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
Hearing Examiner Stephen Helmerich said Pitt committed “coercive acts” leading up to the April grad student unionization vote.

Pitt files exception to proposed grad union ruling

By Jon Moss, Assistant News Editor • October 8, 2019
Pitt filed an exception Tuesday to a proposed ruling by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
Union organizer Kim Garrett addresses the crowd at Bernie Sanders’ rally in Schenley Plaza in April.

Grad union organizers ready campaign for second election

By Jon Moss, Assistant News Editor • September 24, 2019
Just days after a Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board official ruled that Pitt committed unfair labor practices during April’s graduate student union election and ordered a new election, union organizers said they are gearing up for a second election sometime this semester.
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board filed a decision Wednesday ordering a new election for Pitt’s graduate student union.

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

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.
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.
Faculty union organizers challenged hundreds of the names Pitt included in its list of faculty eligible for a bargaining unit.

Faculty union organizers up in arms after Pitt’s administration rejects Labor Board subpoena

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer • July 19, 2019
After ruling June 18 that the size of the bargaining unit for Pitt’s faculty union was under review, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ordered Pitt to turn over several pieces of information to faculty union organizers — most notably, a list of faculty eligible to be in the potential bargaining unit.
Grad students will vote on whether or not to establish a union between April 15 and 18.

PLRB hears grad student union election objection in downtown hearing

By Vaibhav Gupta, Staff Writer • May 15, 2019
Nestled in a small office in downtown’s Piatt Place building, a group of lawyers debated the future of Pitt graduate student unionization Tuesday and Wednesday.
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.

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...

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