University of Pittsburgh faculty ratifies 1st union contract

About 3,500 University of Pittsburgh faculty represented by the United Steelworkers have ratified their first contract with Pitt, and it includes a $60,000 salary floor for full-time professors, yearly raises and enhanced job protections.

The union Saturday announced results from weeklong voting on the main Oakland campus and branches at Greensburg, Johnstown, Bradford and Titusville. It culminates a near-decadelong effort to secure collective bargaining rights for academic workers at Western Pennsylvania’s largest university.

The contract, covering full-time and part-time faculty, runs through June 30, 2026.

It includes provisions for greater job security for full- and part-time contract instructors. It will yield longer appointments, promotion minimums, and a smoother renewal process for non-tenure stream faculty among other protections, union officials said.

They did not provide vote tally but said the pact was approved overwhelmingly.

“When Pitt faculty first organized with our union in 2021, it was clear that they needed a voice on the job, not only so that they could address pressing concerns about their own wages and working conditions, but also so they could improve communication and build out shared governance to the benefit of the wider university community,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall, who represents USW members across Pennsylvania.

Pitt spokesman Chuck Finder responded Saturday evening, saying that the university welcomes the union vote.

“We are very pleased that the faculty union has ratified our first collective bargaining agreement,” he said. “This historic agreement demonstrates the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to our world-class faculty and their key role in supporting our students.”

The tentative deal was reached last month.

Neither Pitt nor the Steelworkers have publicly discussed details of the agreement. But according to a summary of the 94-page agreement appearing in the Pitt-published University Times this week, the contract sets salary minimums of $60,000 for most full-time faculty and $7,500/3-credit class (Pittsburgh campus) or $5,625/3-credit class (regionals) for part-time faculty.

Currently, full-time salaries are as low as $25,000 per year, and 18% of full-time faculty are below $60,000, the contract summary states. Part-time faculty earn as little as $2,500 per 3-credit class at the Pittsburgh campus and less at the regional campuses.

Over the life of the contract, average salaries for full-time non-tenure stream faculty will increase by 15%, and average salaries for part-time non-tenure-stream faculty will increase by about 32%.

The pact includes a ratification bonus that is not added to base salaries of faculty of $5,000 for full-time faculty and $500 for part-time instructors.

A major issue during the 2½ years of negotiations was getting greater job security for faculty on fixed-term contracts who are often uncertain until just before the semester starts.

Language in the contract addresses that.

“All full-time and part-time faculty will be automatically renewed after a short probationary period unless a narrow list of circumstances apply, primarily lack of work. Strong evaluation, discipline, and grievance procedures allow us to enforce these protections.

Hall said that going into bargaining, Pitt faculty identified as priorities job security and raising wages, both of which they felt would help provide needed stability for faculty and students alike.

“This contract makes tremendous progress on both these fronts, while still maintaining existing benefits,” said Hall.