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.
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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
Read More: Government Union 2018 Election SpendingPublic Union Democracy
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 ResignPublic Union Democracy
Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIU
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…
Media
Read More: Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIUGovernment Accountability
How Restoring Workers’ Rights Brings Fairness to All Pennsylvanians
For decades, public sector union leaders have used their unfair political advantages to block public policies that will help our state and citizens flourish. Restoring workers’ rights is critical for a fair…
Memo
Read More: How Restoring Workers’ Rights Brings Fairness to All PennsylvaniansPublic Union Democracy
Three Ways Lawmakers are Expanding Worker Rights
Over the last two years, Pennsylvania lawmakers have taken great effort to improve our state’s labor laws to protect workers’ basic rights. However, as brave public servants like Greg Hartnett, an…
Media
Read More: Three Ways Lawmakers are Expanding Worker RightsPublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders: Resignation Denied
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…
Media
Read More: Union Leaders: Resignation DeniedGovernment Accountability
Union Leaders Lied, Now Members Sue
Unions should represent employees, not work against their own members’ interests. Yet, that’s exactly what happened to public sector workers in Erie—and some are pushing back. During closed-door negotiation…
Media
Read More: Union Leaders Lied, Now Members SueEducation
Teacher shortage? Try competition.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to … tinker with markets. That isn’t the original ending to that sentence, but it is certainly accurate. There…
Media
Read More: Teacher shortage? Try competition.Government Accountability
It’s Apparent PA’s Not Transparent
Parties and perks on taxpayers' dime was the headline-grabbing news from Pennsylvania's Auditor General investigation of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC). His findings underscore the need for government transparency. The SRBC,…
Media
Read More: It’s Apparent PA’s Not TransparentPublic Union Democracy
A Voice for Workers or Political Puppet Master?
Once again, government unions are among the biggest political spenders in Pennsylvania. While we must wait weeks for a final tally of election spending, unions have already spent another $5…
Media
Read More: A Voice for Workers or Political Puppet Master?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania’s #1 Special Interest Problem
A solution that makes the problem worse is no solution at all. Yet, recent calls for campaign finance reform and a natural gas severance tax would do just that—selectively…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s #1 Special Interest ProblemPublic Union Democracy
New Lawsuit Challenges Union Resignation Restrictions
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court freed all public sector workers from paying agency fees to a union they didn’t join. Since then, many workers who are dissatisfied with…
Media
Read More: New Lawsuit Challenges Union Resignation RestrictionsPublic Union Democracy
Labor Unrest…From Union Employees
Imagine: you are a hard-working custodian who scrubs bathrooms and vacuums hallways for a company you’ve always respected. It’s an honest job, and when the company tells you it values…
Media
Read More: Labor Unrest…From Union EmployeesPublic Union Democracy
Crucial Janus Legislation Deferred
To enact important reforms before the end of legislative session, Pennsylvania lawmakers must run bills on a tight schedule. Unfortunately, on Wednesday House leadership removed a Janus enforcement bill (HB 2571) from consideration—meaning…
Media
Read More: Crucial Janus Legislation DeferredPublic Union Democracy
Top 10 Recipients of Government Union PAC Contributions
Government unions have spent more than $120 million since 2007 to advance their fiercely partisan and political agenda. As the graphic below shows, Democratic candidates receive the most direct PAC donations from…
Media
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