By SUSAN JONES
With Pitt graduate workers voting to unionize last month, the United Steelworkers now represent nearly 12,000 University employees — 2,100 grad workers; 6,300 staff members and 3,500 faculty.
The USW, like many legacy unions, has branched out from its original membership of steel industry-related workers. The union, which is based in Pittsburgh, also represents adjunct faculty at Point Park and Robert Morris universities and workers at the Carnegie Museums, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Frick Pittsburgh, along with people in several other industries.
“It is not unusual for a union to represent multiple bargaining units working for the same employer,” a USW spokesperson said. “Each unit will have the chance to fill out bargaining surveys to set the course of their negotiations, elect their own local leadership, and administer their local union based on their needs.”
For faculty, that process has already taken place, but for graduate student workers and staff, the hard work of negotiating a first contract is just getting started.
Graduate workers
A three-day, in-person election for graduate workers in mid-November concluded with 1,033 voting to unionize with the USW and 28 voting against.
The vote came a little over a year after graduate workers kicked off a card-signing campaign in October 2023. The organizing effort followed an outcry by grad student workers earlier in the fall 2023 semester over changes in their health insurance that brought higher deductibles and co-pays.
“Graduate workers provide vital contributions to the University community, and their efforts to achieve a seat at the table will ultimately provide widespread benefits as Pitt becomes a stronger place to work and learn,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall.
Pitt said in a statement after the vote was announced on Nov. 22: “The University has a great deal of experience in working with our unions and is committed to providing updates and ongoing information on this website. While first contract negotiations can be complex, please know that we will come to the table in good faith and be there to support all graduate students throughout and beyond the process.”
A Pitt grad union website says all teaching assistants, teaching fellows, graduate student researchers and graduate student assistants are included in the bargaining unit. Unfunded grad students, grads on external fellowships, and grads on training grants are ineligible because they are not directly employed by the University.
The last campaign to form a grad union began in February 2017, and, unlike this time, was actively opposed by the University. An election was held in April 2019 and union organizers fell short of the majority needed by 37 votes.
Staff union update
The Staff Union of Pitt and the administration are gearing up to begin negotiations on a contract early next year. Staff voted earlier this semester to be represented by the USW.
The union held elections last month for bargaining committee representatives. Those selected are:
Kearsten Adams, Academic Advising, Greensburg
Shawn Alfonso Wells, Pitt Global Experiences Office
Mark Brown, Medicine, Cell Biology
Lydia Chmill, Disability Resources and Services
Emily Daller, Human Resources (Child Development Center)
Kelly Gilliam, Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement
Jennifer Goeckeler-Fried, Biological Sciences
Joseph Hornack, Law
Adriana Maguiña-Ugarte, Anthropology
Dawn Miller, Academic Affairs, Johnstown
Michelle Utz-Kiley, Epidemiology
USW officials also met with the administration’s bargaining team on Nov. 19 to start working out the mechanics of negotiations and to address interim issues, particularly associated with “status quo.”.
In labor negotiations like this, the administration is not allowed to unilaterally make changes to the status quo of employees’ salary, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment without getting consent from the union.
The union said, in information sent out via email, that it “pointed out instances in which supervisors or managers have been describing the ‘status quo’ obligation in ways that are inaccurate and possibly unlawful.”
Some of the issues raised by Pitt staff to the union include wage increases connected to promotions; supplemental payments for taking on more work; and retention offers.
Pitt’s administration said they are looking into these concerns and have established a status quo committee that can assess questions and ensure managers and supervisors are providing accurate information.
“Anyone with questions for this group should work with their unit’s HR partner to submit an item for review,” the University said in a statement. “We will also be offering additional training for managers and supervisors to help address common questions, including those about status quo.”
On the issue of who should and shouldn’t be in the bargaining unit, the union said, “Both sides committed to collaborating on an efficient process and set of criteria for determining who is included in the bargaining unit, and both sides recognized that some apparently simple solutions (such as supervisory exclusion based solely on having two or more subordinates) are not consistent with the law.”
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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