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.
Fairness
PA Is the Epicenter of Democrats’ Political Spending
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro’s overflowing campaign coffers underscore the importance of Pennsylvania to national politics—and the influence of government unions in elections. With four…
Media Hit
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Public-Sector Unions Struggle to Maintain Influence, Membership
Originally published at Newsweek Some observers argue the labor movement in America is “having a moment,” but for the four largest public-sector workers’ unions—AFSCME, SEIU, NEA, and AFT—the “moment” is…
Media Hit
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Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Introduction According to campaign finance reports and union financial disclosure statements, Pennsylvania government unions have spent $169 million on politics since 2007, making government unions a top special interest in…
Fact Sheet
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Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis of Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Election Cycle
October 10, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation today released an analysis of government union political spending during the 2021–22 Pennsylvania election cycle. The report finds that government…
Press Release
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Government unions have too much power
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette No one dominates political contributions like government unions. They spend millions on elections to buy their out-sized influence on officials and public policy. …
Media Hit
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Unions should not trample the rights of government workers
Originally published in The Patriot-News Four years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that no government worker could be forced to pay into a union they…
Media Hit
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Government Union Membership Plummets Post Janus
September 28, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. – The nation’s four largest government unions lost almost 219,000 members combined after the U.S. Supreme Court ended forced unionism for government workers in Janus…
Press Release
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The Battle for Worker Freedom in the States: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
KEY POINTS In the four years following the Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the nation’s four largest government unions—AFSCME, SEIU, NEA, and AFT—have lost almost 219,000 union…
Report
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Government unions are outsized bullies holding workers, taxpayers hostage
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review As we enter election season, it’s time we address the elephant in the room. It’s an elephant with an outsized influence on Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
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New Numbers on Political Spending by Government Union Executives
Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker—their contributions and achievements that make this country great. Unfortunately, many American workers are sidelined—even bullied—by organizations that are meant to represent…
Memo
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Pennsylvania Teachers’ Unions Get Schooled in the First Amendment
Originally published at National Review In a landmark First Amendment ruling delivered in 2018, the Supreme Court held in Janus v. AFSCME that public-sector unions could not…
Media Hit
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Wisconsin’s union law worked. Now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn.
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Talk about unions is heating up. Just look at Amazon and Starbucks. Bernie Sanders says that Democrats need to encourage…
Media Hit
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How Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Stalls Education Reform Favored by Taxpayers
Originally published at the Delaware Valley Journal Taxpayer-funded public school lobbyists who favor increased funding at taxpayer expense typically oppose legislation that would expand educational opportunities for the children…
Media Hit
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Study: Labor reforms save taxpayers billions and spark economic growth
Feb. 24, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — A new Commonwealth Foundation report examines the impact Wisconsin’s Act 10 has had on balancing budgets, stimulating the economy, and enacting school choice legislation.
Press Release
Read More: Study: Labor reforms save taxpayers billions and spark economic growthFairness
Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union Reform
Key Findings Government unions have enormous political power in Pennsylvania, due to a host of special legal privileges granted in state law.Government union executives use this power to trap government…
Report
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Reforms would reduce corruption and restore workers’ rights
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review In Harrisburg, lawmakers are building momentum for a series of reforms that will empower public sector workers and defend taxpayers. The House Labor…
Media Hit
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Op-Ed: Paycheck protection needed to prevent government payroll from funding partisan political activism
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Under Pennsylvania law, government agencies are permitted to use taxpayer resources to collect and distribute political campaign money on behalf of public employee unions.
Media Hit
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Op-Ed: Free Speech Suit against Teacher’s Union Could Boost Labor Reform
Originally printed in the Delaware Valley Journal A Pennsylvania court may strike down a labor law that is clearly unconstitutional, but elected officials shouldn’t wait on the legal system to…
Media Hit
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Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer Resources
January 25, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Four bills approved by the House Labor and Industry Committee Tuesday could soon bring several key public-sector labor reforms to a House vote. Lawmakers…
Press Release
Read More: Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer ResourcesPublic Union Democracy
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Unions Ignore SCOTUS Ruling, Keep Forcing Teachers To Pay Dues
Until recently, those rights had been subjugated to the commonwealth’s labor laws, which allow unions to charge nonmembers “fair share fees” as a condition of their employment.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Unions Ignore SCOTUS Ruling, Keep Forcing Teachers To Pay DuesEducation
Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ Criticism
The education bill is moving forward in Pennsylvania as a recent poll from Real Clear Opinion Research found that a strong majority of independents, Democrats, and Republicans say they support…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ Criticism