Public Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election CyclePennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.
Related Issues
Public Union Democracy
Unions’ Investment Pays Off, Court OKs Wolf’s Home Care Unionization Scheme
Today, the state Supreme Court reinstated Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015 executive order allowing more than 20,000 home care workers to be unionized. Wolf’s order was previously declared illegal and permanently…
Press Release
Read More: Unions’ Investment Pays Off, Court OKs Wolf’s Home Care Unionization SchemePublic Union Democracy
Advancing Workplace Freedom For Public Employees
Efforts to enhance public sector workplace democracy has gained momentum in the Pennsylvania legislature. In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court restored workers’ freedom to stop paying fees to unions they…
Media
Read More: Advancing Workplace Freedom For Public EmployeesPublic Union Democracy
Union Resignation Guide
Are you dissatisfied with your union representation? If so, you have the power to resign your membership without paying an agency fee. Here are pointers to guide you through the process.
Commentary
Read More: Union Resignation GuideGovernment Accountability
Does Power Corrupt? Absolutely.
Pennsylvania’s prohibition error(!) liquor system lends itself to corruption. The sentencing of former Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) official James Short serves as a stark reminder of this undeniable fact.
Media
Read More: Does Power Corrupt? Absolutely.Public Union Democracy
Restoring Public Sector Workers’ Resignation Rights
Many public sector employees remain unaware of their new-found rights to not pay fair share fees, while also facing onerous resignation restrictions. Luckily, lawmakers are working to promote workers' Janus…
Memo
Read More: Restoring Public Sector Workers’ Resignation RightsPublic Union Democracy
Restoring Worker Voting Rights
Most Pa. public sector employees have never voted for their union. They deserve to gain the right to regularly vote for their workplace representation.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Restoring Worker Voting RightsCriminal Justice Reform
Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf
In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…
Memo
Read More: Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. WolfPublic Union Democracy
Resigning from a Government Union is No Easy Task
Want to join a union? Easy, just sign on the dotted line. Want to leave a union? Sharpen your research skills, because it's no easy task. This fact was made…
Media
Read More: Resigning from a Government Union is No Easy TaskGovernment Accountability
State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in Earmarks
July 24, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Nearly 50 obscurely-worded earmarks are buried in Pennsylvania’s fiscal code—amounting to $35 million in hidden expenses—according to a Commonwealth Foundation analysis. Click here for a searchable…
Press Release
Read More: State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in EarmarksPublic Union Democracy
Government Workers’ Rights Restored
In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court righted a decades-old wrong, striking down a coercive system and clearing a pathway for 330,000 Pennsylvania government workers to regain their long-denied First…
Commentary
Read More: Government Workers’ Rights RestoredPublic Union Democracy
More States Reject Prevailing Wage Mandates
Last month, Michigan took a step forward and joined 24 other states that have no prevailing wage law. Could Pennsylvania be the next? For far too long, Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage…
Media
Read More: More States Reject Prevailing Wage MandatesEducation
Statement on 2018 AFT Convention
Commonwealth Foundation VP and COO Nathan Benefield issued the following statement regarding the American Federation of Teachers convention taking place in Pittsburgh this weekend. The convention’s keynote speakers on Friday,…
Press Release
Read More: Statement on 2018 AFT ConventionPublic Union Democracy
Protect the Right to a Union Secret Ballot Election
In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court stopped the unjust arrangement of forcing public sector workers to fund the political stances of a union they didn’t join. Instead of embracing…
Media
Read More: Protect the Right to a Union Secret Ballot ElectionGovernment Accountability
Should Taxpayers Underwrite Union Work?
Separating taxpayer resources from private or political purposes is a principle ingrained in our society. It's one of the many reasons Pennsylvania politicians have spent a significant amount of time…
Media
Read More: Should Taxpayers Underwrite Union Work?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Needs to Improve Healthcare Accessibility
Recent debates over health care reform in Washington have centered around reorganizing insurance markets, but improving America’s health care system requires a more comprehensive approach. And states can lead the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs to Improve Healthcare AccessibilityEducation
What does Janus mean for school choice?
On June 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. The 5-4 decision found that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their jobs—violates their…
Media
Read More: What does Janus mean for school choice?Public Union Democracy
Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ Rights
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld workers’ rights. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their…
Media
Read More: Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic Decision
June 27, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa. — For decades, government workers in Pennsylvania and other forced-union states have faced an unjust workplace ultimatum: Pay a union, or lose your job. But with today’s…
Press Release
Read More: SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic DecisionEducation
Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher Contracts
Union-negotiated collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) dictate the compensation packages and workplace conditions of over 100,000 teachers in Pennsylvania's 500 school districts—regardless of their union membership. As the “exclusive representative” of all teachers…
Media
Read More: Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher ContractsPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Efforts to Restrict Workers’ Rights
June will bring a U.S. Supreme Court decision potentially restoring First Amendment rights to millions of public sector workers. The response from government union leaders? Schemes to continue—and further restrict—public…
Media
Read More: Government Union Efforts to Restrict Workers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Primer
Paycheck protection ends the use of public resources to collect government unions’ political money. Under current law, state and local governments (including school districts) take both union…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paycheck Protection Primer