Vice Chancellor of Human Resources James Gallaher is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Angel Pagan-Cordero as the Office of Human Resources’ Interim Director of Academic Labor Relations.
As interim director, Pagan-Cordero will oversee several integral areas of academic labor relations, including leading and managing the faculty collective bargaining processes, overseeing the academic grievance process, ensuring legal and policy compliance specific to employment, and maintaining positive relations between the University and represented academics.
Pagan-Cordero has been serving as an employee relations specialist with the University’s Employee Relations and Labor Relations (ER/LR) Department since 2022. He has an extensive background as a Labor and Employment Attorney as part of the Cancio, Nadal & Rivera LLC firm, representing clients in state and federal courts, including the National Labor Relations Board. He has provided support to employers on key topics such as labor contracts and grievances. He also previously served as Vice President for Legal Affairs and Industrial Relations for the Metropolitan Bus Authority in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“I am grateful and thrilled for this opportunity, which will allow me to contribute meaningfully to Pitt and grow personally and professionally along the way,” says Pagan-Cordero.
This appointment marks the University’s first step in creating a new team within Human Resources dedicated to administering union contracts for represented academic employees. Angel will work closely with the Office of the Provost and the Office of University Counsel to implement such contracts.
“Creating a dedicated team of labor relations staff to serve the needs of our union-represented academic employees will ensure both the University’s and the workers’ rights are understood, protected, and respected,” Gallaher added.
The University is also currently conducting a search for a new Assistant Vice Chancellor of Employee and Labor Relations to oversee the development of a comprehensive and integrated employee and labor relations strategy for all 12 existing bargaining units, new unionization efforts, and all other non-union staff. This strategy will include ensuring fair and equitable enforcement of employee relations-related issues, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and fostering positive relationships between University administration and various labor groups, creating more positive and inclusive working environments.