Public Union Democracy
National Unions are Bouncing Back—and Coming for State Legislatures
Harrisburg, Pa., September 7, 2026—The nation’s largest government unions are organizing new and unusual workplaces to overcome membership losses since the landmark Janus v. AFSCME case, according to the fifth edition of The Battle for Worker…
Press Release
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The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
Key Findings Union executives are prioritizing recruitment. The fastest-growing category of public sector labor legislation expands collective bargaining into new workplaces. On the strength of these new laws, union executives…
Report
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsHealth Care
Welfare Reform That Works: Reducing Waste, Fraud, and Dependency
Summary Pennsylvania’s labor force is expanding, Medicaid enrollment is returning to pre-pandemic levels, and fewer Pennsylvanians depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Administering Medicaid work requirements without abusing…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Welfare Reform That Works: Reducing Waste, Fraud, and DependencyPublic Union Democracy
Sorry, Union Execs—Americans Are Just Not That into You
Americans claim to love labor unions. But this affection is not unlike their love for other people’s kids: more hypothetical than real. A new survey performed by Gallup suggests support…
Blog
Read More: Sorry, Union Execs—Americans Are Just Not That into YouState Budget
Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State Budget
Key Points A responsible budget in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 must grapple with Pennsylvania’s aging and shrinking workforce challenges through sound tax and regulatory reform. State Senate Republicans proposed two…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State BudgetPublic Union Democracy
State of the Unions: Examining Union Membership in State Government
Key Findings Public sector labor unions in 33 states represent state government employees, a segment of overall public sector employment, for purposes of collective bargaining. For this research, 27 of…
Executive Summary
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2023 PSSA Scores Highlight the Need for Educational Opportunity
Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores from spring 2023. Test results show that fourth- and eighth-grade students struggle to…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2023 PSSA Scores Highlight the Need for Educational OpportunityPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Contracts Increase Again
Summary Pennsylvania elected officials routinely and secretly negotiate billion-dollar labor contracts with government union leaders from whom they often receive political donations. These labor contracts are a major cost of…
Fact Sheet
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Lifeline (PASS) Scholarship Program
Overview Lifeline Scholarships, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program, would offer an Education Opportunity Account (EOA) to any student residing in a school ranked in…
Fact Sheet
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