Josh Imhof | features editor

Striking workers returned to their offices on Monday in the newest chapter of a three-year battle between the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Guild voted to return to work after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the striking journalists on Nov. 10. The decision said that the Post-Gazette bargained in bad faith while negotiating a new contract. The Post-Gazette said it will appeal this decision. 

Former strikers, union leaders and supporters began gathering outside of the Post-Gazette offices on North Shore Drive at around 9 a.m. to cheer, sing songs and celebrate the victory. 

Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild-CWA, spoke at the rally and has been organizing with striking workers since the beginning of the movement. He said watching them walk back inside was an emotional moment. 

“It just fills my heart with joy to know that a few dozen journalists can stick together and fight together and then win together,” he said. 

Marian Needham, executive vice president of the NewsGuild-CWA, stood with the crowd and sang union songs with the Pittsburgh Labor Choir during the rally. She helped establish the health and welfare committee for the striking workers, which assisted with medical bills and strike benefits. 

Needham said she felt vindicated when the strikers walked back through the Post-Gazette’s doors. 

“My heart was elated. I was just so happy for them,” she said. 

Schleuss said that despite the impending appeal, the strikers planned to continue coming in. 

“It’s Monday. They’ll be back Tuesday. They’ll go to work on Wednesday. They’ll go to work on Thursday,” Schleuss said. “They’re gonna work.”

Josh Imhof can be reached at imhofj@duq.edu