Happy week 11, Pioneers! We are in the final stretch of the semester. If you have not already done so, remember to register for summer and fall classes. Check in with all of your academic advisors to make sure you are on track and know what to do for course registration. Do not be afraid to ask for help, and remember to take care of yourself these next few weeks. You and your mental health are always the most important.
As covered in our news section this week, the university hosted a spelling bee put on by the Post-Gazette this past weekend. In October of 2022, Post-Gazette owner Block Communications stripped employees of their health insurance, and many workers have been on strike since, creating their own publication called the Pittsburgh Union Progress. Not only is the university crossing the picket line of the strike workers by hosting this spelling bee, but they are also crossing the picket line of their own workers.
The Post-Gazette newsroom is represented by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, the same union organization that represents the university’s full-time faculty. Just because the strike has been going on for so long does not make it acceptable to cross picket lines. The university needs to stand in solidarity with its faculty and the Post-Gazette strike workers. Standing in solidarity sets the precedent that it is not okay for an employer to pull health insurance and shows students the importance of standing up for their rights to a fair work environment.
As long as the strike continues, we encourage our readers to not cross the picket line. Do not read any content from the Post-Gazette until this dispute is resolved. We encourage our readers to seek out coverage of this strike and learn more about the ongoing dispute.
Note: The Globe does not typically endorse issues of this type, but we feel very strongly in support of these workers. This decision has no effect on our long-standing position of not endorsing political candidates, and we do not endorse any political candidate associated with the strike.