Pennsylvania: Rank 46
Pension Liability - Total $111.3 billion6 - Per household $1,5501
Union Membership Density:
- Total-14.7%
- Private Sector-9.3%
- Public Sector-49.9%
Right to Work:
- Forced unionism
Government Sector Collective Bargaining Laws:
- Police/Fire: PA Law Act No. 111
- State: Public Employee Relations Act
- Education: Public Employee Relations Act
- Municipal: Public Employee Relations Act
Paycheck Protection Law:
- No Provision
Pending Secret Ballot Protection:
Forced Card Check:
- No Provision
Government Sector Binding Arbitration Provisions:
- State: PA Laws Article VIII, Section 805
- Police: PA Laws Article VIII, Section 805
- Fire: PA Laws Article VIII, Section 805
- Teachers: PA Laws Article VIII, Section 805
Public Access to Government Bargaining Sessions:
- 65 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 708(a)(2) (Government can close)
Project Labor Agreement Bans:
- No Provision
Government Employee Strike Policy:
- State: (Permitted) Public Employees Relations Act, Article X, 1003
- Police: (Prohibited) Public Employees Relations Act, Article X, 1001
- Fire: (Prohibited) Public Employees Relations Act, Article X, 1001
- Teachers: (Permitted) Public Employees Relations Act, Article X, 1003
Unions and Labor Policy
Labor unions maintain a political stranglehold on legislation in Pennsylvania despite representing fewer than two out of 10 workers. Their strength is the product of decades of favorable federal and state laws that are extraordinarily resistant to reform. The result is that organized labor and collective bargaining play a dominant role in Pennsylvania’s business climate and government.
Recommendations:
1. Redefine “prevailing wage” laws that require the state to contract union labor, which inflate costs by as much as 40 percent, to the average market wage in a region
2. Enact a right-to-work law to free all employees from being compelled to pay dues or fees to a union as a condition of employment.
3. Outlaw strikes for all government employees to protect taxpayers and citizens.
4. Discontinue forced, automatic dues deductions in which government operates as the collection agent for the union, a private organization.
5. Enact “paycheck protection” laws to guard against workers’ dues being used for political purposes they do not support.
6. Prohibit taxpayer-funded lobbying in which tax dollars are used to support higher spending and additional taxes.
- Policy Brief: Summary of Pennsylvania State Union Contracts
- Testimony: Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
- Fact Sheet: PA School distruct dues deduction and taxpayer funded lobbying
- Fact Sheet: Pennsylvania Union PAC spending
- Commentary: How union bosses hurt education
