YSU, Union Reach ‘Understanding’ on New Contract, Strike Ends

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In a statement issued at 2:36 a.m., Youngstown State University announced that it had reached an agreement with its faculty union on a new contract.

“The union and university administration have reached an understanding for the general framework on a new three-year contract and will work out details for a tentative agreement later today,” the statement said. “Classes will be held as usual today.”

The agreement ends the three-day strike of the YSU chapter of the Ohio Education Association.

Neither the university or the union provided details of the new contract. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the YSU-OEA said: “YSU-OEA is happy to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with administration, and the strike ended as of 2 a.m. Thursday morning. Thanks to all who who have supported our cause! We look forward to seeing all of our students back in the classroom Thursday.

After meeting for about three hours Wednesday afternoon, the administration and union met again for another negotiation session at 9 p.m. Between the two meetings, the YSU-OEA said two of its top four issues – protection of vulnerable faculty and shared governance of the university – had not been addressed. The union’s other two concerns were ownership of intellectual property and pay increases for faculty.

The university’s statement after the first Wednesday sessions outlined its proposal for a new pay raise schedule that leaves salaries as they are in the first year of the contract and 2% raises in years two and three.

“This offer is more than fair given the university’s difficult financial challenges, not to speak of the many unknowns moving forward with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Anita Hackstedde, chairwoman of the YSU Board of Trustees in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Related coverage:

Oct. 14 | Negotiations Ongoing in YSU Faculty Strike
Oct. 14 | After Late-Night Session, Still No Deal Between YSU, Union
Oct. 12 | YSU, Union Will Meet Again Tuesday After ‘Moving Closer’ to Agreement
Oct. 12 | With Strike Started, YSU and Union Hopeful for Quick Agreement

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