Pittsburg, PA
Starbucks workers at Pittsburgh's Sixth Street store vote for a union – Pittsburgh Union Progress
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Starbucks workers and organizers in Pittsburgh began celebrating. During a phone conversation, you could hear their excited voices in the background. Moments earlier, they’d stood in the Downtown Sixth Street Starbucks cafe while an agent from the National Labor Relations Board counted ballots that would determine whether the store’s baristas would unionize.
The finally tally proved unanimous: Nine votes in favor of joining Starbucks Workers United. It was a committed crew. One worker, a high school student, skipped classes to cast a vote.
“Everyone is so happy,” said Tori Tambellini, a Starbucks worker and union organizer. She’d stepped outside to spread the news by phone. “I think the store manager may have teared up a bit. He’s not as happy as we are.”
The Sixth Street store is the 400th in the U.S. to organize. The Starbucks United campaign began in late 2021.
The past several days have been exhilarating for Pittsburgh’s unionized baristas. Last week, the coffee company announced it would work with the union toward reaching a contract for its organized employees — a sharp reversal in what had been a hardline company stance against the union. And on Monday, a crowd of United Steelworkers from around the U.S. and Canada, in town for a convention, filled the sidewalks on Sixth Street to rally and offer support ahead of the vote.
“We’re really stoked,” said Eric Shorthouse, 28, a worker at the Sixth Street store. “This is huge. It’s not something I really ever thought would happen.”
Both Shorthouse and fellow employee Harper Blackstock, 22, said they felt as though they were “standing on the shoulders of giants,” meaning organizers and workers who paved the way for the Sixth Street effort. That includes workers who initiated the national Starbucks organizing effort in Buffalo, as well as those at the cafe in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, which became the first to organize in Pennsylvania.
One issue for workers at the Sixth Street store is that managers have been cutting baristas’ hours. This results in smaller paychecks and too few workers performing too much work.
”A lot of times it feels like our position there is not taken seriously as a job and a livelihood,” Blackstock said, “and that goes for scheduling, for pay, and for the amount of work that any individual person is made to do.”
Another issue is safety. Baristas at the store sometimes must deal with unruly customers – there have been occasions in which customers have thrown items at workers, Blackstock said. Workers want the company to take those incidents more seriously.
“There have been times in the past when safety measures were subpar at best,” Blackstone said. “And that’s disheartening.”
Steve is a photojournalist and writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he is currently on strike and working as a Union Progress co-editor. Reach him at smellon@unionprogress.com.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates made a much-needed move ahead of the 2026 All-Star Game, bringing in another infielder and bullpen arm to improve the MLB lineup. Even with the addition of left-hander Brandon Eisert, the Buccos are still seeking further upgrades to their struggling bullpen.
The Pirates now have a few weeks until this year’s Trade Deadline, but they are expected to be active up until the final minutes.
That’s why the organization has to shoot for the stars and target San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller. The Pittsburgh-native is one of the latest names to land on the trade rumor mill, and it’s the perfect opportunity for the Pirates to take their bullpen to the next level.
Why Miller Makes Sense for Pirates
There is a rising sense that the All-Star closer is heading out of San Diego. Despite being one of the top relievers in the MLB this season, toting an ERA of 0.91 and picking up 25 saves in 39 innings pitched, he’s on the trade block.
In a recent article for USA Today, Bob Nightengale noted that the MLB is paying close attention to the Padres, with many expecting them to be a selling team as they plummet further in the standings.
“Rival executives are intrigued to see whether A.J. Preller trades Padres All-Star closer Mason Miller at the deadline with their team spiraling downward,” he wrote. “But they laugh at the notion they will receive anything close to the package they surrendered to the Athletics to acquire him.”
That’s exactly what the Pirates need to hear. Yes, they have a solid closer right now in Gregory Soto. He’s been a wonderful replacement with Dennis Santana regressing, but it hasn’t solved the bullpen’s issues.
With Miller on board as the new closer, it gives the Pirates two shutdown arms. With Soto and Miller ready to close games, it brings their mediocre bullpen to suddenly playoff-worthy.
What Would Pirates Need to Give Up for Miller?
As Nightengale noted, the Padres gave up an arm and a leg to bring Miller in last year. They parted with their number two prospect at the time, but the sentiment is that there is not as strong a market for the bullpen arm in 2026.
That’s huge news for the Pirates as well, who have plenty of young players they consider expendable.
Would a package centered around a pitcher like Antwone Kelly or Thomas Harrington be enough to entice the struggling Padres? For the Pirates, it would be a loss to give up either young arm, but the return and hopeful playoff push is beyond worth it.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
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Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh Pirates Select Incoming Tennessee Baseball Transfer Outfielder In MLB Draft | Rocky Top Insider
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Tennessee baseball transfer commit Andrew Duncan with the 558th pick (19th round) in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday afternoon. A Wright State outfielder, Duncan committed to Tennessee out of the transfer portal last month.
Duncan is coming off a breakout junior season at Wright State where he slashed .367/.436/.577 with six home runs, 11 doubles, eight triples and 36 RBIs. As the eight triples indicate, speed is a key part of Duncan’s game with the outfielder stealing 19 bases on just 22 attempts.
The Dunedin, Florida native spent his freshman season at Florida State where he played in just 13 games before transferring to Wright State for his sophomore season. Duncan transferred to Tallahassee State College for his sophomore season before moving back up to the division one level at Wright State last season.
More From RTI: Elite Tennessee Baseball Catcher Signee Withdraws From MLB Draft, Will Play for Vols
Duncan played centerfield for the Raiders last season and will likely slide into that same spot at Tennessee next season if he does not sign with Pittsburgh. Outfield was a major point of emphasis for the Vols this offseason after losing Reese Chapman to graduation, Garrett Wright to the MLB Draft and both Jay Abernathy and Nate Eisfelder to the transfer portal.
Losing Duncan would be a real blow because of Tennessee’s need in centerfield for next season. A number of other Vols including Levi Clark, Blake Grimmer and Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey are capable of playing in the outfield but likely could not play centerfield at a high level defensively.
Duncan is one of 11 transfers to commit to Tennessee this offseason along with Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian, Cal Baptist shortstop Chris Ramirez, Baylor infielder Travis Sanders, FIU infielder Mario Trivella, Clemson right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson, Louisville right-handed pitcher Parker Detmers, South Carolina left-handed pitcher Jake McCoy, Northwestern State left-handed pitcher Brody Trosclair, UC Irvine left-handed pitcher Ricky Ojeda and Mercer two-way Braydon Kersey.
Today we are seasonable with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-80s.
There are a few isolated showers this afternoon and evening, but not a washout, and nothing severe is expected.
Most will be mainly dry, and the dry weather carries into the week with highs near 90 and plenty of sunshine.
Hourly Conditions:
- 9 a.m.: 74° Mostly Sunny
- Noon: 80° Mostly Cloudy
- 3 p.m.: 82° Showers
- 6 p.m.: 81° Mostly Sunny
We could see our 6th 90-degree day of the year on Tuesday, with two more following through Thursday, plus it could feel in the triple digits for some areas. Wednesday will be the hottest!
Our next best chance of rain and storms is Friday and throughout the weekend!
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