Judge orders Post-Gazette to restore health care, resume bargaining with striking workers

A federal appeals court Monday ordered the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore health care benefits to its striking journalists and to resume bargaining.

It marked the latest development in the longest newspaper strike in the digital age. The strike started in October 2022. The last contract between the company and its unions expired in March 2017.

“Our win today is a major victory not just for us striking workers but for all workers in Pittsburgh who want to stand up and fight,” said Zack Tanner, striking interactive designer and Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president.

BREAKING: Today the 3rd Circuit Court enjoined the @PittsburghPG, ordering the company to — upon request — immediately restore the health care it illegally took away in 2020, and bargain with us.

This is an enormous win and the most consequential day of our entire strike. pic.twitter.com/hniBRBoaFy

— Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh ???? (@PGHGuild) March 24, 2025

Tracey DeAngelo, Post-Gazette president and general manager, and Stan Wischnowski, executive editor and vice president, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

The order, written by 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Cindy K. Chung, requires the newspaper to submit bargaining progress reports to Region 6 of the National Labor Relations Board as it resumes negotiations with Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA Local 38061.

It comes less than two weeks after striking production and advertising workers accepted a buyout, eliminating 31 union jobs in Allegheny County.

Those workers will receive 26 weeks of severance pay and additional compensation for commission-based staff based on historical commission averages, according to the union.

The appeals court is also awaiting a response from the company regarding the National Labor Relations Board’s request for enforcement of a September 2024 ruling.

The newspaper could be ordered to restore working conditions consistent with the entire 2014-17 contract, including paid time off, wages, employees having a guaranteed work week and the right to question company discipline, among other issues, as well as back pay to workers for wage reductions and increased health care costs, according to a statement from the union.

The union contends the Post-Gazette “illegally and unilaterally tore up the editorial workers’ union contract, claiming they had bargained to an impasse,” in 2020.

The NLRB and an administrative law judge found the company broke federal labor law.

Unlike previous rulings against the PG, the 3rd Circuit Court’s order has enforcement power and directly addresses strikers’ demands, the union statement said.

“NewsGuild-CWA members have a saying: whatever it takes,” NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss said in a statement. “Guild members have struck for 29 months knowing we were right and the company broke federal law. Today the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with us. We’re thrilled and will continue doing our job holding power to account, especially when it’s the boss.”

Many striking journalists took jobs elsewhere as the strike dragged on. Striking editorial employees began putting out an online product, Pittsburgh Union Progress, in October 2022.

The Pittsburgh Union Progress reported that the union plans to meet this week and discuss whether the court order could end the strike.

“Restoration of health care was a core demand of the unionized newsroom workers who walked off the job,” the publication reported.