What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the legal process for reaching a union contract. Both the administration and our union have an obligation to bargain in good faith. That means the administration has to provide the union with key information, respond to our proposals, and both sides have to work together to reach an agreement.

What is a contract?

A contract is a legal agreement between our employer, the University of Pittsburgh, and our union, the United Steelworkers. 

The contract will cover conditions of our work, including: 

• pay

• benefits

• time off

• transparency

• seniority

• job security

• protections against unfair treatment or termination
  

Who gets to vote on a contract?

Only union members can vote on the contract. To become a member you need to fill out and electronically sign your union membership card.

We know you may have filled out various cards and pledges during the organizing campaign, but the membership card is different! It’s an official form in Docusign. You can fill it out here to officially join and be eligible to vote!

Who negotiates our contract?

Our Bargaining Committee is made up of elected Pitt staff who represent a range of departments, job classes and campuses, and bargaining and technical experts from the USW.

Everyone in our union was eligible to be nominated and vote for the Bargaining Committee. (That's union democracy!)

 
How are contract proposals drafted?

After we won our union, we conducted a bargaining survey so each staff member could show their priorities to our Bargaining Committee. The bargaining committee also uses feedback collected from Pitt staff through our Communication & Action Team (CAT).

Learn more about the CAT here.   

What happens when we reach an agreement?

All union members will get to vote to ratify (approve) or reject a tentative agreement (TA). If the TA is approved, then the contract is passed and will go into effect as established in the agreement.