Pitt faculty union tentatively agrees to first historic contract with university administration

The union that represents full- and part-time faculty at the University of Pittsburgh announced Thursday that it has reached a tentative agreement on its first contract with the school. 

The United Steelworkers, which Pitt faculty joined in 2021, said the deal includes “historic” language on wages and job security for the workers.

“We unionized nearly three years ago so that we could have a voice in the decision-making process and increased transparency,” said Tyler Bickford, a professor in Pitt’s English department and member of the faculty’s bargaining committee. “We remained united through negotiations, and our perseverance paid off with a strong contract that will help us now and provide a firm foundation on which we can grow in the future.”

Faculty members are in the process of reviewing the agreement and will vote on its ratification in the near future.

The tentative agreement sets a wage floor for all faculty members — which the union called one of its “highest priorities” — including visiting faculty, instructors and educators at the Falk Laboratory School. 

It also provides greater stability to teaching and workloads, appointment renewals and opportunities for advancement, the union said. 

“This contract provides greater security for faculty, which will result in better educational outcomes for students,” said Melinda Ciccocioppo, a teaching associate professor in the university’s psychology department. “It’s a clear win for our entire university community.”

The university said it was “exceptionally proud” of both the union and school administration to reach an agreement.

“The university values our faculty and their countless contributions to our Pitt community, and this agreement demonstrates the university’s significant investment in our faculty — while adhering to our commitments to access and affordability for students and to providing a high-quality, world-class education,” the university said in a statement. “The union will now present the tentative agreement to its membership for ratification. We look forward to building upon the collaborative relationship established during negotiations.”