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

Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

  • March 7, 2006

The Hempfield Area School District is expecting nearly 90 employees (mostly teachers) to retire this year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This is a district where the average salary…

Media

Read More: Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

Public Union Democracy

Teachers set strike date

  • March 2, 2006

Penn-Trafford’s teachers may be on the picket line…again, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. More fodder for Simon Campbell’s www.StopTeacherStrikes.com.

Media

Read More: Teachers set strike date

Public Union Democracy

Union facts: The ugly truth

  • February 18, 2006

“The Leftist agenda, the racketeering, the fines, the convictions, the magnificent, unearned salaries for union bosses. It’s all here. “ Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial.

Media

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Education

How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2006

Article on USATODAY.com explores how health care and other benefits promised to public teachers’ unions will cost school districts a fortune over the coming years. Anyone who thinks…

Media

Read More: How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

Public Union Democracy

The New Union Label: Closed!

  • February 14, 2006

From the New York Times: The Center for Union Facts shot onto the public stage yesterday by running full-page ads in The New York Times, The Washington Post…

Media

Read More: The New Union Label: Closed!

Public Union Democracy

“Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protest

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2006

Teachers’ union rally to protest “20/20” piece (John Stossel’s “Stupid in America,” which details how unions have stood in way of school reform) will occur on March 8.

Media

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Education

The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jacking

  • January 29, 2006

More on the lobbyist/legislative operative who is now the highest paid state employee … in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

Read More: The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jacking

Public Union Democracy

Why Maryland is fighting windmills.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2006

A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…

Media

Read More: Why Maryland is fighting windmills.

Public Union Democracy

Union ousted

  • January 16, 2006

Montgomery County Court-related employees throw out AFSCME, reports The Times Herald.

Media

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Public Union Democracy

The best of the best, of course

  • January 8, 2006

The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Retirement System are the envy of the government worker world. They are the most generous systems in the entire country.

Media

Read More: The best of the best, of course

Education

Unions Win: Florida Supreme Court Rules Against School Choice

  • January 5, 2006

News release from the Institute for Justice…. Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down School Choice Washington, D.C.-In a major blow to education reform in Florida, the Florida Supreme Court today struck…

Media

Read More: Unions Win: Florida Supreme Court Rules Against School Choice

Education

Rocky Mountain High

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 5, 2006

Denver enacts the nation’s first merit pay system for teachers in a large district. See this National Center for Policy Analysis summary of Denver’s new system and other pay…

Media

Read More: Rocky Mountain High

Public Union Democracy

What’s “Education” got to do with it?

  • January 3, 2006

The Wall Street Journal highlights the political agenda (via its $65 MILLION in spending to support political causes) of the National Education Association. This would not be a problem…

Media

Read More: What’s “Education” got to do with it?

Public Union Democracy

Teachers challenging union dues in California

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 20, 2005

California teachers have initiated a lawsuit against the two major teacher’s unions in that state over their rights: NRTW – December Foundation Action The Califonia Teacher Association and California…

Media

Read More: Teachers challenging union dues in California

Public Union Democracy

Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing Wage

  • December 14, 2005

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is in the midst of discussing what to do about school property taxes. The discussion is an old one in Harrisburg. The complexity of this issue…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing Wage

Education

Is the NEA Really a NUT?

  • July 26, 2005

Is the NEA really a NUT? By asking, I’m not casting aspersions on the National Education Association’s sanity, just on its choice of name. The NEA’s British counterpart really is…

Commentary

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Education

Throwing a Party for the Educational Status Quo

  • July 18, 2005

The National Education Association recently concluded its annual convention in Los Angeles, gathering 8,000 delegates in celebration of the status quo in public education. When attendees weren’t offering a vigorous…

Commentary

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Education

The Union Behind the Curtain

  • April 7, 2005

California’s Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is giving his 49 colleagues across the country a quick tutorial in political courage. And Gov. Ed Rendell would be wise to sit up in class…

Commentary

Read More: The Union Behind the Curtain

Public Union Democracy

The Teachers Menace: Compulsory Unionism

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 29, 2005

“I want to urge devotion to the fundamental of human liberty—to the principles of voluntarism. No lasting gain has ever come from compulsion. … [T]he workers of America adhere to…

Commentary

Read More: The Teachers Menace: Compulsory Unionism