BARGAINING
UPDATES

March 3, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Discussions continued regarding Layoffs.

• We are still awaiting responses to several other proposals.

Your bargaining team met with the administration on March 3, 2026. We were once again frustrated that the administration’s team had nothing prepared, although it had been two weeks since we last met. We gave them counterproposals on four issues that are very important to us - Layoffs, Flexible Work Arrangements, Career Advancement, and Hours of Work. They did respond with a counter on Layoffs, and that proposal was the primary focus of subsequent discussions; it changed hands twice more throughout the day. The administration has begun to engage with us on the subject of "recalls." If a staff member loses their job due to a lack of funds or work, but then more funding is secured or more work needed, we feel that the laid-off staff member should be recalled - offered the opportunity to return to their former job. However, we were not impressed by their suggestion that 30 days' notice is sufficient when a bargaining unit staff member is being laid off. The loss of income and benefits is devastating, and we insist that we deserve more time to prepare.

In addition to our counterproposals on Flexible Work Arrangements, Career Advancement, and Hours of Work, we are currently awaiting responses from the administration on several other proposals that are in their court, including Non-Discrimination, Health and Safety, Provisional Periods, and both the proposal and the Memo of Understanding regarding International Staff.  All of these proposals include critical provisions, and when we reminded the administration about them, they told us that they will have "several" responses for us next time. We are negotiating in good faith with our colleagues in mind, and we hope that the administration will engage with us more productively at our next bargaining session on March 20.

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