YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Two unions at Youngstown State University have new contracts before the start of the fall semester after what representatives from all sides described as a collaborative negotiating process.
The three-year agreement with the YSU-Ohio Education Association, which represents faculty, calls for 3% salary increases each year. The three-year agreement with the Association of Classified Employees includes salary increases of 3%, 2.75% and 3% in the first, second and third years, respectively.
YSU trustees unanimously approved both pacts in a special meeting Friday morning. Both unions previously approved the agreements. AJ Sumell, the YSU-OEA’s chief negotiator, said 97% of faculty voted in favor of the agreement.
“I’ve been involved in three negotiations now,” Sumell said. “Once as president – now this is my second as chief negotiator. From my experience, this was the most collaborative in nature in terms of we both had the mindset, both sides had the mindset of, let’s come to an agreement that – you recognize you’re never going to get everything you want – but that both sides can live with and so that we can move on and focus on what matters.”
The votes both of union membership and the trustees indicate that was accomplished, he pointed out.
“We’re pleased with the process and happy to be done before the semester begins, so now we can focus on supporting our students,” Sumell said.
Mark Vopat, YSU-OEA president, said Senate Bill 1, which overhauled Ohio’s public colleges and universities, made some aspects of the negotiations more challenging. The law became effective in June 2025.
“The law is not clear on a lot of things,” he said. “Even though certain things are prohibited, it’s also unclear what things aren’t – what things you can negotiate, what things you can’t negotiate, what things really aren’t covered, what things appear to be covered. This wasn’t just on us trying to argue. Even on the administration side, they acknowledge that this was difficult because there was no precedent.”
YSU is the first university in the area to complete contract negotiations since the new law took effect. Overall though, the union was pleased with the outcome.
“The faculty were happy,” Vopat said.
Melanie Leonard, ACE president and chief negotiator, said 94 members voted to approve the contract, with seven opposed. Negotiations went smoothly, she said.
“It was not a contentious negotiation by any means,” she said. “Both sides, we were focused on what we needed to get done, language that needed to be changed or addressed or clarified, and then we negotiated.”
Leonard said this marks the first of the three contract negotiations in which she’s been involved that were finished before the previous pact expired.
“The raises that we’re going to get will actually go into effect as of next week because next week is the pay period that includes the date that the contract runs out,” she said.
In his comments after the trustees’ vote, Chuck George, trustee chairman, thanked university negotiators and those of both unions.
“We’re thankful for everyone’s efforts in this collaborative process – well done,” he said.
YSU President Bill Johnson concurred.
“I haven’t been through this process nearly as many times as some of those that have participated,” he said. “But I can tell you from the observation, it’s very clear to me from our ACE members, our faculty union and all of those that participated in the negotiations, first and foremost, they had the integrity and the welfare of the university and the students that we serve at heart. And I think this has been a very, very smooth process, and I just want to thank everybody involved.”
The faculty union contract takes effect Aug. 21 and continues through Aug. 20, 2029. The current pact expires Aug. 29.
The new ACE contract runs from Aug. 16 through Aug. 15, 2029. The current agreement expires Aug. 15.
A news release from the university said the faculty agreement increases will contribute to the recruitment and retention of “premier faculty teaching and conducting research at YSU for current and future generations of students.” Regarding the ACE contract, the news release said the university increased the starting salaries of “strategic classifications in order to remain competitive in hiring and retention.”
The board also approved a resolution granting benefits of some portions of the ACE contract to classified employees excluded from bargaining.
Pictured at top: YSU trustees listen as members of the university’s negotiating teams present information about the new contracts between the university and its faculty and classified employee unions.