CommonWealth Press workers form union in Pittsburgh

Paul Guggenheimer
Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 6:01 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 6:01 p.m.

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After the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, Commonwealth Press began advertising “Pittsburgh finished it” T-shirts.

Pittsburgh screen printing company CommonWealth Press has unionized.

The company announced its workers are now AFL/CIO members of The Printing, Publishing, and Media Workers Sector of the Communication Workers of America and the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters local 412.

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CommonWealth Press has unionized. Link in bio. Spread the word. #pittsburgh #union #unionprintshop #unionscreenprinting

A post shared by CommonWealth Press (@cwpress) on Feb 28, 2020 at 11:10am PST

CommonWealth Press is the first union screen printer in Pittsburgh.

“This was employee executed, owner initiated, non-contested unionization,” CommonWealth Press founder Dan Rugh said in a statement. “They even let us pick our own number, so naturally – we are 412! Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now has local union screen printers.

“The only way we have ever advertised is through word of mouth, so please, PLEASE – if you are in a union, know someone that is in a union, need union screen printing, support unions, or just care about secure, local, American jobs and workers – please help us let everyone / everywhere know that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now officially has recognized CWA/ALLIED – local union screen printers.”