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PODCAST

Disunion: The Government Union Report

Commonwealth Foundation

This podcast explores news-making developments in public-sector labor policy and law across the country. Host David R. Osborne brings in guests with practical experience confronting the public policy challenges attending unionization of government employees.

government

All Episodes

00:48:21

When Unions Lose Their Way: Faith, Power, and the...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/10/27

Why have public-sector unions drifted from improving workplaces to driving culture-war politics? Fr. George Schultze, SJ — former labor organizer, scholar, and spiritual director — joins Disunion to explain how government unions abandoned their historic mission of uplifting workers and instead embraced a post-modern, power-centered ideology. We explore the roots of the labor movement, the moral compass it once relied on, and how today’s unions push agendas — from gender policy to abortion activism —

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00:45:37

Administrative Bloat and Union Power: How Teachers...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/09/23

Public schools keep adding more administrators while student performance stagnates—and teachers see little benefit. In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne sits down with Corey DeAngelis and Christos Makridis to unpack their research on how teachers unions drive administrative growth at the expense of classrooms.Corey and Christos explain why student enrollment has stayed flat while administrative staff has ballooned nearly 95% since 2000, how union incentives

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00:55:39

Infiltrating Our Schools: How Teachers’ Unions Fuel...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/08/29

Former New York City public school teacher Karen Feldman spent more than 25 years in the classroom, earning awards for her groundbreaking Holocaust education curriculum. But in recent years, she witnessed a disturbing shift: professional development and classroom resources promoting anti-Israel narratives, often backed by teachers’ unions and the DOE.Now leading the NYCPS Alliance, Karen has helped document thousands of incidents of anti-Semitism, biased curricula, and union-backed propaganda

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00:28:28

Opt-In Showdown: How Unions Gutted Louisiana’s...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/07/24

On this episode of Disunion, host David R. Osborne welcomes Sarah Harbison of the Pelican Institute to unpack the high-stakes legislative drama surrounding Louisiana’s recent public-sector union reform bill.What began as a straightforward “opt-in” bill—requiring government union members to annually confirm their membership and allowing them to resign at any time—quickly turned into a political showdown. Despite early momentum and support from the governor, the bill was gutted in the final hours of

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00:44:19

Law and Economics of Public Sector Unions, with...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/06/19

Renowned legal scholar Richard A. Epstein joins David Osborne to dissect the legal foundations and economic consequences of public sector unionization. From the early days of private labor unions to the rise of government unions, Epstein explains how collective bargaining has evolved—and why public sector collective bargaining, in his view, breach the public trust. They explore everything from the antitrust roots of union restrictions to Roosevelt’s and Kennedy’s diverging views on public unions,

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00:33:00

Anti-Semitism in the Classroom: The Massachusetts...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/05/22

In this episode of Disunion, host David R. Osborne is joined by Will Sussman of the Manhattan Institute to discuss a disturbing development out of Massachusetts: the state’s largest teachers union, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), has come under fire for promoting anti-Semitic classroom materials.Will and David break down the details of a shocking legislative hearing, where lawmakers confronted union leadership about educational resources linked to pro-Hamas propaganda and inflammatory

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00:39:37

Collaborative Conferencing: Tennessee’s Alternative...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/04/17

In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne is joined by J.C. Bowman, Executive Director and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, to explore a groundbreaking model of public sector labor relations: collaborative conferencing. Bowman explains how Tennessee moved away from adversarial collective bargaining toward a more cooperative, teacher-driven process that empowers educators while avoiding exclusive representation and political entanglements.They discuss how

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00:29:34

Utah’s Bold Legislative Move to Reform Public Sector...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/03/13

In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne welcomes Utah State Representative Jordan Teuscher to discuss his groundbreaking Public Sector Labor Union Amendments bill. Teuscher explains how the legislation aims to increase transparency, protect worker rights, and limit union influence in government operations. They explore the bill's key provisions, including restrictions on payroll deductions for union dues and enhanced reporting requirements. Teuscher shares

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00:36:12

The Decline of Union Membership: Trends and Reforms

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/02/12

In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne welcomes Steve Delie, Director of Labor Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, to discuss the continued decline of union membership in both the private and public sectors. They explore why unionization rates are dropping despite high-profile organizing efforts, the impact of the landmark 2018 Janus decision, and how state-level labor reforms—such as opt-in policies and recertification requirements—are reshaping

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00:30:20

Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2025/01/20

Jake Altman, author of Socialism before Sanders, joins Disunion: The Government Union Report podcast host David R. Osborne to discuss labor unions and their challenges. Altman, a former union leader, criticizes extreme leftist positions within unions, citing examples like campus protests. He advocates for democratic reforms, transparency, and inclusive decision-making in unions. Altman suggests that moderates should organize and run for union leadership to counteract far-left influences. The

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00:33:46

Unpacking Union Power: Trade-Offs and Impacts on Jobs...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/12/19

In this episode, Liya Palagashvili, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, joins host David R. Osborne to discuss her forthcoming research on the costs and benefits of powerful labor unions. Her findings suggest that, while unions can secure higher wages in the short term, they may lead to slower employment growth and fewer jobs inthe long run. They explore the impact of union strength, the role of job security, and the potential benefits of decentralized union models. Wrapping up,

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00:42:07

Challenging Exclusive Representation: A Fight for...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/11/12

In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David R. Osborne interviews Nathan McGrath, President and General Counsel of The Fairness Center, about a potential Supreme Court case involving exclusive representation by unions in public-sector employment. The case, Goldstein v. PSC, involves six professors challenging a faculty union’s status as their exclusive representative. They posit that the union's public stance against Israel and perceived anti-Semitic views conflict with

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00:35:17

Amendment One: Union Power, Politics, and the Future...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/10/04

How does public union policy impact you? More than you may realize. Disunion: The Government Union Report’s David R. Osborne hosts Miley Smith, Senior Director of Labor Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute to discuss the impact of Illinois' Amendment One - which grants a fundamental right to unionize and expands bargaining rights. Amendment One is unique in its scope and has led to legislative staffers attempting to unionize, despite historical prohibitions. Smith highlights the amendment's

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00:35:48

Unraveling Union Dynamics: Michigan's Reversal,...

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/09/04

In this episode, host David Osborne is joined by Commonwealth Foundation Policy Analyst Andrew Holman. Together they co-authored co-author the most up to date report on public sector labor laws: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws. David and Andrew discuss the latest developments in public sector labor policy on the podcast while highlighting the following: - Michigan's reversal of paycheck protection laws, allowing unions to collect dues through the public

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00:37:02

Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and Reforms

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/08/06

In this insightful episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne is joined by James Sherk, the Director of the Center for American Freedom, to delve into public sector labor policy. The discussion highlights key issues and common misrepresentations within the sector. Sherk outlines significant achievements in enhancing job satisfaction among federal employees, while Osborne underscores the importance of understanding union history and its influence on contemporary

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00:33:13

Teachers' Unions Influence and the Politics of Education

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/07/02

Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kinnett for an eye-opening discussion on the powerful influence of teacher unions. Dive deep into how these unions are shaping state primaries by targeting Republican candidates and wielding their financial muscle to sway education policy. David and Tony don't hold back as they uncover the contradictions and limitations

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00:41:39

Debating Public Sector Freedom Post-Janus

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/06/04

In this episode, host David R. Osborne and Vice President and Legal Director of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Bill Messenger delve into the complexities of public sector unionization. The conversation heats up as they debate the challenges posed by compulsory union dues, exclusive representation, and the processes of union certification and decertification. They examine the decline in union membership, the principle of voluntary free choice, and the constitutional questions

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00:32:41

Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/05/07

Join host David Osborne and guest Christian Barnard (Assistant Director of Education Reform at Reason Foundation) as they delve into the intricate dynamics behind the stagnant teacher salaries despite soaring investments in education. In this thought-provoking podcast, they dissect the complexities of benefit costs, labor policies, and union subsidies that divert crucial funds away from instructional salaries. Through insightful discussions, they shed light on how addressing these systemic issues

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00:35:46

What happened when a teacher spoke out?

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/04/02

In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne interviews a physical education teacher John Grande. Mr. Grande has been a teacher for 36 years. After expressing frustration with mandatory diversity training, he was disciplined by his employer. He has now filed a lawsuit arguing his First Amendment rights were violated when he faced disciplinary action for answering a question during the training. In this episode, we touch on the issues of union leadership, political

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00:01:04

Introducing Disunion: The Government Union Report

Disunion: The Government Union Report ·

2024/03/05

Join host and Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow for Labor Policy David R. Osborne as we dive into discussions of the positive public policies that would clear up what has become the murky world of government unions.

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21 results

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