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.

Education

Government Unions Threaten to Eclipse School Choice

  • Kevin Mooney
  • February 25, 2020

Governor Tom Wolf and other elected officials are pulling in millions of dollars from government unions that oppose school choice and exert considerable influence at the expense of education reform. …

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Union Dues Fuel Political Activism, Records Show

  • Kevin Mooney
  • February 18, 2020

Considering government unions draw heavily from their dues to fund political activism, public school teachers who prefer not to fund this political activism of their state and national unions should…

Commentary

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Criminal Justice Reform

CF’s 2020 Vision

  • January 1, 2020

The Commonwealth Foundation’s mission sounds pretty simple: transform free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish. Accomplishing that mission—with a divided government, powerful special interests, and a diverse…

Media

Read More: CF’s 2020 Vision

Education

Pension Pacman Must Be Stopped

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • December 31, 2019

Next fiscal year Pennsylvania school districts will pay $4.9 billion into PSERS, the state teachers’ pension fund.1 Less than one quarter of that amount will fund new benefits earned by…

Media

Read More: Pension Pacman Must Be Stopped

Education

Parents Protest Politicians’ Education Hypocrisy

  • Marc LeBlond
  • December 9, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is the latest in a long line of politicians to take advantage of school choice for their own kids—Sen. Warren sent her son to private schools…

Media

Read More: Parents Protest Politicians’ Education Hypocrisy

Education

Former PSEA Director Says Union Flip-Flopped on Charters

  • Marc LeBlond
  • October 29, 2019

“When I was at PSEA we embraced charter schools.” Those are surprising words from former PSEA Executive Director Carolyn Dumaresq. And they carry even more weight, given she was…

Media

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Education

Union Donations to Gov. Wolf Drown Out School Choice

  • Kevin Mooney
  • October 23, 2019

Charter schools remain in the crosshairs of the teachers’ unions and their government allies.  That much is made evident in the proposals, resolutions and other public statements the National Education…

Media

Read More: Union Donations to Gov. Wolf Drown Out School Choice

Government Accountability

The Cost of Secretly-Negotiated Government Union Contracts

  • October 14, 2019

Are Pennsylvanians a bottomless pit of cash? Government union leaders and Governor Wolf seem to think so. The two “re-negotiate” new labor contracts behind closed doors, and each time…

Media

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Education

How to Fix the Teacher Shortage in Pa.

  • October 10, 2019

This year Gov. Wolf proposed raising the minimum salary of teachers to attract and mintain the best talent. There's a better way to attract the best…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Contracts Bow to Worker Pressure

  • Kevin Mooney
  • October 8, 2019

Public employee unions, which spend dues and fees on political activity that frequently conflict with the views of their rank-and-file members, are finally showing signs of yielding to legislative and…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Unconstitutional Union Fees that Won’t Go Away?

  • October 7, 2019

The 2018 Supreme Court Janus v. AFSCME decision was a fantastic victory for American workers, striking down the ability of public-sector unions to charge nonunion public-sector employees “fair share”…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Why Can’t Workers Leave Their Unions?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 11, 2019

We recently released a 50-state report analyzing labor issue trends and grading states by their labor laws. So where does Pennsylvania fall in this ranking? A disappointing D.

Media

Read More: Why Can’t Workers Leave Their Unions?

Government Accountability

Worker Freedom in the States

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 30, 2019

Unprecedented labor issue activity has followed the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME ruling. Read our summary here.

Fact Sheet

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Education

Teachers Unions are Out of Touch on School Choice

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • August 29, 2019

A recently released poll by Education Next finds widespread—and growing—support for school choice in America. Moreover, this support crosses racial and party lines. Pennsylvania’s two types of school choice—charter…

Media

Read More: Teachers Unions are Out of Touch on School Choice

Government Accountability

The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 28, 2019

In the Janus aftermath, pro-union forces make legislative headway counteracting the court decision, while workers push back in the courts. This report details the trends, and grades each state according to…

Report

Read More: The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws

Government Accountability

Pa. State Union Contracts Cost Taxpayers an Additional $1 Billion

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 13, 2019

How much is the cost of doing business with Pennsylvania state government unions? For the most recent round of contract negotiations, an additional $1.15 billion over the next four years.

Media

Read More: Pa. State Union Contracts Cost Taxpayers an Additional $1 Billion

Education

Statement: Gov. Wolf’s Charter Accountability Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2019

Today, Governor Tom Wolf will unveil his plans to alter accountability mechanisms for Pennsylvania's charter schools. However, Gov. Wolf's strategy is not as much about accountability as it is his administration's attempt…

Press Release

Read More: Statement: Gov. Wolf’s Charter Accountability Plan

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions One Year after Janus v. AFSCME

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 2, 2019

One year after Janus unions lost significant fee-based revenue, fee-payers largely remain non-union, and existing members—frequently unaware of the ruling or restricted from resigning—often maintain membership…

Memo

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