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

The Somerset Nine: Pennsylvanias Magnificent Seven

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 10, 2005

What does it take for school board members to be fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money? For the nine members of the Somerset Area School District (SASD) board of directors, the…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Time to Labor to End Compulsory Unionism

  • October 31, 2004

"We want a legislative program led by leaders and staff with sufficient clout that they may roam the halls of Congress and collect votes to reorder the priorities of the…

Commentary

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Education

Union Propaganda Can’t Hide Charter Schools’ Success

  • October 24, 2004

There they go again. Back in July 2002, during a slow news period, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a school employee labor union, issued a widely cited report "showing"…

Commentary

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Education

Set Our Teachers Free!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 14, 2004

Remarks of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Foundation I'm Matthew Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. Prior to moving into the world of public policy, I…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

More “Takers” Than “Makers”

  • August 27, 2003

Another Labor Day is upon us, but the organized labor union movement in Pennsylvania has very little to celebrate this year. Union membership in the private sector continues its decades…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

The Impact of Compulsory Unionism on Economic Development

  • November 1, 2002

Executive Summary With increasing global competition taking a toll on U.S. manufacturing jobs, and state governments and municipalities struggling to achieve greater operating efficiencies in the face of declining revenues…

Report

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Public Union Democracy

Nobody should be forced to pay for someone elses politics!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 22, 2002

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Labor Relations Committee for the invitation to testify this morning on an important…

Commentary

Read More: Nobody should be forced to pay for someone elses politics!

Education

The Pennsylvania State (Everything But) Education Association

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 25, 2002

Almost as predictable as the beginning of the football season is the start of the strike season by public school employees in Pennsylvania. And the kick-off to the 2002-03 school…

Commentary

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Education

The Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Lobbying Politicians, and Increasing Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 3, 2002

Executive Summary Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 21, 2002

By their very nature, businesspeople are willing to take significant risks to compete in the marketplace. Indeed, every day the profit motive compels people to invest their life savings in…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom