Pennsylvania 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.

Public Union Democracy

A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and Won

  • February 11, 2019

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 Won

Public Union Democracy

Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • February 8, 2019

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 Rights

Public Union Democracy

Why There’s “Money in Politics”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2019

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

  • February 1, 2019

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 Dark

Public Union Democracy

Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 25, 2019

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

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…

Media

Read More: Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIU

Government Accountability

How Restoring Workers’ Rights Brings Fairness to All Pennsylvanians

  • January 4, 2019

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 Pennsylvanians

Public Union Democracy

Three Ways Lawmakers are Expanding Worker Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 13, 2018

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 Rights

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…

Media

Read More: Union Leaders: Resignation Denied

Government Accountability

Union Leaders Lied, Now Members Sue

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 10, 2018

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 Sue

Education

Teacher shortage? Try competition.

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • November 25, 2018

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

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 20, 2018

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 Transparent

Public Union Democracy

A Voice for Workers or Political Puppet Master?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 5, 2018

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

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 31, 2018

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 Problem

Public Union Democracy

New Lawsuit Challenges Union Resignation Restrictions

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 24, 2018

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 Restrictions

Public Union Democracy

Labor Unrest…From Union Employees

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 19, 2018

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 Employees

Public Union Democracy

Crucial Janus Legislation Deferred

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 12, 2018

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 Deferred

Public Union Democracy

Top 10 Recipients of Government Union PAC Contributions

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 9, 2018

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

Read More: Top 10 Recipients of Government Union PAC Contributions

Public Union Democracy

Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • October 9, 2018

HB 2571 is a commonsense reform that benefits public sector workers and aligns Pennsylvania law with the U.S. Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME decision. Here are five reasons it must…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571

Education

Unions and their Impact on Teachers

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • October 5, 2018

Conventional wisdom tells us unions are good for teachers. But is this true? While teachers’ unions have certainly benefited union leadership, rank and file teachers should carefully evaluate the…

Media

Read More: Unions and their Impact on Teachers