The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The Pennsylvania Labor Review Board has determined that the University engaged in unfair labor practices during the grad student union election last spring.

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.
Philadelphia-based firm Ballard Spahr provided legal support during the graduate student and faculty movements for unionization.

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.
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

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.
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

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.
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

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...

Grad students will vote on whether or not to establish a union between April 15 and 18.

Grad students to vote on unionization this week

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer • April 15, 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.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren visited Alumni Hall in October 2016 to rally for Katie McGinty for Senate and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

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.
An election to determine whether or not Pitt graduate students will unionize will begin the week of April 15.

Grad students will decide union question starting April 15

By Joanna Li, News Editor • March 25, 2019
PLRB announced on Thursday the dates and times of polling locations on campus. The election is intended to allow more than 2,000 graduate students to vote to join a union. In order to form a union, a simple majority of the grad student population, or more than 50 percent, needs to vote yes.
Pitt graduate student employees announced their plan to unionize in January 2016.

Pitt attempting to obstruct grad student union election, organizers claim

By Emily Wolfe, Assistant News Editor • March 12, 2019
The United Steelworkers and the Graduate Student Organizing Committee expressed disappointment Tuesday in what they called Pitt’s attempts at “voter suppression.”
Pitt grad student union organizers, in conjunction with United Steelworkers, projected their campaign logo on the Cathedral last year.

Labor board affirms Pitt grad students have right to unionize

By Brian Gentry, Joanna Li, and Emily Wolfe • March 7, 2019
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled Thursday that Pitt’s graduate student employees are entitled to unionize, a step forward in graduate students’ multi-year battle to form a union.
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