BARGAINING
UPDATES

September 12, 2025

On Wednesday (9/10), over 100 of our fellow grad workers paid Provost McCarthy’s office a visit to pressure the administration and demand the raises we deserve. While Provost McCarthy was conveniently “not available” during our first visit, we promised to return if they continue to ignore us.

Thanks to this and all of the pressure grad workers have continued to put on the administration, the University returned eight more counter proposals to us on Professional Rights, Health and Safety, English Language Proficiency Testing, Training, Performance Evaluation, International Employees, Support, and Workplace Violence. We quickly returned counter proposals on the majority of these proposals, as well as providing a new counter for Public Safety. We reached a tentative agreement on the Training proposal, allowing grad workers to request and attend job-related trainings free of cost. Making progress on these essential protections is critical to getting a first contract that works for all grads. If we keep showing Pitt our power, we will continue to move forward.

During bargaining, we asked the administration again if they were ready to bargain over the raises they’ve been withholding from us. The administration reiterated that, at the moment, they refuse to give us more than a 0% stipend increase for the 2025-2026 academic year. We will not accept this, and will continue to remind the administration that we have power in numbers.

We have heard concerns around recent language changes in this year's appointment letters. We are frustrated by the administration’s decision to make these changes without consulting the union. To be clear: grad workers are still entitled to benefits detailed in the current TA/TF/GSR/GSA regulation policies.

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)  
Greta Cheng (SPH)  
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)