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
Employee Free Choice Act: Still Not Free, Still No Choice
Democrats recently announced they will drop card check from their ironically titled “Employee Free Choice Actâ€?. Even after this compromise, the EFCA is still bad news for workers everywhere. Unfortunately,…
Media
Read More: Employee Free Choice Act: Still Not Free, Still No ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Coalition of Groups Call for Suspension of Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Law
The Commonwealth Foundation joined a coalition of organizations – including business groups, boroughs, and school boards – calling for reforming Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law. Specific proposals include: Sun setting or…
Media
Read More: Coalition of Groups Call for Suspension of Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage LawGovernment Accountability
10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax Hikes
Contrary to the Governor’s rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and spending cuts that can balance the budget without firing our police, evicting our elderly, or dumbing down our…
Media
Read More: 10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax HikesHealth Care
Democrats’ Health Care Plan: Tax the Middle Class, Loophole for Unions
We mentioned last week that a tax on employer-provided health care benefits would likely be part of ObamaCare. This despite the fact that Obama’s campaign criticized McCain for proposing…
Media
Read More: Democrats’ Health Care Plan: Tax the Middle Class, Loophole for UnionsPublic Union Democracy
State Agency Forces Private Sector to Pay Prevailing Wage
Due to a standing order by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), all public universities are required to pay prevailing wage rates on construction projects funded by…
Media
Read More: State Agency Forces Private Sector to Pay Prevailing WageEducation
Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees Online
Stop Teacher Strikes has posted the 2007-08 salary information (collected by Asbury Park Press) for 195,000 Pennsylvania teachers and school employees, searchable by name, district, or position…
Media
Read More: Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees OnlineEducation
Fact Check: The Costing-Out Study
Today the Governor wraps up his “Tax You More Tour” with Matt Brouillette following stride for stride. Meanwhile, we’re debunking another spending myth: The Costing-Out Study…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: The Costing-Out StudyPublic Union Democracy
Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
The Manufacturer & Business Association sent an action alert yesterday on Sen. Brubaker’s proposal to place a three-year moratorium on Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage requirement (SB 695). Click…
Media
Read More: Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawEducation
Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)
The Blackhawk Education Association sparked ligation costing taxpayers in the Blackhawk School District over $160,000. The district was paying tutors the rate of substitute teachers, but the union had…
Media
Read More: Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)Public Union Democracy
Keep Harley in PA – Pass Right to Work
Last week, Harley Davidson announced the possibility of relocating their York County manufacturing plant to a state with better long-term economic competitiveness. (Spokesman Bob Klein stated that all alternate…
Media
Read More: Keep Harley in PA – Pass Right to WorkPublic Union Democracy
McGovern on Card Check
Former Senator and Presidential nominee George McGovern – and though I hate the cheap labels used by the media, they would probably call him an “ultra-liberal” – writes in…
Media
Read More: McGovern on Card CheckPublic Union Democracy
Right-to-Work Works
Mark J. Perry queries, using the ALEC report Rich States, Poor States: “What feature do 15 out of the top 16 states for economic outlook have in…
Media
Read More: Right-to-Work WorksPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black Workers
Since construction began on the Philadelphia Convention Center, the city's black construction workers have protested, with good reason, the lack of opportunity for minority workers on public construction projects. Unwilling…
Commentary
Read More: Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black WorkersPublic Union Democracy
The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
Apparently my recent commentary on Philadelphia’s prevailing wages has stirred the city’s union waters, so I am posting the data analysis to support the article’s statement: The…
Media
Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and Misused
A federal court today issued an injunction against the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) in its effort to “debar” the firm Worth & Company from bidding on…
Media
Read More: PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and MisusedPublic Union Democracy
PA Businesses Feeling the Affects of Recession
According to the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. and it’s Keystone Business Climate Survey, 76% of respondents said business conditions in PA have deteriorated over the past…
Media
Read More: PA Businesses Feeling the Affects of RecessionEducation
Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers Money
Sen. Mike Brubaker this week introduced S.B. 695, proposing a three-year moratorium on the application of Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law to school construction projects. The Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers MoneyPublic Union Democracy
Rendell Colludes with Unions to Avoid Cutting Wasteful Spending
Trumpets blared last week as Governor Rendell announced an agreement with state employee unions to “save” $200 million by temporarily reducing payments by 20 percent to their benefit…
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Read More: Rendell Colludes with Unions to Avoid Cutting Wasteful SpendingPublic Union Democracy
What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?
The latest video from the Commonwealth Foundation:…
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Read More: What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?Public Union Democracy
Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” Blogger
In his blog today, John Micek makes a couple of jokes about “Joe the Plumber” – probably to avoid being called “Rat Rat Rat” by union bosses (who promise…
Media
Read More: Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” BloggerPublic Union Democracy
Union Intimidation in Action
Unions claim they won’t use intimidation as one of their tactics if the Employee Free Choice Act, a.k.a. “Card Check” is passed, eliminating the secret ballot in union elections. But…
Media
Read More: Union Intimidation in Action