The union representing 3,400 University of Pittsburgh faculty has tentatively agreed with the school administration on their first labor contract — a pact running through June 30, 2026.
The United Steelworkers union announced the deal late Thursday and said it included what it calls “historic language on wages and job security for both full- and part-time workers” on the main Oakland campus and four branches, including Pitt Greensburg, Johnstown, Bradford and Titusville.
Details of the agreement regarding wages and other elements were not immediately shared by either party.
Faculty voted to join the Steelworkers in an election whose results were announced in fall 2021.They have since been locked in at times acrimonious negotiations.
As recently as this week, the United Steelworkers filed unfair labor practice charges with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB), claiming Pitt failed to respond to the union’s requests for information necessary for contract bargaining.
But Thursday’s union statement hailed the agreement reached with Pitt.
“We unionized nearly three years ago so that we could have a voice in the decision-making process and increased transparency,” said Tyler Bickford, a professor in the English department, who served on the bargaining committee. “We remained united through negotiations, and our perseverance paid off with a strong contract that will help us now and provide a firm foundation on which we can grow in the future.”
Pitt, in a separate statement, said it was please to share word of the tentative labor pact.
“The university values our faculty and their countless contributions to our Pitt community and this agreement demonstrates the University’s significant investment in our faculty — while adhering to our commitments to access and affordability for students and to providing a high-quality, world-class education.”
It said the union “will now present the tentative agreement to its membership for ratification. We look forward to building upon the collaborative relationship established during negotiations.”
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Pitt union negotiators had sought a $60,000 pay floor annually for full-time instructors across the bargaining unit, prorated for those who are part-time. It also pursued job security and pay equity issues.
The union said one of the top priorities was the wage floor for all faculty, including visiting faculty, instructors and educators at the Falk Laboratory School, as well as part-time faculty. The union also pursued greater stability regarding teaching and workloads, appointment renewals and opportunities for advancement.
“This contract provides greater security for faculty, which will result in better educational outcomes for students,” Melinda Ciccocioppo, a teaching associate professor in the psychology department, said in a prepared statement. “It’s a clear win for our entire university community.”
Pitt faculty will now review the details of the agreement as they prepare for a ratification vote.
Bill Schackner is a TribLive reporter covering higher education. Raised in New England, he joined the Trib in 2022 after 29 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. Previously, he has written for newspapers in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. He can be reached at bschackner@triblive.com.