Editorial: NLRB unionization proposal is a step backwards
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 23, 2019
This new proposal is a bleak reminder of just how difficult unionization really is, and just how far we still have to go.
Labor official: Pitt website, department chair email involved in unfair practices
By Emily Wolfe, News Editor
September 19, 2019
Unless the board files an exception to Helmerich’s ruling — it has 20 days to do so, in accordance with PLRB regulations — graduate students will soon vote again on the union question.
PLRB rules Pitt committed unfair labor practices, orders new grad union election
By Janine Faust, Editor-in-chief
September 18, 2019
Hearing Examiner Stephen Helmerich said in his hearing that Pitt committed “coercive acts” leading up to the vote in April about whether or not graduate students should join the Academic Workers Association of the United Steelworkers, where the outcome was 675 for a union and 712 against.
Student organizers confident as unionization decision nears
By Erica Guthrie, Assistant News Editor
August 26, 2019
Pitt and the graduate student organizers trying to establish a union at the University took their final legal step last week before the state labor board determines whether or not the University engaged in unfair labor practices during the elections held last spring.
Pitt paid almost $240K to “union avoidance” law firm in recent years
By Jon Moss, News Editor
May 14, 2019
A “union avoidance” law firm received a large windfall of legal fees from Pitt, according to previously unreported University financial disclosure reports.
Grad students vote against unionization, organizers reissue call for new election
By Jon Moss and Neena Hagen
May 3, 2019
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board officially declared Friday morning that the majority of graduate students at Pitt voted against unionization in the April 15-18 election.
Grad union organizers call for new election, accuse Pitt of “unfair labor practices”
By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
May 2, 2019
Less than a week ago, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board declared the grad student unionization vote inconclusive. Now, organizers are calling on the board to set aside those election results and schedule a new election.
After years-long campaign, grad students await outcome of union vote
By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 18, 2019
Organizers wearing pro-union T-shirts high-fived and cheered for the last few dozen graduate students as they trickled into the second-floor ballroom of the O’Hara Student Center Thursday afternoon to cast their votes in the union election. They were celebrating the culmination of a years-long campaign t...
Grad students to vote on unionization this week
By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 14, 2019
After several years of campaigning, rallying and dealing with University opposition, Pitt’s graduate students will vote on whether or not to form a union this week.
Elizabeth Warren “100% behind” Pitt grad student union
By Emily Wolfe, Assistant News Editor
April 9, 2019
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., encouraged the union hopefuls in a short video posted to social media Tuesday.