BARGAINING
UPDATES

October 9, 2025

At this last bargaining session, we invited dozens of our coworkers to observe our session and to read testimonials about what is at stake for them if Pitt refuses to codify academic freedom in our contract as they have done for Pitt faculty. Just having graduate workers in the room terrified the administration enough to stall our bargaining session by nearly an hour to avoid confronting the grads they are actively hurting. Our coworkers delivered powerful testimonials about how they conduct independent research and teaching in their work that deserves protection from discipline. These statements helped us introduce Just Cause in the Exercise of Professional Judgement, which the administration has previously rejected in whole, arguing (incorrectly) that all of our work is supervised and that only our supervisors deserve protections.

After weeks of progress, we were incredibly disappointed with the administration’s counterproposals today—they walked back on several proposals where we had previously been approaching agreements. In addition, they offered a statement at the end of our session claiming that our rejection of their proposal to give themselves unilateral decision-making power over stipend increases in March (which would have entitled them to set a 0% stipend increase) somehow justifies their refusal to negotiate a raise now. We won’t allow Pitt to rewrite history. The administration came to the Union to negotiate staff wage increases in June, but they did not come to grads about any wage increases. Pitt has the money to pay stipend increases now – and they should.  

We will continue to send out information about opportunities to join our fight for a fair contract. As usual, you can stay up to date with our Bargaining Tracker. Don’t forget to fill out your membership card, or to fill out this form if your working conditions change. The administration will NOT have access to your membership card information (including whether or not you signed one) until our first contract is ready for ratification.

In solidarity, 

Your bargaining committee 

Lauren Wewer, Chair (MEMS)  
Michaela Cushing-Daniels, Recording Secretary (SPIA)  
Keanna Cash (SOE)    
Aden Halpern (Economics)  
Alisa Omelchenko (SOM)  
Chi-Tsung Chang (English)  
Tori Bonidie (Physics & Astronomy)  
Hollen Tillman (SSW)
Matt Nader (USW)
Nate Kilbert (USW)
Don Shaffer (USW)