Point Park University Full-Time Faculty Union Ratifies Three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement

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In a 72-3 vote, members of the Point Park University full-time faculty union, affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Local 38061, ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the university.

Members of the faculty union officially ratified the union’s third CBA on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The three-year deal, which runs until June 30, 2027, includes annual salary increases for all faculty members over the course of the agreement, increased just-cause protection for non-tenure track faculty, and a pathway for non-tenure track faculty to be considered for promotion to tenure track, among other improvements.

“The importance and value of the benefits and protections provided by this agreement are reflected in the overwhelming support of the members in the ratification vote,” said Fred Johnson, Point Park faculty unit chair.

Representatives from the Newspaper Guild and Point Park administration negotiated the new full-time faculty CBA, which goes into effect as of ratification, over 18 sessions that took place from May through October.

Key provisions of the new CBA include 3.6% annual across-the-board wage increases, equivalent increases to all minimum base salaries, increased pay for overload courses and various other duties and responsibilities, additional funding for professional development and the creation of a three level promotion structure for Lecturers.

Faculty wage increases for 2024 will be retroactive to September 1, 2024, providing wage increases that will be paid out just in time for the holiday season.

“Faculty fought for months over the summer and into the start of the fall semester for the gains in this new contract, and I’m so excited that we get to reap the rewards of that fight today,” said Zack Tanner, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president. “It’s not just wages that we won, but increased job protections and major improvements to the professional life of full-time faculty members. This is a contract that every faculty member at Point Park should be proud of.”

The Newspaper Guild’s bargaining committee consisted of faculty members Marion Dixon, Karen Dwyer, J. Dwight Hines, Marybeth Irvin, Jeff Seaman, Ben Schonberger and Mark Voortman, as well as attorney Steve Winslow of Jubelirer, Pass & Intrieri, P.C. and Newspaper Guild president Zack Tanner.