Happy almost Labor Day! 

Welcome to another edition of the Keystone Labor Report, where we’ll recap the significance of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Magee-Womens Hospital nurses’ vote to unionize. 

But first, a quick shoutout to our coworkers at The Keystone and COURIER. 

I am celebrating my first Labor Day as a union member this week, and I am incredibly grateful for my coworkers and getting to know everyone during our unionization process with COURIER, The Keystone’s parent company. 

One of the things I hear the most when talking to union members or those looking to form a union are the relationships you build with your coworkers during the process, and that is no different at COURIER. 

We petitioned COURIER with our intent to form a union with the Writers Guild of America – East earlier this year, and it voluntarily recognized our union and is working with us on negotiating a contract. 

I hope everyone has some fun plans to rest and relax this weekend or may go have some fun at a local Labor Day rally on Monday.

What are some fun plans you have going on this weekend? Feel free to email me at seankitchen@couriernewsroom.com and share what’s happening in your neck of the woods.

(Photo: Sean Kitchen) 

It was a fun and joyous celebration outside of UPMC’s Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh on Tuesday as dozens of nurses and Allegheny County officials celebrated their historic union victory. 

Nearly 1,000 nurses will be joining the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania (SEIU HCPA) after voting 402 to 305 in favor of the union last week. It was monumental for two reasons. It marks the first time a union drive was successful at any of the hospitals owned by UPMC, which is Pennsylvania’s largest private employer.  It was also the largest union victory for Pennsylvania nurses in recent memory. 

“ There is an incredible amount of gratitude that we all owe you for doing something so selfless, so inspiring and so brave to fight against a behemoth and an anti-union campaign to come together in solidarity and form this union,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said during Tuesday’s press conference celebrating the nurses’ victory. 

“Pittsburgh is a union town. Our right to organize is sacred and when workers win a voice, we know our whole community is stronger because of that.”

(Photo: Sean Kitchen)

A new report from the Keystone Research Center, a progressive leaning economic think-tank, detailing Pennsylvania’s economic outlook shows signals tumultuous times ahead.

Pennsylvania’s economy remains strong, but is starting to stall with the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and economic output shrinking and unemployment rates ticking upwards.

The report calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and asks Congress to extend the deadlines for clean energy and manufacturing tax cuts from the Inflation Reduction Act to their original deadlines. 

President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act cut federal grants and tax credits, which cost Pennsylvania thousands of jobs.

“The data in this year’s report underscore the critical need for policy stability and worker-centered approaches as Pennsylvania navigates economic headwinds,” Bernie Gallagher, Executive Director for the Keystone Research Center, said in a statement. “While uncertainty dominates the national landscape, what remains certain is that strong unions and robust worker protections create resilient economies.”

(Photo: Sean Kitchen)

Looking for some fun things to do this Labor Day weekend? Well, why don’t you spend it with fellow workers and union members from your communities?

Scores of “Workers Over Billionaires” protests are being held across the country on Monday with dozens of rallies, demonstrations and other gatherings happening throughout Pennsylvania. 

The events  were planned by the May Day Strong coalition, which consists of labor unions, progressive organizations and civil rights groups throughout the country, and you can bet we’ll be reporting on some of them in Tuesday’s newsletter. 

As always, feel free to email me at seankitchen@couriernewsroom.com if you have any tips or events that you may have interest in covering.