Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Reporters to End Three-Year Strike

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters are set to return to the newsroom on November 24, 2023, following a three-year strike. This decision follows a ruling by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals on November 10, which mandated the newspaper to reverse unilateral employment changes and to resume negotiations with the union.

The strike, which began after the Post-Gazette declared a bargaining impasse, saw reporters demanding better working conditions. The National Labor Relations Board found that the newspaper had unlawfully altered employment terms, prompting it to seek an enforcement order from the court. The court’s ruling was a significant victory for the union, which argued that the Post-Gazette’s actions violated labor laws.

In a statement, reporter Andrew Goldstein expressed optimism about returning to work: “We are looking forward to returning to work at the Post-Gazette serving the people of southwestern Pennsylvania under the working conditions we will have won back.” Goldstein credited community support for helping the union sustain its fight during the lengthy strike.

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh communicated the implications of the court’s decision, noting, “That liability grows daily, and is not something the company can get away from.” The union emphasized that if the Post-Gazette did not reinstate the employees by November 29, it would be liable for wages and the costs associated with benefits that had been in place prior to the strike.

After the ruling, union members voted to end the strike and return to work without a new contract. They await the reinstatement of previous employment terms while the Post-Gazette has initiated an appeal process, filing a motion on November 19 to stay the court’s order as it seeks a full review by the entire 3rd Circuit.

Union attorney Joseph J. Pass remarked on the appeal, stating, “Hopefully the 3rd Circuit will say, ‘we’ve had enough of this delaying and [the Post-Gazette’s] refusal to abide by our orders.’” The Post-Gazette has a 45-day period to file its appeal, which concludes on December 25.

As part of their return, union reporters are organizing a rally at 9 a.m. on November 24 outside the North Shore Post-Gazette office to commemorate their return and the community support throughout the strike. The Post-Gazette has not commented on the recent developments involving the strike and court ruling.