Disunion: The Government Union Report

What are teachers’ unions supposed to do—and are they actually serving the teachers they represent?This week on Disunion, David R. Osborne is joined by Brigette Herbst, executive director of the Gevura Fund, to discuss a new report examining the governance, finances, and political influence of the nation’s major teachers’ unions.The conversation takes a close look at the NEA and AFT, their political spending, and the growing questions surrounding how union dues are used. Brigette explains the report’s findings and explores whether teachers have meaningful control over the organizations that represent them.David and Brigette also discuss the experiences of Jewish teachers who have faced hostility or discrimination within their unions, including the controversy surrounding the UFT’s endorsement of Zohran Mamdani. They examine what happens when public employees disagree with their union’s political positions and what legal protections may be available to workers facing religious discrimination.

What if some regulations designed to protect workers are actually making it harder to find better jobs, earn higher wages, and adapt to a changing economy?On this episode of Disunion, David Osborne is joined by Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, to examine how labor policy affects worker opportunity and economic dynamism.Scott explains how government mandates, often framed as worker protections, can create barriers to hiring, job mobility, and wage growth. The conversation explores why labor market flexibility matters, how government shape employer decisions, and why worker choice is central to a thriving economy.David and Scott discuss:How regulations can increase hiring costs and limit workforce growthWhy job mobility and career changes can drive wage gainsThe unintended effects of benefit mandates and occupational licensingThe growth of independent work and the importance of worker choiceA conversation about labor markets, worker freedom, and the policies shaping the future of work.

A resolution targeting the Anti-Defamation League. Accusations of antisemitism. Calls for political activism in schools. How did America's largest teachers union become involved in these debates? David Osborne welcomes Clifford Smith of the North American Values Institute to unpack the controversies surrounding the NEA, the influence of activist movements in education, and the ongoing fight over the purpose of public schools and teachers unions in America. 

What happens when the union that claims to represent you stops representing your interests?On this episode of Disunion, host David Osborne speaks with Chip Rogers, CEO of Americans for FairTreatment (AFFT), to unpack the rapid growth of the organization and the rising backlash among public sector workers.Growing from just a few hundred members to now more than 14,000 nationwide, AFFT is giving teachers, firefighters, federal employees, and others a way to push back against union leadership they say has become overly political and unaccountable.Rogers breaks down why many teachers say they support unions in theory but not their own, and how public sector unions often wield dues and political power in ways that clash with member priorities. He also unpacks the post-Janus fight over worker rights, emerging state reforms like recertification votes and pay flexibility, and the high-stakes battle over TSA unionization and federal worker protections.Along the way, Rogers shares personal stories, from his mother’s experience as a teacher to his own classroom being downgraded by union rules, that illustrate how current labor structures can reward mediocrity and sideline excellence.If you’re interested in worker freedom, union accountability, and the future of public sector labor law, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Most government union leaders are playing a long game, and it's costing taxpayers billions. In this episode of Disunion, host David Osborne talks with Frank Ricci, a former union president and labor expert, who exposes how unions have shifted from representing workers to controlling states like Connecticut.  Ricci reveals the hidden tactics they use to manipulate negotiations, evade accountability, and push policies that drain public resources. Discover the risky strategies unions deploy during contract talks, how public officials are often handcuffed, and what real leadership looks like in the fight to restore balance at the bargaining table.

What does it really mean to be “pro-worker”?This week on Disunion, host David Osborne is joined by Austen Bannan of Americans for Prosperity and Vincent Vernuccio, president of the Institute for the American Worker, to break down a sweeping new report: How to Empower Workers: Embracing a Pro-Worker Agenda Built on Choice.With Congress rolling out a flurry of labor bills—from right-to-work reforms and secret ballot protections to proposals backed by unions and even some Republicans—this episode cuts through the noise. The panel explains why many so-called “pro-worker” policies actually empower union bosses and government regulators, not workers themselves.If you care about modernizing labor law, protecting worker freedom, and rejecting one-size-fits-all union mandates, this is a must-listen episode.

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 — that many members don’t support. Fr. Schultze also shares a hopeful path forward rooted in faith, family, and the dignity of work.

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 fuel this growth, and why teacher salaries have barely budged in decades. They also discuss the impact of right-to-work laws, the fallout from the Supreme Court’s Janus decision, and the role of school choice and teacher freedom in breaking the cycle of waste and misaligned priorities.From tire-slashing intimidation tactics to billion-dollar funding battles, this conversation reveals the true cost of union power—and what it will take to put students and teachers first.

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 infiltrating America’s schools. She joins host David Osborne to expose how groups like the NEA, AFT, and UFT are pushing resources with ties to extremist movements—and what must be done to stop it before it’s too late.

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 the session, raising serious questions about union influence, transparency, and legislative process.Sarah and David explore how unions wield power behind the scenes, the First Amendment implications of restrictive membership clauses, and what it will take to bring meaningful reform back to the table in 2026.Whether you’re a policy junkie or a public employee looking to understand your rights, this episode is a must-listen.