Posts tagged public employee unions
Philip Howard’s Not Accountable Focuses on Reform of Public Sector Unions
January 24, 2023 // Philip K. Howard, chairman on the nonpartisan, nonprofit reform group Common Good, examines the phenomenon of public sector unions and how they rose to power in his new book Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. The short answer is that public sector unions are shielded from the market forces that keep private sector unions in check—a government agency is not in danger of going out of business. Public sector unions also have an in-built advantage when it comes to bargaining. Management is typically an elected official who needs the union’s help at election time and fears having it as an enemy. Public sector unions can in effect be represented at both sides of the bargaining table, Howard notes. Unions have these advantages to insulate themselves from any criticism or challenges to their power while warping public policy to their will. It’s a sobering read. The unions pressure the government to devote more public funding to bolstering the workers, diverting funds that would otherwise go to public services or maintenance of public infrastructure.
In a case that could be destined for the Supreme Court, Allentown Symphony musician says he shouldn’t have to pay union dues to perform
April 15, 2022 // “Our client’s goal is to make sure that Janus is expanded to all of the bargaining units that are covered by the Supreme Court decision,” said Nathan McGrath, president of The Fairness Center, a public interest legal group that represents those who object to mandatory public-sector union membership.
Ohio Public Employee Unions Losing Their Stranglehold on State Workers
March 11, 2022 // Between late 2019 and early 2022, the Ohio Civil Service Association, which represents state employees, experienced a sharp membership decline — around 3,000 members and almost $2 million in lost union dues. That’s $600 remaining in the paychecks of Ohio public employees. Money that can be put to good use purchasing gas, food and other family necessities.
A bill targeting union membership in Florida is getting pushback…again
January 29, 2022 // “The bill requires an employee to sign a membership authorization form when they join a union," Plakon said as he presented the bill to the House Government Operations Subcommittee. "The form must include a statement that the employee understands that Florida is a right-to-work state, and union membership is not required as a condition of employment.”
County at an impasse: Union workers say they’re set to strike next week; management says deal is fair
January 20, 2022 // “While we hope for a quick resolution we are prepared for the long haul,” Hoppin said. “Unfortunately, it is those members of our community who depend on county services and staff — from public health workers to benefits representatives to road repair crews — who will bear the brunt of this decision.”
Paycheck protection needed to prevent government payroll from funding partisan political activism
January 19, 2022 // But a proposed “paycheck protection” bill would end this practice by prohibiting school districts, and other public employers, from automatically deducting contributions to political action committees out of employee wages.
Opinion: President Biden Helping Unions Undermine California’s Public Pension Reform
December 21, 2021 // With PEPRA, as public employees retire and are replaced by new hires with redefined benefits, the gap between what the pension system has in assets and what it needs to pay out in future decades will narrow.
Biden helps unions attack California pension…
December 13, 2021 //