, the House Labor Committee voted to advance HB 785, the Employee Rights Notification Act. Unfortunately, this innocuous proposal became a partisan issue, with the vote falling along party lines.
Media
Read More: HB 785: Transparency or DeceptionPublic Union Democracy
Employee Rights Notification Bill Passes House Committee
Today, the House Labor and Industry Committee passed the employee rights notification bill, HB 785. Sponsored by Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), this legislation ensures public employees can make informed…
Media
Read More: Employee Rights Notification Bill Passes House CommitteePublic Union Democracy
Union Leader Lies Prove Need for Notification
“It is a condition of employment with this company that you become a member in good standing with Local 1776.” That’s UFCW president Wendell Young, IV, writing to John Kabler…
Media
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UFCW Lies, Forcing Workers to Join
“I absolutely love my job, I love the people I work with, I love the customers. Everything about it is magnificent, except one thing.” That one…
Media
Read More: UFCW Lies, Forcing Workers to JoinPublic Union Democracy
Unions Renew Attack on Election Privacy
The principle of secret ballot elections has existed since the second century B.C. in ancient Rome. Now, over two thousand years later, union special interests want to strip government workers…
Media
Read More: Unions Renew Attack on Election PrivacyPublic Union Democracy
Do Union Members Sign in Blood?
Flagrantly violating a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Pennsylvania government union leaders are rejecting many workers’ efforts to resign from their unions. While they’re keeping workers trapped, union officials continue siphoning…
Media
Read More: Do Union Members Sign in Blood?Public Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Agree: Workers Should Know their Choices
We recently highlighted our concerns that, in the name of “neutrality,” Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) Chairman Tim Holden rejected a proposal to inform state liquor store workers of…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Agree: Workers Should Know their ChoicesPublic Union Democracy
Despite Obstacles to Resignation, Union Rolls Decline
Imagine having to pay a middleman just to keep your job. More than 5 million government workers in America had to do just that—until last June, when the Supreme Court…
Media
Read More: Despite Obstacles to Resignation, Union Rolls DeclinePublic Union Democracy
Government Union 2018 Election Spending
Pennsylvania’s top government union political action committees spent over $12 million during the 2017-18 election cycle, making it the most expensive election cycle in the past ten years.
Fact Sheet
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A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and Won
Cheryl Spano Lonis is a hard-working nurse from Hartford, Connecticut, who was trapped in her union for three years. The New England Health Care Employees Union disregarded her multiple…
Media
Read More: A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and WonPublic Union Democracy
Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their Rights
Until recently, public sector employees (such as state and local government workers, teachers, and public safety officers) could be forced to pay hundreds of dollars in “fair share fees” to…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their RightsPublic Union Democracy
Why There’s “Money in Politics”
The recent public corruption indictment of John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, leader of the IBEW 98 labor union, Philadelphia City Council member Bobby Henon, and a slew of other IBEW leaders shows…
Media
Read More: Why There’s “Money in Politics”Public Union Democracy
PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark
Less than one year ago, the Supreme Court declared that public sector workers’ constitutional rights to free speech and association came before government unions’ desire to collect fees from those…
Media
Read More: PLCB Keeps Employees in the DarkPublic Union Democracy
Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign
No organization should be able to force workers to remain members. Sadly, that’s the reality for thousands of Pennsylvania public sector workers. While the Supreme Court decision in Janus v.
Media
Read More: Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign