BARGAINING
UPDATES

September 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

• We rejected the administration's proposed salary freeze for FY27.

• We continued discussions regarding job security.

• We presented two new proposals: Severance and Pay Grades.

In our bargaining session on September 1, 2026, we rejected the administration's proposal to freeze all salary increases for FY27. We know that many staff are struggling economically, so we put the administration’s representatives on notice that we expect to bargain significant wage increases in the first year of our agreement. We did not make this decision lightly, but their offer of a one-time payment of $2,000, which would not increase anyone’s pay rate was, quite frankly, insulting. In June, we proposed interim salary increases of 7% or $3,000, whichever was greater, while bargaining continued. We thought that this request was reasonable; in recent years, our raises have not kept up with inflation, and this would have helped us significantly. A salary freeze for FY27 for all bargaining unit staff, as the administration proposed, would have put us even further behind. Several recent emails sent by university leadership and articles published in local news sources have described how well Pitt is doing under Joan Gabel's leadership. However, the administration's offer fell far short of what we deserve in recognition of our important role in making Pitt work.  Our goal remains to negotiate meaningful, retroactive raises as part of our contract - raises that we have earned through our dedication, effort, and skill.

Last month, we told you about seven proposals, all centered on the themes of job protections and working conditions, that we presented as a package to the administration. In this session, we received counters to four of them, and we intend to continue to make progress on those important issues. Our new proposal on Severance adds an important cushion for employees: we proposed severance payment guidelines for staff who are laid off that are based on their salary and years of service at the time of separation.

Our other new proposal, Pay Grades, is intended to ensure that compensation is appropriately aligned with the education, experience, and impact of our jobs. Those of us who have been around a while know that the "Compensation Modernization" initiative was supposed to address issues surrounding our compensation structure. In some cases, it did not. Therefore, we hope to establish a process for the union to request a review of the pay grade that is associated with a job title and a fair resolution of disputes over what pay grade a position should have. 

Finally, on Monday we will celebrate Labor Day! Pittsburgh is home to the largest Labor Day parade in the country, and we hope to see you there! We will march with the USW, and you’re welcome to stay for refreshments at USW headquarters afterward. Click here for more details and to register.

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