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.
Public Union Democracy
8 Labor Reforms to Protect Public Workers and Taxpayers
Pennsylvania's labor laws and practices heavily favor union executives at the expense of public employees and taxpayers. To level the playing field, state lawmakers should work to eliminate the host of…
Memo
Read More: 8 Labor Reforms to Protect Public Workers and TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government that Works” plan to reform contracting practices and increase transparency in government. Now, the state Legislature has given Wolf…
Media
Read More: Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s SignatureGovernment Accountability
Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’?
Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’? Government Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature April 6, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government…
Press Release
Read More: Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’?Government Accountability
Big Win for Transparency
One year ago, Governor Tom Wolf began negotiating contracts worth billions of dollars with state employee unions. Despite his rhetoric about improving government transparency, these negotiations took place behind closed doors.
Media
Read More: Big Win for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
House Passes Historic Government Union Contract Transparency
House Passes Historic Government Union Contract Transparency Would Lift Veil of Cost Secrecy from Government Union Deals March 21, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state House passed…
Press Release
Read More: House Passes Historic Government Union Contract TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I do
Note: Gov. Wolf's press conference referred to below was cancelled. Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I Do Gov. Calls for Openness, Negotiates $3.6…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I doEducation
No, We’re Not Underfunding Public Schools
My latest op-ed at PennLive debunks several school funding myths that continue to haunt Pennsylvania: While local school revenue is notably high (6th in the nation), state revenue…
Media
Read More: No, We’re Not Underfunding Public SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union Members
Pennsylvania's labor laws keep union members in the dark. Union members rarely have the opportunity to voice their opinion through elections or resign their membership. A lack of transparency makes…
Memo
Read More: How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union MembersEducation
Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions
Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown MillionsPublic Union Democracy
The Pretense of Democratic Unions
Control over the largest local teachers union in Pennsylvania is up for grabs. The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is challenging the leadership of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…
Media
Read More: The Pretense of Democratic UnionsEducation
Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in Philadelphia
It's no secret that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) plucks teachers out of the classroom to work as full-time union operatives. These individuals are known as ghost teachers—and their…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in PhiladelphiaEducation
State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps
Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…
Media
Read More: State Supremes Strike Down Charter CapsPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House 67 Percent of Likely Voters Want to End Gov. Union Political Privilege January 26, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Paycheck protection is one step closer…
Press Release
Read More: Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in HouseEducation
Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
In 2015, several states took action to improve the functionality of their public charter school laws. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania’s 130,000 charter students—as well as the thousands of students on currently…
Media
Read More: Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawPublic Union Democracy
Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues
Seeing a political attack ad on TV is nothing new. You probably roll your eyes and change the channel. But what if you learned you unwittingly helped put that ad…
Media
Read More: Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union DuesPublic Union Democracy
Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues
Million-Dollar Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues America Works USA’s Ads Make Case for Paycheck Protection January 21, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Seeing a political attack ad on…
Press Release
Read More: Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union DuesPublic Union Democracy
The Undemocratic Nature of Government Unions
The Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) entrenches compulsory unionism among public sector workers. It stacks the deck in favor of powerful union executives, limiting state workers and teachers…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Undemocratic Nature of Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Voting for Your Union
Imagine if a political party could stay in power for four decades without facing reelection. Thankfully, we have regular elections in this country. But for Pennsylvania teachers, this is reality.
Media
Read More: Voting for Your UnionPublic Union Democracy
Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect
Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect Less than 1 Percent of Teachers had Chance to Elect Their Union January 19, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—As the country prepares for a…
Press Release
Read More: Give Public Workers the Right to Re-electPublic Union Democracy
Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions
In the public’s eyes, labor unions have traditionally been the voice of working people. However, a closer look at how unions run their own…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Pay Up or Get Fired
Imagine being told you have a choice: Write a check for $450 to an organization you don’t support, or lose your job. For tens of thousands of teachers across Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Pay Up or Get Fired