Public Union Democracy
Shapiro’s Project Labor Agreement Mandate
Summary Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are pre-hire agreements between the government and a contractor that outline the terms and conditions for a certain project. Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote to state…
Read More: Shapiro’s Project Labor Agreement MandateCompulsory public unions threaten individual worker rights and cost taxpayers billions. Reforms to the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act are needed to restore and protect workers’ rights. No one—including government employees—should be blocked from leaving a union. To increase government integrity and accountability, policies should be adopted that ensure all special interests groups, including government unions, interact with the state government on a level playing field.
Education
Understanding Your School District?s Labor Contract
CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between…
Media
Read More: Understanding Your School District?s Labor ContractGovernment Accountability
School District Labor Contracts: Surprising Provisions
More than 1.7 million students rely on Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts to meet their diverse educational needs. School boards from each district agree to collective bargaining agreements (labor contracts) with local teachers’…
Memo
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Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights Forced Unionism, Ghost Teachers Among Ways Contracts Exploit Teachers August 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As students across Pennsylvania head back to…
Press Release
Read More: Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful
Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful Just 25% of Current or Former Union Members Say Union Leaders Represent Workers Well August 11, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Out of…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too PowerfulPublic Union Democracy
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City Philadelphians Suffering, Fleeing Due to Policies that Hurt Economic Growth July 21, 2016, Philadelphia, Pa.—As all…
Press Release
Read More: DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host CityEducation
PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension Credit
In a victory for taxpayers, the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) has revoked pension credit illegally given to Allentown “ghost teachers” who were hired to teach but instead…
Media
Read More: PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension CreditPublic Union Democracy
Union Demands vs. Fiscal Realities
One government union’s insatiable appetite for more tax dollars has hit a brick wall. The Wolf Administration is in the process of negotiating a contract with the state’s largest…
Media
Read More: Union Demands vs. Fiscal RealitiesPublic Union Democracy
Our Collision Course with Pa.’s Pension Iceberg
As Pennsylvania continues approaching the public pension iceberg at full speed, how can we avoid a collision? Simply put, through reforms that mirror steps taken by the private sector years…
Commentary
Read More: Our Collision Course with Pa.’s Pension IcebergPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension Reform
Pennsylvania's pension problem is nothing new. Over the years, lawmakers have tried to salvage the fundamentally broken system instead of creating a system that works. The latest attempt, SB…
Media
Read More: PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension ReformEducation
Ghost Teachers Bill Advances in State House
Ghost Teachers Bill Advances in State House Legislation Strictly Limits Union Work on School Time June 6, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state House Education Committee advanced HB 2125,…
Press Release
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Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?
Are ghost teachers about to be put to rest? Ghost teachers in Pennsylvania would be strictly limited under legislation approved by the state House Education Committee today. HB 2125 restricts…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?Public Union Democracy
Pennsylvania’s Ghost Teachers
Collective bargaining agreements in many Pennsylvania school districts permit school employees to take a full-time leave of absence from the classroom to perform union work. While on leave doing union work,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Ghost TeachersPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania’s Pension Funds Still on a Collision Course
If Pennsylvania were a ship, say the Titanic, then the iceberg that ship is bearing down on is the commonwealth’s public pension funds. At a combined $63.2 billion in debt,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Funds Still on a Collision CourseEducation
Wolf Admin. Thanks Excellent Teachers, But Won’t Protect Them
The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released a video featuring Secretary Pedro Rivera congratulating students for completing a school year. He praises children for “show[ing] up each and every…
Media
Read More: Wolf Admin. Thanks Excellent Teachers, But Won’t Protect ThemEducation
Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval
Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval Governor Vetoes Protecting Excellent Teachers Act May 18, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today chose to side with teachers’ union leaders over…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union ApprovalEducation
Restoring Teachers’ Rights
Teacher Linda Misja is a religious objector to unionism, and as such, can donate the equivalent of her fair share fee–otherwise owed to the union–to charity. But four years ago,…
Media
Read More: Restoring Teachers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism Bill Would End Union Control over Employees’ Charitable Contributions May 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Most Pennsylvanians take for…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to UnionismEducation
Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to Wolf
In a crucial victory for both students and teachers, the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act passed the Senate this afternoon with a vote of 26 to 22. HB 805, championed…
Media
Read More: Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to WolfPublic Union Democracy
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion. In truth, SERS'…
Media
Read More: Pension Debt Grows by Another BillionGovernment Accountability
Historic Victory for Transparency
Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized. Matthew Brouillette, president and…
Media
Read More: Historic Victory for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Reform Shining Light on Collective Bargaining Costs April 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today signed…
Press Release
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