YSU-OEA Seeks ‘Swift and Equitable Resolution’ to Negotiations
Update: 3:52 p.m. clarifying YSU-OEA members meeting with each other to discuss the report
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Following a post-mediation fact finder’s report released Sept. 25, members of the Youngstown State University Chapter of the Ohio Education Association are appealing YSU administration for a “swift and equitable resolution” to ongoing negotiations.
In a letter dated Wednesday to YSU President Jim Tressel, Provost Brien Smith and the YSU Board of Trustees, YSU-OEA membership cite efforts made by faculty during the coronavirus pandemic to switch to a fully remote environment and maintain the students’ learning environment after the university was forced to close, as well as during the summer “planning, preparing and adapting our courses to the new teaching modalities.
“Faculty commitment to the success of the university, our students, and the region is clear and remains resolute throughout the beginning of this uncertain fall semester – even as faculty face an unclear outcome to the protracted contract negotiations that Administration insisted could not be delayed, despite the pandemic and restructuring decisions,” the faculty state in the letter.
The letter follows the release of a post-mediation fact-finder report by Judge Betty Widgeon. Members of the YSU-OEA executive and negotiation committee members met over the weekend to discuss the report, according to a release from the union. Widgeon was selected by the YSU-OEA and university administration and was approved by the State Employment Relations Board to preside over mediations.
Widgeon’s proposals were based on sworn testimony and data presented by both sides, including financial and budget documents, according to the release.
YSU-OEA members found Widgeon’s recommendations “fair and reasonable,” the release states. Union leadership states the report supports retaining current contract language and validates the union’s request to postpone negotiations until next year because of the pandemic – a request, the union asserts, YSU administration has denied.
“Had the administration agreed to our reasonable requests to postpone negotiations back in March, during the chaos of the pandemic, much valuable time, energy, and resources could have been saved by both parties and directed to the essential academic needs of the university and our students,” Mark Vopat, YSU-OEA spokesman, said in the release.
Union committee members believe the recommendations will allow the union and YSU to work on improving their relationship over the next three years, and ensures no major changes are made on either side that might affect the university during the pandemic, according to the release.
YSU-OEA membership met Tuesday to vote on the report. Unless 3/5 of the membership rejects the report, it is accepted. The YSU Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the report Oct. 5.
The union’s letter to YSU administration follows. The letter was approved by 78% of YSU-OEA membership:
We appeal to you today to ask for a swift and equitable resolution to the ongoing negotiations between the university and the YSU-OEA faculty union.
During these unprecedented times, YSU faculty have, as always, worked tirelessly to ensure that every YSU student receives a high-quality, accessible education. For example, when YSU was forced to close in the spring due to the spreading pandemic, in fewer than 10 days, faculty pivoted to providing all courses in a fully remote environment so that student learning and progress to degree completion would continue unabated. Faculty went above and beyond to reassure students that although the pandemic had changed their learning environment, faculty commitment to the students would remain sacrosanct. True to our charge of delivering high-quality education, faculty spent countless hours over the summer – while off contract – planning, preparing, and adapting our courses to the new teaching modalities. Faculty also volunteered thousands of hours collectively throughout this period, attending university meetings regarding academic restructuring and safety protocols for our departments, contributing to and raising money for the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley’s COVID-19 support fund for Youngstown residents financially impacted by the pandemic, and some worked with community organizations to help students stranded on campus due to the pandemic. Faculty were and remain eager to share our expertise and provide assistance through the disruptions of COVID-19.
Faculty commitment to the success of the university, our students, and the region is clear and remains resolute throughout the beginning of this uncertain fall semester—even as faculty face an unclear outcome to the protracted contract negotiations that Administration insisted could not be delayed, despite the pandemic and restructuring decisions.
As committed as we are to this institution, we need the Administration to invest in us. Hence, in solidarity as YSU-OEA faculty members, we request that a fair resolution to negotiations be offered without delay and that the outcome be equitable and commensurate with faculty’s dedication to YSU, its mission, and its students.
We thank you for your time and for your consideration of our request.
With regards,
The membership of the YSU-OEA
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
