Pennsylvania Spotlight is a pro-labor union organization in Pennsylvania. The organization focuses on opposing center-right organizations working in the state, accusing them of being funded by out-of-state billionaires. It also supports left-wing causes, primarily labor unions. ¹

Pennsylvania Spotlight receives financial support from labor unions, including subordinate affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and National Education Association (NEA). ²

Activities

Pennsylvania Spotlight focuses on attacking the Commonwealth Foundation, a center-right think tank in Pennsylvania that has called for reducing the power of government worker labor unions in the state. Spotlight accuses Commonwealth of being anti-worker, racist, anti-gay, and anti-public education. It also attacks other center-right organizations in Pennsylvania. ³

Funding

Labor unions fund Pennsylvania Spotlight. SEIU Local 32 paid the organization $50,000 in 2018;⁴ the SEIU Pennsylvania State Council provided the group with $30,000 in both 2018 and 2019;⁵ and the Pennsylvania State Education Association provided Spotlight with $40,000 in 2018. ⁶

The Freedom Foundation, a free-market organization that has faced attacks from SEIU for supporting right-to-work laws and campaigning for union-represented government employees who dissent from union activities to cease paying union dues under the terms of the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision, identified contributions from The Accountability Project to Pennsylvania Spotlight.⁷

1.   “About Us”. 2020. Pennsylvania Spotlight. Accessed June 5. http://www.paspotlight.org/about-us/.   
2. Data compiled from Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards Online Public Disclosure Room from forms filed by labor unions. Queries conducted June 12, 2020.
3. “Get The Facts”. 2020. Pennsylvania Spotlight. Accessed June 5. http://www.paspotlight.org/get-the-facts/.
4. SEIU Local 32 (DoL File Number 011-661), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2018, Schedule 17
5. Data compiled from Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards Online Public Disclosure Room from forms filed by labor unions. Queries conducted June 12, 2020.
6. Pennsylvania State Education Association (DoL File Number 512-989), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2018, Schedule 16
7. Nelsen, Maxford. “National SEIU behind Anti-Freedom Foundation Group,” June 12, 2020. https://www.freedomfoundation.com/labor/national-seiu-behind-anti-freedom-foundation-group/.