YSU-OEA could open strike vote today

YOUNGSTOWN — A strike vote for members of Youngstown State University's faculty union could open today.

While both YSU administration and the YSU-OEA, the faculty union, had expressed optimism that a deal could still be reached before a Wednesday negotiating session, the meeting ended with no prospects for a settlement.

On Monday, YSU trustees voted not to accept the fact-finding report authored by Judge Betty Widgeon that was previously endorsed by the union. Widgeon was appointed to mediate the dispute in June after both parties already completed 20 mediation sessions with a federal mediator. Widgeon's report was released Sept. 25.

According to a YSU-OEA news release Wednesday night, the administration does not plan to use the fact-finding report as a framework for further negotiations.

“This is tantamount to turning back the clock, scuttling months of negotiations and returning us to the very impasse that fact-finding was meant to overcome. It’s difficult to understand the sense behind such an approach," YSU-OEA spokesperson Mark Vopat said in a statement.

The report recommended a 6-percent raise over three years. YSU officials have said the recommendations do not take into consideration the university's financial challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a release Wednesday night, the administration reiterated the price tag sought by the union was too high given current economic conditions.

A 6-percent raise over three years would cost the university $4.2 million, the university said in a statement, adding this year, YSU is facing a $3.7 million drop in its general fund and a 4.4 percent decline in enrollment.

"It would be irresponsible for the administration to agree to such a proposal given the university’s financial circumstances," the release read.

YSU's budget for the 2020-21 school year is $168 million. Assuming the budget does not change dramatically, the budget for the life of the raise would be about $504 million, meaning the raise would impact the budget by less than 1 percent.

"It’s pretty simple in some ways," university spokesperson Ron Cole said in response to Mahoning Matters' inquiry about the overall budget. "We have two main sources of revenue: state funding and tuition revenue that comes from enrolled students. Both are down significantly. And based on projected number of [high school] graduates over the next several years, enrollment is going to remain a challenge. All other employee groups on campus have recognized that and accepted pay cuts, furloughs, etc."

There were signs in both statements that both sides are still considering options. The YSU statement said "... the administration presented a proposal to the faculty that includes salary increases" but did not specify what those salary increases were.

The union statement said "YSU-OEA brought a new proposal to the table with some terms designed to meet the union’s needs and some to meet those of the administration," but quoted Vopat as adding, “Unfortunately, the administration seems determined to exploit the pandemic to push unnecessary, hasty and damaging proposals, ignoring the common sense and evidence-based recommendations of Judge Widgeon.”

After issuing an intent to strike last week, the union will open a strike vote to members today that will close Saturday. An additional negotiating session is scheduled for Friday.

But the union statement seemed less than optimistic.

“We cannot credibly bring a proposal of this nature to the faculty, whose nearly unanimous vote Oct. 2 to approve the fact-finder’s report represents a mandate to bring to them a tentative agreement that resembles the fact-finder's recommendations,” Vopat said in the statement.

If negotiation is unsuccessful and the strike is approved, a strike will begin Monday, the first day of fall break for YSU students.

This story was originally published October 8, 2020 at 4:24 AM with the headline "YSU-OEA could open strike vote today."