Zachary Barber
@barberza.bsky.social
Organizer, Unionist, Writer, Accordionist
Present: OPEIU
Past: PennEnvironment
Pittsburgh
https://barberza.medium.com/
Present: OPEIU
Past: PennEnvironment
Pittsburgh
https://barberza.medium.com/
Pinned
Zachary Barber
@barberza.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Starting a new job today w/ Office & Professional Employees International Union. Now more than ever, I'm excited to build worker power and help people harness collective action.
Here are photos from my quiet unemployment, including helping with hurricane recovery in NC and doing GOTV here in PA.
Here are photos from my quiet unemployment, including helping with hurricane recovery in NC and doing GOTV here in PA.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face.
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 AM
AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
"It’s not a coincidence that as union membership goes down, wealth inequality has gone up."
State senator: Right-to-work law lowers wages. It should be repealed.
It’s not a coincidence that as union membership goes down, wealth inequality has gone up. It’s not a coincidence that the decline of union membership mirrors the decline of the middle class.
cardinalnews.org
January 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM
"It’s not a coincidence that as union membership goes down, wealth inequality has gone up."
Look I don't think that anonymous government agents in masks should be able to unilaterally decide to kill someone. I'm willing to bet the founding fathers' heads would explode if they saw what happened yesterday, for whatever that's worth. Maybe I spent too much time listening to csny Ohio
January 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Look I don't think that anonymous government agents in masks should be able to unilaterally decide to kill someone. I'm willing to bet the founding fathers' heads would explode if they saw what happened yesterday, for whatever that's worth. Maybe I spent too much time listening to csny Ohio
I'm almost a single issue voter, and my issue is this: people shouldn't kill people. The corollary is that they should help them instead.
January 7, 2026 at 8:41 PM
I'm almost a single issue voter, and my issue is this: people shouldn't kill people. The corollary is that they should help them instead.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
In other news, my colleague @kileykoscinski.bsky.social reports that Planned Parenthood locations in western Pennsylvania are shutting down, for now, amid staffing challenges.
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
Pittsburgh-area Planned Parenthood clinics are closing this month due to staffing shortage
Planned Parenthood has confirmed that its Downtown Pittsburgh location will close Jan. 23 and its Greensburg location will close Saturday. The Bridgeville clinic closed its doors in December. It’s unc...
www.wesa.fm
January 7, 2026 at 8:29 PM
In other news, my colleague @kileykoscinski.bsky.social reports that Planned Parenthood locations in western Pennsylvania are shutting down, for now, amid staffing challenges.
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Functioning local journalism is critical to democracy. Today’s announcement that Block Communications Inc. is ceasing operations of the Post-Gazette effective May 3 is devastating for the Pittsburgh region. (1/6)
January 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Functioning local journalism is critical to democracy. Today’s announcement that Block Communications Inc. is ceasing operations of the Post-Gazette effective May 3 is devastating for the Pittsburgh region. (1/6)
Reposted by Zachary Barber
The Blocks announce the demise of the Pittsburgh @post-gazette.com one week after they folded @pghcitypaper.com
Local news is more important now than ever before. Pittsburgh’s journalists need your support.
Local news is more important now than ever before. Pittsburgh’s journalists need your support.
January 7, 2026 at 7:10 PM
The Blocks announce the demise of the Pittsburgh @post-gazette.com one week after they folded @pghcitypaper.com
Local news is more important now than ever before. Pittsburgh’s journalists need your support.
Local news is more important now than ever before. Pittsburgh’s journalists need your support.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
SLUGGO’S NO
WORRIES WEDNESDAY
WORRIES WEDNESDAY
January 7, 2026 at 2:14 PM
SLUGGO’S NO
WORRIES WEDNESDAY
WORRIES WEDNESDAY
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Invading a foreign country without congressional approval and kidnapping its leader is a blatant violation of U.S. and international law. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
U.S. strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro; Trump says "we're going to run the country" for now
After the U.S. carried out an attack inside Venezuela, President Trump said Nicolás Maduro was captured and flown out. Trump said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily.
www.cbsnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Invading a foreign country without congressional approval and kidnapping its leader is a blatant violation of U.S. and international law. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
This is a huge loss for the region.
Keep in touch, Yinz. Follow us at @stacypgh.bsky.social, @colinbwilliams.com, @awaltz.bsky.social, @marsjohnson.bsky.social, @alitrachta.bsky.social
We will miss you. 💔
We will miss you. 💔
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
This is a huge loss for the region.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Nancy By Ernie Bushmiller
December 29,1947
Note: A concertina is a hand-held, bellows-driven musical instrument with buttons on each end, similar to an accordion
December 29,1947
Note: A concertina is a hand-held, bellows-driven musical instrument with buttons on each end, similar to an accordion
December 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Nancy By Ernie Bushmiller
December 29,1947
Note: A concertina is a hand-held, bellows-driven musical instrument with buttons on each end, similar to an accordion
December 29,1947
Note: A concertina is a hand-held, bellows-driven musical instrument with buttons on each end, similar to an accordion
Reposted by Zachary Barber
I say this with zero irony: if you are even tangentially a part of a retro video game community, it is your civic duty to push back against this company and shun anyone who doesn't. This is fascism tapping gently at the door and as soon as you let it in, it's going to invite its friends.
December 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I say this with zero irony: if you are even tangentially a part of a retro video game community, it is your civic duty to push back against this company and shun anyone who doesn't. This is fascism tapping gently at the door and as soon as you let it in, it's going to invite its friends.
The House could vote today to overturn the largest act of union busting in U.S. history. Make sure your congressmember stands with federal workers:
act.aflcio.org/letters/send...
act.aflcio.org/letters/send...
SEND AN EMAIL: Support the Pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act
Fill out this form to send an email to your representative asking them to sign the Protect America’s Workforce Act discharge petition. President Trump signed an executive order in March that ripped t...
act.aflcio.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The House could vote today to overturn the largest act of union busting in U.S. history. Make sure your congressmember stands with federal workers:
act.aflcio.org/letters/send...
act.aflcio.org/letters/send...
Reposted by Zachary Barber
thinking of her today
November 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
thinking of her today
Bro
BREAKING: The Trump administration is officially withdrawing a Biden-era plan to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when flight disruptions are caused by the airlines.
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Bro
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Starbucks workers across the country are ON STRIKE for a fair first contract!
OPEIU stands with striking @sbworkersunited.org workers!
#NoContractNoCoffee #DontCrossThePicketLine
OPEIU stands with striking @sbworkersunited.org workers!
#NoContractNoCoffee #DontCrossThePicketLine
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Starbucks workers across the country are ON STRIKE for a fair first contract!
OPEIU stands with striking @sbworkersunited.org workers!
#NoContractNoCoffee #DontCrossThePicketLine
OPEIU stands with striking @sbworkersunited.org workers!
#NoContractNoCoffee #DontCrossThePicketLine
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Happy to announce that Demonschool will be available on the Steam Machine at launch!!!!
(just like every other steam game)
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
(just like every other steam game)
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
November 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Happy to announce that Demonschool will be available on the Steam Machine at launch!!!!
(just like every other steam game)
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
(just like every other steam game)
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Still need more baseball?
We found a CD in our archives containing dozens of unused voice lines from MLB Slugfest 20-03 rejected by the MLB. Here's some of our favorites.
We found a CD in our archives containing dozens of unused voice lines from MLB Slugfest 20-03 rejected by the MLB. Here's some of our favorites.
November 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Still need more baseball?
We found a CD in our archives containing dozens of unused voice lines from MLB Slugfest 20-03 rejected by the MLB. Here's some of our favorites.
We found a CD in our archives containing dozens of unused voice lines from MLB Slugfest 20-03 rejected by the MLB. Here's some of our favorites.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
Old Soviet joke:
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
New ICE recruiting methods have resulted in half of this group of absolute winners failing AN OPEN BOOK TEST
October 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Old Soviet joke:
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
Reposted by Zachary Barber
This is a federal agent pointing a weapon at a person recording them.
ICE has become Trump’s personal military that he is using to terrorize communities and cities that don’t support him. And some say we shouldn’t call him a fascist? Open your eyes.
ICE has become Trump’s personal military that he is using to terrorize communities and cities that don’t support him. And some say we shouldn’t call him a fascist? Open your eyes.
October 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is a federal agent pointing a weapon at a person recording them.
ICE has become Trump’s personal military that he is using to terrorize communities and cities that don’t support him. And some say we shouldn’t call him a fascist? Open your eyes.
ICE has become Trump’s personal military that he is using to terrorize communities and cities that don’t support him. And some say we shouldn’t call him a fascist? Open your eyes.
Reposted by Zachary Barber
got a chuckle out of this. even on a map as specific and accurate as this, Pittsburgh doesn't fall neatly into a single region lol
October 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
got a chuckle out of this. even on a map as specific and accurate as this, Pittsburgh doesn't fall neatly into a single region lol
Reposted by Zachary Barber
EA's bombshell deal to go private could be good for investors, but bad for employees. Leveraged buyouts almost always lead to immediate mass layoffs, and more than half of EA's current cash flow will likely go toward servicing the debt.
This week's column: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
This week's column: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
EA's Deal to Go Private Could Be Good for Investors, Bad for Employees
Leveraged buyouts almost always lead to cost-cutting in the form of big layoffs
www.bloomberg.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:08 PM
EA's bombshell deal to go private could be good for investors, but bad for employees. Leveraged buyouts almost always lead to immediate mass layoffs, and more than half of EA's current cash flow will likely go toward servicing the debt.
This week's column: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
This week's column: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Zachary Barber
More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Hundreds of Alligator Alcatraz detainees drop off the grid after leaving site
As of the end of August, the whereabouts of two-thirds of more than 1,800 men detained at Alligator Alcatraz during the month of July could not be determined by the Miami Herald.
www.miamiherald.com
September 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...