A federal appeals court has ordered the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore health benefits and other terms from its 2017 contract for striking journalists, ruling the newspaper bargained in bad faith and illegally imposed changes in 2020.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on November 10, 2025, unanimously denied the newspaper’s appeal and fully enforced a National Labor Relations Board decision. The court found the Post-Gazette violated federal labor law by prematurely declaring an impasse, unilaterally cutting health coverage, reducing wages, and surveilling striking workers.
- Reinstate the 2017 contract terms, including the original health plan for all bargaining unit members
- Pay back wages, benefits, and increased health costs with interest since 2020
- Reimburse the union for bad-faith bargaining expenses
- Resume good-faith negotiations upon the union’s request
The decision caps a five-year legal battle stemming from the 2022 strike—the longest in U.S. newspaper history—joined by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh after the paper ended health insurance for union workers. The union called the ruling a “major victory” and plans to vote soon on ending the strike and returning to work under restored terms.
The Post-Gazette, which has not commented on the ruling, must comply immediately or face contempt charges.