BARGAINING
UPDATES

April 14, 2026

Key Takeaways

• We’re in this fight for a fair contract together, and we're grateful for your support.

• We reached a tentative agreement on Intellectual Property!

• Discussions continued about Seniority, Layoffs, Hours of Work, and we presented a NEW proposal to address the concerns of UCDC staff.

Happy Solidarity Week, union siblings! During our bargaining session on April 14, 2026, we reminded the administration that they owe us responses to many information requests and proposals. Their delays and stall tactics are intended to slow down our progress toward a fair agreement. Therefore, a lunchtime visit from dozens of staff members who had gathered in support of our efforts was PERFECT timing! We welcomed the chants demanding that the delays end so that we can get to a fair contract. Our collective voices echoed through Posvar hall; it strengthened and uplifted us as we faced the administration through the rest of the afternoon.

Despite the attempts to stall us, we continued to make progress on Seniority, Layoffs, and Hours of Work, and we presented a new proposal that aims to tackle some of the issues that are affecting the University Child Development Center (UCDC) staff. Caring for young children presents some unique challenges, and we hope to provide some unique solutions.

Lastly, we are excited to say that we reached a tentative agreement (TA) on Intellectual Property (IP)! This TA will incorporate Pitt's current policy, RI10, into our eventual contract, along with any future amendments to that policy. The policy can be found at https://www.policy.pitt.edu/ri-10-intellectual-property. Ownership of IP (which includes course materials, copyrightable works, inventions, patents, etc.) at the University typically resides with the Creator(s), Inventor(s), or Developer(s), and having this policy incorporated into our contract makes it clear that bargaining unit staff can own the IP they create and receive proceeds from it, such as upon licensure or commercialization. We hope that this will encourage and support innovation by Pitt staff members!

Enjoy the rest of Solidarity Week, and thanks for fighting alongside us as we negotiate our first union contract!  The best way to support us is to get more involved, and to sign your membership card if you haven't done it already. You can do that HERE.

In solidarity,

Your bargaining committee
Jen Goeckeler-Fried, Chair, Biological Sciences, DSAS
Kearsten Adams, Recording Secretary, Academic Advising, UPG
Shawn Alfonso Wells, Pitt Global Experiences, UCIS
Mark Brown, DLAR
Lydia Chmill, Disability Resources & Services, OTC
Emily Daller, University Child Development Center, OHR
Jay Hornack, Law
Adriana Maguiña-Ugarte, Anthropology
Todd Shaffer, Office of Student Life, UPJ
Michelle Utz-Kiley, Epidemiology, SPH
Dan Wyszomierski, UPCI/NSABP
Matt Nader, USW
Nate Kilbert, USW
Don Shaffer, USW
Bernie Hall, District 10 Director, USW