Public Union Democracy

Pa. Union Membership Declines Post-Janus

  • Jessica Barnett
  • July 24, 2019

In the year following Janus v. AFSCME, which stopped unions from charging nonmembers “fair share fees,” a central question emerged: how would this ruling impact total union membership? Official reports…

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Government Accountability

A Look Inside New Government Union Contracts

  • Jessica Barnett
  • July 10, 2019

Government union leaders recently reached multi-year contract agreement with the Wolf Administration, including 18% compensation increases over four years. Even though taxpayers foot the bill, they are still waiting to know…

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Government Accountability

Transparency Deferred During Union Contract Negotiations

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 3, 2019

Public dollars, secrecy, and politics should never mix. Yet, it’s a disturbingly common practice in Pennsylvania as public officials negotiate costly government employee contracts with their campaign donors—behind closed…

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Public Union Democracy

Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government Unions

  • April 15, 2019

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…

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Public Union Democracy

Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling Up

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 2, 2019

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…

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Public Union Democracy

Do Union Members Sign in Blood?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 6, 2019

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…

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Public Union Democracy

Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIU

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 8, 2019

Francisco Molina has a simple expectation of public sector unions: “They are supposed to help us, represent us, not hurt us.” After he got his dream job helping children at…

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Public Union Democracy

Union Leaders: Resignation Denied

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 11, 2018

William Neely is a psychiatric aide in Berks County and a 15-year union member. Mr. Neely felt his union leaders, AFSCME 13, no longer represented his interests, and attempted to resign…

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