The USW intends to keep this vital organizing work going, just as the union strives to deliver ever-better contracts for members in a growing number of non-traditional union shops.
Steady organizing among professional, creative, service and technical workers continues to bring excitement and energy to the USW.
Pittsburgh is just one example of a city experiencing an organizing boom in these workplaces, particularly in the nonprofit and education spaces.
The USW welcomed 12,000 new members from the University of Pittsburgh in the last three years alone.
In addition, workers at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and The Frick Pittsburgh voted to become USW members since the last convention. They join counterparts at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh in a rapidly expanding group of organized professional workers.
The USW intends to keep this vital organizing work going, just as the union strives to deliver ever-better contracts for members in a growing number of non-traditional union shops.
“the USW welcomed 12,000 new members from the University of Pittsburgh in the last three years alone.”
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh faculty overwhelmingly ratified their first union contract in May 2024, nearly three years after organizing.
The three-year agreement improved job security and raised wages for more than 3,000 workers. Among other protections, it provided longer appointments, promotion minimums, and a smoother renewal process for non- tenure-stream faculty.
The agreement also set a wage floor for both full- and part-time faculty. Over the life of the contract, average salaries for full-time non-tenure-stream faculty will increase by 15 percent and average wages for part-time non-tenure-stream faculty will increase by about 32 percent.
The agreement also included ratification bonuses of $5,000 for full-time faculty and $500 for part-timers.
Bargaining continues for thousands of university staff and graduate workers.
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
More than 500 workers at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh held strong during 18 months of negotiations before ratifying their first contract in May 2023.
The four-year agreement covers curators, scientists, art handlers, educators, gallery attendants, grant writers and other workers at the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Carnegie Science Center. It set a $16-per-hour living wage floor—one of the members’ top priorities—and provided the majority of workers immediate raises of up to 35 percent.
The agreement also established a health and safety committee, included anti-discrimination and seniority language, and increased sick time for part-time workers.
College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico
Local 6871 at the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico ratified an agreement in June 2024 providing substantial salary increases as well as 90-day union leave, which enables members to grow and strengthen the union via organizing and political advocacy.
All engineers and land surveyors in Puerto Rico must be certified through the college, where USW members work in clerical, maintenance, and other support positions. The college also operates a court system to deal with any complaints about engineers.
Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1037
The USW represents 11 staff workers at CWA Local 1037, which serves more than 10,000 workers at over 400 sites in the public and private sectors in New Jersey.
In their latest contract, ratified in 2023, the USW members won employer-paid indoor parking, wage increases tied to those received by New Jersey public employees, and vacation improvements that bring office workers in line with what field staff receive.
New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) is New York state’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, made up of 42,000 frontline workers. About 90 members of the USW support the NYSNA as administrative and technical staff.
These Local 9544 members ratified their latest contract in 2023, securing wage increases of 7.5, 6.5 and 5.5 percent over the three-year agreement. They also obtained a no-layoff clause until 2026 and increased sick time for themselves and their dependents/spouses.
The USW and the NYSNA also agreed to make staffing levels a standing review item for the labor-management committee.
WAPA Media
Programming directors, clerical workers and other staff members at two radio stations (AM and FM) in Puerto Rico ratified their latest agreement with WAPA Media (formerly Univision) in summer 2024.
The contract included raises of 23 percent, increased paid leave, established holiday bonuses of $1,000 and created a new position, on-air talent.
Writers Guild of America EAST (WGAE), AFL-CIO
The 32-member USW unit at the Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO, supports 6,000 workers who create content for motion pictures, television, news and digital media.
The USW members ratified their latest contract in early 2024, achieving wage increases totaling 12.5 percent over the life of the three-year agreement. They also won longevity bonuses for those with the most seniority in the lower classifications, gender-neutral restrooms, and significant improvement in vacation time for junior workers.
They were also proud to establish a joint labor-management diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging committee.
