Full-time faculty officially unionized 11 years ago last June. This past summer, the University accepted their decision. 

“Point Park University has decided to end the longstanding dispute regarding the ability of its full-time faculty to form a union under the National Labor Relations Act,” the University said in a statement. 

All legal challenges posed by the University will be dropped, clearing the way for the collective bargaining process to begin. The decision brings an end to the long appeals case that went through both the National Labor Relations Boards (NLRB) and the U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The case was disputed through both the NLRB and U.S. Court of Appeals until 2007. According to the statement from the University, the case “sat dormant at the NLRB from 2007 to February 2015.” It was then sent back to the Regional NLRB branch by the National NLRB when Point Park decided to end its opposition. 

“It is absolutely the right choice. This issue has been hanging around a long time and needed to be resolved,” communication professor Bob O’Gara said on Aug. 22 in an email interview.

Point Park President Paul Hennigan commended the faculty for their continual engagement in academics. 

“The administration has great respect for its full-time faculty and fully appreciates their strong commitment to academic excellence,” Point Park President Paul Hennigan said in the statement. 

Affirming Hennigan’s remarks, the statement said, “The current administration at Point Park does not wish to spend any resources on a potentially costly legal battle with its full-time faculty. Therefore, the University will recognize the right of the full-time faculty to form a union and begin collective bargaining accordingly.”