David R. Osborne
David R. Osborne is the Senior Fellow for Labor Policy with the Commonwealth Foundation.
David is an attorney with on-the-ground experience advocating for teachers, firefighters, and other public employees mistreated by union officials. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, David was the CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment, a nonprofit organization that supports, educates, and empowers public employees to exercise their First Amendment rights.
He also served as President & General Counsel of the Fairness Center, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm providing free legal representation to those hurt by public sector union officials, and as a Presidential appointee to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which resolves labor impasses between federal agencies and federal employee unions.
David earned his Juris Doctor (JD) at Florida State University College of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and radio/television communications from the University of Central Florida.
David has been happily married since 2004 and they are proud parents to four beautiful children.
Will Lori Chavez-DeRemer Respect State Labor Reforms?
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Federalism is back. However, with the recent nomination of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary, Congress must stay true to the federal government’s…
Read More: Will Lori Chavez-DeRemer Respect State Labor Reforms?Public Union Democracy
How Government Unions Won in Wisconsin by Stacking Judicial Deck
Originally published at The Daily Signal Remember when impassioned protesters stormed a Capitol building and disrupted the democratic process?No, not the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan.
Read More: How Government Unions Won in Wisconsin by Stacking Judicial DeckFairness
Trump Can’t Fight Big Labor Alone. States Must Also Help
Originally published at National Review President-elect Donald Trump is planning a new course for federal policy — regarding everything from foreign conflicts to environmental regulations — and he’s quickly forming…
Read More: Trump Can’t Fight Big Labor Alone. States Must Also HelpPublic Union Democracy
Challenging Exclusive Representation: A Fight for Free Speech and Union Accountability
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…
Read More: Challenging Exclusive Representation: A Fight for Free Speech and Union AccountabilityPublic Union Democracy
Unions should be about employees, not about politics
Originally published at The Hill “I’ll be honest with you,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a recent podcast interview. “I’m a Democrat, but they have f—ed…
Read More: Unions should be about employees, not about politicsPublic Union Democracy
Amendment One: Union Power, Politics, and the Future of Illinois Labor
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 –…
Read More: Amendment One: Union Power, Politics, and the Future of Illinois LaborPublic Union Democracy
If Elected, Harris Will Carry Biden’s Torch as ‘Most Pro-Union President’
Originally published at Daily Signal Remember when then-candidate Joe Biden promised to be “the most pro-union president you’ve ever seen”? It’s been a go-to…
Read More: If Elected, Harris Will Carry Biden’s Torch as ‘Most Pro-Union President’Public Union Democracy
Unions are planning a nationwide takeover — it’s already begun in Illinois
Originally published in The Hill In 2022, Illinois voters approved what they likely thought was an innocuous ballot measure, the Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment, also called …
Read More: Unions are planning a nationwide takeover — it’s already begun in IllinoisRegulation
How the Shapiro Administration Doubled the Cost of Broadband
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The digital divide – the gap between communities with and without access to high-speed internet – is a prominent issue in Pennsylvania. More than …
Read More: How the Shapiro Administration Doubled the Cost of BroadbandPublic Union Democracy
Unraveling Union Dynamics: Michigan’s Reversal, Florida’s Reforms, and the Fallout of the Janus Decision
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:…
Read More: Unraveling Union Dynamics: Michigan’s Reversal, Florida’s Reforms, and the Fallout of the Janus DecisionPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions are Down — But Not Out
Originally published at The American Spectator In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court humbled public sector union officials accustomed to taking advantage of the public employees they were supposed to…
Read More: Government Unions are Down — But Not OutPublic Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
Key Findings The four largest government unions—American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—lost…
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsPublic Union Democracy
Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and Reforms
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…
Read More: Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and ReformsPublic Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
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 Kennett for…
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Debating Public Sector Freedom Post-Janus
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…
Read More: Debating Public Sector Freedom Post-JanusPublic Union Democracy
New Yorkers are Moving to Florida—and Government Unions are to Blame
Originally published at RealClearPolicy What do former President Donald Trump, Derek Jeter, Jennifer Lopez, and millions of New Yorkers have in common? They all packed their bags and moved…
Read More: New Yorkers are Moving to Florida—and Government Unions are to BlamePublic Union Democracy
Union democracy? Not so much
Originally published at The Mercury Another rowdy student group recently took over an Ivy League school, driven by outside agitators who neither attend nor care about the university’s success.
Read More: Union democracy? Not so muchPublic Union Democracy
Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?
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…
Read More: Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?Public Union Democracy
Demand more from CT public sector union officials
Originally published at the Hartford Courant In Connecticut, getting a job in state government comes with strings attached. As soon as you’re hired, the state sends your contact information,…
Read More: Demand more from CT public sector union officialsPublic Union Democracy
What happened when a teacher spoke out?
In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne interviews physical education teacher John Grande. Mr. Grande has been a teacher for 36 years. After expressing frustration…
Read More: What happened when a teacher spoke out?Public Union Democracy
State of the Unions: Examining Union Membership in State Government
Key Findings Public sector labor unions in 33 states represent state government employees, a segment of overall public sector employment, for purposes of collective bargaining. For this research, 27 of…
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