Compulsory 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

Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 24, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPolicy More workers have gone on strike in the first nine months of 2023 than in all of 2022. Philadelphia alone saw strikes at Temple University, Rutgers University,…

Media Hit

Read More: Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety

Public Union Democracy

UAW Ain’t Nothin’ Compared to Public Sector Unions

  • David Osborne
  • October 14, 2023

Originally published at Townhall For the media and union executives, the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against automotive plants in Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan is the gift that keeps…

Media Hit

Read More: UAW Ain’t Nothin’ Compared to Public Sector Unions

Public Union Democracy

Commonwealth Foundation Supports Advancement of Senate Bill 399

  • September 19, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., September 19, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee advanced Senate Bill 399, a critical piece of legislation that brings urgently needed transparency to the…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Supports Advancement of Senate Bill 399

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Contracts Increase Again

  • August 22, 2023

Summary Pennsylvania elected officials routinely and secretly negotiate billion-dollar labor contracts with government union leaders from whom they often receive political donations. These labor contracts are a major cost of…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Government Union Contracts Increase Again

Public Union Democracy

PA Needs to Empower Workers—Not Union Executives

  • David Osborne
  • June 6, 2023

Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 950, which proposes a state constitutional amendment empowering public sector union executives. Unfortunately,…

Media Hit

Read More: PA Needs to Empower Workers—Not Union Executives

Public Union Democracy

Uprooting the Teachers Unions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 18, 2023

Originally published at The American Mind Across the country, teacher union leaders and leftist pundits frequently malign educational choice expansion as an insidious plot to “dismantle public education”…

Commentary

Read More: Uprooting the Teachers Unions

Public Union Democracy

Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadership

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • May 8, 2023

Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In a stunning admission of incompetence, Jerry Jordan, the boss of Pennsylvania’s largest teachers’ union, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, admitted he only…

Media Hit

Read More: Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadership

Public Union Democracy

These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania House

  • David Osborne
  • May 4, 2023

Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times Last November, Pennsylvania Democrats captured the state House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. Behind the flip was…

Media Hit

Read More: These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania House

Public Union Democracy

Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950

  • May 3, 2023

May 3, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 950, a constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right” to organize and collectively bargain…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950

Public Union Democracy

HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of Workers

  • May 1, 2023

Summary House Bill 950 proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution creating a “fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively” for both private and public sector employees.[1]The…

Fact Sheet

Read More: HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of Workers

Public Union Democracy

Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. House

  • May 1, 2023

May 1, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee today advances House Bill 950, a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right”…

Press Release

Read More: Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. House

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950

  • David Osborne
  • April 26, 2023

Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie: Good afternoon. Thanks to Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie for the invitation to testify on this resolution, and thanks to the rest of the committee for your…

Testimony

Read More: Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950

Public Union Democracy

Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 18, 2023

Originally published at The American Spectator There’s a war brewing in education — and it’s not just on parents. It’s on the teachers themselves — and the same unions…

Commentary

Read More: Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Shapiro should represent workers over powerful campaign donors

  • Andrew Holman
  • March 28, 2023

Originally published in The Mercury Gov. Josh Shapiro frequently touts his commitment to “real freedom.” But delivering that freedom to all Pennsylvanians depends on whether he chooses to side…

Media Hit

Read More: Gov. Shapiro should represent workers over powerful campaign donors

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle

  • Andrew Holman
  • March 21, 2023

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,…

Backgrounder

Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle

Fairness

Shapiro Should Follow Tennessee’s Lead on Dealing with Unions

  • David Osborne
  • November 29, 2022

Originally published in RealClearPennsylvania After contributing nearly $11 million to Governor-elect Josh Shapiro’s campaign, executives of Pennsylvania’s biggest labor union will surely expect a return on their investment. But…

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro Should Follow Tennessee’s Lead on Dealing with Unions

Fairness

Weingarten tour can’t rewrite years of learning losses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 4, 2022

Originally published at Broad + Liberty The American Federation of Teachers’ get-out-the-vote bus tour began its Pennsylvania leg in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The tour, designed to bolster left-wing candidates, comes…

Media Hit

Read More: Weingarten tour can’t rewrite years of learning losses