An apparatus for unloading a workpiece from a pressing machine includes a power cylinder mounted on the pressing machine and having a horizontally movable piston rod. An operating rod is mounted on the pressing machine in parallel relation to the piston rod and is horizontally movable. The stroke of the operating rod is shorter than the stroke of the piston rod. A linkage assembly is attached to the forward ends of the piston rod and operating rod so that the operating rod is moved horizontally together with the piston rod during its stroke. The linkage assembly has a forward end which is vertically moved toward and away from a die of the press upon the horizontal movement of the piston rod relative to the operating rod at a final portion of the extending stroke thereof and at an initial portion of the retracting stroke thereof. A plurality of suction cups are connected to the forward end of the linkage assembly. The suction cups are operable to hold a workpiece on the die when the forward end of the linkage assembly is moved vertically toward the die.